Posted 2008-03-05 9:08 PM (#78763) Subject: Porta Potties
Veteran
Posts: 136 Location: Alabama
Okay ya'll. I've never seen or used a porta pottie before in a horse trailer. Will someone please tell me how they work? I'm invisioning just a box with a toilet seat on top and an open area below where all the pee and poo goes...pretty much like a regular sized, stand alone, porta pottie like you see at construction sites. And if that is how they work, the smell must be horrible, is it? But then I read something about having to put clean water in one so what is that about? I hear people talk about putting a porta-pottie in the horse area of the trailer but I still wonder about the smell being bad. I even heard someone talk about a porta-pottie that "flushes" like a real commode. Is that possible and if so, how does it work. How do you empty them also?
If anyone has a specific brand/model that works really good, please let me know. I am thinking of putting one in the stud stall of my trailer but am worried about the smell.
Posted 2008-03-05 11:07 PM (#78770 - in reply to #78763) Subject: RE: Porta Potties
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
We use one in the first stall/ shower. Yes, it is a little box with a toilet seat on it. But, it is totally enclosed. It has a fresh water storage used for flushing, and a waste storage area. Coleman makes a good one. You also need to put some treatment stuff in the waste storage to break down the solids and eliminate the odors. Mine has been in the basement all winter with no smell. I brought it in so it wouldn't freeze and kind of forgot about it. Think I'll wait until the snow is gone now.
And, if you really got to go bad enough, you'll either figure out how it works, or you won't really care and use it any way!! Natural instinct kinda thing!
You'll need to rinse and add a little sanitizer/deoderizer to the holding tank after you empty the tank each time. The cleaner you keep it the cleaner it will smell. http://www.campingsurvival.com/colliqcamtoi.html
Posted 2008-03-06 6:50 AM (#78775 - in reply to #78763) Subject: RE: Porta Potties
Veteran
Posts: 274 Location: MO in woods
We had one years ago before moved up to lqs trailer.Was great NO more outhouse trips in night.Just purchase cleaner/chemical disinfiecnt about anywhere camping products are sold Walmart/Kmart camping stores etc.About all campgrounds have dump or dump/clean out in outhouses etc before leaving campground.Holds water to flush/clean bowl(so sorts like home commode).Been too long to remenber brand name but worked well for us and as long as dumped after weekend or within few days no smell when used treatment/cleaner disinfect product.Will be instructions/paperwork easy to follow.
Posted 2008-03-06 7:12 AM (#78777 - in reply to #78763) Subject: RE: Porta Potties
Veteran
Posts: 270 Location: Roanoke IL
I believe that Thetford brand makes one that has a push button electric flush instead of a pump flush. It uses a few AA batteries, but if you go to campingworld.com you can find several types of portable pots with good descriptions.
Posted 2008-03-06 7:44 AM (#78780 - in reply to #78763) Subject: RE: Porta Potties
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
i dont have a self contained LQ so the porta potta was a great addition. Its so simple....do your thing,pump in some fresh water and add some blue stuff to the dump water...you are done. Myself, I have facities available at horse shows that allow me to...well...poo in a regualr toilet so the porta potty is for liquids only. Make for cleaner living all the way around.....
Posted 2008-03-06 9:02 AM (#78789 - in reply to #78763) Subject: RE: Porta Potties
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
The porta pottie goes whereever the LQ does not! In the 2 horse or stock trailer, as sometimes the "facilities" at places can be horrific, or it is just more convenient to have my own little bathroom handy! 2 compartments, one for fresh (I put the blue chemical in there), and one for "depository". You push a "easy button" looking thing and put nice blue water in the bowl. Then you do your deed, then there is a little handle that lets you flush into the holding tank. Each time you flush you have clean water, no recycled stuff. Also, the tanks have good seals so what goes to the tank, stays in the tank. Pretty much odor free that way!
Posted 2008-03-06 12:34 PM (#78807 - in reply to #78805) Subject: RE: Porta Potties
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by always amazed on 2008-03-06 1:28 PM
What if you are at a show that doesn't have an outhouse dump station? Is it not embarrasing to go packing that thing into a public restroom to dump??
No, not really. We're all adults camping at the same show grounds for a week. Everyone probably has to "GO" at some point!!
Just wait til late at night or early in the morning to dump and rinse. If it's just water (no paper and no solids) like ours is most of the time, dump it and rinse it at the horse "wash pit".
Posted 2008-03-06 1:26 PM (#78811 - in reply to #78763) Subject: RE: Porta Potties
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Just the bottom holding tank, you don't have to carry the whole pottie. The Coleman has two latches (one each side). Unlatch, lift off seat and set aside, the lower holding tank has a handle that you can carry it like a suitcase. Big 4" I.D. end cap for dumping and rinsing. (Be sure this cap is on tight after you empty the tank.) After a good rinse I'll add an oz. or three of chlorine bleach (Clorox), slosh and swish this around in the waste holding tank and empty the excess. This will kill most of the "cooties" and help keep the tank clean. Alway add a little deoderizer/sanitizer when you reassemble you pottie.
When we get home from a show trip, I'll clean ours, spray the entire unit (upper seat and lower tank) with bleach, rinse and leave out in the sunshine to dry. I believe in the power of Chlorine Bleach!!!
Posted 2008-03-06 2:22 PM (#78818 - in reply to #78811) Subject: RE: Porta Potties
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by retento on 2008-03-06 2:26 PM
Just the bottom holding tank, you don't have to carry the whole pottie. The Coleman has two latches (one each side). Unlatch, lift off seat and set aside, the lower holding tank has a handle that you can carry it like a suitcase. Big 4" I.D. end cap for dumping and rinsing. (Be sure this cap is on tight after you empty the tank.) After a good rinse I'll add an oz. or three of chlorine bleach (Clorox), slosh and swish this around in the waste holding tank and empty the excess. This will kill most of the "cooties" and help keep the tank clean. Alway add a little deoderizer/sanitizer when you reassemble you pottie.
When we get home from a show trip, I'll clean ours, spray the entire unit (upper seat and lower tank) with bleach, rinse and leave out in the sunshine to dry. I believe in the power of Chlorine Bleach!!!
Oops......you ARE supposed to empty these things...No wonder my trailer smells like the barn...Gotta job to do...
Posted 2008-03-08 10:57 PM (#79054 - in reply to #78763) Subject: RE: Porta Potties
Regular
Posts: 71 Location: Edmond OK
The easiest way is to purchase a Lugable Loo - a five gallon bucket with a toilet lid from your local camping store (or similar item). Put in a kitchen garbage bag in the inside, kitty litter poured in, you can add some blue deodorizer. When you are "done" with it - throw it out! I didn't have having to carry the portapottie to the bathroom and flush it and rinsing it out. EWW!!!
Posted 2008-03-09 12:26 PM (#79094 - in reply to #78763) Subject: RE: Porta Potties
Regular
Posts: 93 Location: Southern Indiana
Camping World sells a taller profile porta potty. It seems like you are at the normal height for "business". EIther way, porta potty or holding tank in LQ, is gross when you dump them!!! It sure is nice to have the convenience when you need it though!! Make sure when you purchase your porta potty that u do use the correct toilet paper so that it breaks down easily and doesn't clog the tank. Once you purchase your potty, do a practice dumping run before it has the real thing it so you can familiarize yourself with how it all works before you get a surprise all over you. The deodorizers will break down all the waste and eliminate smell. Like stated earlier from another post-- bleach is your friend................our neighbors use the pickle bucket with a toilet seat!!! GIt R Done!! or should I say $hit R Done!!
Posted 2008-03-10 5:04 PM (#79217 - in reply to #78763) Subject: RE: Porta Potties
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 303 Location: Grapeland, Texas
I don't even put the toilet paper in my tanks, put it in a plastic bag and throw that away. I go off for a week at a time and that is that much less in the tank so it takes longer to fill up.
Posted 2008-03-10 8:20 PM (#79239 - in reply to #78763) Subject: RE: Porta Potties
Elite Veteran
Posts: 792 Location: East Tennessee, USA, Planet Earth
Do you mean a porta potty or the install toilet in a trailer? A few things...if it doesn't go in your mouth and out your body...it should not go into your porta potty or installed toilet.I have a RV with a installed toilet (black tank). I only pee in mine...much easier to clean that way!!! if you see me walking to the camp potty, well....ya know what I need to do. HA! I don't even put toilet paper into my RV's toilet. Don't want to risk it getting stuck in my black tank.Before I got my RV...I used a Thetford Porta Potty (3.5 gal), put in the front stall. I never had a problem with odor while camping. I used Aqua-Kem in the holding tank. Dumped into the house toilet..when I got home from camping. Don't make the mistake I made ONCE...forgot to dump the porta potty and two weeks later...remembered that. Oh lord...I just about died. HAHA! For many years...I camped without a porta potty, but I got tired of getting up in the middle of the night and having to walk to the camp toilet. Than I got tired of waking up and climbiing out of my truck camper to use the porta potty in the horse trailer....so I got my RV. Now...I'm spoiled. Good luck on finding a porta potty to buy.
Posted 2008-03-10 8:35 PM (#79241 - in reply to #79094) Subject: RE: Porta Potties
Elite Veteran
Posts: 792 Location: East Tennessee, USA, Planet Earth
Make sure when you purchase your porta potty that u do use the correct toilet paper so that it breaks down easily and doesn't clog the tank.
Get the best for porta potty/holding tanks....1 ply Scott's!! That's all the RV'ers use. If you don't want to use that brand, do the TP test. Take a glass jar, fill 3/4 with water, put a sheet of TP in the jar, shake the jar. If it disolves...it should be asfe for your porta potty/holding tank. If it does not dissolve...do not use that TP. I do not put TP into my holding tank, I put it in a baggie and toss it.
Posted 2008-03-10 8:37 PM (#79242 - in reply to #78805) Subject: RE: Porta Potties
Elite Veteran
Posts: 792 Location: East Tennessee, USA, Planet Earth
>> What if you are at a show that doesn't have an outhouse dump station? Is it not embarrasing to go packing that thing into a public restroom to dump??I have seen other do this.
Posted 2008-03-10 10:37 PM (#79256 - in reply to #79239) Subject: RE: Porta Potties
Expert
Posts: 2614
Originally written by IcePonyGoddess on 2008-03-10 8:20 PM
.I have a RV with a installed toilet (black tank). I only pee in mine...much easier to clean that way!!! if you see me walking to the camp potty, well....ya know what I need to do. .
Man,not me! I got my LQ w/pot to use.I'm not about to go walking down at 2AM to the bathrooms to #2.
Porta Potties
or you won't really care and use it any way!! Natural instinct kinda thing! 
...you ARE supposed to empty these things...No wonder my trailer smells like the barn...Gotta job to do...
