@@BigOzExplorers just had to say SHIT show 😅🤣🤪 😁 no , was good info, ( just had to to say it as it was 😝) don’t know if my comments are in right place. Couldn’t find normal comment spot 🤷♂️. Cheers 😎👍
@@BigOzExplorers just glad I couldn’t smell it 😝😬 . But 😉 by the looks it didn’t smell like anything but “ soil “. 😝 You know what your mum says when she’s cuddling your baby 😏 “ I think he’s Soiled his nappy “ 🤧
I'm disabled & live off grid by my self and have used the Nature's Head Toilet for 5 + years now. Can be a bit of a pain @ times and the exhaust fan does fail @ once every 6 to 8 months (the free replacements are great) and the gasket needs to be replaced @ once a year or year and a half or so. I use saw dust - from my chain saw instead of peat. After surgery my digestive system has been considerably shorted. The saw dust does a better job absorbing the extra liquid and there is very little issue w/ flys / bugs apposed to using peat. No odor issue as long as I empty every 3 weeks or so. TP goes in the bin and incinerated w/ my burnables. I clean with apple cider vinegar and a very low power psi cordless pressure washer when needed - when it gets bad due to my inability to dump due to disability. The unit is a bit costly @ $ 1100 when I bought mine but over all much cheaper than $ 80k+ septic system, and the urine helps to stop predators ( big cats , coyotes, wolf and bear) from hunting my free range chickens and ducks.. Just spray around the 2 acres I have them on. Scent marking just like the predators mark their territory. The critters will move through but won't hunt inside the marked area.. Just my 2 cents and experience.
Yep, I'm in a similar situation... Had mine for 7+ years. Fan long gave up the ghost, but I've got separate ventilation anyway. Yep, saw dust, leaves, soil, coconut fibre, - all good Thanks for the idea with the bottle, though. I usually tip it in the same area or the compost pile, but duhhh, scent marking, yesss. Plenty of wild life here. Feel a bit stupid I never thought of that, ha ha ha
@@ripbbl5053 I use a 2 gallon pressure / hand pump sprayer to better simulate animal marking behavior. Believe it or not the animals can tell the difference between that and dumping. Spray on pores (sp) material, wood, granite etc.. As it rains or gets damp the scent will continue to be released. Good luck
thanks for the great info. May ask , just how much saw dust do you use and how often? have you ever used a handful of organic hardwood charcoal or bio char?
Your video just reminded me of all the things I ABSOLUTELY HATED about buying the Nature's Head for my Sprinter RV. Used it for 6 months before building my own (much better) composting toilet to replace it: 1) Dumping the solids container can't be done discretely or without creating a giant mess around the gasket & hinge. 2) Waste also gets stuck in the square corners and under the rim when dumping. 3) The upper liquids funnel section drips when unlatching to empty the liquids bottle daily. 4) The liquids bottle lacks any pour spout which means it dribbles down the sides and bottom when emptying 5) The solids container sliding lid gets soiled during use (especially when parked on slanted pavement) and smears solids in the unreachable recesses of the guide slot that can't be cleaned 6) The toilet lacks any molded-in lifting handles or straps to lift it out of the tight van interior when it is heavy with waste 7) The fan was underpowered and didn't adequately vent all smells 8) The rotating stir paddle is a joke and just becomes a sticky/muddy mess until it seizes. It isn't needed and prevents being able to use a liner bag for solids. I'm sure this isn't a complete list, but just a list of dislikes from the top of my memory! Our new custom composting toilet uses a 5-gallon bucket lined with a compactor bag for solids collection, a Separette liquids diverter seat that funnels liquids into a 5-gallon integral holding tank (twice the Nature's Head volume) with electric transfer pump to an external hose. A 1-way flap valve in the liquids drain prevents holding tank smells from entering the van. A high-power, ultra-quiet computer fan ventilates the toilet through the van floor. Emptying the solids takes just 60 seconds, as you need only to tie up the liner bag, dump, and replace the bag. No mess whatsoever. Just add a small scoop of coconut coir after each use. Liquids dumping is just a button touch to start the pump. No smell at all with the larger exhaust fan and no need for the sliding trap door that gets messy (much bigger "target' for solids). Nature's Head was a huge waste of money, except for the chance to research what we DIDN'T want in a composting toilet.
You are correct, Greg! Just about ANY other composting toilet is easier to empty, as there is no crank! For me the WORST part is an unlined container. EW! It's basically everything you said. Good job of explaining the down side!
If I'm emptying my compost toilet when I return home, I tip the contents into a crate and add red wriggler composting worms; they turn the contents into worm castings in a few weeks. If I had the room to travel with a worm farm I would. As composting toilets become more popular I would like to see camping grounds set up worm farms if possible. This has got to be better than having plastic bags full of poo & peat being put into the bins. Well done for creating this informative video.
@gailkellum832 I've been thinking of trying that while I'm at home where it wouldn't be quite as disastrous if they suddenly decided to abandon ship (note that I said "ship")
@@gailkellum832 .. I thought the same thing.. but then I thought.. maybe the agitator might harm the worms. Would that be an issue ? I did like the comment someone made regarding having an internal poo bucket so you don't gave to remove the whole toilet. But maybe that doesn't work either ? The best design I've seen for using a composting toilet is having a large trap door behind/next to the toilet to be big enough to pass through to the out side. So when you unlock the toilet to empty.. you remove it directly from outside. Saves you carrying it through your dwelling. My friends have off grid cabins and they tried all of them. They ended up sticking to what worked best for them. They just use a big bucked under a wooden toilet frame and shovel from a sawdust bucket as needed after every visit to cover their business. They said it works a treat. ☺️👍
I've had one for about 8 years and love it. Wish it was still white. Just a couple of things to note though. The pee tube gets clogged with use and you do need to hose out properly when emptying, and put a tube up to loosen. You haven't had yours long enough to discover this. Pee can stain this area at the top and a vinegar/water mix sprayed after every pee helps but you need a good clean with cream cleanser from time to time. You do get insects in, they come down the air tube. Some tomato dust in the compost helps and diamatis earth is said to help too. I also spray fly spray in the area regularly. If you have had these flies, you need to thoroughly clean the top lid because it will be full of eggs which survive being wet. You need to loosen, hose and remove. Pee does stain the pee bucket over time and the vinegar doesn't completely stop this. I had had to bleach this many times and use high pressure hose when rinsing to try and remove. Not all dump points have high pressure hoses. The flap which you open can also become stained over time and needs a thorough clean at times. Still love it, but it does take a lot of work to keep clean and you can't use the commercial deodorizer/cleaners that hang over the bowl of a conventional loo. Hope this information is helpful because the compost loo truly is a much better option when using it full time.
@@geoffrogers276 no it's not, but when you are on the road all the time trying to find a proper dump point every couple of days can be difficult. When you stay in the bush for any length of time many portable systems end up being dumped on the ground which is bad for the health of others and the environment. People then come along and set up camp on top of semi broken down sh***. The chemicals only mask the smell.
@@geoffrogers276 look into incinerator toilets then... Cleaner than compost, less "cleaning" as well... You just empty ash. The only trade off is you are using about 1,500 watts over an hour to "process" the waste. However if you had a nice solar panel setup and battery bank, this could be completely free energy (after initial investment). Look up "ecojohn" , "incinolet" and "Cinderella toilet" to see the three major brands. Incinolet is the cheapest because it's the most simplistic... Nothing fancy. The EcoJohn is my personal favorite. The Cinderella is very expensive but has a lot of fancy safety features that are not needed if you use some common sense. All will require maintenance eventually and the incinolet looks very easy to work on because of its simplicity.
My sailboat came with a homemade composting toilet, based on a 5 gallon bucket. He did a nice job of building this system into the existing toilet space. I use ground up coconut husks, but reconstitute them beforehand by adding water to get them in a scoop-able form. The boat has a built in locker for holding the reconstituted husk. Use it a bit like cat littler to cover after use. It has a pee collection funnel built in. I buy the heavy duty liners made specifically for a 5 gallon bucket toilet. It has a powered vent. I just close the bag up and remove from the bucket when full. No need to clean it, beyond the stuff above the bucket. Compared to a holding tank, it’s a no smell, no need to pump option. I would not be so thrilled if I had to do all the manual cleaning that the toilet in the video requires. I go through 2 containers worth in a summer of sailing, it’s dryish waste and has no odor. My girlfriend initially cringed when looking at the system, but she is now a believer.
As a nurse this isn’t something I haven’t seen. I think it is great that you did this video so a newcomer to this knows what to expect! Lots of campers have these but few say much about it - so thank you. You also did a good job explaining it without being gross - very “professional”.
Who’d have thought that a video on a toilet could be so informative and even enjoyable to watch. I’ve been really curious about the composting Options for a while now and this has really affirmed a few things. Thanks guys.
Thanks Shane! That’s great to hear… I was very curious to see how this would be received by most people that weren’t looking for the information in the first place 😆👏🏻💩
I can’t believe that for the amount of money this costs that they haven’t come up with an inner bucket for the solids so that you don’t have to remove the entire toilet to empty it!
*Excellent presentation* and wonderful video editing! I'm not sure why I started watching this, but the _information and education_ was delivered so well, I had to watch to the end! Well done!
Not a popular topic, however I am so grateful that I found this video. I plan to put a composting toilet in an out building on a farm to save people from walking a few acres back to the house. Really appreciate the detailed information.
The most comprehensive review I have ever seen! Thanks for your efforts Sian. This will help lots of people with the decision making process, pat yourself on the back!!!
Thanks for sharing! We've been using our natures head for 18 months now and are very happy with it! We keep our change a little more simple though. We break up a 15 litre coir brick into a bucket adding splashes of water to a third of the mix at a time, only adding about 500ml in total, so our mix is only just damp and not wet. We put a compostable bag over the toilet and then flip it over to empty. That way there's very little chance of a spill and then we double bag. We've never rinsed it out though as you're just putting coir and poop straight back in and as you mentioned all the microbes are beneficial for breaking down the next batch. We never have any unpleasant smells when we empty, it just smells of compost/soil.
I’ve heard about these toilets for years, mostly from watching tiny house vids. I had no idea how they worked. Thanks for lifting the lid! I’d have no issue using one in a van. I think you’ve made a great choice.
That is the best informative video I have seen on the subject. Well done guys, you guys aren’t afraid to tackle the real issues of living full time on the road. Keep it up ❤
Thank you so much for being willing to actually help us by showing us the truth about what's involved in cleaning these out. We take sanitation too much for granted. This is the real deal about what's involved in dealing with our own waste. Much respect to you for revealing what actually goes on. I now have the confidence to be able to do this myself.
So good to see you more back in front of the camera Sian, you are a natural. Not many people could have done this vid successfully, but you pulled it off very well. Very informative, feel better educated in making an informed decision. Definitely the way of the future. Thank you.
Great showing everything in detail HOWEVER that waste is absolutely not safe for yards or gardens until aged at least one year and even then should not be put on plants for consumption. I hope people do their own research. A great book resource is the humanure handbook.
I wanted this for my van but I don't think I'm ready to work it out after seeing this vid. A gas station, the mall, gyms, others and a mini shovel would work best for me. I really needed this information, thank you for the vid. Good one. 👍
I was already sold on a composting toilet for my sailboat - but I wanted to watch your video anyway. Of all the ones I've seen, yours is the BEST! You get right in there (haha) and tell all about it (and show it too). Thanks for sharing.
I appreciate that someone finally did a real life demonstration. Your video provides detailed info so I can make the right decision, which composting toilet is best suited for my needs before I purchase. Thank you!
This has been the most informative video I've seen on compost toilets! I not only appreciated the pros and cons, I especially liked that you showed emptying the poop portion and explained it's ok to keep some bacteria. I always felt I had to wipe every corner each time. Waste of time & paper towels. Thank you young lady, great video.👍
Thank you so much for making this video! It's been so helpful! The best and most informative video on the subject I've ever seen! Everyone pansies around the subject like it's shameful or embarrassing yet it's the second most important part of camping/van life after the kettle! Thank you, it is a great help to finally see how they work and understand what it entails and how to deal with it from start to finish! Thank you! 🙏😉
Thanks! That was a bit graphic but I’m glad. I understand the process now. I don’t think I’d want to do this in a regular basis. For me a bag with pine pellets for poop and a diverter for wee is a lot more appealing.
I have to compliment you on posting such a fantastic, comprehensive video. We live in the US and currently have a 40' RV. We are considering downsizing to a smaller RV, perhaps a Sprinter van. The one thing holding us up is the fact that most of them have cassette toilets which need to be emptied frequently. This looks like a doable option for us. You answered all the questions I had from the smell to how long it lasts. Thank you so much!
I am astounded that this young lady would give me so much about a toilet that most just shut down about. The information was not just her about her but more important that most don't want to talk about, something most sites. I have spent many hours listening to to those that would sell snow to the antarctic. My situation is I have a block of land were we have a time in life to relax and the one thing we have just a shed on the block, this is the answer to running down the road every morning in the cold SA climate to relief ourselfs at 80 years oldies. This will be the best thing ever and we both thank you for the true details and what is important for us to get what we want. The things I have learnt from this ever the toilet paper cut in pieces, this information never given to anyone in all our 50 years of travelling. Good luck to you and your family for the future, please keep this up I am a fan.
We were going to get a composting toilet for our new van and after watching your video I am totally convinced it is the right way to go. Great video and you covered everything we needed to know. Well done!
Great video - Top Tip for the coco coir is to hydrate it in a ziploc bag. saves you breaking the brick apart inside the solids bin. Second tip - get a Cuddy to save wrestling your toilet each time you empty! Keep them Coming!
These toilets are amazing, been using it for nearly 7 months in an Opus camper traveling Aus solo. No separate room to block off and no smell. Empty once every two months.
Great video. Very informative. 4 weeks is amazing and great for free camping. And the wee on the trees/plants actually fertilises them. We use a standard cassette toilet. Lasts 3 days (2 adults). With a spare cassette that's 6 days. We were clued in on an effective, cheap recipe to replace the packaged chemicals: after emptying, add 2 capfuls of eucalyptus oil (kills the smell) + 2 capfuls of powdered bleach we get from Aldi (breaks it down) + 2 squirts of liquid detergent (stops sticking). Works beautifully.
Excellent video. So great that you have given detail - so true that no one wants to YT it but everyone needs to do it and know how it all works. Keep up the great work guys 👍
I don't know how RUclips got the idea I was interested in composting toilets but since I do have a motorhome I plan to use someday and never have liked the idea of black tanks/hoses/dump stations/etc., I watched your video and feel I've received a pretty complete education on the subject. Very articulately presented and explained. Thank you for doing such a good job with such a yucky (& unavoidable) subject.
I have had a natures head for five years, using it full time. I like it, it saves water. When the big freeze happened here in Texas, we had no problems with the water freezing because we were using it, unlike friends who had to live with the smell for days.
This is so helpful! Thank you. As a guy about to move into a van full time, I have zero experience with composting toilets. This demystified the the whole process. Grateful!
Best video on composting toilet I've seen. Been using a N H toilet 2.5 years now. I've found it easier for me to use coco coir bricks but mix in a pan first then place in the bin. Also found its easier for me to put a layer in the bottom of the bin & cover the metal stir paddles then after first use sprinkle a good amount over the poo but do not mix. After each use again sprinkle generous layer of cocoa coir using tiny shovel over poo. Do not stir. After a few days I use tiny garden tools / shovel & fork and remove the clumps as you would cleaning kitty litter box. Placing clumps in 5 gallon bucket lined with cocoa coir or straw. Then dump in compost bin ( I live in country & N H is in a cabin) or could dump in plastic bag. This is easier for me (@ 79 yrs young) than removing the entire unit. In warm weather I'll still do occasional total removal / rinse service. I live alone & am somewhat handicapped so this works best for me but with a family you have what works best for you. I do use mixed white vinegar in spray bottle after every use & wipe down. I need to use a dolly (hand truck) if I remove entire unit to service as I can not lift that much. I've never hooked the fan up as my NH is in a laundry room next to screened in porch & no need to. With spritz of vinegar its a fresh scent.
Best honest review. I’ve been trying to understand the composting system, just in case we end up with one, but I’ve got to say I’m still happy that we have a cassette. The emptying & cleaning process looks so cumbersome. No video so far has spoken about toilet paper, so I appreciate that you touched on that but I do wonder how much the average person uses for a number 2. We use the satchels for our cassette, not the blue liquid, which isn’t overly expensive and with only the 2 of us (with loo paper in a bag & seeing outside) we can last roughly 7 days. Each to their own and if the composting loo is the only option due to a new van, well you just have to get used to it. Thanks for the thorough content in this video, really appreciate it. Cheers Marg
Bloody brilliant Ep Sian, so well explained covering everything. We also have a Sojourn & luv our composting toilet. You’re a natural in front of the camera, keep up the awesome content and informative information, we luv seeing your weekly updates, cheers Rob & Alana.
What a great episode. Thankyou for the very thorough explanation. I’m in the market for a new van and now I have more confidence with going to a composting toilet 🚽👍
8:40 I have a natures head. I find it easier to place the bag over the opening of the chamber and down the outside. Then roll the chamber over. Then you are only lifting the weight of the chamber, not the waste. As you lift the chamber keep a hold of the bag opening against the sides of the chamber. Also I find I don’t need to use that much water. It still works just as well and it’s not as messy when emptying.
What I'm thinking? I'm impressed and appreciative. Thanks guys for talking about one of the few things that ever person on the planet needs to deal with and in a mature and helpful way. Good on ya!
I purchased the Air Head and been struggling how to even install it (8” wall to vent out mainly). Was so glad to watch the actual difficult parts of using the composting toilet. Thank you so much for detailing it, so much better than reading the manual.
I will NEVER own one of these. Waaaaay to much work .. I have a 5 gallon cassette toilet on wheels. I dump it in the nearest public restroom usually county parks or the campground dump station. Two lids to unscrew. One for dumping contents and the other is for air into the tank. No bags.. The whole process takes me maybe 5mins including rinsing and sanitizing. Many areas in the United States it's against the law to put human waste in THAT amount in a public dumpster, composted or not!! Proper dump stations are always available at campgrounds and rest areas. . Its definitely against the law to dump the sewage on top of public or private grounds. Health regulations. Human waste needs to be buried , hence why we have sewage tanks buried on the properties. Find yourself in jail if you get caught. The United States have different laws in each state, so folks in the US, do your research.
I agree and I wouldn't either! I use a composting toilet and line the bucket with a bag, then cover my poo with a medium after every use. Time to empty the bucket? Lift up the lid and seat, tie the bag off, pull it out of the bucket, the throw it in the trash. i have NO idea why anyone would spend so much money to use a toilet that's such a pain in the a$$ to empty!
Sensational. We leave for 12 months in a few days and have had a composting toilet just waiting for our bums! But never really felt fully in control of what’s to come with it/cleaning/everything until we start using it. RUclips is a wasteland for info on these, until now. I’ll buy you a drink if we see you on the road purely for this vid and Natures Head should be paying you a bunch for how informative it is.
thanks for posting a thorough video on the topic. after watching other videos on this, we opted to buy a handmade ( limited edition) ceramic urine diverter ( from serbia) to use with our composting toilet. For us, and shorter stay trips, a much better option. Also our unit covered the hole left in the wall from removing the usual cassette unit. We hope to do a video on it.
Great video! Really informative. I also love seeing another Mum doing it. I’m a single mum so I’ve never had any other choice other than to empty the Thetford on my own anyway. Thanks so much for sharing 😊
Great video. We made the decision to go compost when we purchased our Zone Base, wasn't standard. So glad we did. Your video was very comprehensive 👏 you really nailed it.
THANK YOU! This has really helped me to make a decision. I had done research on Nature's Head, and thought I wanted to go that direction, and now I'm pretty sure that I will choose this over the black tank. Thanks, again.
Thanks Sian and Chris for such a well presented and educational video. I, like a lot of people, had no idea on how the composting actually worked. Brilliant! Unfortunately It is not viable to change ours at this point. Maybe in the future with an upgrade we will convert 😄 Look forward to each and every video from you guys, Thank you. 💯❤ Hope to see you on the road this year!
I appreciate the vinegar tip. For me, the pee side is worse that the poo side. I am leaving on a trip this weekend and I will take vinegar with me. Also picking up lemon eucalyptus and a spray bottle!
Excellent video, perhaps a couple of handles ( plastic or stainless) attached to either side of the main toilet module will assist in carrying and emptying the unit.
Great advice about not fully cleaning the toilet because of the good mould. For my next van I will definitely going for a composting toilet. So annoying emptying the cassette every few days.
Thank you for such a great, honest, comprehensive and helpful video. I've watched a few tutorials but yours has been the most helpful by far Sian. We pretty much had the poo part sorted...ratio of peat to water etc..but I was struggling with how to keep the wee canister clean. I made the mistake of washing out with Dettol once and it took ages to get rid of the smell. Will def be switching to vinegar and water now.
That’s great to hear that you were able to take something away from this, that’s all we wanted it to be was education for newbies, and those already using as there just isn’t enough information out there on the matter! A lot of people don’t want to openly ask others but they’re happy to watch on RUclips in the comfort of their home as I was in the beginning when learning too ☺️👍🏻
First I thought I wanted a composting toilet over a cassette toilet. But after seeing this, I think I'd rather have the cassette toilet. Thank you for posting an honest review!
A great vlog guys. Sian answered many questions for us as we're getting a composting toilet in our new van. My initial thoughts were 'it's a lot of effort' however given it's only 2 of us I'm sure the benefits of longer off grid stays will outweigh this 👍
Hey Klara, honestly, you’re going to love it! It might seem like a bit of work, but with you and Gus only it won’t take you much time at all, it’s not as bad as it seems. We will never go back and I’m sure you will feel the same after you’ve emptied a couple times. It took us to own it to truely appreciate it 😁
If one is on medication it can wind up in one’s urine. Take a little care in where you place your pee. Avoid plants that provide food items. It’s OK for ornamentals but agronomists recommend 1 part pee to 10 parts water so you don’t "burn" your plants. I would buy one any day and use it it my home but I would have to import it and I don’t want to pay customs on items not made in my resident country. Anyways it’s good for the environment and what’s good for the environment should never be taxed by greedy countries which includes those in the EU which also has given the green light for taxing shipping charges.
Thank you for this most comprehensive and informative post on composting toilets - the best I have seen on line! Waiting for my compact 4WD motorhome to be built (with Separett Tiny Compost toilet) before doing the Big Lap in 24.
Thank you for having the courage to tackle the natural process of wee and poo!! Very informative video. I knew nothing about composting toilets before. Now I am impressed at how efficient they are.
So when you dump the compost. There is still raw “poo”. So it’s not all composted. Is that not black waste. When dumping that much wee, would it not poison the ground. Great vid very informative.
Thanks so much for such a straight-forward video about a topic most people sort of just touch on briefly. I had so many questions and you answered them all! Thanks!!
Well done for making this vid!!! Not many would actually show this side of caravanning, but so useful to know how they work to help people make the decision. I think you need a flat pack sack-truck to take it to the dump point though 🤣
Thank you! I've tried to find information about composting toilets, but as you said in the intro, nobody likes to talk about them. This must be the most comprehensive info available. You answered all the questions I had, so thank you very much!
Yes of course! Any paper is fine, the thicker the ply the quicker it fills. We use 2ply and limit the sheets where we can. Obviously have enough so your finger doesn’t poke through though 😝💩
Great vids guys. Done nicely. We have converted to compost toilet too and will never go back. So much better. No smell or dump points. Ours is a Separett Tiny. Goes in a compostable bag instead so just throw in the bin. No cleaning toilet like Natures Head ones. Also they are good for short weekend or long trips. Take care.
Yes they are a nice looking unit. I think the main differences are you get a month use but we only get a week or two. You guys are full time so would benefit from that a lot. Other thing is we have urine diverting option. So no wee stored inside the van. It goes into a 60L tank under van instead. So that is emptied a lot less often as well. Wee goes through a little blue puck that treats liquid and stops crystallisation. They need to be replaced every so often. These toilets were only developed in 2021 I think. 😀
I found a really nice looking unit online called an OGO. It’s a really compact little unit, and if something happens to our Natures Head, I’ll be having a good look at this one.
The best review of composting toilet in caravan I have seen. Thanks. I have watched few of your different reviews they always very informative and honest.
It’s very informative, and so good if you to do it. BUT it looks very time Consuming, and bulky to handle. I think I’ll stick to cassette toilet with a SOG system. Also no chemicals. No bad smells. Apparently. :)
That’s ok too, composting isn’t for everyone. All up (without recording) it’s usually about 15-20 minutes to do it each poo empty. Not much really and it just becomes part of life similar to unhitching or letting down stabiliser legs etc. thanks for watching!
I watched this with my husband. When you opened it up the first time I looked over and he was plugging his nose. lol Great thorough walkthrough. Thank you.
WhT a great video! The good , the bad, and the ugly! 😂 Great commentary too! Me thinks you’ve had a lot of public speaking or teaching(?) experience as it shines through. I personally just couldn’t afford $1700 even if I wanted to. So my alternative is a bucket with peat moss… 😉 Thanks for sharing. Very educational. 😊
Thank you for the compliments! I have come to be a good speaker and don’t have nerves if I talk about something I’m passionate about. I used to do some part time extras work too 😉 Peat in a bucket, bag or thunder dummy is better than none at all. It all decomposes the same. ☺️☺️
I agree that this was very informative. But, after owning several types of RVs and living full time in one for two years, I still prefer a regular flushing toilet with a black tank. It’s the closest to a regular bathroom. Totally doable to install in the van build process. Thanks for an excellent video.
Thanks for the video and the info. On a side note if you are outside doing your business try not to go wee on the tree because animals will be attracted to the salt content and do damage to the tree trying to get out the salt. You're better going on a rock. Anyway thanks again for the video
Hi Kim, We have the same sort of toilet but you just pull the plastic bag out and chuck it in the bin (dries poo out) So they are not all like that. 2min job. No dump point or carrying toilets etc. Game changer for us
If you stay in caravan parks often, yeah for sure. That’s a rare occasion for us but we wanted to show it in the worse case scenario which for me would also be at a dump point lol 😂 still… once a month for 15 minutes vs regular dump point stops, I just can’t go back! Thanks for watching 😊
Good video BUT if you are older and then try and carry out the toilet of the van then if you are at a fancy caravan park I couldn’t think nothing worse than cleaning out the toilet under the awning then doing the walk of shame to the dump point cleaning I think to much effort I will stick to the cassette type cheers 😊
In no way are we saying they are perfect for everyone, I get your point of view too! Each toilet type has its place in the caravan world. For us the composting is better but not everyone will have the same needs as us either 😊
I put my double bags in a basket first and that keeps them in one place...also once you have tipped it upside down into the bag if you turn the handle around any left o er compost will come out. We also changed our spindle from the hand spindle to the foot spindle, it's so much easier. We only clean the compost part out after every 3 empties as it's better for yr compost.
Great video, finally someone who actually shows the true nature of what we all do and know what to expect. I will also be getting a nature head when we build our van ( for 2 only). When camping we use a chemical portable toilet and have always used wipes for number 2 and place it in a nappy bag. Just 2 questions if you have time to answer 1. The inevitable explosive number 2 after a dodgy takeout meal - what do you do to clean the inside of the "Splash" 2. Can you have the number 2 hole open while peeing? Again thanks for showing us all your great content, keep it up Many Thanks - Tom
Depends on what type of caravanner you are, where you stay and the frequency you are near a town, caravan park or dump point. We have no ties to any of these things now we compost and we like that. For someone who frequents towns or caravan parks for sure it might be bulky. It you only do it once a month or less if you are just a couple though so it’s not often. 😊
It's such a valuable information. Some day, I am going to adapt this method because it's environmental friendly and also we can use it off grid. I am totally sold out for that.
Finally! Someone who is willing to show what you really have to do. Talking about and seeing for yourself, so different. Thank you 😊
Thanks Louie, glad you enjoyed it! ☺️💩
@@BigOzExplorers just had to say SHIT show 😅🤣🤪 😁 no , was good info, ( just had to to say it as it was 😝) don’t know if my comments are in right place. Couldn’t find normal comment spot 🤷♂️. Cheers 😎👍
@@timbroadbent5286 all good Tim! It was definitely a sh*t show haha I’m surprised there weren’t more play on word comments to be honest! 😝😝
@@BigOzExplorers just glad I couldn’t smell it 😝😬 . But 😉 by the looks it didn’t smell like anything but “ soil “. 😝 You know what your mum says when she’s cuddling your baby 😏 “ I think he’s Soiled his nappy “ 🤧
@@timbroadbent5286 haha not that type of soil, more earthy than that lol 😂 it really doesn’t smell though it’s pretty crazy!
I'm disabled & live off grid by my self and have used the Nature's Head Toilet for 5 + years now. Can be a bit of a pain @ times and the exhaust fan does fail @ once every 6 to 8 months (the free replacements are great) and the gasket needs to be replaced @ once a year or year and a half or so. I use saw dust - from my chain saw instead of peat. After surgery my digestive system has been considerably shorted. The saw dust does a better job absorbing the extra liquid and there is very little issue w/ flys / bugs apposed to using peat. No odor issue as long as I empty every 3 weeks or so. TP goes in the bin and incinerated w/ my burnables. I clean with apple cider vinegar and a very low power psi cordless pressure washer when needed - when it gets bad due to my inability to dump due to disability. The unit is a bit costly @ $ 1100 when I bought mine but over all much cheaper than $ 80k+ septic system, and the urine helps to stop predators ( big cats , coyotes, wolf and bear) from hunting my free range chickens and ducks.. Just spray around the 2 acres I have them on. Scent marking just like the predators mark their territory. The critters will move through but won't hunt inside the marked area.. Just my 2 cents and experience.
Yep, I'm in a similar situation...
Had mine for 7+ years. Fan long gave up the ghost, but I've got separate ventilation anyway.
Yep, saw dust, leaves, soil, coconut fibre, - all good
Thanks for the idea with the bottle, though. I usually tip it in the same area or the compost pile, but duhhh, scent marking, yesss. Plenty of wild life here. Feel a bit stupid I never thought of that, ha ha ha
@@ripbbl5053 I use a 2 gallon pressure / hand pump sprayer to better simulate animal marking behavior. Believe it or not the animals can tell the difference between that and dumping. Spray on pores (sp) material, wood, granite etc.. As it rains or gets damp the scent will continue to be released. Good luck
@@danielhall5364
Cheers, yeah, I can do that =)
thanks for the great info. May ask , just how much saw dust do you use and how often? have you ever used a handful of organic hardwood charcoal or bio char?
@@ripbbl5053 hi! May ask , just how much saw dust do you use and how often? have you ever used a handful of organic hardwood charcoal or bio char?
Your video just reminded me of all the things I ABSOLUTELY HATED about buying the Nature's Head for my Sprinter RV. Used it for 6 months before building my own (much better) composting toilet to replace it:
1) Dumping the solids container can't be done discretely or without creating a giant mess around the gasket & hinge.
2) Waste also gets stuck in the square corners and under the rim when dumping.
3) The upper liquids funnel section drips when unlatching to empty the liquids bottle daily.
4) The liquids bottle lacks any pour spout which means it dribbles down the sides and bottom when emptying
5) The solids container sliding lid gets soiled during use (especially when parked on slanted pavement) and smears solids in the unreachable recesses of the guide slot that can't be cleaned
6) The toilet lacks any molded-in lifting handles or straps to lift it out of the tight van interior when it is heavy with waste
7) The fan was underpowered and didn't adequately vent all smells
8) The rotating stir paddle is a joke and just becomes a sticky/muddy mess until it seizes. It isn't needed and prevents being able to use a liner bag for solids.
I'm sure this isn't a complete list, but just a list of dislikes from the top of my memory!
Our new custom composting toilet uses a 5-gallon bucket lined with a compactor bag for solids collection, a Separette liquids diverter seat that funnels liquids into a 5-gallon integral holding tank (twice the Nature's Head volume) with electric transfer pump to an external hose. A 1-way flap valve in the liquids drain prevents holding tank smells from entering the van. A high-power, ultra-quiet computer fan ventilates the toilet through the van floor.
Emptying the solids takes just 60 seconds, as you need only to tie up the liner bag, dump, and replace the bag. No mess whatsoever. Just add a small scoop of coconut coir after each use. Liquids dumping is just a button touch to start the pump. No smell at all with the larger exhaust fan and no need for the sliding trap door that gets messy (much bigger "target' for solids).
Nature's Head was a huge waste of money, except for the chance to research what we DIDN'T want in a composting toilet.
You are correct, Greg! Just about ANY other composting toilet is easier to empty, as there is no crank! For me the WORST part is an unlined container. EW! It's basically everything you said. Good job of explaining the down side!
Please post a RUclips video of yr creation. We all can benefit from it.
If I'm emptying my compost toilet when I return home, I tip the contents into a crate and add red wriggler composting worms; they turn the contents into worm castings in a few weeks. If I had the room to travel with a worm farm I would. As composting toilets become more popular I would like to see camping grounds set up worm farms if possible. This has got to be better than having plastic bags full of poo & peat being put into the bins. Well done for creating this informative video.
Just curious, could you add worms to the toilet itself and have it work? Seriously, that would be great.
@gailkellum832 I've been thinking of trying that while I'm at home where it wouldn't be quite as disastrous if they suddenly decided to abandon ship (note that I said "ship")
@@gailkellum832 .. I thought the same thing.. but then I thought.. maybe the agitator might harm the worms. Would that be an issue ?
I did like the comment someone made regarding having an internal poo bucket so you don't gave to remove the whole toilet. But maybe that doesn't work either ?
The best design I've seen for using a composting toilet is having a large trap door behind/next to the toilet to be big enough to pass through to the out side. So when you unlock the toilet to empty.. you remove it directly from outside. Saves you carrying it through your dwelling.
My friends have off grid cabins and they tried all of them. They ended up sticking to what worked best for them. They just use a big bucked under a wooden toilet frame and shovel from a sawdust bucket as needed after every visit to cover their business. They said it works a treat. ☺️👍
@@Mal-ug4zt ..too funny if they did..🤭😆
Genius idea! Time to send National Parks an email with your idea!
I've had one for about 8 years and love it. Wish it was still white.
Just a couple of things to note though.
The pee tube gets clogged with use and you do need to hose out properly when emptying, and put a tube up to loosen. You haven't had yours long enough to discover this.
Pee can stain this area at the top and a vinegar/water mix sprayed after every pee helps but you need a good clean with cream cleanser from time to time.
You do get insects in, they come down the air tube. Some tomato dust in the compost helps and diamatis earth is said to help too. I also spray fly spray in the area regularly.
If you have had these flies, you need to thoroughly clean the top lid because it will be full of eggs which survive being wet. You need to loosen, hose and remove.
Pee does stain the pee bucket over time and the vinegar doesn't completely stop this. I had had to bleach this many times and use high pressure hose when rinsing to try and remove. Not all dump points have high pressure hoses.
The flap which you open can also become stained over time and needs a thorough clean at times.
Still love it, but it does take a lot of work to keep clean and you can't use the commercial deodorizer/cleaners that hang over the bowl of a conventional loo.
Hope this information is helpful because the compost loo truly is a much better option when using it full time.
Frankly it does not seem as clean as a cassette system.
@@geoffrogers276 no it's not, but when you are on the road all the time trying to find a proper dump point every couple of days can be difficult.
When you stay in the bush for any length of time many portable systems end up being dumped on the ground which is bad for the health of others and the environment. People then come along and set up camp on top of semi broken down sh***. The chemicals only mask the smell.
@@geoffrogers276 look into incinerator toilets then... Cleaner than compost, less "cleaning" as well... You just empty ash. The only trade off is you are using about 1,500 watts over an hour to "process" the waste. However if you had a nice solar panel setup and battery bank, this could be completely free energy (after initial investment). Look up "ecojohn" , "incinolet" and "Cinderella toilet" to see the three major brands. Incinolet is the cheapest because it's the most simplistic... Nothing fancy. The EcoJohn is my personal favorite. The Cinderella is very expensive but has a lot of fancy safety features that are not needed if you use some common sense. All will require maintenance eventually and the incinolet looks very easy to work on because of its simplicity.
You totally right, I have the same problem with urine crystallization in the bottle urine, going crazy how remove that stuff. Thank you for you info.
I'd suggest getting, modifying and installing a solar bug light to take care of the bugs
My sailboat came with a homemade composting toilet, based on a 5 gallon bucket. He did a nice job of building this system into the existing toilet space. I use ground up coconut husks, but reconstitute them beforehand by adding water to get them in a scoop-able form. The boat has a built in locker for holding the reconstituted husk. Use it a bit like cat littler to cover after use. It has a pee collection funnel built in. I buy the heavy duty liners made specifically for a 5 gallon bucket toilet. It has a powered vent. I just close the bag up and remove from the bucket when full. No need to clean it, beyond the stuff above the bucket. Compared to a holding tank, it’s a no smell, no need to pump option. I would not be so thrilled if I had to do all the manual cleaning that the toilet in the video requires. I go through 2 containers worth in a summer of sailing, it’s dryish waste and has no odor. My girlfriend initially cringed when looking at the system, but she is now a believer.
As a nurse this isn’t something I haven’t seen. I think it is great that you did this video so a newcomer to this knows what to expect! Lots of campers have these but few say much about it - so thank you. You also did a good job explaining it without being gross - very “professional”.
Who’d have thought that a video on a toilet could be so informative and even enjoyable to watch. I’ve been really curious about the composting Options for a while now and this has really affirmed a few things. Thanks guys.
Thanks Shane! That’s great to hear… I was very curious to see how this would be received by most people that weren’t looking for the information in the first place 😆👏🏻💩
I can’t believe that for the amount of money this costs that they haven’t come up with an inner bucket for the solids so that you don’t have to remove the entire toilet to empty it!
They have, it’s called an Ogo compost toilet.
@@bob100079so much better and has a proper motor to mix
@@lifetimestoriesphotography Exactly. And takes up WAY less space.
@@dani_mack yes
They have. It's called TRELINO in 3 height sizes. Easy. Cheaper.
*Excellent presentation* and wonderful video editing! I'm not sure why I started watching this, but the _information and education_ was delivered so well, I had to watch to the end! Well done!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Lol, same here😆
Not a popular topic, however I am so grateful that I found this video. I plan to put a composting toilet in an out building on a farm to save people from walking a few acres back to the house. Really appreciate the detailed information.
The most comprehensive review I have ever seen! Thanks for your efforts Sian. This will help lots of people with the decision making process, pat yourself on the back!!!
Thanks for sharing! We've been using our natures head for 18 months now and are very happy with it! We keep our change a little more simple though. We break up a 15 litre coir brick into a bucket adding splashes of water to a third of the mix at a time, only adding about 500ml in total, so our mix is only just damp and not wet.
We put a compostable bag over the toilet and then flip it over to empty. That way there's very little chance of a spill and then we double bag. We've never rinsed it out though as you're just putting coir and poop straight back in and as you mentioned all the microbes are beneficial for breaking down the next batch. We never have any unpleasant smells when we empty, it just smells of compost/soil.
I’ve heard about these toilets for years, mostly from watching tiny house vids. I had no idea how they worked. Thanks for lifting the lid! I’d have no issue using one in a van. I think you’ve made a great choice.
That is the best informative video I have seen on the subject. Well done guys, you guys aren’t afraid to tackle the real issues of living full time on the road. Keep it up ❤
That’s the things people really need to know, someone has to talk about it ☺️☺️ cheers for watching!
Thank you for having the strength to do an all-inclusive real video.
Thank you so much for being willing to actually help us by showing us the truth about what's involved in cleaning these out. We take sanitation too much for granted. This is the real deal about what's involved in dealing with our own waste. Much respect to you for revealing what actually goes on. I now have the confidence to be able to do this myself.
So good to see you more back in front of the camera Sian, you are a natural. Not many people could have done this vid successfully, but you pulled it off very well. Very informative, feel better educated in making an informed decision. Definitely the way of the future. Thank you.
Thanks Leanne, I enjoyed being on camera too! I haven’t done anything like that in a while. Mum life takes over sometimes hey ☺️☺️
Great showing everything in detail HOWEVER that waste is absolutely not safe for yards or gardens until aged at least one year and even then should not be put on plants for consumption. I hope people do their own research. A great book resource is the humanure handbook.
His other book, The Compost Toilet Handbook " is better.
I wanted this for my van but I don't think I'm ready to work it out after seeing this vid. A gas station, the mall, gyms, others and a mini shovel would work best for me. I really needed this information, thank you for the vid. Good one. 👍
I was already sold on a composting toilet for my sailboat - but I wanted to watch your video anyway. Of all the ones I've seen, yours is the BEST! You get right in there (haha) and tell all about it (and show it too). Thanks for sharing.
Glad it was helpful! thanks 😊
I appreciate that someone finally did a real life demonstration. Your video provides detailed info so I can make the right decision, which composting toilet is best suited for my needs before I purchase. Thank you!
This has been the most informative video I've seen on compost toilets! I not only appreciated the pros and cons, I especially liked that you showed emptying the poop portion and explained it's ok to keep some bacteria. I always felt I had to wipe every corner each time. Waste of time & paper towels. Thank you young lady, great video.👍
No problem, thank you for watching! 😊
Thank you !, Im sold after 29 yrs. Of dumping a homemade system daily this will be a blessing and time effective since im alone.
Thank you so much for making this video! It's been so helpful! The best and most informative video on the subject I've ever seen! Everyone pansies around the subject like it's shameful or embarrassing yet it's the second most important part of camping/van life after the kettle! Thank you, it is a great help to finally see how they work and understand what it entails and how to deal with it from start to finish! Thank you! 🙏😉
I agree, except I would say second most to sleep, then the kettle... hahaha
Thanks! That was a bit graphic but I’m glad. I understand the process now. I don’t think I’d want to do this in a regular basis. For me a bag with pine pellets for poop and a diverter for wee is a lot more appealing.
I have to compliment you on posting such a fantastic, comprehensive video. We live in the US and currently have a 40' RV. We are considering downsizing to a smaller RV, perhaps a Sprinter van. The one thing holding us up is the fact that most of them have cassette toilets which need to be emptied frequently. This looks like a doable option for us. You answered all the questions I had from the smell to how long it lasts. Thank you so much!
I am astounded that this young lady would give me so much about a toilet that most just shut down about.
The information was not just her about her but more important that most don't want to talk about, something most sites.
I have spent many hours listening to to those that would sell snow to the antarctic.
My situation is I have a block of land were we have a time in life to relax and the one thing we have just a shed on the block, this is the answer to running down the road every morning in the cold SA climate to relief ourselfs at 80 years oldies.
This will be the best thing ever and we both thank you for the true details and what is important for us to get what we want.
The things I have learnt from this ever the toilet paper cut in pieces, this information never given to anyone in all our 50 years of travelling.
Good luck to you and your family for the future, please keep this up I am a fan.
We were going to get a composting toilet for our new van and after watching your video I am totally convinced it is the right way to go. Great video and you covered everything we needed to know. Well done!
Hey Denise, that’s awesome to hear! I’m so glad we’ve helped take some of the question marks out of your choice 😁😁😁
Great video - Top Tip for the coco coir is to hydrate it in a ziploc bag. saves you breaking the brick apart inside the solids bin. Second tip - get a Cuddy to save wrestling your toilet each time you empty! Keep them Coming!
These toilets are amazing, been using it for nearly 7 months in an Opus camper traveling Aus solo. No separate room to block off and no smell. Empty once every two months.
Great video. Very informative. 4 weeks is amazing and great for free camping. And the wee on the trees/plants actually fertilises them.
We use a standard cassette toilet. Lasts 3 days (2 adults). With a spare cassette that's 6 days. We were clued in on an effective, cheap recipe to replace the packaged chemicals: after emptying, add 2 capfuls of eucalyptus oil (kills the smell) + 2 capfuls of powdered bleach we get from Aldi (breaks it down) + 2 squirts of liquid detergent (stops sticking). Works beautifully.
Excellent video. So great that you have given detail - so true that no one wants to YT it but everyone needs to do it and know how it all works. Keep up the great work guys 👍
The best review I’ve seen.
We full time, in both Australia, and the USA.
When we return to Oz, we will install one.
I don't know how RUclips got the idea I was interested in composting toilets but since I do have a motorhome I plan to use someday and never have liked the idea of black tanks/hoses/dump stations/etc., I watched your video and feel I've received a pretty complete education on the subject. Very articulately presented and explained. Thank you for doing such a good job with such a yucky (& unavoidable) subject.
Very informative. Thank you for having the guts to actually demonstrate the reality of the situation.
I have had a natures head for five years, using it full time. I like it, it saves water. When the big freeze happened here in Texas, we had no problems with the water freezing because we were using it, unlike friends who had to live with the smell for days.
This is so helpful! Thank you. As a guy about to move into a van full time, I have zero experience with composting toilets. This demystified the the whole process. Grateful!
One of the best and genuine reviews between cassette and composting toilets. Well done guys!
Best video on composting toilet I've seen. Been using a N H toilet 2.5 years now. I've found it easier for me to use coco coir bricks but mix in a pan first then place in the bin.
Also found its easier for me to put a layer in the bottom of the bin & cover the metal stir paddles then after first use sprinkle a good amount over the poo but do not mix. After each use again sprinkle generous layer of cocoa coir using tiny shovel over poo. Do not stir. After a few days I use tiny garden tools / shovel & fork and remove the clumps as you would cleaning kitty litter box. Placing clumps in 5 gallon bucket lined with cocoa coir or straw. Then dump in compost bin ( I live in country & N H is in a cabin) or could dump in plastic bag. This is easier for me (@ 79 yrs young) than removing the entire unit. In warm weather I'll still do occasional total removal / rinse service.
I live alone & am somewhat handicapped so this works best for me but with a family you have what works best for you. I do use mixed white vinegar in spray bottle after every use & wipe down. I need to use a dolly (hand truck) if I remove entire unit to service as I can not lift that much.
I've never hooked the fan up as my NH is in a laundry room next to screened in porch & no need to. With spritz of vinegar its a fresh scent.
We have never put paper in ours but you have given us the confidence to try it.
Our Natureshead is the best upgrade we have added.
Best honest review. I’ve been trying to understand the composting system, just in case we end up with one, but I’ve got to say I’m still happy that we have a cassette. The emptying & cleaning process looks so cumbersome. No video so far has spoken about toilet paper, so I appreciate that you touched on that but I do wonder how much the average person uses for a number 2.
We use the satchels for our cassette, not the blue liquid, which isn’t overly expensive and with only the 2 of us (with loo paper in a bag & seeing outside) we can last roughly 7 days.
Each to their own and if the composting loo is the only option due to a new van, well you just have to get used to it.
Thanks for the thorough content in this video, really appreciate it.
Cheers Marg
Bloody brilliant Ep Sian, so well explained covering everything.
We also have a Sojourn & luv our composting toilet.
You’re a natural in front of the camera, keep up the awesome content and informative information, we luv seeing your weekly updates, cheers Rob & Alana.
What a great episode. Thankyou for the very thorough explanation. I’m in the market for a new van and now I have more confidence with going to a composting toilet 🚽👍
8:40 I have a natures head. I find it easier to place the bag over the opening of the chamber and down the outside. Then roll the chamber over. Then you are only lifting the weight of the chamber, not the waste. As you lift the chamber keep a hold of the bag opening against the sides of the chamber.
Also I find I don’t need to use that much water. It still works just as well and it’s not as messy when emptying.
We usually do the same but this was a ‘show all’ episode so we showed all lol 😝
What a refreshing intelligent lady who discusses natural functions and waste management extremely well.
What I'm thinking? I'm impressed and appreciative. Thanks guys for talking about one of the few things that ever person on the planet needs to deal with and in a mature and helpful way. Good on ya!
Excellent video, thank you. I've just ordered a Cuddy composting toilet for our camper trailer and this video helped a lot.
I purchased the Air Head and been struggling how to even install it (8” wall to vent out mainly). Was so glad to watch the actual difficult parts of using the composting toilet. Thank you so much for detailing it, so much better than reading the manual.
I will NEVER own one of these. Waaaaay to much work .. I have a 5 gallon cassette toilet on wheels. I dump it in the nearest public restroom usually county parks or the campground dump station. Two lids to unscrew. One for dumping contents and the other is for air into the tank. No bags.. The whole process takes me maybe 5mins including rinsing and sanitizing. Many areas in the United States it's against the law to put human waste in THAT amount in a public dumpster, composted or not!! Proper dump stations are always available at campgrounds and rest areas. . Its definitely against the law to dump the sewage on top of public or private grounds. Health regulations. Human waste needs to be buried , hence why we have sewage tanks buried on the properties. Find yourself in jail if you get caught. The United States have different laws in each state, so folks in the US, do your research.
I agree and I wouldn't either! I use a composting toilet and line the bucket with a bag, then cover my poo with a medium after every use. Time to empty the bucket? Lift up the lid and seat, tie the bag off, pull it out of the bucket, the throw it in the trash. i have NO idea why anyone would spend so much money to use a toilet that's such a pain in the a$$ to empty!
Sensational. We leave for 12 months in a few days and have had a composting toilet just waiting for our bums! But never really felt fully in control of what’s to come with it/cleaning/everything until we start using it. RUclips is a wasteland for info on these, until now. I’ll buy you a drink if we see you on the road purely for this vid and Natures Head should be paying you a bunch for how informative it is.
Thanks Ash, glad we helped you out! ☺️☺️
Noooo one from “here” (US) would ever go into such detail w such honesty. Kudos!
thanks for posting a thorough video on the topic. after watching other videos on this, we opted to buy a handmade ( limited edition) ceramic urine diverter ( from serbia) to use with our composting toilet. For us, and shorter stay trips, a much better option. Also our unit covered the hole left in the wall from removing the usual cassette unit. We hope to do a video on it.
That’s awesome, what you’re doing is the same concept just a different setup. Thanks for watching! 😁
Great video! Really informative. I also love seeing another Mum doing it. I’m a single mum so I’ve never had any other choice other than to empty the Thetford on my own anyway. Thanks so much for sharing 😊
Great video. We made the decision to go compost when we purchased our Zone Base, wasn't standard. So glad we did.
Your video was very comprehensive 👏 you really nailed it.
I applaud you for showing every detail from how it operates to the complete emptying process. I had no idea about any of this. Very helpful.
This is the best video about using a composting toilet out there, Thanks!
Thankyou for showing exactly what you have to do, much appreciated by someone just starting out
THANK YOU! This has really helped me to make a decision. I had done research on Nature's Head, and thought I wanted to go that direction, and now I'm pretty sure that I will choose this over the black tank. Thanks, again.
Me too. Just ordered an Arctic Fox and they don’t offer this as an option, so this vid was terrific for me! Thanks!
Great video, showed exactly what is involved and how one person can manage it.
Thanks Sian and Chris for such a well presented and educational video. I, like a lot of people, had no idea on how the composting actually worked. Brilliant! Unfortunately It is not viable to change ours at this point. Maybe in the future with an upgrade we will convert 😄 Look forward to each and every video from you guys, Thank you. 💯❤ Hope to see you on the road this year!
Great Video. Our Nature's Head Toilet arrives today. Thank you.
I appreciate the vinegar tip. For me, the pee side is worse that the poo side. I am leaving on a trip this weekend and I will take vinegar with me. Also picking up lemon eucalyptus and a spray bottle!
Brilliant video, thanks guys. We are installing our new composting toilet this weekend 😊
Excellent video, perhaps a couple of handles ( plastic or stainless) attached to either side of the main toilet module will assist in carrying and emptying the unit.
Great advice about not fully cleaning the toilet because of the good mould. For my next van I will definitely going for a composting toilet. So annoying emptying the cassette every few days.
Thank you for such a great, honest, comprehensive and helpful video. I've watched a few tutorials but yours has been the most helpful by far Sian. We pretty much had the poo part sorted...ratio of peat to water etc..but I was struggling with how to keep the wee canister clean. I made the mistake of washing out with Dettol once and it took ages to get rid of the smell. Will def be switching to vinegar and water now.
That’s great to hear that you were able to take something away from this, that’s all we wanted it to be was education for newbies, and those already using as there just isn’t enough information out there on the matter! A lot of people don’t want to openly ask others but they’re happy to watch on RUclips in the comfort of their home as I was in the beginning when learning too ☺️👍🏻
First I thought I wanted a composting toilet over a cassette toilet. But after seeing this, I think I'd rather have the cassette toilet. Thank you for posting an honest review!
A great vlog guys. Sian answered many questions for us as we're getting a composting toilet in our new van. My initial thoughts were 'it's a lot of effort' however given it's only 2 of us I'm sure the benefits of longer off grid stays will outweigh this 👍
Hey Klara, honestly, you’re going to love it! It might seem like a bit of work, but with you and Gus only it won’t take you much time at all, it’s not as bad as it seems. We will never go back and I’m sure you will feel the same after you’ve emptied a couple times. It took us to own it to truely appreciate it 😁
@@BigOzExplorers thanks x
Thank you for showing the process.
If one is on medication it can wind up in one’s urine. Take a little care in where you place your pee. Avoid plants that provide food items. It’s OK for ornamentals but agronomists recommend 1 part pee to 10 parts water so you don’t "burn" your plants. I would buy one any day and use it it my home but I would have to import it and I don’t want to pay customs on items not made in my resident country. Anyways it’s good for the environment and what’s good for the environment should never be taxed by greedy countries which includes those in the EU which also has given the green light for taxing shipping charges.
Thank you for this most comprehensive and informative post on composting toilets - the best I have seen on line! Waiting for my compact 4WD motorhome to be built (with Separett Tiny Compost toilet) before doing the Big Lap in 24.
The
MOST
HONEST
NOMADIC POTTY VIDEO
EVER!
Thank you. So real. And so thorough.
Thank you for having the courage to tackle the natural process of wee and poo!! Very informative video. I knew nothing about composting toilets before. Now I am impressed at how efficient they are.
No problem Linda, glad you took new info away from it, that was our main goal to educate in an area that isn’t spoken about enough 😁👍🏻
So when you dump the compost. There is still raw “poo”. So it’s not all composted. Is that not black waste. When dumping that much wee, would it not poison the ground. Great vid very informative.
Thanks so much for such a straight-forward video about a topic most people sort of just touch on briefly. I had so many questions and you answered them all! Thanks!!
You are so welcome!
Well done for making this vid!!! Not many would actually show this side of caravanning, but so useful to know how they work to help people make the decision. I think you need a flat pack sack-truck to take it to the dump point though 🤣
Thank you! I've tried to find information about composting toilets, but as you said in the intro, nobody likes to talk about them. This must be the most comprehensive info available. You answered all the questions I had, so thank you very much!
Thanks for the information!! One question can you use normal toilet paper? That would be a big saving as well
Yes you can, just consider the quantity
Yes of course! Any paper is fine, the thicker the ply the quicker it fills. We use 2ply and limit the sheets where we can. Obviously have enough so your finger doesn’t poke through though 😝💩
Thank you for sharing this information, I had no idea how to use one. Practice is the key to use it.
Great vids guys. Done nicely. We have converted to compost toilet too and will never go back. So much better. No smell or dump points. Ours is a Separett Tiny. Goes in a compostable bag instead so just throw in the bin. No cleaning toilet like Natures Head ones. Also they are good for short weekend or long trips. Take care.
That’s sounds interesting and easy to do. Will definitely look them up! Thanks for the info :)
Just had a quick look, they look very much like a normal toilet on the outside! 👏🏻👏🏻
Yes they are a nice looking unit. I think the main differences are you get a month use but we only get a week or two. You guys are full time so would benefit from that a lot. Other thing is we have urine diverting option. So no wee stored inside the van. It goes into a 60L tank under van instead. So that is emptied a lot less often as well. Wee goes through a little blue puck that treats liquid and stops crystallisation. They need to be replaced every so often. These toilets were only developed in 2021 I think. 😀
I found a really nice looking unit online called an OGO. It’s a really compact little unit, and if something happens to our Natures Head, I’ll be having a good look at this one.
The best review of composting toilet in caravan I have seen. Thanks. I have watched few of your different reviews they always very informative and honest.
Wow, thanks! 🥰
I thought the cassettes were bad 😂 🙅♂️ good demo but I will stick with the cassette. Handles would be good on the sides.
Yes handles would definitely be helpful! Thanks for watching! 😁
Thank you for sharing the actual process.
It’s very informative, and so good if you to do it. BUT it looks very time
Consuming, and bulky to handle.
I think I’ll stick to cassette toilet with a SOG system. Also no chemicals. No bad smells. Apparently. :)
That’s ok too, composting isn’t for everyone. All up (without recording) it’s usually about 15-20 minutes to do it each poo empty. Not much really and it just becomes part of life similar to unhitching or letting down stabiliser legs etc. thanks for watching!
I watched this with my husband. When you opened it up the first time I looked over and he was plugging his nose. lol Great thorough walkthrough. Thank you.
WhT a great video! The good , the bad, and the ugly! 😂
Great commentary too! Me thinks you’ve had a lot of public speaking or teaching(?) experience as it shines through.
I personally just couldn’t afford $1700 even if I wanted to.
So my alternative is a bucket with peat moss… 😉
Thanks for sharing. Very educational. 😊
Thank you for the compliments! I have come to be a good speaker and don’t have nerves if I talk about something I’m passionate about. I used to do some part time extras work too 😉
Peat in a bucket, bag or thunder dummy is better than none at all. It all decomposes the same. ☺️☺️
I agree that this was very informative. But, after owning several types of RVs and living full time in one for two years, I still prefer a regular flushing toilet with a black tank. It’s the closest to a regular bathroom. Totally doable to install in the van build process. Thanks for an excellent video.
Thanks for the video and the info. On a side note if you are outside doing your business try not to go wee on the tree because animals will be attracted to the salt content and do damage to the tree trying to get out the salt. You're better going on a rock. Anyway thanks again for the video
Thanks
If you empty it on a Saturday do you get time and two turds?
😂😂
Normally overtime is sought after but that’s an extra payload I don’t want to earn 😂😂
Great video !! Thank you for the frank instructions and showing how it works. ❤❤
Great video but holy cow we will stick to the cassette.
Walk of shame is bad enough let alone having to take the WHOLE toilet with you 🤦🏼♀️😳
Hi Kim, We have the same sort of toilet but you just pull the plastic bag out and chuck it in the bin (dries poo out) So they are not all like that. 2min job. No dump point or carrying toilets etc. Game changer for us
If you stay in caravan parks often, yeah for sure. That’s a rare occasion for us but we wanted to show it in the worse case scenario which for me would also be at a dump point lol 😂 still… once a month for 15 minutes vs regular dump point stops, I just can’t go back! Thanks for watching 😊
Fantastic demo, Ive been looking into changing from a cassette and had a lot of questions on these, youve answered all of them. Thankyou
Good video BUT if you are older and then try and carry out the toilet of the van then if you are at a fancy caravan park I couldn’t think nothing worse than cleaning out the toilet under the awning then doing the walk of shame to the dump point cleaning I think to much effort I will stick to the cassette type cheers 😊
In no way are we saying they are perfect for everyone, I get your point of view too! Each toilet type has its place in the caravan world. For us the composting is better but not everyone will have the same needs as us either 😊
Way too much messing about. Carry extra cassette for extended stays a quick empty and on with your day.
Loved your video. You explained it all beautifully. Thank you 😍
(Saw sufficient poo 💩 🤣)
Agree no way does this look fun hahaha way to much effort , heavy and time consuming. Cassette toilet all the way! Thanks for the video guys
Thanks very informative. But gave me the shits a bit😂. I’m sticking with the walk of shame. 👍
I put my double bags in a basket first and that keeps them in one place...also once you have tipped it upside down into the bag if you turn the handle around any left o er compost will come out. We also changed our spindle from the hand spindle to the foot spindle, it's so much easier. We only clean the compost part out after every 3 empties as it's better for yr compost.
It looks very awkward and bulky
Sound like your sitting on a methane bomb. What if your kids smoke.. 💥
Why not just buy a second canister. Problem solved.
There are smaller versions on the market too, this is one of a few and I think the biggest. 😊
Great video, finally someone who actually shows the true nature of what we all do and know what to expect. I will also be getting a nature head when we build our van ( for 2 only). When camping we use a chemical portable toilet and have always used wipes for number 2 and place it in a nappy bag. Just 2 questions if you have time to answer
1. The inevitable explosive number 2 after a dodgy takeout meal - what do you do to clean the inside of the "Splash"
2. Can you have the number 2 hole open while peeing?
Again thanks for showing us all your great content, keep it up
Many Thanks - Tom
How much stuffing around is that system. A cassette is so easy. The compost toilet is to much B...S...
Depends on what type of caravanner you are, where you stay and the frequency you are near a town, caravan park or dump point. We have no ties to any of these things now we compost and we like that. For someone who frequents towns or caravan parks for sure it might be bulky. It you only do it once a month or less if you are just a couple though so it’s not often. 😊
It's such a valuable information. Some day, I am going to adapt this method because it's environmental friendly and also we can use it off grid. I am totally sold out for that.