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I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again… Having a toilet in my van was a no-brainer for the type of travel I was about to do:
I opted to install a plumbed RV toilet and a black water tank big enough to keep me going for about 2 weeks straight.
Unlike portable cassette or compost toilets, the plumbed RV toilet is essentially a toilet that has water supplied by the freshwater system and empties into a black water tank located under the van.
I used the RV Dometic flush toilet in my first van, and I loved it. They come in plastic and porcelain — I used the plastic one because it was lighter, and I thought the porcelain might crack and break over time.
With regular use, the plastic lasts about 3 years before it starts to look kind of gross as the plastic gets hard to clean inside the bowl. Thankfully, they aren’t that expensive and are generally always available.
If you’re looking to incorporate some of the “comforts of home” into your van, having a flush toilet is a good start.
Flush Toilets are an amazing fit for larger campervans, as they contain bigger holding tanks for toilet waste. Not to mention that because the holding tank is installed on the outside of the van, you’re less likely to experience odors like you might when using a cassette or compost toilet.
Price: $315.98
Weight: 36 Pounds
Dimensions: 22 x 14.75 x 19.75 inches (Standard)
The Dometic 320 RV Gravity Flush Toilet is undoubtedly one of the best flush toilets for vanlife. It comes in two options:
Flushing is extremely convenient; you just need to push the pedal partially to fill water and push thoroughly to flush. Its spill-proof rim keeps the toilet hygienic while cutting down on cleaning time.
The Domestic flush toilet also comes with a wooden seat, making your toilet experience more comfortable.
Pros:
Cons:
Price: $177.15
Weight: 8.98 pounds
Dimensions: 15.13 x 18.5 x 18.5 inches
Made with heavy-duty plastic and weighing around 9 lbs, the Thetford Aqua Magic V toilet provides a comfortable bathroom experience. It’s also compact so won’t take a lot of space inside the van.
It comes in 2 style options, so you can choose the one the best suits your needs.
The low-style toilet option also weighs only 5 pounds, making the toilet almost half the weight of the alternative high option.
It beats other RV toilets with its powerful single pedal, gravity flush design, and increased water pressure, leaving the bowl spotless with a single push of the lever.
It’s made of polypropylene, making it more durable. Customers have been really happy about how durable it is.
Pros:
Cons:
Price: $196.99
Weight: 14.3 Pounds
Dimensions: 15.55 x 19.1 x 19.68 inches
The YITAHOME RV Gravity Flush Toilet is one of the most comfortable toilets you’ll ever come across. Its full-size residential seat gives a complete home-like feel.
The eco-friendly flush design uses a mere 0.05 liter of fresh water to clean the bowl. Although it requires separate plumbing, this toilet flushes directly into your RV’s blackwater holding tank.
It’s made from HDPE and PP materials, making it difficult for dirt to adhere to the flush toilet’s surface. It also has an odorless sealing design, thanks to its sealing piston that prevents peculiar smells after use.
Pros:
Full-size comfortable seat with a home-like feel
A high gloss surface is easy to clean
Sturdy construction can withstand up to 551 lbs
Cons:
Pressure sensitive pedal flush
Here’s a breakdown of the three main types of flushing toilets to help you decide which one you should choose for your campervan.
A gravity flushing system disposes of your waste via an electric or manual pedal directly into a waste holding tank situated under the toilet. This means the waste is completely out of your sight!
It’s a campervan toilet that most closely resembles a conventional or domestic toilet, hence providing a more comfortable experience than any other toilet.
This flushing toilet uses considerably less amount of water, making it a more eco-friendly choice. Here’s how it works:
The vacuum flushing toilet is also versatile in terms of letting you change the position of the holding tank according to your RV.
In a macerating flush, electric-powered blades turn your waste into a slurry, before it’s transferred to a holding tank. As soon as the flush is engaged, the waste is transported to a holding tank situated away from the toilet.
Disposing of the slurried waste is comparatively easier than in the other two flushing toilets.
If you choose to install a plumbed RV toilet in your van, then you will also need to install a black water tank to carry the waste.
With my van build, I decided to have 3 water tanks under the vehicle:
The 10 Gallon black water tank allows me to go about 2 weeks before having to empty it.
A lot of people will determine that they don’t need a black water tank and will opt to use one of the various non-flush toilet options instead.
Toilet talk isn’t the most glamorous subject, but once you’re living on the road for extended periods of time, you’ll quickly realize how often this becomes a consideration every day.
That’s precisely why I chose to include a toilet in my van build (and always will!).
I hope this guide answers some of your questions about choosing a plumbed RV toilet for your van!
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Did you know using a cassette toilet can eliminate the need for a larger black water tank or any RV plumbing? Read on to learn why cassette toilets are a good option for vanlife.
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Are you on the hunt for the best portable toilet for your campervan? Thankfully there are many campervan toilet options for every budget.
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Getting rid of your bathroom waste is not always a fun job, but it’s an important one!
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