Going out camping is considered to be among the best outdoor activities. Not only does it bring you closer to nature, but it can also provide you with a unique experience with the outside world.
But then again, when nature calls, you may want to have something with you other than just leaves and dirt.
This is the reason why most campers prefer to bring a camper toilet in each of their travels.
Are you wondering how does a camper toilet work? Then, we’ve got you covered!
There are many different kinds of camper toilets; each one is made to address the different kinds of needs of both travelers and campers. Let’s take a look at what makes a good camper toilet and how it works.
What Is a Camper Toilet?
A camper toilet is a portable toilet that you can bring with you when you go camping or traveling on the road. These toilets are usually made to fit trucks, RVs, and boats.
In case you are wondering, camper toilets are different from portable toilets because they are made to cater to a large number of people for a longer period. In fact, a typical camper toilet has enough waste storage for a family of four and can accommodate a week’s worth of wastes.
For the most part, camper toilets are made to be more durable than portable toilets, so they are bulkier, with more parts, and has larger storage. Obviously, these toilets have to be sturdy and capable of taking the rough conditions of the outdoors. At the same time, they should also still be hygienic enough to have inside an automobile when traveling.
Different Kinds of Camper Toilets
There are many different kinds of camper toilets. There are camper toilets that have a waste capacity of over 10 gallons, while there are also camper toilets that can be folded and stored like a briefcase. Here are some of the most common ones you will find in stores today:
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Portable Camper Toilets
There are camper toilets that are designed to be portable enough to be carried in any vehicle, allowing them to be transported with ease. These camper toilets are usually made for backpackers or solo travelers.
Evidently, the best portable camper toilet should be not only lightweight but also collapsible. Most importantly, they should be stored along with other travel equipment without the risk of contamination as well.
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Durable Camper Toilets
Durable camper toilets are crafted to make it through the rough conditions of the outdoors. This means being sealed and protected from the worst kinds of outdoor weather.
In addition, durable camper toilets are also designed to withstand the wear and tear of long-distance travel. This means that it should be made with lightweight but very tough materials.
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Reusable Camper Toilets
Reusable camper toilets are made to accommodate campers or travelers of a large group. The priority here is to have enough storage to contain the wastes of several people over a certain period. This means that the toilet also has to be durable enough to be used several times in one day and over an extended period.
Parts of a Camper Toilet
Now, before we can talk about how does a camper toilet work, we must first understand the different components that make it up. Below, you will find the basic parts that you will see on almost all camper toilets out on the market.
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Toilet Seat
In most cases, the seat of a camper toilet is made with the exact dimensions of a standard house toilet. This is especially true with the toilet seat and the toilet seat cover. This is done to make the user comfortable when using the camper toilet.
The seat is also made to be more durable than the typical toilet seat so that it can take the rigors of the outdoors. Camper toilet seats also have to be lightweight to make it easier to transport but still durable enough to be used by people of considerable weight.
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Freshwater Tank
Most camper toilets have freshwater tanks, which are used to flush wastes into the waste storage tank. A pressurized tank can also be used for the flushing mechanism of a camper toilet.
While most toilets use simple, fresh water, there are some that recommend using water with special chemicals mixed in to flush out wastes. These chemicals can dissolve most waste into liquid form and also mask unpleasant odors.
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Storage Tank
The most important part of a camper toilet is its storage tank. The storage tank is used to store all human wastes. This tank should be lightweight but also be durable enough to take in gallons of waste at a time. Most tanks are made in one piece to minimize leakage and eliminate seams for odors to seep out from.
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Drainage
Most camping toilets have a drainage system to allow wastes to be drained or pumped out of the storage tanks. This is an important feature that ensures that the toilet can be reused time and time again.
The drainage spout or valve also has to be sealed tight to ensure that there will be no leaks of liquids and odors from the tank. However, there are also camper toilets that have special bags that line their storage tanks. These bags are sealed shut and taken out of the storage tank to be disposed of at the end of the trip or when the tank is full.
How Does a Camper Toilet Work?
Camper toilets work pretty much like your standard toilet; only it has to be lighter and more durable while still retaining the ease and comfort of a home toilet. The toilet has a seat to accommodate the user, a flush function to move the wastes from the bowl, and a storage compartment to hold the waste.
However, unlike a home toilet, the wastes aren’t flushed down to a septic tank underneath the house or building. Instead, it is stored in the storage tank or bag until it can be properly drained or disposed of after the trip.
FINAL VERDICT
A camper toilet is essentially a Porta-Potty that has been shrunk down to fit into a large vehicle. Unlike smaller portable toilets, a camper toilet has to be sturdier, more durable, and have enough storage for a large group of people.
There are many kinds of camper toilets, each made to cater to specific needs of campers and travelers. But one of the essential elements of a camper toilet is that it can be transported and stored inside a vehicle. Camper toilets are bulkier and weigh more, so they are typically designed to be stored in trucks, RVs, and boats.
