When using a vault toilet….

Just keep in mind, the stuff you are putting into the vault is the same stuff you had for dinner the night before, just a lot stinkier. (No, don't eat it, just respect it for what it is.)

We have well water at home. Same concept. The water you use at home today, that is supplied by the city is the same water you discharged into the commode at home yesterday.

It's called "recycling"

Tvov wrote:
"vault toilet"... I've always known them as "outhouse".

Connecticut state parks have outhouses with fans in them, something about helping to compost the waste. The fan draws air down the toilet, so the outhouses are remarkably "ok" smelling - during the day. They use solar power, so during the day you can hear the fans running - at night they stop. Then they just smell like normal outhouses.

I've always had a pragmatic view of outhouses. They are necessary to keep the area clean, you have to ****, they will smell, you may have to wipe down the toilet seat. They are what they are, so I just use them when needed and then go on with my life.

A friend of mine has a cabin in Vermont. The outhouse overlooks a small valley - it is quite scenic when no one is around and you just leave the door open!

Well there is a difference between an "Outhouse" and a Vault Toilet. Most outhouses are just a cheap small room built over a hole in the ground. A Vault Toilet typically is a fiberglass or concrete building placed over a concrete Vault, that will hold the waist both liquid and solid, until pumped out and processed at a treatment facility.

A friend of mine has a self-built Super C along the lines of what I’m currently building, it has a “vault toilet”, or as he calls it, “an indoor outhouse”.

It’s a cabinet of sorts with 2 large compartments, one is vented to the outside and with a sealed hinged lid over a hole and seat, the other a lift up lid. Under the seat is a stout (small) rubber garbage can. The second compartment is just the size to hold a bale / brick of sphagnum (pear) moss that you would normally use in the garden. To start there’s a thin layer of moss on the bottom of the receptacle then after each ‘addition’ another thin layer is sprinkled over top of it.

I’ve been in his unit after more than a week of him staying in it and tell you, there is zero odour.

The garbage can gets lined with a large sized biodegradable green bin liner inside a stout garbage bag. He has researched it all out, it’s completely legit to place it in the recycling stream, which he does.

I’m landing on doing the same thing in my unit.

Full disclosure, I grew up with outhouses at the farm, cottage, deer camp, etc, etc, so using one is pretty normal to me.

I'd hate to see the RV or household toilet of someone who can't handle an outhouse toilet.

"vault toilet"... I've always known them as "outhouse".

Connecticut state parks have outhouses with fans in them, something about helping to compost the waste. The fan draws air down the toilet, so the outhouses are remarkably "ok" smelling - during the day. They use solar power, so during the day you can hear the fans running - at night they stop. Then they just smell like normal outhouses.

I've always had a pragmatic view of outhouses. They are necessary to keep the area clean, you have to ****, they will smell, you may have to wipe down the toilet seat. They are what they are, so I just use them when needed and then go on with my life.

A friend of mine has a cabin in Vermont. The outhouse overlooks a small valley - it is quite scenic when no one is around and you just leave the door open!

#1Flyboy wrote:
…. Please post your best answer…. Some campers don’t have a clue on what they are & how to use a vault toilet!

Best answer to what? It's a toilet. Self explanatory to most everyone over the age of 3 years.

Don't make a mess. Pick it up if you do.

#1Flyboy wrote:
Some campers don’t have a clue on what they are & how to use a vault toilet!

What special technique is needed? The only thing I can think of is to not throw anything that's not toilet paper in, but all the ones I've seen have signs warning the same.

Closing the toilet lid while done is a nice thing to do for the next guy, but many people don't.

Other than "don't drop your cell phone in", what else is there to know?

Cabin fever in Cali gettin to ya?

Close the lid when you are finished.