How to Choose a Camp Toilet

Check out our range of camp toilets and accessories online here:

If you’re about to head away on a longer trip, and want to add a touch of luxury to your outdoor bathroom, then a portable camping toilet is the way to go.

With a range of options available on the market, from the very simple quadfold design to the more complicated waste holding tank models – it can be a bit tricky to pick the right one. That’s why we’ve roped in our teammate Ben to talk you through everything you need to know about choosing a camp toilet.

In this video, Ben answers all the common FAQ’s we get on camp toilets such as:

What are the differences between the brands and models? What features should I look for and why? What do you get for the higher price tag? What size camp toilet should I get? What chemicals do I need and what are they for? And finally, what accessories do I need for my camp toilet? So watch above for all those details and more!

0:00 - Intro
0:18 - Basic frame seats
0:39 - Porta Potti range
1:28 - Porta Potti differences
3:09 - Fill ports & pumps
4:23 - Waste water tanks
5:43 - Chemicals
6:24 - Carry bags

[hrhosmer]

I put a Thetford in my mini van for day trips to the beach. I learned on our trip to Turkey not to put TP in the toilet as the sewers are so old. So I put the used TP in a doggie bag and bring along plastic bags to line the bowl and dispose of #2. I put up modesty panels (Pareao) with binder clips to the plastic to ceiling separation. I love not using public toilets. P.S. I also put a sink with running water in the minivan. Don’t clog the toilet with paper and you’ll be glad .

[jameshillery]

Due to the recurring COVID scare and businesses hesitant on allowing use of their facilities (Park privies are closed too as there is no where to go in these times!) These devices are a godsend! Thanks for the vid!

[WillNGo]

Brilliant videos. Compared to the happy talk PR garbage videos your videos are practical, and actually useful. Thanks so much. (It took me half an hour poking around the Thetford site before I could tell the difference between their models, and sort out which models are no longer available.... And I had to go to their European site.)

[khankore]

Good day from Pakistan am starting to make a mini caravan your video was really helpfull

[PamHa]

you forgot to mention that the dometic also comes with a larger tank too. (19litre) That I think gives it an edge on the Thetford

[SuperThorOdinsson]

Informative video. I decided to go with the $3 home depot 5 gallon bucket.

[elazarpimentel]

First time I hear the bottom tanks are sealed. I know it sound silly, but nobody ever mentions it, I thought the hole of the bottom tank was just opened and you had to walk very careful. Nice to know you can just carry it. I guess you could have a foldable cart so you don't have to make a lot of effort.

[howardjohnson]

I bought a toilet from dry-toilet 2 years ago and it is the best toilet you could ever consider. It has a 20’ long Mylar tube in it. After each use, it twist off the poo and sucks down a new empty bowl. There is absolutely no odor ever. After 15 uses, you remove the cassette which is already in a heavy plastic bag and put in a new one. I converted my black water tank to a second gray water tank. There is always some residue in the funnel down into the bottom of toilets in this review. With my toilet you throw the plastic bag in the trash with no smell.

[Ken_James_SV]

"If it does happen to happen" 6:32 😄 Sorry, I couldn't resist commenting because it sounded so funny. Thanks for the Information, it helped me decide to get the 20 litre Thetford 👍

[Loppyu]

Thanks for info on the products. After a portable toilet for bathroom renovation with no spare toilet in a flat. Looks like the 365 is the right product for the job.

[tonymiller]

The only issue with chem toilets is that they last for 7 days top. As per manual you need to empty them and re-fill chemicals in under 7 days. And it also depends on type of chemicals, some chemicals give you only 5 days. For us it's a problem. Our trips take quite a bit longer than 5 days and searching for a dump point every 5 days is not an option and we don't manage to fill it up, so it goes home 3/4th empty and yet unusable because it needs to be emptied anyway and building up gas (it starts building up gas after 5 days).

[TBoss]

Just the video I needed to watch. Thanks.

[Vanadeo]

Very useful info.. Im wanting to put one of these in the back of my Sedona for Light use. I can't tell you the implications of going camping in that thing without one, we've had to cut trips short lol..

I'm hoping that one of these would be a great solution with a pop up tent, My girlfriend proposed the "dig a hole" idea, which is great, but we aren't guaranteed to end up in an area overnight where we can do that and when you are hundreds of miles away from home it's no fun nursing the spice mélange, hoping the service's offer clean and quiet place to lay some eggs.

[colinwestwood]

Greetings from the UK, just setting up my campervan and your video was a great help in choosing what size, and how to use it. Regards, wessie.

[bobjuniel]

You failed to explain the number of uses before the unit needs to be emptied. Is peeing counted the same as pooing in the count? Can they be emptied into a normal sewered or septic tank toilet? How many flushes before the water needs to be topped up? How much water is needed to fill the cistern? What about a pop up tent out house? I believe they exist and are often essential. Do they ever block up? If so what causes them to block up? How are they unblocked and cleaned? Last time we used a camping toilet we used a plastic toilet seat built onto a folding stool but we used plastic bags designed to fit the toilet stool, we then tied and buried the bag of waste. That is a cheaper and more compact option but one does need a shovel. The higher Porta Potty looks like the best option because it can be used more times before it has to be emptied. One of the most important camping topics. Need more info.

[iair-conditiontheoutsideai]

Thetford owns this market they make the best portable products

[Trystan]

Thank you for this video Awesome !!!! 👍👍👍

[joemarino]

This is great alternative to using my boot heel to dig a hole in the ground.

[robertpearson]

You didn't mention the larger capacity Dometic that you have on the shelf behind you. We've been using that model for several years with good results, though the seat does now need to be replaced.

[JohnW-bivj]

Almost lost me at `get into it' and `jump straight into it' (lol!) but actually very informative thanks.