Doing the RV "Thing"

[Cudedog]

Thanks for all who posted on this thread. Very much appreciated, and a lot of good suggestions here.

I'm not re-thinking my RV adventures, just how I go about them. Truth to tell (although I purchased a Thetford porta-potty early on - have yet to use it) the thought of dealing with my own sewage has kinda grossed me out. I know, I know. Don't say it!

From now on I'm either going to have a handy-dandy package of baby wipes to take care of the public restroom toilet seat, or (better yet) get the Thetford set up before I go to bed. On my last trip I made a dash to the campground bathroom, only to sit on a wet seat. Someone else's "leavings" no doubt. Not that is gross! Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Has this happened to any of you?

The campgrounds I was speaking of have all been private RV parks, as opposed to State RV parks. JudyJB is correct about California State Parks being very expensive. Thanksgiving weekend I stayed at Clear Lake State Park (a California State Park) and the bathroom was spotless. However, the price was steep. Water only, $35.00/night. Ouch.

Cougarfan: Thanks for the link for Campground reviews. I have bookmarked it. Will be coming to Oregon soon, I hope. Crater Lake is probably one of my next trips.

Avalen: Wow! Thanks for the suggestion of where to put a shower in my van!! I have been pondering this - for ages!! - thinking maybe of building something out of pvc (a la Mitch) to hang on the side of the van. Out the rear doors is perfect! All I need is a shower curtain. I already have a couple of those solar shower bags. GREAT suggestion!! Thank you.

Beth: I mostly don't mind not being self-contained. Small is better for the places I want to go - but in viewing your Baja Blog it seems to me that you are able (and willing!) to go just about anywhere. You are correct, I am sure, about price not necessarily reflecting cleanliness. True too about a bathroom being spotless at 10:00 a.m. and a dump by noon. Thanks also for the suggestion about New Mexico. $14 a night? My style!!

Melissa: The 2 a.m. or the first-in-the-morning dash is the pits. Absolutely!

Barbara: Flu bug! Perish the thought. Well, maybe not so perish the thought. What do you ladies do when you get sick on the road?

Excel: My routes are probably a bit different than most. My travels are focused (at least for the time being) on volcanoes and volcanic features, which takes me to some pretty out-of-the-way places. I still like my creature comforts, though.

Thanks again to everyone who replied. I really love WRV, there is SO MUCH exchange of good information!!

Anne

[MelissaD]

Hate when people hover and don't clean up their mess. Found it common in rest areas.

I have seen these little tents for showers and potable toilets. They store small. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C138QUU/ref=asc_df_B00C138QUU2797466?smid=A12SV6RINCZJP5&tag=nextagusmp0382351-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395105&creativeASIN=B00C138QUU Might take a look.

[JudyJB]

How about putting some sort of screen room railing on the outside of your RV? I'm not doing a good job of describing it, but you could fasten something along the top of the back or side that you could slip in a tent sort of thing. They have such things that are screen rooms but have curtains you can slip in place to make it private. Something like this but for the back of your rig?? http://www.tentsontrucks.com/campright_suv_tent.htm. I think they have them that attach directly to your vehicle without needing an awning but you might have to attach something to fasten it to.

That would extend your living area and provide a private place to put a port-a-potty at night. Then it would be outside and you would not have to sleep with it.

Long ago, my ex and I had a full-sized van we traveled in, and we put a port-a-potty way back at the rear. It sure saved a lot of stops at public restrooms. They really do not smell if you maintain them properly.

[VickieP]

Depending on where you camp, you might have to rethink the outdoor shower. Most campgrounds have rules against letting grey water run on the ground and I would think they would consider shower water (even if not from a holding tank) to be grey water...but I may be wrong. Just something to think about.

[gingerK]

How about something like this? Should give you privacy!


http://www.busdepot.com/AHG

They also have awnings that will attach to your van. I have one for my truck camper, but haven't figured out the way I will attach it yet.

[gingerK]

Here ya go!

http://www.amazon.com/Charmin-To-Go-Toi ... eat+covers