POTTY Facts (fess up about your potty)

[ronerjones]

O.K. I am a bit new to the camping with amenities. Currently in the process of switching from tent camping to a grand Pop Up (If I ever find a used one). I am hearring different things about the potty issue. Have decided that a shower is not a necesiity but the wife would like a potty also have 2 kids 9 and 13. In many of the ads I read that the potty was never used.Here are my questions

1 Does the potty smell up the pop up. Chemical or other smell?

2 looked at one with porta potty, the whole camper had the aroma of the chemicals in the porta potty.

3 how many people actuall use their pottys? and is it just for emergency or convience?

4 rated 1-5 1 being very easy how easy is it to clean out the canister potties?

Thanks

[SpeakEasy]

O.K. I am a bit new to the camping with amenities. Currently in the process of switching from tent camping to a grand Pop Up (If I ever find a used one). I am hearring different things about the potty issue. Have decided that a shower is not a necesiity but the wife would like a potty also have 2 kids 9 and 13. In many of the ads I read that the potty was never used.Here are my questions

1 Does the potty smell up the pop up. Chemical or other smell?

2 looked at one with porta potty, the whole camper had the aroma of the chemicals in the porta potty.

3 how many people actuall use their pottys? and is it just for emergency or convience?

4 rated 1-5 1 being very easy how easy is it to clean out the canister potties?

Thanks

OK - I don't have little kids around, and I'm not a woman. That being said - I find the whole idea of a "potty" in popup disgusting. Just the thought of it makes me cringe. No privacy. Smells (chemical or "other"). Having to empty it out. Having to clean it. Dealing with boys with poor aim. Oh, and have you considered how small the dad-blame things are?

Bleah!

-Speak

[Mama2Tay]

O.K. I am a bit new to the camping with amenities. Currently in the process of switching from tent camping to a grand Pop Up (If I ever find a used one). I am hearring different things about the potty issue. Have decided that a shower is not a necesiity but the wife would like a potty also have 2 kids 9 and 13. In many of the ads I read that the potty was never used.Here are my questions

1 Does the potty smell up the pop up. Chemical or other smell?

2 looked at one with porta potty, the whole camper had the aroma of the chemicals in the porta potty.

3 how many people actuall use their pottys? and is it just for emergency or convience?

4 rated 1-5 1 being very easy how easy is it to clean out the canister potties?

Thanks

We have 2 kids ages 6 and 9.  When we bought our pup, the previous owner gave us the porta potti with it.  I love having it in the pup.  The rule is that it is only used at night and only for #1.  We have camped for a week at a time and have never had a problem with odor from it.  It is very easy to empty, we just dump it in the toilet at the campground.  I wouldn't camp without it now!

[diane]

Same here, the porta=pott is only used for night time peepee .  I do not want to find a flashlight and walk to a bathroom at 2am

[wavery]

We use our porta-potti at night mainly. We use it "Full service" and have no issues with smell. My wife and I usually camp alone but sometimes with the grandkids. If the kids are along, there are privacy issues. If it's just my wife and I........we have no secrets or privacy issues. I won't go into it in detail. This is a family show :J

They are easy to dump and rinse out.

[crazymommaof4boys]

we have a porta potti but ours is outside in a utility tent/shower things that we got at walmart... we use it full service for the kids (of which we have 4: 3,5,7, and 9) especially at night as neither myself or hubby want to be dragged out of bed to walk them to the bathroom at 1am!  we stick glowsticks inside so they can see and its just outside the trailer by the back bunk...  very little odor if any, espec if we empty every few days at the dump station... also very easy to clean.  Hubby and I will even use it on occasion (late night) or if it is raining out as it is closer and hey, we don't get wet...as it is in its own tent, there's no worry about lack of privacy.

[OC Campers]

We have the built in cassette potty and LOVE it.  We specifically bought this popup because of the bathroom.  We have only used the shower for the kids when they were small.  Now everyone uses the showers in the bathhouse.

I would never own a popup without a potty in it.  We do primarily use it at night only but there are times when mom or the kids don't want to walk to the restroom.  There is no offensive chemical smell and it is easy to dump and clean.  The cassette door is on the outside of the camper and you just pull it out and dump it.  The nice part is you do not need to break camp to dump it.  Just drive the cassette over to the dump station and dump.
 
So far we have only used it for #1 but we are going to start boondocking with our dirt bikes.  It is nice to know we have the bathroom and can take a shower (to rinse off) and use the toilet.  Sure beats digging a hole.
 
Jacqui

[dcampbell1969]

My pup has the fold up walls which adds privacy in the bathroom.  We use the shower everyday, or we'd stink.  And we use the potty more for early mornings and late nights, so we don't fill it too quickly.  I love having the toilet and shower.  Don't think I'd get a pup without either.  Of course with the Niagara, you get a 20 gallon gray water tank and a 9 gallon black water tank.  There have not been any odors, nature or chemicals.  The wife LOVES the shower/toilet option.  And I would think most women would for obvious reason.  And its not a huge ordeal to clean.  

Each will have their own preference, you need to establish your by looking at your family and their habits, and so forth.

[tknick]

I'll echo the predominant chorus going around.  We have a portable toilet that we use for #1.  No problems with odors.  We normally keep it inside but our kids are all under 5.  It has a compartment designed for it's storage on our Bayside.  We also have a privacy tent for it as well.  Obviously, your kid's ages mean privacy would be more of an issue and I would recommend the tent.  Takes about 10mins to put up.  we sit the potty on an old milk crate so it is at about the same height as a toilet at home.  

It is easy to empty and not messy either.   Open spout and pour out.  Rinse, close spout, all done.  If you have problems with odor, you are either not using enough deodorizer or the seals are going bad and need to be replaced.  

If you have young kids or will be camping with ladies, it is a great idea.

travis

[Kelly]

The wife LOVES the shower/toilet option. And I would think most women would for obvious reason.

If you have young kids or will be camping with ladies, it is a great idea.

travis

Hey!  I represent that ... well at least the kids part.  LOL  

I will say that not all women are the same (nor are all men ~ not here to start that debate!)  Some of us don't mind getting a little dirty and staying that way ... and some of us don't mind a walk to the bathroom.  It all comes down to what your own preferences are ~ in my family camping is messy and that's okay.

I'll chime in on the other side of the potti issue ~ I just can't get past the idea of using the facilities in the same space that I prepare/store food.  Especially when I have young (or fairly young ~ 12, 10, 7, 6) kids.  I have camped alone with them through 3 seasons and I can count on one hand the number of middle-of-the-night runs I've made to the bathroom with them.  YMMV

[trumpet87]

We have a porta-potti I found, brand new, at a yard sale for a GOOD price. Have never been sorry I bought it. Yes, I am a woman but you guys can just go out in the woods in the middle of the night and do your biz, and we can't as easily as you   On our previous camper we had an add a room with the privacy panels. One weekend it rained day and night pretty much. I tell you it was SO nice to be able to get up and pee at 4 am without getting drenched and wide awake by having to take that short jaunt to the bathhouse. If you keep a pouch of chemicals (we get them at Walmart, come in a can of little pouches) in it at all times, it will NEVER smell, no matter how hot it gets, etc. Now like a lot of others have said, it is to be used only during the night and only for #1. I have a funny story to tell though: The first time we set up the potty, I told the kids "nothing but number one and at night, OK?" Well, our then 4 year old just couldn't wait to use it, he thought it was so neat. So we all go outside and he stays inside to watch a movie or something. SO my husband goes in and sees him on the pot, in the middle of the day, and reminds him of what I said. He says, but daddy, it is just so neat and I HAD to poop!! LOL! So he broke it in well, LOL!
That being said, I just think most people, especially women and kids, will appreciate it a LOT. And it's really easy to clean, just dump it at the dump station, spray it out a little, then spray it out more when you get home and let it dry in the sun.

[trumpet87]

OK - I don't have little kids around, and I'm not a woman. That being said - I find the whole idea of a "potty" in popup disgusting. Just the thought of it makes me cringe. No privacy. Smells (chemical or "other"). Having to empty it out. Having to clean it. Dealing with boys with poor aim. Oh, and have you considered how small the dad-blame things are?

Bleah!

-Speak

why you find the porta potti thing so disgusting? How is it any more disgusting than a potty in a big rig? Just wondering...

[TheViking]

why you find the porta potti thing so disgusting? How is it any more disgusting than a potty in a big rig? Just wondering...

 
Allow me to answer this one...... Dump the black tank in a TT, then dump a porta-potti.   As a camper that has done both, I'll take the potti in a big rig anytime.  It's a little less...........say...hands on.
 
And on a side note to Wayne.  When we had our pop-up, we had a porta-potti, and as much as I love my family I could not even imagine sitting on the thing trying to do my business with them watching me.

[wavery]

Allow me to answer this one...... Dump the black tank in a TT, then dump a porta-potti.   As a camper that has done both, I'll take the potti in a big rig anytime.  It's a little less...........say...hands on.
 
And on a side note to Wayne.  When we had our pop-up, we had a porta-potti, and as much as I love my family I could not even imagine sitting on the thing trying to do my business with them watching me.

Ya Brian...I know.....yer a wuss :J  besides...you wouldn't want to offend Jelly Bean. :p

You need to watch "RV" with Robin Williams.....I'll take the porta-potti any day. :sombraro:

[TheViking]

Ya Brian...I know.....yer a wuss :J besides...you wouldn't want to offend Jelly Bean. :p
 
You need to watch "RV" with Robin Williams.....I'll take the porta-potti any day. :sombraro:

 
Sorry Wayne,  porta-potties are just way too close to the poop for me.