Portable Toilet Review - Thetford Porta Potti for Van Life, Truck Camper Life

*Official Website*

*Newsletter Sign Up*

*Books by We're the Russos*

*Support the Channel*
Like, comment, and share

*Book a Call with Joe*

ⓢⓤⓑⓢⓒⓡⓘⓑⓔ & Turn on Notifications for New Videos

=========================
© We're the Russos, LLC 2020. All Rights Reserved.
=========================

- Disclosures -

[southsurreybc]

May I add a word of caution? When driving from sea level up the mountains, please make sure the drain from the toilet into the bottom tank is slightly open. One day I had the most nasty surprise when I opened the lid, opened the drain and bang! The pressure released a lot of nasties into my face! So lesson learned: keep the drain very slightly open when traveling.

[camperab]

I still have the Porta Potti 235, bought in the 1980s. Then it was used in a VW T3 Multivan, later in VW T4 Multivan. It still worked fine as an emergency toilet after more than 30 years when there was a broken waterpipe in the house some years ago. Everything functions well!

[tedk]

We purchased this Thetford Porta Potti last year. We are tent campers. We carry this toilet in our SUV when there is a lot of waste inside of it. There is ZERO odor from this toilet when full. This porta potti does NOT leak. Easy to empty and clean. Easy to carry when full of waste. (Oh, one added benefit. We kept this odorless toilet in our house to train our toddler to transition from diaper to toilet. Due to porta potti small size vs, toilet, toddlers prefer this over toilets.)

[CarolsCurrentObsession]

We have a similar Porta potty toilet, (ours is a manual flush Thetford 13"), and while it is a bit awkward and heavy, it works really well. My husband is the one to empty ours, but in a pinch, I can do it too. And I can lift it from the cabinet and set it down to use it, and then lift it back into the cabinet.
(We have a little 1967 aristocrat lo liner, 13', 15' if you include the tongue).
So it's not terrible. (Im 5' nuthin, and a little heavy, have a bad knee and back, & am 50, to give you an idea. So yah, it's really not too bad).
And I can get 2 or 3 camping trips out of one ~fill-up~ of the freshwater tank. (Each trip lasting 2 or 3 days, 2 flushes, plus a spray bottle spritzing for every use, used at least 4 times a day.)
PRO TIP: The key to those Porta potty toilets remaining clean & not stinky, is the spray bottle. Before using the toilet, you push the plunger to add water to the bowl, then you spritz the inside, use the toilet, spritz again, and push the plunger to add more water and flush. If there is anything left over, you spritz again, and pull the flush again. That saves you on flushes, keeps everything tidy, and really keeps the odors down to nil.
During the camping trip, I always spritz enough water in the bowl AFTER that whole ritual to barely cover the black part of the seal, (about 1 or tablespoons worth of water, almost none), which acts exactly like a trap in a toilet at home, keeping everything odor free!
So yeah, that spray bottle is as essential as toilet paper & the chemical agent you put in the tank to break down "stuff".
And one last tip ~ if you forgot to empty your toilet (for say, a whole winter, cuz you thought you did but you didnt.... 😨), or you go higher in elevation, be wise ~ open and shut the flush seal with the lid shut BEFORE using! 😂😉

[mantiscity]

Thank you for talking about this. No one ever does. I like when you said it does not have that much of a smell

[southsurreybc]

Great review! Got the exact same one for the past 3 years in my sprinter van. Easy to dump, easy to clean, been through 70, 000 miles of road. Flawless!

[mattberry]

i’ve used the same brand for many years. to flush using less water i use a sports bottle. easier to use less water while completely rinsing the bowl.

[TrishBenedict]

I think the best reason not to use it for #2 is the cleanup. There’s always going to be, uh, brown smears on the sides, so we will use bags for that function. And your point that guys should sit and not stand: my husband tends to miss when he’s half asleep, and even with our Travato toilet, he uses a urinal and dumps in the toilet. So much neater! It’s a habit that’s left over from our A-frame because it didn’t have room for a potty. The potty was outside and I had to go out there in the middle of the night to use it. No point both of us going out, so I got him the urinal so I could empty his stuff when I went out to pee.
Thank you for the positive review on the Thetford 565e. We’re downsizing from Travato to Solis Pocket and that’s the potty I was intending to buy to replace the teeny 12 inch mini squatty-potty that they include.

[richardmarple]

We've had one for a year and everything you say is true. One thing I do as a part time camper is to remove the batteries between camp trips. It eliminates leakage which can damage the battery cassette.

[HolgerJakobs]

I have made good experience with pouring cheap mouthwash instead of AquaKem into the tank, but I'll try your idea of using vinegar as well. You could even use the mouthwash the way it's supposed to be used and then spit it into the toilet - double use! ;-)

[seanptaco]

I don't even go camping.. and yet I love this device!

[BrettLizzy]

Ive been using the thetford curve toilet for 8 years in my outhouse and dump down septic tube.. 2 people can use the toilet. #1 and #2 with toilet paper for 3 weeks. I guess as a guy I go #1 outside. Since we live in the woods. I also hate the smell of chemicals and use the organic happy camper crystals. (Amazon). Works great. Everything breaks down. And for us we open the hatch first then use. Everything just goes thru the hole into tank. We have like a 4 foot long branch we use to push everything llike the TP thru the hole after a few flushes. Never really had anything stick to the bowl. Cleaning after dumping we use a spray bottle with water and about an ounce of isopropyl alcohol. One love.

[reginaweeks]

Cool! A toilet paper roll holder! Neat way to flush! Very versatile! Hey! I've always said, "You know that you are amongst friends, when you can talk about poop and farts!" 🙂 Take care and God bless you!

[rltgamer]

I have that same portable toilet in my van. Works great!

[portnuefflyer]

They have been in production for decades, I have fond (??) memories of the one I had 40 years ago. BUT, it cannot be stressed aware of atmospheric pressure changes! Crack it open slightly before "use", and all will be good.

[suzanneenright]

This is the video I've been waiting for. I've been following you guys for 3 years not and have never commented. But since you downsized to this much smaller rig, this has been my biggest question. Thanks for answering it.

[MAGA]

Hey guys, thanks 4 a great post. I’m on my second Thetford 365 both lasted 6-7 months then the “seal” completely failed so that when u pick up bottom tank to dispose everything comes pouring out. It’s a real mess. I went with 365 due to it being square. I live and travel full time in a 2019 Ram Promaster. I never knew there was a floor catch for the portable toilets so thanks for that also. Thanks again!

[fortunateadventures]

My cassette toilet has been a life savor.I love it 😊 🚐🌵

[wrightturnonly]

Hey guys, another great video. We have a built in cassette in our truck camper. I was wheeling it into one of those big fancy “welcome to the state” rest areas last year. A man exiting the men’s room said “What is that thing?” I just looked up and said “Haven’t you seen carry on luggage before?” No response after that. Just an odd look on his face. Lol

[cww]

Laveo is the best rv toilet out there. It is very sanitary, no smell, no mess getting rid of he waste. You never come in contact with any waste. It is good for 15-17 full uses. (Urine and fecal mater). Watch the You tube online vehicle. Can dump in any trash can. This is the only way to go. You can use it in your unit take it outside put it in a tent take it anywhere you want. People even take it to their blinds when they are out hunting.