Bought the larger premium model. Used for a family of 4 plus two additional adult guests, one male and one female.
This toilet works exactly as it should, I'll start right there. You have to consider what it is and what it should be doing. It is not meant to replace a full time and full dooty (see what I did there, dooty-duty?) unit. It is meant for portability and temporary use. The water tank separates from the holding tank nicely once you figure out how it works (read the book). Tilting up from the back after pulling the handle gets you what you're looking for. Reverse the order for reinstallation. I think many are trying to do things the hard way and haven't found that finesse of separating it, I guess.
Once you've filled the water tank, you do have to carry it flat since the fill cap has a vent hole which will slightly trickle water as you carry it back to camp from the fill site. Not a big deal once you figure that out. The plunger spray is the way. The little bulb sprays on other units are easier, yes, but the silicone bulb cover wears out pretty quick and you get leaks from cracks that develop, especially if you get fat-fingered folks pressing it like it's some kind of game buzzer. Yes, once in a while the plunger puts a few drops out as you pump it. So what? A little water on a toilet doesn't seem like a bad thing to me. If you're looking for perfection from a portable toilet, you might have higher expectations than can be delivered to you.
The valve that releases the contents of the bowl to the holding tank is a bit stiff. I don't mind this. My 4 yr old can use the potty by himself and do his business just fine. However, I don't need him opening that valve so he can then forget it and my 7yr old comes along and breaks it off because he's overzealous. Also, it should securely stay put whether open or closed. If there's one thing I don't need is a valve getting uppity and thinking it can open or close on it's own accord, revealing the stench I'm trying to contain.
The unit does not hold a ton. Nor do I think you should want it to hold a ton. You should have some sort of access to a real dump site or a toilet capable of handling the load. This is a convenience toilet, not a new way of life. Use it until it's a little over half way full (hard to gauge, yes) and then empty it. It will be easier to empty, nicer to work with and much more of a convenience to everyone. I let mine get full and then went to empty it. Oh boy was I in for a treat! The moment I opened the dump cap, I was greeted with demonic possessions exiting this thing like a ghostbusters trap. Then, oh yes, there's a then, when I tipped the tank to pour into the dump site (a real flush toilet, commercial style), there was a gush of liquids and solids that was forceful enough to splash a little from the bowl onto the toilet, requiring some after-dump cleanup. The following times I emptied a half-full tank and it was a good bit better experience.
There needs to be a hose for this, it would help immensely at rv dump stations. I'm researching hoses and their fitment.
This toilet is sized properly. It fits in a camping inventory nicely. It isn't designed for large people to be comfortable as they would at home. I'm 6'5" and 260lbs. I used it just fine. It was a pleasure to have in camp.
Use the drop-ins, they work. The orange ones that come with it (about 6 of them, I think) were great. One per tank cycle. We had no odor issues outside of what I would expect for a portable tank full of human excrement. Yep, you'll smell it a little each time you open that valve to flush. If you don't care for that, you might consider just camping near toilets.
It sits flat, so if you have uneven ground, it will be challenging.
Get an enclosure. Mine is rain-proof and I like it. There are some with open roof construction, probably stays cooler there. Mine got warm. I'm looking into a shower with a roof that will double as the enclosure for this.
All in all, it is a great addition to our camping gear. Convenience and sanitation are the highest driving factors. No more spider-ridden out houses or bee nested bath house toilets for us. No more will I have to endure the burrito-eating drunks that like to bless the public toilets across America's beauty lands with the aftermaths of their transgressions.
| Color | White |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 1"D x 1"W x 1"H |
| Material | Resin |
| Brand | Camco |
| Item Weight | 11 Pounds |
| Installation Type | Floor Mounted |
| Shape | Oblong |
| Seat Material Type | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene |
| Manufacturer | Camco |
| Model | 41545 |
| Item Weight | 11 pounds |
| Item model number | 41545 |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 41545 |
