Toilet Upgrade on Laminated Floor

RV toilets are available in all plastic or plastic with a ceramic bowl and are universally interchangeable. If you'd prefer the latter a model like the Dometic 310 would easily replace an all plastic model like the Thetford AquaMagic V and the kit includes a rubber seal that would allow for any differences in how the toilet sits atop the flange.

Unless your floor is in bad shape, it shouldn’t be a problem. I wouldn’t have any qualms about doing that in our camper.

SoundGuy wrote:
RV toilets are available in all plastic or plastic with a ceramic bowl and are universally interchangeable. If you'd prefer the latter a model like the Dometic 310 would easily replace an all plastic model like the Thetford AquaMagic V and the kit includes a rubber seal that would allow for any differences in how the toilet sits atop the flange.

Thank you, I am aware of this. My question is about the integrity of the laminated floor which is substantially less capable of weight bearing versus a 5/8 plywood floor. I want to know if anyone has experience with adding the weight of a porcelain toilet to a laminated foam floor. Will a foam floor handle the added weight? The porcelain toilets weigh a lot more. I am concerned about how easily these floors bow, divot, and flex. The laminated floor is not a substantial design for weight bearing.

Like countless others, we have already had to take measures to mitigate the floor's deterioration caused by normal use. Actually, we baby our TT, and the floor still presents all of the tell-tale deficiencies common to laminate floors.

Do manufacturers put these nothing plastic toilets in for overall gross weight objectives, or do they use them because the floor will not handle the weight of a heavier porcelain toilet?

It would seem to me that the weight difference between toilets is minimal considering the weight applied when in use. Just go on a diet and lose 10 lbs and you're good to go :)

FeatherFam wrote:
Do manufacturers put these nothing plastic toilets in for overall gross weight objectives, or do they use them because the floor will not handle the weight of a heavier porcelain toilet?

JMO but you're imagining an issue that isn't as the toilet is actually supported by the flange, not the floor itself. As mentioned by another poster just sitting on the toilet obviously increases the downward force far more than would the difference between an all plastic vs plastic / ceramic toilet.

WayneAt63044 wrote:
It would seem to me that the weight difference between toilets is minimal considering the weight applied when in use. Just go on a diet and lose 10 lbs and you're good to go :)

The porcelain toilets weigh 30-40lbs more than the plastic which weighs about 3-5lbs. The added weight of the toilet will be on top of the user's weight. I do not know what the floor is designed for other than it is not designed for much.

I would appreciate insight from those who have actually made this mod to a foam laminate floor. I do not value conjecture as experience has taught me to proceed cautiously with matters that involve the integral elements of a coach, like a floor (especially a floor that is prone to weight-related failures).

SoundGuy wrote:

FeatherFam wrote:
Do manufacturers put these nothing plastic toilets in for overall gross weight objectives, or do they use them because the floor will not handle the weight of a heavier porcelain toilet?

JMO but you're imagining an issue that isn't as the toilet is actually supported by the flange, not the floor itself. As mentioned by another poster just sitting on the toilet obviously increases the downward force far more than would the difference between an all plastic vs plastic / ceramic toilet.

What supports the flange?

WayneAt63044 wrote:
It would seem to me that the weight difference between toilets is minimal considering the weight applied when in use. Just go on a diet and lose 10 lbs and you're good to go :)

:B

WayneAt63044 wrote:
It would seem to me that the weight difference between toilets is minimal considering the weight applied when in use.

FeatherFam wrote:
The porcelain toilets weigh 30-40lbs more than the plastic which weighs about 3-5lbs.

A Dometic 310 with ceramic bowl weighs ~ 23 lbs, a Thetford AquaMagic V weight ~ 10 lbs, IMO an irrelevant difference.

WayneAt63044 wrote:
I would appreciate insight from those who have actually made this mod to a foam laminate floor. I do not value conjecture as experience has taught me to proceed cautiously with matters that involve the integral elements of a coach, like a floor (especially a floor that is prone to weight-related failures).

E-X-C-U-S-E us for trying to help. :R

Mine has the laminate floor and came from the factory with a ceramic unit. No problem in 8 years and way more than average amount of use.