Anyone had or used a portable camping loo?

[IfInDoubtPout]

We are thinking of buying one. We own some land and would like to put a shed with a camping loo in it for when we get caught short (no useful trees for this purpose nearby) but I'm getting confused about the chemical or non chemical and different ways of disposal.

Can anyone recommend any or talk me through the options in idiots terms? I've never camped before and don't know anything about this. I realise the chemical ones require chemicals...so does that mean they only need emptying when full and do they need chemicals with every 'flush' or is there no flush? I've read reviews if one non chemical one on Amazon where they used cat litter in it....

We aren't near drainage at the land so it wouod either be disposed of in the grass at the land or need to be carried home with us to dispose of. I just don't know where to starts

[Furball]

We have had caravan and motorhomes so they had one

My observations from your post

It needs emptying at least every other day

It will smell in hot weather

The chemicals are supposed to break down what goes in there, some contain formaldehyde. In a caravan you put one down into the tank and one in the flush, in a motorhome for example they use the freshwater for the flush.

I don't think it would be wise to tip it straight onto the land, especially with the chemicals.

[IfInDoubtPout]

Ok,nso tipping directly onto the land a no go if chemical one used. A non chemical one will need emptying after every use presumably to prevent smell. Would a non chemical one need washing after every empty to prevent smell? Feeling like I may as well just get a chamber pot!

Fwiw it will only be used occasionally....

[lavendersun]

We have a pett toilet - had it for about 12 years now, when we bought it it was the only one of its type we had come across but there are probably others these days. Any waste can be put in the household rubbish.

Also have a 'bog in a bag' in our weekend camping kit - same idea I think but has a nappy like thing in a plastic bag to absorb liquids.

For longevity I would recommend the Pett.

[Blu]

Since you will be building a shed, why not go a step further and build a composting toilet? Lots of campsites have them and they are fine.

hereor here. Or a long drop (aka pit or latrine) toilet some guidelines here and also used on some campsites.

[IfInDoubtPout]

Composting loo. Interesting idea, hadn't thought of this, will look into it.

Pett looks good, now I'm worried about squeamishness on emptying...

[lavendersun]

Pett is fab OP, have a look at the 'wag bag' on the Pett page - it contains a thick grey bag with powder in it, a wipe (why?), bit of loo roll and then a bag that seals to put it all in after use.

We sometimes camp without facilities - unlike DH, who wouldn't mid digging a hole if he had to, I need a loo. I am not prepared to wee in a bush in the middle of the night.

We do only use it for wees although DD did use it in urgency once, poor thing, when she was about four - absolutely fine, I just emptied it straight away, no worse than a baby's nappy.

You tie the bag with the wee in it and then place it all in this grey zip lock thing that says something like 'human waste - fit for household rubbish' or similar.

The bag things aren't cheap but I consider it worth the expense. I buy a couple of packs of 50 a year and it sees us through our camping season.

[Blu]

Plant some bushes?
Unless lavendersun is coming to visit.

[lavendersun]

, I am not adverse to a bush Blu - in my field 5 miles from the house for instance, just not when camping somewhere I don't know in the dark and cold!

[GoldfishSpy]

Kampa kazi
Bin bag with cat litter. Use for night wees only.
Tie top each morning, put in outside bin.

[kate7590]

Im glad I found this thread.
We're hoping to start going camping and I had wondered how a camping toilet would work, especially when my son starts potty training it would be handy to have a portable loo in the tent incase we are a way away from toilets on site.

Stupid question perhaps, but is the 'waste' collected in a bag? How do you empty it and can you see all the waste in the loo?

[poocatcherchampion]

Op I suggest you just wee all fresco. If you are going to empty it on the land why not cut out the middle man?

kate7590 a potty will be the answer for your potty training child.

[kate7590]

I don't like pottys, I intend to 'toilet train' my son rather than let him use a potty and then move on to a proper toilet…seems quite pointless starting with a potty to then confuse him again. IMO

Which is why I asked about the portable toilet for camping holidays :)

[NettleTea]

we have composting toilets on our site, and in all honesty they are far far nicer than the chemical ones you can get. We use separating units so the liquids and solids dont mix, and that knocks the smell on the head. We have used long drops in the past - they are OK in the short term, and may well be OK if you are just using it now and again. We use reed diffusers in them - any deep musky/ vanillary scent is great, but citric scents dont mix well at all!!
I have a pop a loo for our caravan for night time use if we are away

[NettleTea]

Tree bogs are also good, but dont smell as great as a compost loo with a separator

[IfInDoubtPout]

Well, I can't wee in a bush as it's quite open and exposed and can be seen by neighbouring land from all sides who are often in there. I suppose we could buy bushes for th purpose but the time taken for them to grow and the cost. We are going to order a small shed for the purpose, and reed diffuser is excellent idea. I'm still interested in the compost idea and wondering if we could cut to some of the shed base to do this.

[lavendersun]

I wee in a bucket in the corner of my barn , throw it in the field and rinse out the bucket.

No worse than the pints of wee my horses produce.

You could just use a bucket in your shed if you didn't want to buy a camping loo ... just anything other than wee that would be a problem.

[Blu]

I agree with NettleTea and as a camper prefer compost toilets to chemical.

But could have a conversation about separators....

[lavendersun]

Me too - absolutely hate chemical loos .. the smell is worse than poo! I would rather use a bush.

[Takver]

We've got a pit latrine on our land, very easy and will last a very long time if you're not there that much. So, sturdy base with long slot cut in it (squat latrine much easier and cleaner) over nice big deep hole, think say 4 foot plus deep. Then any kind of shelter around it to provide privacy.

If you have wood ash (campfires?) sprinkle a little ash down the hole on top of the pile after each use and it'll stop any smell (not needed if just going for a pee).

Personally I'm not a massive fan of compost loos (and believe me I have had wide experience of them) - keeping rats out can be a challenge, in particular.

[Blu]

DS saw a rat in the compost loo on by last site we used. But the toilet cubicles were up steps and the 'compost pit' was at ground level and encased in a wall of straw, so v rat accessible. Other places I have been the compost has been in a
Pit below ground level.

[Takver]

Maybe just a question of definition, blu. I tend to think of a compost loo as one where you're planning to remove the compost and use it elsewhere - hence tends to be above ground, often with some method of separating off urine. Whereas a pit type I'd think of as a treebog / pit latrine - ie when it's full it'll be covered over and left, rather than dug out?

With small scale use, I don't find any need to deal with urine separately in a pit latrine style loo. (Though I do still pee in a bucket on occasion for use as compost activator.)

[Takver]

More than you ever wanted to know about different types of loo