Installing standard household toilet in a RV??

[DraginRat]

I know it sounds like a silly question, and I agree.

But, have some friends that are thinking of going the rv lifestyle in the near future. He has no problems jumping in both feet, but she just insists she cannot live with a RV toilet. There is no logic here, and no amount of talking is going to change her mind. It is probably a deal breaker.

So, snoozing in my lazy-boy, the thought occurred to me about installing a standard toilet. I am not an expert at any of this stuff, so I need some insight as to whether or not it would be do-able.

Again, don't need arguements for or against doing it, just if it would work.

Thanks

Ken Gasbarri

[Camperluver43]

resmas wrote:
I don't know how many (if any) of the other responses are from women, but here are my 2 cents from a woman's point of view on using a RV toilet. *Some* rv toilets are a nightmare for women, as we need to sit down and, ahem, wipe when done, even with #1. Some RV toilets just don't give a lot of "clearance" for this maneuver without encountering the liquid that is in the bowl, especially after performing #2. It is gross. Beyond gross.

I think it has to do with the diameter and depth of the bowl. I've had experience with 4 RV toilets now, two were el-cheapo plastic models, one was a residential height porcelain, and the current model is a low/wide RV height porcelain. The ONLY one I liked to use was the residential height model - something about the dimension of that bowl gave me clearance to do what I needed to do. I don't remember the make/model of it, as we sold that fiver back in 2011. But I would give anything to have that RV potty back - I am to the point that I would rather hike to the bathhouse than use the commode in our current Voltage.

My wife (and I) always flush first prior to wiping, then flush again. Problem solved.

[2112]

One down side is quick roadside potty breaks.
You will have to park, open the valve to fill the reservoir, do your business, shut off the valve, flush and drain.

So much for quick.

[Dutch_12078]

wny_pat wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:

The Thetford Residence toilet bowl is a polymer composite, as in "plastic", not porcelain. You don't get porcelain in a 9.5 lb $160 RV toilet.

My mistake. But there is the Aqua Magic Style II which has a china bowl, and is residental size.

And we still don't know why the OP's friend's wife opposes a RV toilet, unless I missed it somewhere in the thread.

Yes, the Style II and the Style Plus both have porcelain bowls and standard residential seats. Our style Plus has served us well for the past 5 years.

And nope, I haven't seen any expansion of what she doesn't like about RV toilets either.

[sowego]

It sounds like you have a dilemma. The key words I hear here are "deal breaker", which is a warning light something is seriously wrong...

Take her to an RV dealer with lots of rigs with better toilets than the standard ones. Have an expert explain the difference between residential and RV toilets.

Now have her explain to you why she dislikes an RV toilet. My guess, being a gal myself, is she dislikes the fact you need to fill the bowl with water then flush by opening the valve to dump into the tank...I'm just guessing that grosses her out. They can be more difficult to clean to keep them from leaking but...I personally have no problems with an RV toilet. Once someone gets used to one...it beats the alternative--not having one at all!

Now do your homework and see what happens! In order for a couple to remain happy...both need to be secure about all the systems in a rolling home. If only one person is in the loop is therefore doing all the work...if that one person is ever not able to do it, even for a day or two...what will the other person do then?! Teach her how all the plumbing, electrical and heating systems work, help hooking and unhooking a toad, service all the wet bay items...don't stop there...she should have basic understanding of the chassis systems too and the really big one--at least know how to drive if not actually share in the driving. But, I realize that's a whole new bucket of worms to pick through.Good luck.

[wintersun]

Household are going to have a removable top for the water closet portion and likely to fracture with road stress. An "RV" or a marine head are the options. For your friend he should take his wife to a RV dealer and see how they work.

It is quite likely that your friend's wife has no desire to be an RVer and if the toilet problem was fixed she would find another problem to take its place. Often when a person provides a response that seems illogical it is because we take their response at face value when it is better to ask more questions and learn what the real problem is in their minds.

That is why a salesperson learns to ask the question "if we fix this will you buy it or is there anything else that is a problem or concern" or words to that effect. If the person says yes then the salesperson knows they have trapped the buyer and have a done deal.

[2012Coleman]

The CG facilities have full size real toilets - have her use those. This idea is right up there with the guy who was going to install a garbage disposal in his TT.

[wny_pat1]

Dutch_12078 wrote:

wny_pat wrote:
Thetford now has a porcelain "Aqua Magic Residence Toilet". As the name implies, it is residential-sized! Comes in both high and low profile. http://www.thetford.com/HOME/PRODUCTS/PermanentToilets/AquaMagicResidence/tabid/910/Default.aspx. Thetford's Conversion Chart will tell you if you can swap with your current toilet. It is on my list of future mods.

The Thetford Residence toilet bowl is a polymer composite, as in "plastic", not porcelain. You don't get porcelain in a 9.5 lb $160 RV toilet.

My mistake. But there is the Aqua Magic Style II which has a china bowl, and is residental size.

And we still don't know why the OP's friend's wife opposes a RV toilet, unless I missed it somewhere in the thread.

[Dutch_12078]

okhmbldr wrote:
I would look for a compact one piece residential toilet. It should work great and some have dual flush capability (1.1 gal/flush), or the standards are 1.28 gal/flush. With one piece you don't have to worry about the tank bouncing around. And if you turn off the water supply before you begin your travels, flush the toilet, then you will be traveling with an empty tank. No worry about sloshing.

Something like this: http://www.americanstandard-us.com/toilets/Compact-Cadet-3-FloWise-One-Piece-1.28gpf-Toilet-2070/

I've seen them cheaper at the big box stores.
I think you could make it work.

The one piece would solve the tank support issue, but installing one would still require relocating the drain flange. Not an easy project on most RV's.

[Dutch_12078]

wny_pat wrote:
Thetford now has a porcelain "Aqua Magic Residence Toilet". As the name implies, it is residential-sized! Comes in both high and low profile. http://www.thetford.com/HOME/PRODUCTS/PermanentToilets/AquaMagicResidence/tabid/910/Default.aspx. Thetford's Conversion Chart will tell you if you can swap with your current toilet. It is on my list of future mods.

The Thetford Residence toilet bowl is a polymer composite, as in "plastic", not porcelain. You don't get porcelain in a 9.5 lb $160 RV toilet.

[wny_pat1]

Thetford now has a porcelain "Aqua Magic Residence Toilet". As the name implies, it is residential-sized! Comes in both high and low profile. http://www.thetford.com/HOME/PRODUCTS/PermanentToilets/AquaMagicResidence/tabid/910/Default.aspx. Thetford's Conversion Chart will tell you if you can swap with your current toilet. It is on my list of future mods.

[okhmbldr]

I would look for a compact one piece residential toilet. It should work great and some have dual flush capability (1.1 gal/flush), or the standards are 1.28 gal/flush. With one piece you don't have to worry about the tank bouncing around. And if you turn off the water supply before you begin your travels, flush the toilet, then you will be traveling with an empty tank. No worry about sloshing.

Something like this: http://www.americanstandard-us.com/toilets/Compact-Cadet-3-FloWise-One-Piece-1.28gpf-Toilet-2070/

I've seen them cheaper at the big box stores.
I think you could make it work.

[AO_hitech]

westernrvparkowner wrote:
The rear bath toilet is a macerater toilet, you push a button on the wall and it flushes and refills. The center half bath is a push button RV toilet, again, push the button on the toilet it flushes and refills.

These are the same type of toilets used in sailboats. They would work fine in an RV, but they are still not a home toilet...

[cdlaine]

Ken and Peggy....

my story related to your initial inquiry...

In 2003 I bought a very gently used McKenzie Monaco Medallion
travel trailer. The trailer had been purchased for an elderly
Mother and the family had made "modifications" for seasonal
residential use... I assume ...San Diego in the summer, Scottsdale
in the winter. Turns out "Mom" said no, my good fortune. One of the
significant mods was a dealer installed residential commode...elevated,
porcelain, full tank, just like in many homes. Being a neophyte , I knew
nothing about all the issues/problems described in this post. I never
considered the reasons you should never
do this... my bad. In ten years of towing/moderately heavy use we
never had one problem with the commode. It got to the point I forgot we
had the "residential" version. At ten years I traded it in for my current 5ver...
still fully functional. I may have just been lucky.... but that is not my usual m.o. .

At any rate, my experience. your mileage may vary... probably wiser to listen
to the experts here on the forum. Those Monaco Coach Mckenzie Medallion
trailers were well built, that may have effected the outcome.

(got to be honest... this thread is the first time I ever even considered potential
throne issues.... ignorance is bliss.)

If I were to consider doing as you are considering , I would give
the Toto line a good look.

Good luck


Charles

[resmas]

I don't know how many (if any) of the other responses are from women, but here are my 2 cents from a woman's point of view on using a RV toilet. *Some* rv toilets are a nightmare for women, as we need to sit down and, ahem, wipe when done, even with #1. Some RV toilets just don't give a lot of "clearance" for this maneuver without encountering the liquid that is in the bowl, especially after performing #2. It is gross. Beyond gross.

I think it has to do with the diameter and depth of the bowl. I've had experience with 4 RV toilets now, two were el-cheapo plastic models, one was a residential height porcelain, and the current model is a low/wide RV height porcelain. The ONLY one I liked to use was the residential height model - something about the dimension of that bowl gave me clearance to do what I needed to do. I don't remember the make/model of it, as we sold that fiver back in 2011. But I would give anything to have that RV potty back - I am to the point that I would rather hike to the bathhouse than use the commode in our current Voltage.