Wasn't sure where to post this but have been trying to work it out in my head for some time. We have always had a van with TT or pop-up which gave us room for a porti-potti in the tow vehicle which with our crew, it really is needed since we have an adult son with Down syndrome who isn't the best "planner" in the world but at least, he is smaller and lean guy. So, I have been looking at trucks online and wondering if with the crew cab with the split seat, does anyone know if a small porti-potti would fit in the back? I know about the devices for urine and they are handy but looking for something more, well, you get the idea. So, I just had to ask since I haven't the courage yet to go look at trucks carrying the porti-potti along but if it looks like a possibility, I'm lug in it along on the shopping trip after a thorough cleaning of course.

Crew cab Dodge with the fold flat floor option. The rear seat is a 60/40. Let him sit on the passenger side (60), and leave the driver portion folded. There is a 3pc (per side) that hinges out from under the seat bottom when the seat is folded up. It gives you a sturdy and flat surface for the bowl. Add a piece of rubber mat to help keep the bowl from sliding around.The back seat of a half-ton Ford is HUGE in my opinion. And I remember the floor to be flat as well. That is another option.

With a fold up 60/40 back seat there would be room in a crewcab for a porta potti.Here's what we did for my 94 year old dad with dementia that travelled with us. We used depends (the full diaper type) when on the road for those times when he didn't know he had to go. It worked well and most times not too messy to clean up with adult wipes. Our trips tended to be 2 to 3 hours at most between stops and we only had a couple of times where the depends came in handy. Now they have depends that look more like briefs, I don't know if they would work as well but at least he wouldn't think of them as diapers.

On the Ram, only the higher trim levels have the split rear seat. My Tradesman crew cab rear seat is either completely up or down. My Ford Supercab was large enough to hold a potty and even the basic XL trim had split seats. The base Ram has storage under the seats necessitating a flat load floor option while the base Ford opens up to a flat floor. I don't have details on the GM setup.

I use a portable toilet in the bed (under a cab high cap) for concert tailgating. My current truck is an 08 Quad Cab ram with a back seat like the one pictured earlier. I see two issues there - first, I'm not sure I would trust the fold out section to support an adult. The other problem is headroom, my potty is 14" wide, 15" long and 16" tall. Sitting it on top of the fold out piece would put the seat 8 or more inches higher than the regular seat. Your kid is going to be quite hunched over if he can even get up there.A quick measurement shows that it might fit on the floor if the passenger seat was moved all the way forward. Crew or Mega cab should have more floor space, I believe.I believe this is the potty I have- porta-pottyYou'll probably want to tint those rear windows too ;)

From Van With Porti-Potti to Truck? | Good Sam Community

Bedlam
Moderator
Jan 02, 2015
I can already see this will be your best shopping experience buying a truck. Even you don't get the best price, you will have plenty of good stories to share.
brookside
Explorer
Jan 01, 2015
Bedlam wrote:
You do know you can just carry a tape measure with you when you go shopping. Then again you may throw the sales guy off hauling around that potty and get a psychological advantage over him when comes time to deal price. Remember that shopping should be fun. You can walk out any time and the salesman is stuck there waiting the next potential customer.

This cracked myself and my husband up. But, psychological advantage? Ah, interesting thought. Am I the kind of person that would carry around the porti-potti? Yeah, I can do it with a straight face and just watch for the reaction. You know, they look at the porti-potti, look at you and you give them the "What?" face.
Bedlam
Moderator
Dec 31, 2014
You do know you can just carry a tape measure with you when you go shopping. Then again you may throw the sales guy off hauling around that potty and get a psychological advantage over him when comes time to deal price. Remember that shopping should be fun. You can walk out any time and the salesman is stuck there waiting the next potential customer.
brookside
Explorer
Dec 31, 2014
Thanks for all the ideas! I have been looking online and they have some really good photos of the interiors and the split seats looked like a possibility but online photos can fool you. We would have more options in choosing a new camper with a truck. We do like a van but that means TT. January is a good month to go a shopping which I truly dread. It should be fun but it never has been. We will be shopping the used market in a smaller town. We always carry the porti-potti in the van so if I see something that might work, we'll be ready to see if it measures up. Thanks again
Bedlam
Moderator
Dec 31, 2014
A powered rear slider window may be an option for you to consider for additional ventilation. It does allow considerable vehicle noise in but is less turbulent than an open side window.
Lessmore
Explorer II
Dec 31, 2014
In a pickup, you may want to install curtains in the back, to give your son privacy.

About 50 years ago, my parents set up their '61 and '64 Chev wagons as sleepers for me. I was a teenager who was too tall...from about 12 years old on (6'1" and growing fast then)...to fit comfortably in our 16 foot trailer's beds.

We didn't have a porti potty in the wagons, but my mother /grandmother did fit curtains that were easily drawn, easily folded up and ensured I had a very private sleeper in campgrounds. They made them using a sewing machine.

The curtains were on a small diameter line/rope that would fit on the clothes hanger hooks that most vehicles have. The curtains would fold tight...quickly...behind the window pillars of the wagon. Very unobtrusive.

I think your son would appreciate the privacy.
Tom_in_CT
Explorer
Dec 31, 2014
I use a portable toilet in the bed (under a cab high cap) for concert tailgating. My current truck is an 08 Quad Cab ram with a back seat like the one pictured earlier. I see two issues there - first, I'm not sure I would trust the fold out section to support an adult. The other problem is headroom, my potty is 14" wide, 15" long and 16" tall. Sitting it on top of the fold out piece would put the seat 8 or more inches higher than the regular seat. Your kid is going to be quite hunched over if he can even get up there.

A quick measurement shows that it might fit on the floor if the passenger seat was moved all the way forward. Crew or Mega cab should have more floor space, I believe.
I believe this is the potty I have- porta-potty
You'll probably want to tint those rear windows too ;)
Bedlam
Moderator
Dec 31, 2014
On the Ram, only the higher trim levels have the split rear seat. My Tradesman crew cab rear seat is either completely up or down. My Ford Supercab was large enough to hold a potty and even the basic XL trim had split seats. The base Ram has storage under the seats necessitating a flat load floor option while the base Ford opens up to a flat floor. I don't have details on the GM setup.
the_bear_II
Explorer
Dec 31, 2014
With a fold up 60/40 back seat there would be room in a crewcab for a porta potti.

Here's what we did for my 94 year old dad with dementia that travelled with us. We used depends (the full diaper type) when on the road for those times when he didn't know he had to go. It worked well and most times not too messy to clean up with adult wipes. Our trips tended to be 2 to 3 hours at most between stops and we only had a couple of times where the depends came in handy.

Now they have depends that look more like briefs, I don't know if they would work as well but at least he wouldn't think of them as diapers.
BenK
Explorer
Dec 31, 2014

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