Porta Potty/Fresh Water Tank

[Cudedog]

Greetings!

I posted pics of my van conversion project (cargo van to camper van) back in January. Everyone was very supportive and curious, but I soon realized that I could either read the posts on the board and post progress pictures, or I could. . . work on the van. I decided to go with the van thing.

Now that it is nearly autumn, and will soon be too cold to go anywhere, the van nears completion. Of course. I will set up a blog with progress photos later on . . . maybe on those nights on the road at the end of the day.

Anyway, it has been an interesting project. I started working on it in October 2012, starting with your basic empty-metal-walls cargo van, figuring that I would be on the road by spring. Wrong. I guesstimate that I now have about 500 (yes, five hundred) hours in, but the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight. Will be taking a few extra days off work next week to finish the main work (will be tweaks and changes to come of course - is a project like this one ever completed?).

Despite the number of hours, it is still pretty basic. Well insulated with 2" styrofoam insulation panels throughout the (previous) cargo area, Tyvek vapor barrier, a nice window a/c installed for those hot days (enabled me to work on the van here in the summer - one day here it was 110, but the a/c cooled the inside of the van to about 75. Would not have worked without the insulation, of course) - but nothing fancy. I will use solar for hot water (this is really easy, and works well - have done it in the past).

After being undecided for quite a while I have decided to go with a small porta-potty (didn't really want one, but I'm sure you all know how us "seasoned" ladies are prone to spring a leak, or might need a pit stop in the middle of the night) so I'm gonna do it. Recommendations, anyone? It will mostly be just me, so a 2 1/2 gallon one should do the job. One that is EASY to dump, and minimal hassle.

For my solar hot water I am looking at a tank that is already black, that I would just need to sit out in the sun - does anyone have experience with this brand/size of tank (small, because water, as you know, weighs about 8 pounds per gallon, and I need to be able to lift it without busting a gut):

http://www.americanrvcompany.com/Valterra-R8009-ABS-Fresh-Water-Tanks-45-Gallon-Camper-Trailer-RV

Thanks, everyone.

Looking forward to your replies.

Cudedog

[avalen]

looking forward to the blog
the solar bag I had up at the cabin held 5 gals and was easy enough to fill and carry and hang up in the sun. The water got very hot
and was more than enough to do what I needed. Although 5 gallons of water is carry-able, its very heavy.
My porta potty I had for my van was the type where the bottom came off and I carried it like a suitcase to the outhouse/whatever
to empty it. Was very simple. Seems to me it was about 2 and a half gallons and I only used it when there was no other options. It
would last me through the weekend. It was just like this one....
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/it ... 260b/58977

[BirdbyBird]

Don't have any recommendations but thought I would add congratulations for making it to the end of the tunnel and see light (not the train!) Looking forward to reading more about your adventures.

[Olive600]

Congratulations! Hope to meet you on the road some day. Check out the Get Together Forum. Lots of things planned for the future.

Nikki

[grammynmaggie]

Just wanted to add my congrats...and I am most interested
in seeing and hearing about your work on the van...that is what
I started with...but soon learned it was not for me...maybe if I
had one of those high tops where you can stand up in it...might
have worked...but had to buy a van in a hurry... with out time to look for one...
as my truck was totaled...so hope to see you and the van down the
road...donna

[WickedLady]

I have no experience with it but the 4.5 gallons should be doable.
I have a portapotty like Ava's that comes apart to empty. Very easy.

[MelissaD]

Use to have a two part port-a-potty in my semi. Think the bottom half (waste) was 2.5 gallons. Would last me about a week. Always seemed to have to go in the middle of the night and I did not want to leave my cab at 2 am. Doctor said "holding it" was a no no and there never seemed to be parking for a 70' semi when I needed to go. Remember you will need to carry it to dump it. The 2.5 gal is about 25# when full. Would use any private, quiet, out of sight, toilet I could find to dump it on the road. Non camping people get weird when they figure out what your doing. Not to mention my toilet was cleaner than many rest area toilets. Hate people who hover....

[SeeyaGal]

My Aunt Rete travels around in a Cargo Van and uses a porta potty for those middle of the night potty breaks . She uses those bacterial/enzyme RV tank treatment pods to just drop in it. In fact I just bought her a bag of them from Camping world for her last month. Everyone on the forum knows my 78 yr old Aunt LOVES parking at casino's. She has been camping by herself for 50 years unless she dragged me or my sister along . She never married and quite a loner but loves to get out and be adventurous.