To pee, or not to pee? That is the question that causes most concern for vanlifers in the early stages of a van build. Do you need a full bathroom set-up in your campervan with a shower and toilet, or can you make do with a portable campervan toilet? Or even no toilet at all? And if you do opt to include a toilet in your van conversion, what type should you go for? With so many different options on the market it can be an overwhelming choice, but one that only you and your bathroom habits can decide. Fortunately we’re here to provide you with all the information on campervan toilets you need to make a decision.
Do I need a camper van toilet?
If the idea of not having a toilet immediately makes you baulk- you have your answer already.
When nature calls the answer must come pretty soon. But your style of vanlife can dictate whether you need to fit a toilet in your van conversion or not.
– If you’re a part-timer, spend a lot of time in urban areas with nearby toilet access such as a workplace or gym, or usually opt for campgrounds with facilities, you may not need your own personal toilet.
– If however you’re a full-timer, like spending time off-grid and enjoy your home comforts, fitting a toilet is probably a must.
Pros:
+ Convenience– go wherever and whenever you need to
+ Privacy– doing your business in nature or public toilets isn’t as pleasant as being in your own space
+ Comfort– a man’s toilet is his throne, and squatting hurts your calves
Cons:
– Bad smells – this could be a deal-breaker for you and your travel partner
– Emptying – having to handle your own waste could be too much for some
– Space – whether it’s in a bench seat or a bathroom, a toilet takes up precious living space
Basic camper van toilet set-ups
Aside from having no toilet at all, there are a range of simple methods you can use to relieve yourself.
Shovel
A shovel is all you need to do your business in nature, but there are some important considerations.
– Always dig a hole for solids. Aim for at least 6-8 inches deep, do your business, then bury it well, covering with stones, sticks or leaves as well if necessary
– Do not pee or poo near open water sources; walk at least 200ft away
– Do not relieve yourself in high-traffic areas where people are likely to walk, even if it’s buried
– Paper can be buried or preferably taken with you, but never leave it in nature, and never leave wet wipes or sanitary products behind; these do not biodegrade
Nature calls aside, carrying a small shovel in your van is always a good idea, whether it’s for digging holes in the ground or bailing out snow or mud if your van gets stuck.
We recommend:
REDCAMP Folding Camping Shovel – $20 on Amazon
NACETURE Ultralight Backpacking Trowel – $20.00 on Amazon
Foldable toilet
A foldable toilet is a great option for part-timers, weekend warriors, emergency use or those with limited space in their vans. These work by unfolding the legs or body, fitting a bag (see below) and then folding away again for transport. They are portable and inexpensive, however the main downside between a foldable toilet and a permanent bag toilet (below) is that they don’t offer a place to store used bags in transit.
We recommend:
Mitterm portable toilet – $39.99 on Amazon
Cleanwaste GO Anywhere Portable Folding Toilet – $89 on Amazon
Bucket toilet
A bucket toilet is as elegant as it sounds in practice; a toilet seat is fitted to a bucket lined with a bag. Not intended to be used as a permanent solution, they’re ideal for part-timers and very portable. Along the same lines is a portable toilet, which can be stowed away when not in use and is also lined with a bag for use. When choosing a bag make sure the opening is large enough to hook around the entire edge of the toilet bowl to avoid messy misses. Doodie bags and WAG bags contain gelling powder to absorb liquids and stop odors, but ordinary compostable bags can also be used and cost considerably less.
We recommend:
Reliance Products Luggable Loo – $39.94 on Amazon
PLAYBERG Portable Travel Toilet – $67.67 on Amazon
Toilet bags we recommend:
Reliance Products Double Doodie Toilet Waste Bags – $17.95 on Amazon
Cleanwaste Original WAG Bag for Portable Toilet – $35.50 on Amazon
UNNI 100% Compostable Bags – $19.95 on Amazon
Pee catchers
For number 1’s there’s a range of options to make van life easier as well. From portable urinals so you don’t wake your travel partner by going outside in the night to pee funnels and even a budget DIY option, here’s our favorite vanlife pee products.
We recommend:
MedVance Urinal for Men with Glow in the Dark Spill-Proof Cap 2 pack – $9.99 on Amazon
Shrinkable Urinal 750ml for Male and Female – $7.50 on Amazon
Sunany Female Urination Device – $18.99 on Amazon
Sistema 32oz Microwave Bowl with clips – $9.99 on Amazon
Integrated storage toilets
Camper van toilets which integrate waste storage and management are one of the most popular options for vanlife for their comfort and ease of fitting and use. These units are generally fitted into a camper van bathroom, but can also be built into a bench seat or used outdoors. They provide an experience that is close to a domestic household toilet, but require hands-on waste disposal.
Casette toilet
A campervan casette toilet or chemical toilet is one of the most traditional, affordable and widely used options, using two different types of chemicals to aid the decomposition of waste and cleanse the toilet bowl after use. This prevents unpleasant odors, but does come with the downside of removing the tank and emptying it at a dump station on a regular basis, which may not be suitable for off-grid living, travel through areas unequipped with dump stations, or just anyone who doesn’t enjoy getting too close to their own waste. Additional cassettes can also be purchased and used for extra or longer term storage. Unfortunately, chemical toilets are among the least environmentally-friendly options out there, and can pose a threat to the environment if not disposed of correctly, so this may factor into your decision to use one.
We recommend:
Thetford Porta Potti 365 – $158 on Amazon
Dometic 970 series portable toilet – $150 on Amazon
Thetford Aquamax holding tank treatment – $29.68 on Amazon
Composting toilet
Camper van composting toilets on the other hand are one of the most eco-friendly options available, being free of chemicals, although the initial start-up cost is quite high. Using a separator to divide liquids and solids allows the natural aerobic decomposition of the solids when mixed with a fibrous material such as coconut fiber or sawdust, which also prevents smells. The mix must be ventilated and aerated which is done via a 12V fan or in some cases an electrically powered mixer. The liquids can be emptied most anywhere responsible. The main downside of a campervan composting toilet is that it will likely fill up before it’s had time to decompose owing to its small size; this mixture can be bagged and binned or used as “humanure” in an appropriate location. Composting toilets are fast becoming one of the most popular options for vanlife, however they can present a learning curve to new users which should be taken into account.
We recommend:
Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet – $1,030 on Amazon
OGO Electric Mixing Compost Toilet – $1,185 on Amazon
SUN-MAR GTG Compost Toilet – $699 on Amazon
Poopoo Pucks Coconut Coir Disks for Composting Toilet – $17.99 on Amazon
Luxury toilets and external storage toilets
Aside from chemical toilets, campervan toilets that connect to an externally mounted waste storage tank or “black water” tank are one of the most popular options for vanlife. Typically fitted to larger RVs and Winnebagos that spend a lot of time on campgrounds, but equally suited to long periods of boondocking, this method allows a large volume of waste to be stored beneath the vehicle which can be emptied at dump stations with minimal contact with your own waste. This tank is usually fed by a “gravity flush” toilet which are often made of china and provide virtually the same experience as a toilet at home, flushing the waste away with water or chemicals into an external holding tank.
Macerating toilets work just the same as gravity flush toilets, but they have a 12V power supply which activates a macerator each time the toilet is flushed, liquidizing the waste on its way down for easier storage and emptying.
We’ve also included an innovative yet still relatively underground toilet in the market: the incinerator toilet. Currently created and produced by just a single company that ships worldwide, the Cinderella Travel incineration toilet has a small but dedicated fanbase in the van community. It works by using LPG gas and a 12V ignition to incinerate waste into a small pile of ash that is sterile, eco-friendly and can be dumped quite literally anywhere without environmental hazards. The company boasts that four people using the toilet for a week will generate just a teacup of ash.
Gravity flush
“Gravity flush” is just a fancy term for a regular flushing toilet. The key difference between a camper van and household toilet is that the camper van one will be fed from a water tank or chemical supply to provide the flush. These do however provide a virtually identical experience to a household toilet, coming in a range of materials from plastic to ceramic, and a range of heights from compact to household.
We recommend:
Dometic 320 Series Standard Height RV Toilet – $393 on Amazon
Thetford Aqua-Magic High Profile RV Toilet – $209 on Amazon
Macerating toilet
A macerating toilet works by activating a set of metal blades each time the toilet is flushed which liquify the solids, making them easier to store and allowing them to decompose quicker. While not essential in a van and more commonly used in boats, it could be an asset to those looking to extend their time off-grid with additional black water tank storage. These toilets run on a 12V supply which comes pre-installed so all you need to do is wire it and the on/off switch to your van’s power supply.
TMC Electric Marine Toilet with Built–In Macerator Pump – $621 on Amazon
HOCANFLO Electric Marine Toilet with Built-In 12V Macerator Pump – $598 on Amazon
Incinerator toilet
The incineration toilet is a relatively new concept in the vanlife industry. Despite Cinderella having been around for over 25 years, they only created their first travel toilet in 2013- and it’s taken a while to catch on. This is an innovative and truly eco-friendly waste solution with no caveats; the toilet runs on an LPG canister with 12V ignition, incinerating waste at high temperatures to leave only a small amount of sterile ash. The toilet can be used up to 70 times before the ash pan needs to be emptied, and provides a waterless, storage-less solution for traditional campervan toilets.
It can be retrofitted into any existing campervan or installed anew, however an exhaust pipe must be installed to vent the gases created (no toilet pun intended). The downside? Its prohibitively expensive price point, with estimates starting at around $4,000 per unit.
Cinderella Travel incineration toilet – POA
Toilet accessories
Here’s a handful of accessories we’ve rounded up that will make your vanlife toilet experience all the more comfortable and practical.
A toilet tent allows you to create a private outdoor bathroom where smells can vent freely- your travel partner will thank you.
GigaTent Pop Up Toilet Tent – $39.99 on Amazon
Pee cloths are an eco-friendly alternative to toilet paper, ideal for women who like to hit the trail and those who mind their footprint and don’t want to leave paper in nature. They can be thrown in the wash and used again and again.
CIRCE CARE Pee Cloth – $12.99 on Amazon
SOG® is an electrical ventilation system that can be fitted to most styles of camper van toilet, sucking odours outdoors and allowing fresh air in which helps waste to break down quicker. This keeps your camper van toilet working efficiently with no bad smells and no need for harmful chemicals. For it to work a vent pipe and fan must be fitted to the van, but SOG provide three different systems that can be installed on either the floor, door or roof for a flexible install for any camper or toilet type.
SOG® system – POA
So there we have it, everything you could possibly need to know about campervan toilets to help you decide on the best bathroom set-up for your van. Want to find out more about setting up a camper van bathroom? Check out our Van Life Guide to showering & bathing, or the best camper van sink options.
