I bought this. Used it this past weekend at a pioneer campsite with four women. This is a whole new level of primitive camping. We dumped it in the pit toilet. We didn’t put toilet paper in the commode. We had a large container like you use for cereal. Put a grocery sack in it and put the toilet paper in there…then pulled the sack and threw it away. We put water in the bowl, potty, then pulled the lever, then added more water. We didn’t encounter any issues. Highly recommend.
The most real and normal spoken review i've heard on off grid toilets. Thanks brother. The only disappointment is you didn't throw the ball as your dog waited patiently. Great video.
I appreciate that! He gets plenty of ball throw and trust me sorry I didn't do it on video. He's a great guy please like and subscribe if you enjoyed our content.
Another great option for off-grid folks who want the convenience of a flush toilet and don't want to go the compost route. Great review and one that I will probably purchase.
Great review! Very helpful and refreshingly thorough - especially for all the RV newbies finding these handy units inside their campers. (And your pup is priceless). Thanks again!!
The little button isn't so much to release gasses but to aid disposal as you press it as you evacuate the black water. It allows it to drain faster as it's not forming a vacuum. Great video
Thanks so much and thanks for watching. Thanks for the tip please like and subscribe if you enjoy our content as we’re trying to grow our channel thanks
It works great for our application, easy to clean easy to move around easy to use. Thanks for watching, please like and subscribe if you enjoyed our content.
I have the LAVEO and love it. It's 12v and no water or cleaning. It is more money. I am done with water systems after having this for two years. There is a hack to reuse the cartridge ring and just use two garbage can bags and that makes this thing pretty awesome.
Ya that is a sanitary easy to dispose of option, but we didn't want to spend a $1000 plus dollars. I read the bags are very expensive as well is that true? We wanted a cost effective sanitary option. In addition this off grid bathroom does not get constant but sporadic use as well. Thanks for watching, please subscribe if you enjoy our content.
Do not leave batteries in the control unit for a long time if it's not being used. I inadvertently left them in and one of them leaked, rendering the pump useless. The pump itself is fine, but the battery holder is not. You cannot replace just the holder, you have to buy the entire pump assembly, which costs about half the purchase price of the entire appliance. When I spoke with Thetford customer service (which you cannot do except by "chat") the rep wasn't exactly hostile, but he most certainly wasn't friendly. And not a bit helpful.
Great review thanks so much. If a single person was using this once a day for #2's only how long would it take to fill up? Sorry for the weird question. Just got my first van and looking at different toilet options for a conversion
No problem that's a great question. Here's what I know. My wife and I can use this for about a week the two of us and it lasts for about an entire week both with the flushing top portion and the storage even with number two.
Great review, Thank you. Can you replace the electric flush with a manual pump in the event that the elctric quits working or you forget extra batteries...etc.?
I apologize for the late reply on this. You have to totally remove the electric (Battery housing) and pump assembly, and then have the manual hand pump assembly to replace it with. Not sure if you can buy just that from Porta Potti. I do know this model comes in either the manual style pump or this electric battery operated version. Thanks for the question and for watching! Please subscribe if you enjoy our content!
My pump doesn't run at all anymore. We used it less than 30 times. I changed the batteries and checked all of the connections. No visible corrosion. I'm assuming my pump died. Tons of forums/reviews have talked about the pump failing super fast in these electric flush models.
@@cookiegriffith7556 Thetford is a strange company. The manual pump is not available in the US and the electric motor becomes submerged in liquid in no time causing it to fail.
Thanks for that. I was just going what was recommended in the owners manual which is the RV style more biodegradable toilet paper thanks for watching and for your comment please like and subscribe if you enjoyed our content.
This looks really cool. One of the reasons why I've avoided extended camping was because of the bathroom situation lol. This looks like a great option though
Definitely good for making camping more comfortable. Don't want to probably carry this too far. It works great and makes disposal easy and clean. Works great in our off grid bathroom video! ruclips.net/video/CEq4mEo28-k/видео.html Please like and subscribe if you enjoy our content.
Primitive sites are far from the bathroom, the bath house only has two stalls that are always occupied, you need to drop a load and the bath house is being cleaned. I lived through it all with a GI issue, time to bring my own!
I apologize for the late reply on this. You have to totally remove the electric (Battery housing) and pump assembly, and then have the manual hand pump assembly to replace it with. So the electric version here does not have a manual pump option. Not sure if you can buy just that from Porta Potti. I do know this model comes in either the manual style pump or this electric battery operated version. Thanks for the question and for watching! Please subscribe if you enjoy our content!
I should take this and a privacy shelter to the smoky mountains camp grounds. I'd rather use this then the public ones. There was a beetle in there the size of a baseball. Not to mention not very clean. The beetle was so big it scared the maintenance men.
We did this past weekend. Used the single privacy/changing tent. We didn’t put toilet paper in the commode though. We use a container that has a lid and put a grocery sack in. This makes camping so much more comfortable. It lasted two days with 4 women and never filled up or ran out of flush water.
I believe I've heard that has happened to other people. Mine is currently still good to go. I believe there's a gasket that you can replace that will fix that please like and subscribe if you enjoyed our content.
I agree with you about containing the waste! Many compost or separating toilets have you bagging the solid waste to clean or empty, yuck. Cassette toilets are very popular in many campers.
It is preference. Some say partially fill the bowl prior to going to the bathroom so waste and TP dont stick to the bowl then open the blade valve and flush. I think this is the recommended technique. Others prefer to avoid splash back (which can be prevented by filling with a small amount of water) then flushing. Thanks for your question and for watching. Please subscribe if you enjoy our content!
Good video! I think the corrosion is due to using Alkaline batteries and leaving them in there for an extended amount of time. Use Lithium batteries and they will work much better.
The motor for the flush is mounted in the bottom of the pump housing. Over a short time, the motor seal fails and allows fluid in, this corrodes the internal components.
Thanks for the info. Decided against composting toilet as I didn’t want the additional expense have to worry about the electrical aspect as well as venting. It went with a simple less expensive option that works for us. Thanks for watching please like and subscribe if you enjoy our content.
Lid was up to show the flushing action on video. I would close it to flush it in actual use. Thanks for the comment and for watching. Please subscribe if you enjoy our content.
Well, its not discussed in the product info but the top lid is plastic and does seal and click shut. So, it may be able to sit in the shower and get wet. The only concern would be water getting into the battery automatic pump assembly, not sure on that, Please subscribe if you enjoy our content.
There is a gauge on the unit, maybe I missed that in the video. I thought I covered it. Thanks for watching and for the question. Please like and subscribe if you enjoyed our content.
Very cool, we will check it out. Thanks for your info. We appreciate you watching our channel and for your comment. Please subscribe if you enjoy our content👍🏼😊
Good to know! Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching! Please like and subscribe as we are growing our channel, also check out our channel playlists for more off grid, preparedness and homesteading content
I guess that is true, thats what I did in my RV. I guess if you use it in the water in the top tank it can cut on the stink and wont hurt anything right? Thanks for watching please subscribe if you enjoy our content.
I bought this. Used it this past weekend at a pioneer campsite with four women. This is a whole new level of primitive camping. We dumped it in the pit toilet. We didn’t put toilet paper in the commode. We had a large container like you use for cereal. Put a grocery sack in it and put the toilet paper in there…then pulled the sack and threw it away.
We put water in the bowl, potty, then pulled the lever, then added more water. We didn’t encounter any issues. Highly recommend.
Great ideas and use of the toilet. Appreciate your comments and ideas. Please subscribe if you enjoy our content.
The most real and normal spoken review i've heard on off grid toilets. Thanks brother. The only disappointment is you didn't throw the ball as your dog waited patiently. Great video.
I appreciate that! He gets plenty of ball throw and trust me sorry I didn't do it on video. He's a great guy please like and subscribe if you enjoyed our content.
love the ole buddy not so subtly trying to get in a game of fetch at 9:20 😄
Ha, ya he is relentless! Definitely my side kick! Please subscribe if you enjoy our content!
Me every time your dog brought you his tennis ball: 😍😍😍
Hahah he never gives up!
Another great option for off-grid folks who want the convenience of a flush toilet and don't want to go the compost route. Great review and one that I will probably purchase.
Agreed working great for us in our application. Thanks for watching please like and subscribe if you enjoy our content and channel.
Great review! Very helpful and refreshingly thorough - especially for all the RV newbies finding these handy units inside their campers.
(And your pup is priceless).
Thanks again!!
Glad it was helpful! We love our dogs! Thanks for watching! Please subscribe if you enjoy our content!
The little button isn't so much to release gasses but to aid disposal as you press it as you evacuate the black water. It allows it to drain faster as it's not forming a vacuum. Great video
Thanks so much and thanks for watching. Thanks for the tip please like and subscribe if you enjoy our content as we’re trying to grow our channel thanks
Thanks for sharing.. i might get this for our place
It works great for our application, easy to clean easy to move around easy to use. Thanks for watching, please like and subscribe if you enjoyed our content.
Hint use Rain-X on the bowl!
Good idea!
I have the LAVEO and love it. It's 12v and no water or cleaning. It is more money. I am done with water systems after having this for two years. There is a hack to reuse the cartridge ring and just use two garbage can bags and that makes this thing pretty awesome.
Ya that is a sanitary easy to dispose of option, but we didn't want to spend a $1000 plus dollars. I read the bags are very expensive as well is that true? We wanted a cost effective sanitary option. In addition this off grid bathroom does not get constant but sporadic use as well. Thanks for watching, please subscribe if you enjoy our content.
say, what do you put on the waste tank to kill the smell? aqua kem too? does it smell good with it? does it totally break down the waste?
Do not leave batteries in the control unit for a long time if it's not being used. I inadvertently left them in and one of them leaked, rendering the pump useless. The pump itself is fine, but the battery holder is not. You cannot replace just the holder, you have to buy the entire pump assembly, which costs about half the purchase price of the entire appliance. When I spoke with Thetford customer service (which you cannot do except by "chat") the rep wasn't exactly hostile, but he most certainly wasn't friendly. And not a bit helpful.
That’s a great tip. I’ll make sure to add that in my next video about the unit. Please like and subscribe if you enjoyed our content.
Great review thanks so much.
If a single person was using this once a day for #2's only how long would it take to fill up?
Sorry for the weird question. Just got my first van and looking at different toilet options for a conversion
No problem that's a great question. Here's what I know. My wife and I can use this for about a week the two of us and it lasts for about an entire week both with the flushing top portion and the storage even with number two.
Great review, Thank you. Can you replace the electric flush with a manual pump in the event that the elctric quits working or you forget extra batteries...etc.?
I apologize for the late reply on this. You have to totally remove the electric (Battery housing) and pump assembly, and then have the manual hand pump assembly to replace it with. Not sure if you can buy just that from Porta Potti. I do know this model comes in either the manual style pump or this electric battery operated version. Thanks for the question and for watching! Please subscribe if you enjoy our content!
My pump doesn't run at all anymore. We used it less than 30 times. I changed the batteries and checked all of the connections. No visible corrosion. I'm assuming my pump died. Tons of forums/reviews have talked about the pump failing super fast in these electric flush models.
@@cookiegriffith7556 Thetford is a strange company. The manual pump is not available in the US and the electric motor becomes submerged in liquid in no time causing it to fail.
dont you put stuff in the waste tank from "keep the stink from filling your room"? as in " odorizers"?
You can use liquify and regular tp. Breaks down all the solids.
Thanks for that. I was just going what was recommended in the owners manual which is the RV style more biodegradable toilet paper thanks for watching and for your comment please like and subscribe if you enjoyed our content.
What a Wonderful review video, thanks
Thank you kindly!
This looks really cool. One of the reasons why I've avoided extended camping was because of the bathroom situation lol. This looks like a great option though
Definitely good for making camping more comfortable. Don't want to probably carry this too far. It works great and makes disposal easy and clean. Works great in our off grid bathroom video! ruclips.net/video/CEq4mEo28-k/видео.html Please like and subscribe if you enjoy our content.
Primitive sites are far from the bathroom, the bath house only has two stalls that are always occupied, you need to drop a load and the bath house is being cleaned. I lived through it all with a GI issue, time to bring my own!
Nice job order one a few days ago let get done when we need done
Glad this helped. Please like and subscribe if you enjoy our content.
If batteries die from pump. Can you pump manually? Or say the little engine in pump goes out.
I apologize for the late reply on this. You have to totally remove the electric (Battery housing) and pump assembly, and then have the manual hand pump assembly to replace it with. So the electric version here does not have a manual pump option. Not sure if you can buy just that from Porta Potti. I do know this model comes in either the manual style pump or this electric battery operated version. Thanks for the question and for watching! Please subscribe if you enjoy our content!
@@LifeintheNorth40 I tried them. You can not. Seems like it you should be able to. Shame.
I should take this and a privacy shelter to the smoky mountains camp grounds. I'd rather use this then the public ones. There was a beetle in there the size of a baseball. Not to mention not very clean. The beetle was so big it scared the maintenance men.
Haha wow! You should use this instead, campground toilets are always gross.
We did this past weekend. Used the single privacy/changing tent. We didn’t put toilet paper in the commode though. We use a container that has a lid and put a grocery sack in. This makes camping so much more comfortable. It lasted two days with 4 women and never filled up or ran out of flush water.
I really like mine. I've had it a little over a year. But my fresh water tank leaks. Trying to trouble shoot. I think it leaks around the flush lever.
I believe I've heard that has happened to other people. Mine is currently still good to go. I believe there's a gasket that you can replace that will fix that please like and subscribe if you enjoyed our content.
I agree with you about containing the waste! Many compost or separating toilets have you bagging the solid waste to clean or empty, yuck. Cassette toilets are very popular in many campers.
You are correct thanks for your comment and engagement. Please like and subscribe if you enjoy our content.
Looks like a great unit. Good job.👍
Thanks for watching and for your comment! I think this will work great for our needs!
Do you open the blade valve before or after you poop?
It is preference. Some say partially fill the bowl prior to going to the bathroom so waste and TP dont stick to the bowl then open the blade valve and flush. I think this is the recommended technique. Others prefer to avoid splash back (which can be prevented by filling with a small amount of water) then flushing. Thanks for your question and for watching. Please subscribe if you enjoy our content!
Nice unit, should meet your needs.
Good video! I think the corrosion is due to using Alkaline batteries and leaving them in there for an extended amount of time. Use Lithium batteries and they will work much better.
Agreed! Great point! Thanks for your comment. Please subscribe if you enjoy our content.
The motor for the flush is mounted in the bottom of the pump housing. Over a short time, the motor seal fails and allows fluid in, this corrodes the internal components.
Since this video, there's an even BETTER porta potti than the Thetford. Yes, check out the Trelino Composting Toilet. It's amazing.
Thanks for the info. Decided against composting toilet as I didn’t want the additional expense have to worry about the electrical aspect as well as venting. It went with a simple less expensive option that works for us. Thanks for watching please like and subscribe if you enjoy our content.
@@LifeintheNorth40 The Trelino Composting Toilet is all analog, no electrical. It's a perfect invention. Check it out.
should of did the pouting test..where you drop chocklet pouting in and see if it can flush it
Throw the ball!!!!
Haha! 😂 I promise we do all the time!
Why not just leave it open instead of opening it to flush? Is there a reason? Thanks
Lid was up to show the flushing action on video. I would close it to flush it in actual use. Thanks for the comment and for watching. Please subscribe if you enjoy our content.
@@LifeintheNorth40 thank you for the reply. I am also in the market for purchasing one for camping purposes and I'm leaning towards this. Thank you
You'll want to close the valve so the stink stays contained.
So this cant be in a wet bath correct?
Well, its not discussed in the product info but the top lid is plastic and does seal and click shut. So, it may be able to sit in the shower and get wet. The only concern would be water getting into the battery automatic pump assembly, not sure on that, Please subscribe if you enjoy our content.
How u know its about to be full?
There is a gauge on the unit, maybe I missed that in the video. I thought I covered it. Thanks for watching and for the question. Please like and subscribe if you enjoyed our content.
Great review, but were I come from water weighs 8.34#'s per gallon which brings the top tank to 33.4#'s. A little more then the 27#'s in your video.
You are correct sir, I misspoke. Thanks for the correction! Please like and subscribe if you enjoy our content as we are trying to grow our channel👍😁
I have used a porta potty and solar composter at my cabin for 20+ years. Solar composter design is on my channel for ideas.
Very cool, we will check it out. Thanks for your info. We appreciate you watching our channel and for your comment. Please subscribe if you enjoy our content👍🏼😊
How's their return policy!?😂
😂
Beware these have a max weight limit which is often overlooked. This one is 265 lbs max weight limit.
Good to know! Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching! Please like and subscribe as we are growing our channel, also check out our channel playlists for more off grid, preparedness and homesteading content
Will it flush a 🎾
Not sure haven't tried that one yet.
Throw the damned ball man!😅
Hahaha we did so many time behind the scenes 😂
😂😂😂 no just put it in the bottom tank
I guess that is true, thats what I did in my RV. I guess if you use it in the water in the top tank it can cut on the stink and wont hurt anything right? Thanks for watching please subscribe if you enjoy our content.