Not to be graphic, but a porta-potty question!

[graygables]

I remember back in the day, when we got our first chemical potty for our trailer and I'm sure it was either the chemicals or the having to listen to my dad that caused me permanent emotional trauma!

OK, that said, DH is kind of a strange guy and has this thing about using the toilets in a "public" facility (even a comfort station) So, I'm thinking of investing in a portable toilet that we could set up in the "third room" of the tent. Would be good with 2 little DDs at night, too (OK, and me!)

I will most certainly have the responsibility of maintaining it even though it is MY birthday trip (don't ask), so I was wondering how these things work now? I'm looking at a Passport from Walmart (2 chambers, actually *flushes*?!?) How does one maintain this sort of thing? Chemicals? Special paper? Where do you dump it?

Thanks for any tips (just remembering that smell makes me gag...I can't imagine my dad having to carry that bucket and... )

 

[tim5055]

With the newer chemical formulations, there is very little (if any) smell with a porta potti.

But, instead of setting it up inside your living tent, why not get it a tent of it's own?

Check out our Porta Potti & tent. It may give you some ideas.

 

[always quiet]

When we tent camped, a portapotti was something I demanded!! There was no way I was hiking myself, along with 3 kids, all under 7, to a comfort station!! We never had any problems with it. It was DH's job to clean it out, but he was always done with it in a matter of minutes. We never bought any 'special' t.p. for it either.............heck, with the amount of times the kids "had" to use it, we would of spent a small fortune!! When we had the larger van and were driving down to WDW, we would actually leave in inside the van, wedged between the back 2 rows of seats. More than once, at least one of the kids HAD to go, in the middle of nowhere!!

Check out the thetford website to see what models are out there and what features you like!

 

[Melynny]

Umm no one has mentioned how to "empty" the porta potty. When we had our popup, emptying was my job. In the morning, when I walked to the shower house, I would just carry the bottom of the porta potty ( that held the waste) and and poured it into the toilet.

I am not sure if others do this, but it's what I did. I did use chemicals in there, just a small amount of liquid holding tank deodorant.

Also, when when camped where there was full hook ups ( a sewer connection), I just opened the cap on the sewer and dumped the waste in there. Kinda stinky, but it was sure nice to use the potty in the middle of the night. Just remember to wash your hands, and I even wore gloves when messing with campsite sewers. If I had kids, I would surely have a porta potty, even with a tent. Heck, we have one for the grandkids on our pontoon boat!

 

[gardendame]

If you get the potty, here is a very affordable 'outhouse' for it. I will be getting one of these myself! The only problems I have heard with it, is it is difficult to re-pack back into the round carrying case, but hey, practice doing that in your living room before you go!
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=77400