Composting Toilet

sleepy wrote:
To haul somewhat expensive peat bricks would be a pain for me. The $1,000 composter plus tax, shipping, parts etc might be a good price, I don't know... but you have to remove an expensive system that functions well and that you had just paid for when you bought the truck camper.

If you're doing a custom build or your toilet takes a **** on you (pun intended) is probably more the target audience.

sleepy wrote:
Now, with my breif read... the deal killer for me is having to maintain the unit at 55°F or higher... that would be a pain... I have been in Yellowstone when it was 10°F at night and stayed in the area for long periods..... what do you do with the cold, wet, peet/poop when it won't compost? when the urine won't evaporite? Can you use a pump to empty it? Or do you have to disassemble it to take the base tank somewhere to empty it?

Our camper is always at 65 degrees during the winter, even if it's below zero outside. toilet is in the bathroom, which is heated, so no problamo. with 2 20lb tanks of propane we can last just over 3 weeks in single digits. urine doesn't evaporate. they're stored separately and you dump the gallon (or so) jug whenever it's full. the poop should be fairly dry so it shouldn't freeze too solid even if it does freeze.

sleepy wrote:
Our first truck camper had a Porta Potty... 1969/1970, it was heavy when I was young... now it would be impossible for me much of the time. But knowing how much effort that took and how often.... on the composter 40 pounds vrs opening a valve....no way, I'm getting close to middle age (if I live to 150 or more.)

keep in mind since urine is separate it won't be like the porta potty. no urine in that compartment means 40 less pounds per week!

sleepy wrote:
Do I have to haul extra propane or put the composter between me and my wife under the comforter to keep it warm?

again it's in the heated bathroom (at least in my camper it would be) so no extra heat just keep your camper heated.

sleepy wrote:
I hope that one of you will install a composter... share the install, and report your experiences.

hopefully i'll get one and i'll definitely report back. could be at least a few months though.