Elbows on a 1 pint flush toilet... bad idea?

[containercabin]

I had a new idea that will replace my sawdust bucket toilet...

Use those 1 pint RV flush toilets and let it drain into a portable 32 gallon waste tank (the ones that are on wheels). This will be the indoor toilet while I will still have an outhouse so this toilet will have very light usage. Keep in mind that I only use my cabin (with my wife) from Friday evening until Sunday after noon.... Once every other week.

From my estimates - if we use it 3 times over the weekend: I will only need to empty the tank once every several months...

Math behind it: 1 pint = 0.125 gallon But you really use more water with these type of toilets. It depends on how long you hold the water on / until it is clean and the "stuff" is gone. So if I actually use 0.5 gallon a flush, and use this 3 times a weekend = 1.5gallon = about 18 weekends (if I only fill it up to 18 gallon) which means emptying it once every 9 months... seems too good but even if I will need to empty it twice as fast - 4.5 months is not bad...

Issues:

1. I think the reason these toilets use so little water is the fact they are positioned directly above a tank. I can spend half a day digging under my cabin and stick that portable tank under it but I will be much happier to just elbow myself out... but will that work? any thoughts?

2. Do I need a vent for this application?

3. There is no P trap in this kind of toilet. So what keeps the smells from coming back up??

[MountainDon]

3. There is no P trap in this kind of toilet. So what keeps the smells from coming back up??

Keeping the "slide plate" that closes off the waste chamber from the upper chamber.   Adding chemicals to the waste container helps. However the one that works best contains formaldehyde, which some folks prefer not to use. The one that is formaldehyde free does not work as well, IMO.

1. I think the reason these toilets use so little water is the fact they are positioned directly above a tank.

2. Do I need a vent for this application?

1. Correct. If you elbow and have some more or less horizontal pipe you will most likely end up with blockages from time to time, or at least slow flow, and then end up using more water to clear it.

2.  No.  IMO. When the unit is flushed you hold the slide/flap open and there is time fot an air exchange. Assuming not a long pipe run or any blockage.

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FWIW, we use a PortaPotti (same principle as an RV toilet; just completely manual) in the cabin for night time, Urine Only Use. Not even toilet paper is allowed; that goes in a special trash can, after all it's only a touch of pee.That is easy to get rid of outside in the trees and grasses. Any other use still requires a nocturnal or rainy day trip to the outside john/outhouse.   



As for those Blue Totes, 32 gallons is heavy... over 250 lbs if full. I have no trouble pulling one along a smooth walk or drive, but how do I get one into the back of the truck?  I had trouble figuring that out. 

[rick91351]

We have lived in a fifthwheel since last September and we sold our home and moved to the ranch full time.  Twice we have had plugs both were in an elbow.  The cause was not enough water and some cheap toilet chemical.  The toilet chemical keeps down the odor and from what I read helps break down the waste and toilet paper.  We have found water is you best friend and use lots and lots every flush.  If you do not you are under the unit with buckets and taking loose hose clamps and rubber gloves up to the arm pits.   

We in our bigger fifthwheel have very little odor from the toilet.  But we use a good summer chemical winter we use another blend.  But stay away from the cheep stuff.  Our smaller fifthwheel on the other hand was  / is not as pleasant and is more of a direct dump.  We have it here set up for our kids and grandkids if they spend the night.  It okay but can be a little odor heavy.  We had a motorhome that was much the same.   

[bayview]

Our RV tank IS vented . . .

/.

[containercabin]

Thanks for the tips.

Rick - can you say what chemical you found successful ?

Don - good point about the weight. This thing comes with four wheels so maybe I'll make a ramp to the back of my car and roll it in? If not - then I can get those cargo carriers that go on the hitch.. the one with the ramp-
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200414724_200414724

I have seen used ones for under $100 on clist. Small price to pay to have a regular toilet and happy wife. 

Odor idea/question - I was told by one of the reps for the toilet that you first push this lever that fills the toilet with one pint of water and then you flush - which adds more water - helping it go away. Why can'y I just add that pint to the toilet and let it sit there when I am in the cabin - acting like a p trap for odors?

[MountainDon]

Why can'y I just add that pint to the toilet and let it sit there when I am in the cabin - acting like a p trap for odors?

We always did that and do same with the PortaPotti. Just a couple ounces to cover the slide is all that is needed.

[UK4X4]

We live in the RV when at site- 3 of us use the facilities- you have the valve thats closed that keeps smells down

the RV tank has a vent

We don't put toilet paper in the system- we use a small trash can- trying to keep the tank as clean as possible- with organics only

We have that big tank too with the wheels for disposal

The tanks of the RV are heated so we run all into the main black tank- then we pick a warm afternoon to dump into the mobile tank and take it to town

I can go 1.5 weeks on that tank but prefer just a week to keep the weight down

I usually just drag the tank up a bank of dirt- or in the winter snow..

Then back in with the tailgate open

At the dump site I use an extension hose and dump straight from the back of the truck.

The local RV place charges me $5 a dump

Easier routing means less possible blocking.

We only get a slight wiff of smell as the tank gets close to full, other than that theres no smell

[containercabin]

Spoke with a dealer and he said I can go no more than 45 on it and only for a short distance. So I am good - no need to dig under the cabin. I will build a ramp for the toilet and have it elbow (45 degrees) out side and then straight into my portable waste tank.

[UK4X4]

As the 45deg line exits from under the house add a T and a vent line, before the portable tank hookup
you'll probably apreciate less poop smell.

It will work fine for what you need

Although the tank lid fits fine, it still seems to leak a bit while being man handled into the back of the truck, especially while going up the ramp with a fullish tank

as I pull up from the handle- leaving the hose the lowest point

I normally stick a bag over the hose end before moving- don't have a friend lift from the rear unless you like buying new clothes !

I have used a ratchet strap to haul up into the truck when using a ramp

[containercabin]

What tank do you have?

I bought the expensive Thetford LX 35. Made in USA

[UK4X4]

yep same one !

as you can see the dump hose will be at the bottom when hauling it up a ramp

It does have a vent valve too - but being low level it does waft the smell arround when filling

You might be able to rig an extender up wards if you don't want to vent the hard pipe, at the wall