Composting Toilet

Naio wrote:

HMS Beagle wrote:
No personal experience, but many people are using these on boats including a few friends. They are properly called "desiccating toilets" since little or no composting goes on. The #2 waste is mixed with some organic material which absorbs the moisture and dries it. The resulting mix is disposed of at intervals. It is legal in most jurisdictions to simply put it in the trash (same as a dirty disposable diaper). I think for most people a standard RV or boat toilet is a better choice, but there seems to be growing acceptance of the alternatives.

That's cool. It's definitely not a composting toilet, but it's cool.

I have been watching this thread for a while, as Composting Toilets mean so many different things for so many different applications. Since day one, I have been composting my black water tank, much the way HMS Beagle wrote above. In fact there is an inside joke between btggraphix and myself that he is going to christen my camper . . . one day. The process for me is different than what the OP is asking for, so to keep from being reprimanded from being off topic, I will switch to that.

Yes, it is possible, but the fact is they do take up more room than a normal toiler footprint on the valuable floor space of a truck camper. Yes, they need a fan for venting, running 24/7/365. What has not been discussed and to be a full use composting toilet there must be a “blender.” This is something that is turning the “product” every few minutes, or hours. This in itself uses more than a 2.1AmpH per day. In fact much more.

As for disposal, use your own imagination. Where does one put used diapers? To be brutally honest, that is the reality. Many Feed-Lot operations will allow you to recycle your compost at these operations. If you don’t have an attitude or wear your Hat on Backwards. Lets just say I believe on living the non “Wynn” way of RVing.

My feedback, even though I have not installed a Compost Toilet, is that I would not like to take on the size of one in my truck camper. All the other factors, disposal, AmpH, odor would not be an issue for me.

As for time in “Ship,” I don’t think it really matters how many nights you are doing the TC thing, but how you make it capable in living between “Re-Docking” at your Basecamp/Mothership/Town. I give High Five’s to the OP for bringing up this topic. People are really trying to help. But taking care of important things like; “Food ~ Fuel ~ Water ~ Heat/Cool ~ Energy ~ Bodily Functions & Grey Water Disposal and Entertainment are factors that will aid you in the journey of having fun in your Truck Camper. Anytime you can extend those factors, the longer you can truly be a Boondocker. If you are going to be a short tripper or weekender, why bother?

As for wood stoves in Truck campers, I know of 2 separate parties that use them exclusively. Meaning they have NO propane in their truck camper and result to cooking and heating exclusively by a wood stove. Each one these of people spend weeks at a time without replenishing. Amazing enough, they are all in their 70s and older. So sometimes older generations are more willing to leave the modern conveniences behind. Below, is Mr. & Mrs. Crum’s homemade Truck Camper (He lives in an off the grid cabin in Alaska and stores the Truck Camper in Kanab, for frequent winter visits).













Keeping an open mind we might learn more from the uses others, have done and have experienced. Then maybe take some of that and adapt it to our own uses.

b