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58BUBBLE · 03-01-2005, 07:42 AM

I have a 58 Bubble Which has no tanks for grey or black water. I learned from this forum that you would just dig a hole or place a bucket under the trailer and drain into that. I am thinking about getting a battery opperated portapotty that is self contained rather than try to fit a whole system in a rig that wasn't designed for it. Any ideas on which of these units work best? Any other suggestions are much appreciated. Thanx

mandolindave · 03-01-2005, 08:00 AM

Try Thetford.com Look for a size that will work for you.
A porta potti is a great idea for you. I think they are more conveniant than built in plumbing. You can empty them at any toilet or porta john.
The hole in the ground should be filed under bad idea, next to Wallys suggestion to put copper and garden hose in a fire to make pretty
colors in your campfire.

Anon · 03-01-2005, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mandolindave

Try Thetford.com Look for a size that will work for you.
A porta potti is a great idea for you. I think they are more conveniant than built in plumbing. You can empty them at any toilet or porta john.
The hole in the ground should be filed under bad idea, next to Wallys suggestion to put copper and garden hose in a fire to make pretty
colors in your campfire.

My brother just bought a new battery operated porta-potty on eBay for about half the cost. It is brand new and still in the sealed box.
I am not sure what he paid for it but he told me it was around half the cost of buying it from any of the RV dealers.
It is a good idea that you want to preserve the original function of your Bubble. I think they are so cool when they are kept nearly original. The only exception I have are fridges, stoves and water heaters.

58BUBBLE · 03-01-2005, 09:40 AM

Thanks for the info- I am going to check ebay and go with the battery powered unit.

Ken J · 03-01-2005, 09:42 AM

I too think its a great idea - its exactly what I had in my 59 Traveler and plan to use in the my 58 Overlander - for two reasons - weight and ease of use. What I did was buy a regular one and use a sink type hose sprayer off the main plumbing system - much easier to use - - - - - leave it hanging on the wall.
Ken

Anon · 03-01-2005, 09:44 AM

You can also try www.camperschoice.com
They tend to have pretty good prices on things like that.
My brother swears by his battery-operated porta-potty.
Good luck!

balrgn · 03-01-2005, 10:06 AM

Have you thought of a composting toilet?
http://www.cetsolar.com/sunmar1.htm
I have one in my Camp they work great!

58BUBBLE · 03-01-2005, 10:21 AM

I am now excited vabout getting my portapotty. IN my searching it looks like the thetford 585 electric is a good one. Anyone used this one? Any other good battery powered units? The thetford is about $140.

RoadKingMoe · 03-01-2005, 01:02 PM

We use a Thetford 735 in our Boston Whaler. It's not electric, but using the bellows bulb to push water into the bowl is no big deal and we don't have to worry about dead batteries. It's also only 2.6 gallons, which is nice when I have to carry it to the restroom to dump, but may not hold enough for you. Figure about 10 lbs per gallon.

Anon · 03-01-2005, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 58BUBBLE

In my searching it looks like the thetford 585 electric is a good one. Anyone used this one?

That's the one my brother got off of eBay back in the fall! He has used about twice since then and he says that it is awesome. He claims that dumping a porta-potty has never been easier.

58BUBBLE · 03-01-2005, 07:25 PM

Thanks lou, you've convinced me.

mandolindave · 03-01-2005, 09:11 PM

I don't think I myself would opt for the electric model. I am so sure that I
would end up with dead batteries. Also I bet the electric models would use more water.

Ken J · 03-01-2005, 09:46 PM

That was my thinking - its why I went with a sprayer - I don't have to mess with the pump on the porta potty.

Ken

58BUBBLE · 03-02-2005, 10:07 AM

I like your sprayer idea ken but at this point the Bubble doesn't even have a pump. I would have to install a pump and the plumbing lines to get to the bathroom.

Ken J · 03-02-2005, 03:39 PM

My traveler did not have a pump either - it was used in camp grounds - while boondocking I used the pump on the porta potti. I do, however, think the electric one is pretty cool.

Ken J.

red2dogs · 03-02-2005, 08:12 PM

I have a Thetford 555 for our Aliner aframe RV, I was hesitant to use it after I bought it. Last fall I stayed at a beautiful campground but the bathroom was a 50 step climb down a hill, it rained, and I caught a cold. I christened that potty out of desperation and now I love it. I don't even fill the holding tanks all the way full, you can always add water. ( its kind of heavy for me full of water, so I fill it gradually in the inside of the rv) It is important to put chemical in the dirty tank and some water to cover the bottom. It works pretty much like an rv toilet but you have to empy the tank. Be sure to use the right toilet paper. I bought one with the full indicator - you definitely want to keep tabs on if you are getting full or not.

Now with our Airstream Safari 25 foot Special Edition we are getting a bit spoiled with the full bath. But, when I go camping by myself and take the Aliner, that potty comes in very handy.

Yes we have two rv's, his and hers. This summer we bought the Aliner and went out twice and my SO loved camping but wanted more luxury. So hence the recent airstream purchase. The Aliner was bought to tow with my subaru. The airstream obviously required a big truck. The Airstream is absolutely wonderful!

I say go for the potty they are great, but I'd stick with a Thetford.
Barbara

overlander63 · 03-02-2005, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 58BUBBLE

I am now excited vabout getting my portapotty. IN my searching it looks like the thetford 585 electric is a good one. Anyone used this one? Any other good battery powered units? The thetford is about $140.

Do you have any drain fittings at all on your trailer? You COULD simply attach a blue portable tank to the outlet, and use the existing, umm, facilities, if there are any. All you would need is the blue tank, about 10 gallon size, a sewer hose, and whatever fitting to connect to your plumbing.

overland · 03-02-2005, 08:54 PM

We have had a portapotty in our horse trailer for years and I think it's the best thing since sliced bread. We have had a pump up one and a battery one. The Pump or something went out in the battery thredford but I went back to the old manual one which is about 15 years old and has been used at least 18 weekends a year during show season for the past 16 years. It was a walmart special and I think we paid aroud $30. A friend of mine bought one there a couple weeks agoe and said it was under $50. But it is manual pumping (no big deal). Sears also use to have them. look in the camping/ sporting department.