We are very happy with our motorhome! It gives us a sense of freedom. For example, sometimes we live in the forest and other times at the beach. The changing of the seasons is also fun to experience with the RV. Spring and fall are our favorite. In the spring, nature does its best to grow again and autumn produces such beautiful scents and colors, really great.
Still, we spent most of our time in campgrounds. Our RV was equipped with a Thetford cassette toilet when we bought it. This toilet is fine for peeing on, but using it for number-2 the cassette can start to smell tremendously and in addition the cassette is also immediately full. We didn't feel like doing that. We only used the toilet - with two people - for the night and the morning and had to empty it after 2.5 days. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Fellow travelers' experiences
We met many people during our travels and always asked if they also boondocked and if they then used a cassette toilet. We got the following answers:
- one uses 2 cassettes
- one empties very often and finds this no problem
- one puts a diaper in the toilet, ties it up and throws it in the garbage
- one uses a separate toilet bucket
An RV toilet is like insurance. You're glad you have it, but would rather not use it
In all the "solutions," we had no appetite. We started looking for other options.
Cassette toilet alternatives
The alternatives are: a cassette toilet with connection to black water tank and flush with gray water tank, a combustion toilet, a freezing toilet and a composting toilet.
Cassette toilet with connection to black water tank and flush with gray water tank
Thetford offers a solution under the name iNDUS. It works as follows: An additional black water tank is installed, you flush your toilet with your gray waste water. Three vials of liquid are mounted, which automatically dispense the right amount, so that eventually all the wastewater (black and gray) can be discharged at the gray water waste site at once. Through an app, you get a signal when this should happen.
Pro's: On average after 7 days only emptying all tanks
Con's: Is only installed pre-factory Another disadvantage may be: We have rented RVs in America before and there you use a full hookup. With a hose through which you first drain the toilet water (black water) and then the wastewater (grey water). You do smell the toilet. Whether this is the case at the iNDUS, we don't know.
Combustion toilet
An incinerator toilet works on the same principle as a toaster, the difference being that this "toaster" burns everything until only ash remains. The ash drawer needs to be emptied once couple of months, depending on the number of people and the brand of toilet.
Pro's: No water and no drain is required.
Con's: You always need 230/110V and then also a 10/30 amp connection. This is because combustion takes place at 550 degrees.
Freezing toilet
Everything is collected in a bag inside a container and where these contents freeze. Because of the freezing, there is hardly any odor nuisance. If the toilet is 75% full, then toilet waste can be disposed of with the compost waste.
Pro's: No water and drainage is required.
Con's: You always need 230/110V. When the garbage defrosts, it starts to smell.
Composting toilet
The composting toilets we compared, work on the principle of collecting urine and solids separately. The urine can be emptied anywhere, the composted solids can be put in the compost pile.
Pro's: No water, drainage and 230/110V are required.
Con's: As far as we are concerned - none
We quickly decided, we wanted a composting toilet. Yet the final choice was determined not only by the specifications, but mostly by the limited space available. Below we compare the Natures Head and the Ogo toilet. In our opinion, the best two composting toilets on the market.
Natures Head
With stainless steel hardware, Natures head toilet is a robust construction and designed to withstand the harshest conditions. Cost excluding installation €1250.
Pro's:
- Urine and solids feces separated, eliminating odor
- Fan eliminates any odors
- Connect to 12V, possibly 230/110V
- Weighs 14.5 kg (32 Lbs)
- "Never" breaks down
- Urine can be emptied anywhere
- Compost can go with residual or organic waste
- No chemicals needed
Con's:
- When emptying, the entire toilet must be removed from the motorhome
- There is no indicator light when the urine container is full. May then overflow
- You have to manually "stir" the stool with a wheel
- Is too big for most EU campers
- After about 2-3 days, the urine container should be emptied
OGO Toilet
Ogo's toilet is designed for smaller spaces. Everything has been well thought out. Cost excluding installation €1250.
Pro's:
- Urine and solids feces separated, eliminating odor
- Fan eliminates any odors
- Connect to 12V, possibly 230/110V
- Weighs 12.7 kg (30Lbs)
- Red LED indicator light when urine container is full
- After toilet visit, push button mixes solids with compost
- Urine can be emptied anywhere
- Compost can go with residual or organic waste
- No chemicals needed
Con's:
- After about 2-3 days, the urine container should be emptied
Our experience
Removing the Thetford toilet
The Thetford toilet was removed along with the flush knob and cassette. We sold the toilet the same day for €125 through Marketplace. The space where the cassette sat is now empty.
Het plaatsen van het OGO toilet
We first checked that the lid of the toilet could be opened and enough leg room remained. Then the toilet was fixed. The fan was connected to the power supply of the water pump. This was already present in the toilet room. Don't have your water pump on continuously? Then choose another power source. We also had a Sog carbon filter installed. With our motorhome, there was already a ventilation outlet under the motorhome. It is smart to have the ventilation outlet under the camper, though.
Using the Ogo
You put coconut compost with a minimal amount of water in the bucket and then the toilet is ready for use. At first it takes some getting used to the fact that urine and solid must be collected separately. After each use, spray a little water with vinegar in the toilet (not in the compost bucket). We added a nice scent to this. Toilet paper can be put in the bucket with the compost. Do you have only this toilet at your disposal? Then the urine container should be emptied after about 2-3 days, for the compost bucket after about 10-14 days.
Emptying
When we emptied the toilet for the first time, we found it quite exciting. Will it smell? Will you see anything else that looks like stool? Fortunately, the answer to both questions was NO! The compost just became garden soil. You can still rinse the bucket after emptying, but it is not necessary.
Conclusion
We are very happy with this toilet! You don't hear the fan, nor do you smell the toilet odor. The toilet is easy to use, both with "stirring" and emptying. We highly recommend it!