Toilet Options For Campers: Regular Or Customized?

Toilet comfort is a serious matter, whether you're camping for the weekend, taking a long road trip, or living in your camper full-time. While a residential toilet may be more comfortable than an RV toilet, installing one in your RV is not a good idea. Here's why: residential toilets are made of porcelain, have a heavy tank on top that's not secured to the wall, and use a lot more water. The construction of residential toilets is not meant to be rattled down the road, and the vibrations and movements of your vehicle will eventually cause the porcelain to fracture. They also have larger footprints, so they may not physically fit in your RV bathroom.

Space Limitations

Space is a significant limitation when considering installing a regular toilet in a camper. Most household toilets are designed for spacious bathrooms and are therefore quite bulky. On the other hand, bathrooms in campers, trailers, or motorhomes are typically compact and may not be able to accommodate a regular-sized toilet.

The larger footprint of a regular toilet may pose challenges in fitting it into the limited space of a camper bathroom. It is essential to consider not only the size of the toilet but also the clearance needed for using it comfortably, especially for taller or larger individuals.

In addition, the water tank of a regular toilet can be quite large and may require frequent refilling, which can be inconvenient when on the road. A typical home toilet can use up to 3 to 6 gallons (11.4–22.7 litres) per flush, which is significantly more than the average RV toilet, which uses about 40 gallons (150 litres) per tank. This higher water usage can lead to more frequent refilling of the freshwater tank and emptying of the black water tank.

Furthermore, the holding tank of a regular toilet can contain up to half a gallon to a gallon of water. During transportation, the water in this tank can slosh around and spill, potentially causing water damage to the floors and walls of the camper.

While some people do install regular toilets in their campers, it is generally not recommended due to the space limitations and other factors such as construction, materials used, and water requirements. Composting and portable toilets are often suggested as more suitable alternatives for campers, as they are designed to be compact, water-efficient, and easier to maintain.

Construction and Materials Used

Regular home toilets are usually made from porcelain and are not designed for the road. The vibrations and movements of a camper can cause the porcelain to fracture. Regular toilets are also not secured to the wall, so they will move around a lot and may not fit in a camper bathroom as they tend to be larger.

Home toilets also have a holding tank on top filled with around half a gallon to a gallon of water. When placed in a camper, this water will be sloshing around under an unsecured tank lid and will likely spill out while driving, causing water damage.

Home toilets use more water per flush than camper toilets, meaning you will need to fill up your freshwater tank more frequently and empty your black water tank more often.

Composting toilets are an environmentally friendly option for campers as they require no chemicals and no water. They can be a good choice for those who are camping off-grid as they require no black tank space or water. Composting toilets have a system that separates liquids from solids into separate tanks, reducing odours.

Ceramic toilets are a common upgrade for campers. They are sturdier than porcelain toilets and can offer features such as a soft-close lid or an additional hand sprayer.

Portable toilets are a good option for small campers or those without built-in toilets. They operate similarly to a gravity toilet, with waste flushed into a black water tank using a water pump. However, the black water tank on a portable toilet is very small and requires frequent emptying.

Water Requirements

Regular toilets and RV toilets have very different water requirements. A regular toilet uses 0.5 to 1 gallon of water per flush, which is a lot more than an RV toilet. This has several implications for RV owners:

• The freshwater tank will need to be refilled more often as it will empty faster.
• The black water tank will fill up with waste faster and will need to be emptied more often.
• The increased water usage may be an issue if you are boondocking or dry camping (camping without water hookups).
• The extra water can also cause damage to the RV. If the regular toilet is not properly secured, the water can spill out while driving, leading to potential water damage to the walls and floor of the RV.

Therefore, it is important to consider the water requirements of a regular toilet before installing one in an RV or camper. The increased water usage can be a significant inconvenience and can also lead to potential damage to the RV. It is worth considering other RV toilet options, such as composting toilets or gravity flush toilets, which use less water and are more suitable for the RV lifestyle.

Regular Toilet’s Holding Tank

Regular toilets are not suitable for RVs due to their construction and water usage. They are typically made of porcelain with a heavy tank on top that is not secured to the wall. The vibrations and movements of an RV will cause the porcelain to fracture. Regular toilets also use more water, which will fill up your black water tank faster and need to be emptied more often.

However, there are some key considerations and best practices to keep in mind when dealing with regular toilets and their holding tanks:

• Materials and Construction: Regular toilets are typically made of porcelain, which is not designed to withstand the vibrations and movements of an RV. The toilet will likely fracture over time.
• Water Usage: Regular toilets use more water per flush, which will fill up your black water tank faster and require more frequent emptying. It is important to use adequate water when flushing to prevent clogs and dilute waste.
• Holding Tank Maintenance: Proper maintenance of your black tank is crucial to prevent leaks, odours, and damage. Use RV-specific toilet paper, high-quality tank chemicals, and regularly rinse and empty your tank.
• Space Constraints: Regular toilets often have a larger footprint and may not fit physically in the limited space of an RV bathroom.
• Water Damage: The sloshing water in the unsecured tank lid of a regular toilet can cause frequent spills and water damage in your RV.
• Stationary Use: If you plan to be stationary for an extended period, using a residential toilet in a camper may be acceptable. RV parks with sewer connections can handle the higher water usage.

Refit Is Harder Than It Looks

While it is possible to replace an RV toilet with a standard residential toilet, it is harder than it looks. This is a rare modification, and few people have much knowledge about it. Most of the time, the residential toilet is removed later, as it proves to be an experiment that doesn't work.

The first step is to determine how both residential and RV-designed toilets work. Apart from being larger than RV toilets, home toilets are usually made from porcelain and include a water tank that is not heavily secured to the wall. This means that the tank will need to be secured to the wall of the RV, which is a challenging task.

You will also need to consider the plumbing system. Residential toilets require an entirely different plumbing system to RV toilets. This will be a time-consuming and difficult process, and only semi-permanent. If the RV ever needs relocating, it will make that task harder to complete.

It is also important to note that a potential buyer will likely have an intensive dislike for a residential toilet with all its extra inconveniences. Therefore, if you are planning to sell your RV or camper in the future, it is best to avoid making this modification.

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