Campervan Toilets – The Different Types Explained
If you are new to campers and motorhomes you will no doubt be wondering about some of the terms used. This post is another in our series of explaining what all the different terms mean. Who would have thought there would have been at least 6 different types of toilet for your new van.
Cassette toilet
Also known as cartridge toilet. This type of loo is the most common in european motorhomes. It is almost guaranteed to be the type fitted if you have a coach built motorhome as opposed to a campervan conversion.
A cassette or cartridge toilet is a fixed toilet with built in flush that is connected to a separate cartridge or cassette that can be removed (usually from the outside) for the disposal of waste.
✔ Pros
- Easy to empty at campsite waste points
- Reliable & built-in solution that requires little or no maintenance
- Tends to use very little water
✘ Cons
- Cassette capacity is limited and will require regular emptying (every 1–3 days depending on the number of occupants)
- Requires chemical additives to be added to the tank to treat the waste and eliminate odours
Portable Toilet (Porta Potti)
These are more common in self build camper conversions. They are a cheap and cost effective solution and require little or no maintenance. Although there are multiple manufacturers and brands, Porta Potti by Thetford is by far the most common option.
As well as being cost effective and low maintenance they are also light and removable.
✔ Pros
- Cheapest toilet option if you are on a budget
- Very lightweight, can easily be lifted and moved if needed
- No installation required, just put in place and go!
✘ Cons
- Smaller waste tank than cassette options so can require very frequent emptying if more than one person in the camper
- Similar chemicals required to cassette systems to treat waste and eliminate unpleasant odours.
- Not bolted down unless using optional fixings
Because of their popularity with campervans, especially self build conversions, we have taken a more detailed look at them in their own feature: Understanding the Basics – Porta Pottis
Gravity Flush Toilets
Standard in many U.S. style RVs and motorhomes. They work like a standard household toilet but empty directly into a large underfloor waste tank.
✔ Pros
- Feels closest to a home toilet
- Large capacity waste tank
- Easy to operate
✘ Cons
- Requires access to waste station at a campsite to empty
- Risk of tank odors if not maintained properly
- Needs more water compared to cassette toilets, adding significant weight to the vehicle
Macerating Toilet
This is one of the more complex and expensive options. It uses a built-in grinder and/or pump to liquefy the toilet waste. This allows it to be pumped to a remote black tank giving increased flexibility in toilet location. It also significantly reduces the risk of having to deal with blocked pipes.
✔ Pros
- Can locate the toilet anywhere in the campervan
- Prevents clogging of the waste pipes
✘ Cons
- Requires power to operate the macerator
- Mechanical parts involved means a greater risk of failure nthan other more basic systems.
- Noticeably more expensive than gravity toilets
Composting Toilet or Dry Toilet
This solution uses no water to operate. It works by separating liquids and solids, with the solids diverted to a seperate tank to decompose is typically peat or coconut coir. These are relatively speaking new to the market having only really started to grow in popularity in the last 5-10 years. As such improvements are still being developed and made.
✔ Pros
- No water or chemicals required to operate it
- Very long time between solid-tank emptying (up to 4 weeks depending on usage)
- Great for off-grid use due to the lack of water required and extended emptying requirements
- Minimal smell when vented correctly
✘ Cons
- Requires a more complex installation as well as venting to eliminate odour
- Significant upfront costs often involved
- Need to empty liquids more frequently
Shop now for composting toilets
Other options?
Yes there are even more options still to chose from. However none of these are particularly popular so we shall just note them and not go into any detail, these are;
- Dry flush toilets
- Vacum flush toilets
- Incinerating Toilets
Hopefully this short guide has helped you understand your options. As getting started in vanlife can be complex and a bit of a minefield, we will continue to publish articles to hopefully make things easier for all.
