One of the best parts of having an RV is having all of the comforts of home with you while you camp and travel. And this doesn't stop at just a bed, some furniture, and a kitchen. By adding in a portable bathroom to your travels, you can avoid the sometimes unsightly campground toilets as well as the often uncomfortable wilderness that others have used for their bathroom duties. With an RV bathroom, specifically an RV toilet, you can keep the comforts of modern living with you as you're traveling across the country. But what about if you need a new one? Well, then you're in the right place.
Can I use a normal toilet in an RV?
This is a question that many people wonder and yes, it would make things easier if the answer was yes. The answer, however, is a resounding no.
Materials and physical properties
The toilet you put in your rig needs to be able to stand the vibrations and bumps that occur when you're driving your rig. A residential toilet, however, has a few things that make this difficult. First, they are often made of porcelain. Porcelain is a great material when it's standing still. With all of the vibrations and bumps, though, you start to see cracks and you could even find serious damage after a while. Second, residential toilets have a holding tank on the top of the toilet and this tank is not secured to the wall. In a stationary home, this tank serves an important purpose and works well. With all of the movement that goes along with RVs, though, this tank can rattle and slosh, spilling water and cracking, causing further damage. The water that escapes, then, can seep into the walls and floor of the affected area, causing water damage that needs more repairs. Finally, the footprint of a residential toilet is larger than that of an RV toilet. This means you won't have as much space and you might not even be able to get it into your rig.
Water usage
Residential toilets use a lot of water. On average, they use about 1/2 to 1 gallon of water per flush. With RVs, the freshwater and space in your black water tanks are limited. And using this much water just to flush your toilet simply won't do. All of this water takes up a ton of space in your black water tank, causing it to need to be dumped more often, a chore that no one likes to do. And as for your freshwater tank, all of the water that could have been used to wash your dishes, feed your pups, or even drink from the tap is now being used to flush your toilet. How's that for wasting water? Now, you have to fill up your fresh water tank more often, too. With RV toilets, you don't have this amount of water per flush. Some toilets don't even need water to flush, though many still need a bit.
What makes a good RV toilet?
Traditional toilets, those commonly found in RVs have a few features that they all share. They tend to sit on top of the black water tank so that the wastewater can easily find the way into the tank. Many of them are gravity flush with a simple design. Some are plastic and some are made of materials such as porcelain (usually for more stationary RVs). These toilets are great for RVs because of their size, weight, shape, and ease of installation compared to residential toilets and some other kinds of RV toilets. But is there a list of things to consider when looking for one? Absolutely!
First, check out the features and benefits. From anti-microbial properties to a more comfortable seating experience, each toilet brings something a little different to the table. And depending on who is going to be using it, these features might work better or worse for you.
Also make sure to look for the bowl seat height and overall height of the toilet. For taller or shorter people or for those with disabilities, this could be a deal breaker for you.
Next, choose the overall appearance and color of the toilet. While this isn't the most important thing to consider when choosing a toilet, it's still an option.
Finally, pick a flush. There are a bunch of different kinds of toilet flush mechanisms, from a foot pedal to a slide handle to the classic push lever. Pick which one works best for you and your space so that the toilet works well, rather than just being okay.
My toilet smells!
If you have noticed some less than pleasant smells coming from your toilet or waste system, there could be a few things going on.
You could have a dirty toilet. This is the easiest situation to fix because you simply need to clean the toilet, both in the bowl and around the exterior of the toilet.
You could also have a clogged black water tank. This can be a bit more difficult to fix, as many people say different things for solutions. Some say that you can dump a bag of ice down the toilet and drive around, helping to break up the ice in order to break up the clog. Others say that backflushing the tank can help. The most common solution, however, is to use specific chemicals to break down the clog.
You could have a clogged vent pipe as well. The vent pipe is the tube that extends from the ventilation in the black water tank to the roof of your RV. If it becomes clogged, then the odors and gasses don't have the chance to escape through the vent. They then come back into your living area. To check for this, you can use water at the top of the pipe to run down the pipe. This can help you see whether you have a clog. If you do, then it's necessary to remove it.
You could also have tank build up. The materials of the black water tank can build up over time, which can create odors. To solve this, you can use a chemical solution to get rid of the build up.
Finally, you could have a bad toilet flange or seal. This flange or seal keeps gasses from escaping from the tube connecting the toilet to the black water tank. If it's broken, these smells can come back up into the living space. Unfortunately, the best way to fix this issue is to install a new flange or seal and make sure that all proper steps are followed in doing so.
To further prevent smells from being created and leaking out into your rig, there are a few steps to follow. Keep the black tank closed when you are not dumping it. Use plenty of water when you are flushing the toilet. Add chemicals to the tank after every dump. This step is vital in preventing build up in the tank. Flush out the black water tank after every dump. Keep the toilet clean. Finally, check the vent pipe regularly.
With these tips and solutions, you can keep your RV toilet and restroom in the best shape and smelling great.
Having a toilet you can depend on in your RV or camper is essential. Having a toilet that is affordable, comfortable, attractive, and filled with the latest in toilet technology is even better. With the new toilets from RecPro, you can have all that and more! Some of our stylish toilets are stationary and feature revolutionary power flush technology with a swirl-jet cleaning action, drop-away valve system, and gravity flush. With features like these, you won't have to worry about them breaking on you or suddenly not working so great. Still other models are portable and allow you to take trips deep into the woods, far from civilization, while still keeping a comfortable bathroom accessible to you. Durable and ready to last you through many long trips, these toilets are a terrific addition to your RV. Unlike other high-quality toilets, these are small enough not to take up loads of space in your space-limited bathroom or storage space. Using the space they need and no more, they are a great size for those small RV bathrooms and outdoor adventure spots.
When you're adding upgrades to your RV, make sure you're looking at the whole picture. Your bathroom area is just as important as all the other parts of your rig and you'll be happy you took the time to give it attention when you find yourself along those long stretches of lonely highway.