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Toilet usage

birish21
Explorer
Explorer
So I just bought my first travel trailer, a 22' Jayco Jayflight and I have a question about toilet usage and boondocking. We are going on our first trip next weekend for two days and we want to be able to use the toilet for liquids only but I read that it is not a good idea to travel with water in your trailer. Is there any way we can use the toilet without having water stored in the fresh water tank? Like bringing a large jug of water or a hand sprayer to rinse the bowl?
45 REPLIES 45

kerrlakeRoo
Explorer
Explorer
Two points to consider
1. Your trailer as a 2016 , with Jayco offering a 2 year warranty will hopefully be covered if there is a problem, and yes I would fill and run with it to test that while its under warranty.
and
2. Jayco's in that size range have smallish tanks. 42 gal FW, and less than 40 for both black and grey, so your not talking about huge quanities or weights.

MandKJohns
Explorer
Explorer
I don't travel with water in my fresh tank. Only reason I don't is to save weight. I will fill my tank up when I get to where I am going. Almost all gas stations have a water connection. I keep 2 gallon jugs full of water in the bathroom for the stops on the side of the road.

D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Explorer
As stated it's your rig and therefore, your rules. For me, I travel with supplies to last at least two full days of heavy usage. There are always things that can go wrong and you could be stranded in a remote spot for say two or three days and need water etc. For that type of contingency I'm prepared, if were going out by Muley Point in Utah, I'll fill the water tank and drain the grey and black tanks at the last full hookup campground before going.

Like my Boy Scout grandson says, Be Prepared.
"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to go". R. L. Stevenson

David Bishop
2002 Winnebago Adventurer 32V
2009 GMC Canyon
Roadmaster 5000
BrakeBuddy Classic II

mbutts
Explorer
Explorer
On my first TT, which was a super ultralight, the manufacturer said not to travel with full tanks due to the stresses on the undersized frame.

We always traveled with 5-10 gallons to allow on the road usage of the facilities.

If you'd like to save water and making flushing #2 easier, buy some Happy Bowl Liners. I have used these for several years and wouldn't poop without 'em!
Mike Butts
DW+DD+DS+Poodles
2017 Forest River Forester 3011DS (first MH!)
Previously 1999 Coleman Santa Fe pop-up, 2007 Kodiak 23SS hybrid, 2013 Sunset Trail 29SS travel trailer

birish21
Explorer
Explorer
Thank you all for the responses. The no poop rule is mostly from the wife lol. I would much prefer to poop there instead of a portable crapper. I'm just hesitant about running with water stored. It's a 2016 so I would hope that the frame could support a filled tank.

GrandpaKip
Explorer II
Explorer II
I don't understand. If you are not going to poop in the toilet, why not pee where you are going to poop?
So far, we are always at full or partial service campgrounds. I have not checked how my fresh water tank is contained, but definitely would before traveling with a full tank.
Kip
2015 Skyline Dart 214RB
2018 Silverado Double Cab 4x4
Andersen Hitch

Lynnmor
Explorer
Explorer
Fill the water tank. If for some reason you cannot, like structural issues or inadequate tow vehicle, fix that problem.

mbopp
Explorer
Explorer
If we're going to a full hookup site I carry a few gallons in the fresh tank for potty stops and hand washing along the way. If we're camping w/o hookups but the campground has water available I'll fill up when I get there. I rarely travel with a full water tank.
2017 Grand Design Imagine 2650RK
2019 F250 XLT Supercab
Just DW & me......

DownTheAvenue
Explorer
Explorer
2112 wrote:
ALWAYS keep a little water in the toilet bowl in order to keep the seal wet. About an inch or so. This is while on the road, camping or during storage. NEVER let the bowl seal dry out.


I am sorry, but this advice makes no sense, at least to me. Why can't the rubber seals be dry? What hurts them when they are dry? Weren't they dry during the manufacturing process and before the toilet was used for the first time? Did that cause harm?

midnightsadie
Explorer II
Explorer II
use your rv like a portable house enjoy it.

SoundGuy
Explorer
Explorer
pira114 wrote:
To be clear, the reason so many say not to travel with water in the tank is just to save weight.


That, and the fact that tank support in many trailers is often sadly inadequate, creating the possibility of the tank actually falling off. :E My own brand new 2014 Coachmen Freedom Express was a case in point - first time I filled it the tank sagged noticeably.



So I had my dealer fabricate and install a pair of metal support beams which solved that problem entirely.



I normally travel with 1/3 to 1/2 tank of water but can at any time travel with a full tank with no concern the tank may drop off the trailer. Since this is a much more common issue than many realize it would behoove every RV owner to check their own rig for adequate tank support before traveling with it full. An enclosed underbelly makes this more difficult but when compared to having a tank fall off on the highway somewhere, well worth the effort. 😉
2012 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
2014 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS
2003 Fleetwood Yuma * 2008 K-Z Spree 240BH-LX
2007 TrailCruiser C21RBH * 2000 Fleetwood Santa Fe
1998 Jayco 10UD * 1969 Coleman CT380

pira114
Explorer II
Explorer II
To be clear, the reason so many say not to travel with water in the tank is just to save weight. Water weighs a lot. If you're well within your weight limits, you're absolutely fine carrying all that water. If your close to limits, see if there is a place to fill the water close to where you're going.

Harold_Fairbank
Explorer
Explorer
DEFINITELY use your toilet and your water. That's the entire point of having a trailer.

I remember when I bought my first trailer, a new Scamp from the factory in Minnesota, and I was pulling it home across the country. I got deathly ill in the middle of the night going across the Ozarks in the freezing rain. We were all sick...even our dog.

The best thing I have EVER purchased was that full bathroom in that Scamp. SURE came in handy that first night...and every single time I've needed it.

Carry a good amount of water and don't be afraid to drop a fragrant floozy pa-two-zy in the e-coli oven when you need to. Don't be afraid to use it.

Again...that's the point of having a self-contained RV.

2112
Explorer II
Explorer II
Welcome to the forum birish21

I'm not sure why you want to go the liquids only route but that's your business. It's your camper, your rules.

I have no need to carry a full fresh water tank but I always have at least 5 gallons or so in the tank to flush the toilet and hand washing while on the road. You could carry water containers to pour into the toilet and hand washing if you wish but that defeats the purpose of having the system you purchased.

ALWAYS keep a little water in the toilet bowl in order to keep the seal wet. About an inch or so. This is while on the road, camping or during storage. NEVER let the bowl seal dry out.

Enjoy your first trip. You'll learn a lot and maybe change a few rules as you go.
2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost SuperCab Max Tow, 2084# Payload, 11,300# Tow,
Timbrens
2013 KZ Durango 2857

darsben1
Explorer
Explorer
Old-Biscuit wrote:
I NEVER travel w/o my fresh water tank FULL

RVs are 'self contained' and I use ALL of its facilities.
That includes pooping in the toilet.
Its a toilet not a urinal.

Flush a couple of full toilet bowls into black tank so bottom stays wet....
Use toilet like home.
When pooping fill bowl full prior to flushing and then let water run '1000 and 1;


+1
If t is yellow it can mellow
If it is brown flush it down

and mama don't like pit toilett
Traveling with my best friend, my wife in a 1990 Southwind