Convince him to get potti

[mettam]

Hi,

I'm new here and my husband and I are in the process of buying our first pop-up, a 2002 Utah. However, it doesn't come with a cassette potti, so I'd like to get a porta-potti. My husband does not want to get one.

Our previous camping experience was renting 'Kabins' at KOA's, where we'd just walk down to the bathhouse when the need arose. So his theory is with the pop-up we just do the same thing.  I would like to not have to depend on whatever condition the bathhouse/weather happens to be and at least have the option to use a potti in the camper. He said he doesn't want waste sitting in our kitchen and bedroom. He also pointed out the lack of privacy with that.  He was willing to get a unit that had a cassette/shower combo, as he thought we'd get use out of having the shower.

So you have some reference... we have 3 boys, 7 years old, 3 years old (finishing up potti training), and a baby.

So how do I convince him? Or, should we scuttle the non-cassette/shower unit and wait to buy a pop-up with those facilities? Or some other option?

Thanks,

Lisa

[wernstriumph]

We have a Thetford Portapotti we put in a small privy tent next to the camper. Our 3 year old who just trained around Christmas loves to go to the "P.P. Hut" as he calls it. Last weekend (Memorial Day) our campsite was a bit further from the bathhouse than we would have liked. Boy did the P.P. Hut come in handy. I think if you really like the Utah's layout and are comfortable with the amount of storage (and it is a good price), go for it. If you have any doubts about the Utah, then by all means look at a camper with the cassette potti/shower and see which one fits your family better. Just about everyone on this forum who has the potti/shower in their camper seems to like it( as far as I've read).
On a sidenote, for us having the potti outside means less traffic in and out meaning less dirt being tracked in and less bugs being let in by a certain 3 year old who has a tendency to stand in the open doorway while deciding if he has to go or not.LOL

[wavemaker]

My wife loved our porti potty and Shower...
 
we Havehad 3 girls there grown up now" but it was alot easier to be able to just stick the kid in the shower and wash them off... my wife or i would have to walk too the bathroom all the time... wich can or cannot mess with the whole family, 1 kid has too go the other 2 are alright... it was a hassle with-out having the potty/shower... thats our 2 cents...
 
Dean

[bonscott]

Porta Potti all the way.  We have one in the PUP and it doubles as a stool (there is no smell or anything about it).  We use it only for emergencies or at night and no solids!   :yikes:
Other then that it's off to the shower building.

With young children I would think that a porta potti at minimum is required if not a built in cassette potti.

[txsarge]

Last year we got an shower/pottie tent from Wal Mart http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4726169 .  This was great for our potty and for changing from swimsuits.  We always used the campground restrooms during the day but those nighttime trips were a lot better just stepping out to the little tent.  It is a pain to empty those potties but less of a pain than dragging out of bed to take a kid halfway across the park to a restroom.

[bmbkamp]

Well, Lisa, I tend to agree with your husband.  We bought our PUP 3 years ago after tent camping for over 10 years.  We looked at the ones with the potties, but DW and I could not get the idea out of our minds that we would be sleeping in our bathroom.  And it would be just another thing to maintain.  Many people have potties and swear by them, but it just wasn't for us.  We don't mind the walk to the showers, and the only problem we ever had with a camp shower facility was losing the hot water for 2 days.  But since that was in the middle of a 100+ degree heat wave, nobody cared.  
 
Good luck resolving your dilemma.
 
Bob

[mountainrev]

Well, Lisa, I tend to agree with your husband.  We bought our PUP 3 years ago after tent camping for over 10 years.  We looked at the ones with the potties, but DW and I could not get the idea out of our minds that we would be sleeping in our bathroom.  And it would be just another thing to maintain.  Many people have potties and swear by them, but it just wasn't for us.  We don't mind the walk to the showers, and the only problem we ever had with a camp shower facility was losing the hot water for 2 days.  But since that was in the middle of a 100+ degree heat wave, nobody cared.  
 
Good luck resolving your dilemma.
 
Bob

I'm with Bob on this one.  We owned two pups w/o potties before buying our current Viking last year, which came with a Thetford cassette potty.  We didn't use it last year, and are bound and determined never to use it.  The yuck factor outweighs any benefits in our book.

Our kids are older (both teens), but even when they were toddlers, we never had any problems walking to the bathroom or, in most cases, the Forest Service vault (euphamism for pit) toilet.  

Since you have boys, trees are usually handy for late night runs!

[Calstate361]

Here's my two cents.   When we purchased out Starcraft PUP we had the choice of one with or without the toilet/shower.  We decided against it because my husband is handicapped and has a lot of leg trouble and he wouldn't be able to bend his legs to fit into the tight space allotted for the toilet/shower area.  We purchased a porta potty from WalMart and had that in the PUP.  Our  PUP was the one that the dinning area slid out so we had a good amount of space.  We just scooted it around on the floor.  We only used it at night and it was not that difficult to empty.  Actually, it came in handy when I tried to do the dishes at the sink.  The level was too low and would kill my back so I would scoot the closed up potty over by the skin and sit on it to do the dishes.  My back really enjoy it.   We never had any orders and it really wasn't in the way; BUT, there was only the 2 of us also.  With kids it might be a different situation.  Bottom line is to do what is best for your family because you will get all kinds of opinions here on the board.

GOOD LUCK

Joan

[Hiker2007]

http://www.thepett.com/index.php?PageLayout=PRODUCTS&headerID2=36&pageID=98

For my sister who hates to walk in the dark to the bath house, I found and purchased this one for $60.  

It's less to maintain, as you throw away the bags.  A little pricey, but it made my sister happy (less whining and complaining...haha)

[fritz_monroe]

I think you need to put your foot down and let him know that a porta potty is not negotiable.  You have a 3 y.o. who is going to take him to the bath house at 2 in the morning?  By having the porta potty, no more of those late night walks to the bath house in the rain.

[OC Campers]

We have the shower/pottie combo on our Westlake and would never own a camper without it.  When we bought the camper 6 years ago my children were 9, 5 and an infant.   When we were tent campers it never failed that whenever I fianlly fell asleep somebody needed to go to the bathroom.  A pottie was my only request.  

The cassette pottie has no smell at all.  It is easy to clean and maintain.   We usually only put liquids in it but this past Memorial Day weekend we were boondocking and I was not going to dig a hole to "ya know"   The pottie was fabulous.  I know it is next to a bed but I just put the kids at that end.  They don't care.  If it is a problem you put down the wood cover and it is another seat or storage area.  
 
The shower also works great for small children.  Taking small children to the bath house for a shower is horrible.  My little ones would cry the whole time because they were getting water in their eyes.  The camper shower is almost like a bathtub.  You can plug it and use it as a tub or use the hand held shower head.  Plus they don't have to stand on a dirty bathroom floor.  
 
Tell your husband that you will let him buy the one without the pottie but he will be responsible for the late night bathroom visits with the kids.
 
Jacqui

[fourkids]

The cassette w/ shower is an absolute must.  Easy to use, easy to dump, easy to clean.  If you don't want to look at it while you are inside, you can fold down the cover and you have extra counter space.  These things are cleaner, and better smelling then any public restroom in America.  With little kids, this is a no brainer.....

[SherryandFamily]

When we bought our first popup 15 years ago my DH was dead set against a porta potti.  I listened for a while, but with two small children, and myself waking up during the night,I put my foot down and bought one.

His only comment was "don't ever ask me to touch it" and I never did.

Now we have the toilet shower combo in our Niagara and I love it!!  And, he also uses the toilet and the shower.

A porta potti in a popup has no smell as long as you use the chemicals, and most popups have a cabinet just the right size to slide it in during the day.

If you can get the shower toilet combo that would be great for the little guys.  I have heard so many children scream in the shower because they are not used to it.  The bottom of the shower in the popup will fill with a little water and they can take a bath like they are used to at home.

Good luck finding the right thing!

Sherry

[cndlzrus]

I think you need to put your foot down and let him know that a porta potty is not negotiable.  You have a 3 y.o. who is going to take him to the bath house at 2 in the morning?  By having the porta potty, no more of those late night walks to the bath house in the rain.

Here's why we got our Porta Potty.... After hearing the camper door slam late and night and early in the morning, that was one reason to get it.  The other is having to put your shoes on and a coat if its raining to go to the bathrooms.  So I just let my hubby be the one to take the kids late night bathroom trips and it seemed no problem to get a Porta Potty.  Its real easy and you can get one  yourself. Just measure the cupboard it suppose to fit in  and go purchase one.  Mine does not fit into the cupboard because its too big.  But we just take along and keep it in the front of the Pup and put up a privacy curtain ( shower curtain on a tension rod) works great!

[zamboni]

Years ago, when we were looking at our first PUP (I grew up with Starcraft PUPs) as a step up from a tent, my wife said her ONLY requirement was a porta-potty.

Some places we'd camped at (tent), the potties were so bad that she wanted to just leave.  As she pointed out, she had to SIT every time, "unlike guys", so therefore her vote trumped mine.  That said, I had no issue with finding a potty-blessed camper.

We found a used $4000 10' Starcraft where the owners had a portable potty that fit perfectly between the kichenette and the "couch-o".  When closed, you could barely tell it was there.

Definitely a valued thing even for me on rainy nights!  I never had an issue emptying it - the blue chemical made it no big deal.

Moved onto the Niagara with the cassette (would not get the new one, as you MUST be able to empty it on longer campouts), but never liked the Coleman.  Too frustrating.  Now have a hybrid, of course with a potty and shower.

For those who say "I'm never going to touch it".  Huh?  It came FROM you... you are "touching it" all the time!  It is NOT harmful, poisonous, etc.  You get far closer to "it" if you have ever changed a diaper.  Same thing if you have a dog (I would expect that you would properly clean up after your dog).

*****

Lisa, hold fast.  If you want a Potty, then do not settle.  He can choose to not use it, but he has no right to tell you that you don't need one if YOU feel you do!