Advice on caravan ensuite vs external only shower

[Rodt]

Well there you go ??
I only know a couple of non crapping van owners !!

The people we bought our van off were very adamant that they did No 2s in the toilet however always lined with a plastic bag first and then went and dug a hole and buried it. It was an interesting conversation as it was being portrayed as a selling point. Other than the smell in the van issues if you have the correct chemicals then it shouldn't be a problem. I haven't used this one in anger yet but had the previous porta potty under pressure so to speak and it worked fine.

[Paddler Ed]

I suspect in time that there will be a move towards the NZ style of self-contained where they are clearly marked externally if they are self-contained or not.
https://www.nzmca.org.nz/certified-self-containment/

If they're not self-contained then they won't be allowed to camp "anywhere", they can only use designated campsites.

Why? Well, look at the food scraps that get washed down the drain at washing up time, look a the shower water that comes out with the soapy water (have you ever seen what happens to worms when you put washing up water (clean) on the ground?)

So, given you are looking at 10yrs down the line with the van purchase, I'd be future proofing yourself by getting a van with an ensuite.

[chester ver2.0]

If you are not going to have an internal toilet and shower my question for you is why then are you going for a van and not a camper trailer???

[KeithB]

Emptying a smelly toilet cassette every few days can't be a pleasant job at the best of times. So it might be worth considering a composting toilet which are becoming more popular on boats. No 1's go into a separate container which is easy to empty and No2's compost away.

You can apparently go for many weeks without the need to empty the solids container. When you do, it can be buried, put down a composting or long drop toilet or bagged up and disposed of as rubbish. These toilets use no water, require no chemicals and are odourless.

http://www.abetterwaytogo.com.au/airhead
https://www.caravancampingsales.com.au/editorial/details/tested-natures-head-compost-toilet-50620/

Keith

[Rodt]

The Grey water collectors are easy to track as they usually open the tank to drain as they drive away in the morning . Don't try to pass a van for the 1st 5Ks of the day , but they do store their Grey water .

Good little Dippers arnt they                            

Driving between Kilkivan and Gympie (Qld) just after Christmas and came over the hill to find two monster vans exiting from a side road with exactly this occurring. Nowhere to pass and had to endure for a few kms. Sat back a reasonable way but still copped it

[2010banditsa]

we have a porta poti spot in the van under the bed to hold the toilet and I find its great mainly for kids as unreasonable to ask them to hold on for long periods. Also handy at cramped locations where you sometimes pull up in afternoon just for overnighter Didn't bother with the shower as water is often the limiting factor and I find even being careful, the 160l we have gets pretty low after 1.5 weeks, let alone having enough for a shower. That being said I have a tap on the drawbar with a hose and an 8 spray pattern selector for washing sand/ cleaning salt off/ washing cracks and sacks etc.

[CorzaDry]

Some really good advice on here! Drifta ensuite tent looks like a good bit of kit. I understand resale could be an issue, but in 15 years time, most things are worth stuff all anyway. After talking with my wife last night she is still keen so I think we will go ahead with it and enjoy it.

I see the point with being self-contained, and I still plan on putting a grey water tank on for the sink.  In 10-15 years if I fit an ensuite in this van I reckon I would still be ahead an easy 10-15k from less fuel towing and less money on a new car.

[CorzaDry]

If you are not going to have an internal toilet and shower my question for you is why then are you going for a van and not a camper trailer???

Want to get away from canvas primarily. If we wanted another camper trailer I would not bother selling the soft floor, I would just keep it.

[tryagain]

Sounds like you might have made up your mind but I would keep an eye out for used one without ensuite as someone else mentioned, I think you will find it can greatly affect resale. Best to be on the side that takes advantage of the price drop opposed too if due to unforeseen circumstances you need to sell a lot earlier than your current intended 15yrs. How long did you originally intend to keep your current camper that you bought that you are now superseding?

[Rumpig]

Emptying a smelly toilet cassette every few days can't be a pleasant job at the best of times. .....

i doubt you’ll ever find anyone that calls the job pleasant, but it really is a mind over matter thing IMO. I was reluctant to get a chemical toilet for camping years ago, but these days I personally prefer emptying it over digging holes in the ground for my kids to crap in.

[macca]

When we're camped on the river bank, water skiing with all the young ladies along we can empty the Porta Potties three times a day running two toilets. Its great coming in from two hours driving the boat in hot weather and before you can even get out of the boat one of the darlings will come and tell you its full again, sure doesn't bother us anymore apart from digging holes above the high water line in 35  degree heat

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[Alan Loy]

How long till some CPs have full connections like the Yanks?  For the usual haunts for grey nomads its the next logical step.  (do any local manufacturers make them yet?)

I might use one in 20 years.

[rags]

i doubt you’ll ever find anyone that calls the job pleasant, but it really is a mind over matter thing IMO.
[/quote)



How bad could it be?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb35eIcusb8

[macca]

Must admitt for thr last three years we have been getting the local PortaLoo man to drop one out on the river bank for us, women love it and it is the best $100 we spend. Back in the old days, still skiing up the Murray our first toilet was an old dunny can (the older swaggers will know them) and it took two blokes to carry it, anyway the handle broke, can hits the ground and up it comes and covers one of the guys, one of the funniest things I have ever seen.
Sorry OP better get back on track,  I personally wouldnt want a loo in the van but the wife would love it, so if i ever buy a van it will have a loo, shower is to me an essential item of camp gear, i try and start every day with a shower

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[Discoduck]

Having had tent, caravan without facilities, Tvan, now Trakmaster with toilet/shower combo, wouldn't change now. Don't use the shower too often but just so you know I use 15lts for a 4min shower. Do use toilet for everything (even good on roadside stop if needed, even going through country town if no public loo).
Just remember that all of this will require carrying extra water to feed all this, in my case 3 x 82lts tanks.
Resale value down the track will be hugely affected if no facilities.
Also don't get too excited about 6" A-frame. Most vans stop 6" chassis before axle line, so in my opinion, not much above pointless. Real 6" chassis is like Trakmaster and other specialist  genuine off-road vans are 6" base front hitch to rear bumper.
Just some thoughts, Cheers

[KeithB]

Do use toilet for everything (even good on roadside stop if needed, even going through country town if no public loo).
Just remember that all of this will require carrying extra water to feed all this, in my case 3 x 82lts tanks.

Looks like we are back to the composting loo.
Keith

[Rumpig]

How bad could it be?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb35eIcusb8

i laugh every time I see that video...those guys must have the weakest stomachs in the world, can we get a video of them changing a babies dirty nappy next please...lol. Clouty that used to be on this forum was like them, I actually went for detour drive one day to a dump point in Gympie when we were both staying at my SIL’s property, just to have a laugh watching him empty his out

[Bird]

How bad could it be?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb35eIcusb8

thats me 100% down to the ground... even the glugging sound of it spashing out ****ed me up...

[rags]

I don't have an issue at all emptying the can but then I'm a plumber with no scense of smell.
In my earlier days I use to drive the choke truck going around schools and other govt buildings of Sydney clearing sewer chokes, and then had the pleasure of pulling the girls sanitary pads of the electric eel cables before packing up and driving to the next blockage. Used to get payed an extra allowance on top of my wage for each choke I did, was a great top up to my pay.

[Pottsy]

Gotta love it, it's coming out of the Ol blokes nose. I reckon there's a fair chance they used there sunnies without the appropriate chemicals.

[Moxley]

thats me 100% down to the ground... even the glugging sound of it spashing out ****ed me up...

That’s piss funny.


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[Rodt]

Gotta love it, it's coming out of the Ol blokes nose. I reckon there's a fair chance they used there sunnies without the appropriate chemicals.

Agree. I know when I first started using years ago we initially didn't worry about chemicals as I had helped the local plumber clean a few blocked drains in the past and thought she would be right. While I wasn't anywhere near the guys in the video the emptying wasn't the most pleasant of experiences. Move forward twenty years and now use the correct chemicals and it really is not a big deal. Still have to deal with the smell of the actual dump point tank but that is it.

I show this clip to my girls every now and then in an attempt to get some level of sympathy that I am the one that has to do 'the walk of shame' when in a CP. Doesn't work 

[chester ver2.0]

if you are going to go the NO ensuite option as above you may wish to look at second hand. Close friends of ours went the same way and were absolutely punished at resale time as one of the main reasons for going to a van is the toilet shower availability. it was not just the resale price it was also the 18 month timeframe it took for them to move it that caused issues as well

[dogbox]

if you want to be a happy camper get what the wife tells you she wants

[krisandkev]

I see you have asked the experts in ExplorOz.  Interesting to see replies there and how they differ to here.  But sometimes the more you ask the more confusing you will get.  Have fun.  Kevin