Alternative/composting toilet for RV & misc rv questions

Laci · #1 04/04/07, 11:28 PM

Our family just bought an old school bus that has been kind of converted to an RV. It has a toilet in it, but there is no holding tank. It needs to be directly hooked up to a sewer line. We won't be able to do that, since we will be using it in very rustic areas, NOT in RV parks (haha, an RV park probably wouldn't even let us stay in it!). I thought about doing a composting-type toilet, but what would we do with the...um...compost while it is in the composting mode? We won't have the room to store buckets of composting humanure while it is waiting to turn into compost. Does anyone have any ideas or tips for me? Exactly how long does it take to break down so that it is compost? We're open to pretty much anything, but we need to get on the ball, since we will be moving into it in about 2 weeks.

The other thing that I want to do is to put a pump-type water faucet in the sink, with holding tanks below to hold clean and dirty water. Does anyone know where I can find info and parts for doing this?

Thanks,
Marcy in OR

susieM · #2 04/05/07, 12:43 AM

Composting tilets hold the stuff until it turns to compost. Or try a camp-potty.

susieM · #3 04/05/07, 12:43 AM

Campa-potties get taken out and dumped when they're full.

Grandmotherbear · #4 04/05/07, 05:36 AM

For links on bus to RV conversions go to www.RVtraveler.com click on forums. Keep scrolling down. At the very end of the forum list they have specifics for class A, B, and Cs and bus conversions. You'll probably find a lot of your ~? answered.

Fire-Man · #5 04/05/07, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laci

Our family just bought an old school bus that has been kind of converted to an RV. It has a toilet in it, but there is no holding tank. It needs to be directly hooked up to a sewer line. We won't be able to do that, since we will be using it in very rustic areas, NOT in RV parks (haha, an RV park probably wouldn't even let us stay in it!). I thought about doing a composting-type toilet, but what would we do with the...um...compost while it is in the composting mode? We won't have the room to store buckets of composting humanure while it is waiting to turn into compost. Does anyone have any ideas or tips for me? Exactly how long does it take to break down so that it is compost? We're open to pretty much anything, but we need to get on the ball, since we will be moving into it in about 2 weeks.

The other thing that I want to do is to put a pump-type water faucet in the sink, with holding tanks below to hold clean and dirty water. Does anyone know where I can find info and parts for doing this?

Thanks,
Marcy in OR

Are you going to just be using this Bus for camping a couple days at the time or living in it?? Randy

The Paw · #6 04/05/07, 08:52 AM

I haven't checked out the link posted by GrandmotherBear yet, but you will likely find a wealth of information there. RV fanatics are at least as good as homesteaders about sharing how they have done things.

If you are going to rustic areas, it sounds like you will be moving around, and therefore unable to tend to a compost pile. Please don't think that you can leave behind a pile of "compost" on the ground at the end of your weekend, and everything is hunk dory (you are probably not saying that, but just in case).

I would think that installing a holding tank which can be pumped out at proper stations is the only responsible option for what you describe. If RV supply places don't have what you need, I think boating places have space-saving extremely low flush toilets.

If you want a composting toilet, the Sun Mar company has a couple of models that might be suitable. (not cheap)

http://www.sun-mar.com/prod_self_mobi.html

newfieannie · #7 04/05/07, 09:57 AM

Before I bought my motor home I had a truck camper with a chemical toilet(camp pottie)? I would dump that at the dumping station in parks then when I would go rustic there was usually privies where I dumped .then when I went really rustic I would dig a hole and bury it. Georgia.

Ruby · #8 04/05/07, 11:45 AM

Your best bet would be to install an RV type tolit and a holding tank. A regular tolit will not work in an RV because it uses too much water.

Google RV tolits and holding tanks.

As far as the pump type faucet you can also get them from an RV dealer. But (someone correct me if I'm wrong) I think you will have to have a pressure tank for the potable water. Then just a grey water tank for the sink water to drain out into. You can get all this stuff at an RV dealer.

You might could just add a regular freshwater holding tank with a 12v pump for the water.