The Poop Sheet

[joecamper]

The last 2 trailers I fixed both had 8 gallon holding tanks for the toilet.

Coming from the bus conversion industry like I have that is almost incomprehensible in a world of 100 and 125 and 150 gallon capacities.

Although many of you who follow my build threads over in SOB usually may think I whip thru the builds. In reality I take a great deal of time and effort to govern myself and give time to think out the many issues that present themselves along the way.

As I was exercising this method yesterday I began to ponder just what does an 8 gallon holding tank represent in real terms.

Here is what I came up with.

first off I am figuring for safety sake 75% of total capacity as full so that makes 6 gallons of volume available to start not 8.

Then you have to start with water in the tank and that makes another gallon and brings you to 5 available gallons of capacity.

So then I went and played around with measuring water into the toilet bowl to see what the average guy would fill it to and what it was. That was exactly 1 qt. filled it perfectly for a fluid solid waste disposal. Even ones like Ive seen come from my grandson and what he is able to generate at times is amazing but I digress.

However just the water in the bowl is not the only factor. You also have to figure in the TDF or Turd Displacement Factor. If you omit this your calculations will be incorrect. What is the correctTDF?? Its a crap shoot. All depends. no puns intended.

I estimate another quart of TDF for every quart of water for a solid waste disposal.

SOOOO 1/2 a gal every time you make a solid waste deposit and there is 5 gallons of available volume that's cool that's safely 10 poops.

Then I decided the closet needs a poop sheet a chalk board and piece of chalk on the ledge so folks could keep track of thinks better. Any time you make a deposit just like the checking account you post it.

I love this idea anybody ever seen it?

Anyway hope this helps. If you have this 8gal tank now you know 10 or 12 poops if your a little bitty thing.



If your someone who is wedged into the closet when using it, it could be fewer deposits.

[Deleted]

Thanks for braving this subject with clarity - just bought my first Shasta and this was one of those things I'd been pondering but was a bit shy to ask.

[Bow_Tied]

I think a lot of folks use the on board facilities for #1 only unless an emergency which increases capacity.

Your sheet to be accurate would need to poopulated with both #1s and #2s and then you'll need to know what combinations would arrive at the max capacity.

This could be a very poopular thread.

[joecamper]

Did you realize that anyone who would spend any time coming up with terms like TDF suffers from an affliction known as MHD

Commonly affecting middle aged white males

MHD, very contagious often family friends and neighbors show many symptoms very early on.

no cure only treatment

MHD many of you have it but were unaware it has been identified

MHD "Mad Ham Disease" that's how you come up with stuff like TDF

Now you can begin the healing Doyou have folks forwarding you craigs list stuff like they have timeto do nothing else?? Has your significant other began looking for fabrics.

Nowyou know MHD they got it

[universalexports]

I have an 8 gallon tank on the bottom of my toilet, I think it might hold a bit more trips than 10, I'm hoping for 15 or so, but I live life on the edge!!! and am willing to go to 90 capacity, the toilet has a block off, shouldn't be a big issue at 90% full, also, the down spout tube where you connect the drain pipe, should hold 1/2 gallon or more depending how long you tube is to the side of the camper, I am considering putting a "T" on the bottom of mine with about a 18 inches of pipe going the other way as well for extra capacity. is that a bad idea?

[joecamper]

it will not increase capacity but dilute the full load in the end.

You have to have the plumbing full AND 1 gal in the bottom of the tank to start to use correctly and safley

90%hu boy you are scarry

[universalexports]

why do you need to start with a gallon? I didnt know that, but I know NOTHING about a camper bathroom or system, I'm putting one in and learning as I go.

[joecamper]

U NEVER use an rv toilet with the dump valve open or with the tank empty.

And even when at a campground with sewer hook up.

NEVER NEVER NEVER

YOU WILL PLUG UP almost guarenteed

ALWAYS to start you CLOSE the dump valve and put enough water to cover the entire bottom of the tank with at least 1 in of water, and chemical.

When you get to wherever your comfortable with in terms of how full or long you want to go between cleanout open dump and repeat.

If you try to leave the valve open cause you have sewer hookup you will also get sewer gas in the camper each time you flush.

If you do as I describe you will be a happy camper

[universalexports]

makes sense, thanks

[vikx]

Joe is absolutely correct! I've spent hours telling people "why" their tank is plugged and how to remedy that in the future. Often the tank had to be replaced...

[Deleted]

I'm about to install one of those 8 gallon tanks myself...great thread. TDF...MHD...lol!

[cowcharge]

Yup, you need to keep the liquid in the tank to flush with when you dump, otherwise you end up building a mountain in the middle of the tank, slowly climbing towards the sun...

How 'bout a new title for this thread? The Toilet Paper: The Straight Poop, And Nothing But The Poop.

[vikx]

Great thought Cowcharge!

[swirlygirls]

Love the info in this thread. Now if only Dottie had a bidet.

[joecamper]

There are many many folks who live life on the edge. Do not be ashamed if you know not.

Next time your brousing trailers on a getaway look how many people have the dump valve open while at campsites with sewer hookups.

Here is some more poop for you.

My prior camper had a maserator toilet in it. The base was a 12volt starter motor coupled to a blender type impeller in a big brass housing (a marine unit).

If you can afford it a 12volt tiolet like this would absolutly eliminate the potential of clogs. They do work great. Use way less water to once you learn it.

More poop, you could also get a stand alone 12 volt maserator for about 100 bucks to accessorize your camper and empty out thru a garden hose to even the most distant sewer. I pump out at home very convienient. They can be fashoned in a varitey of instalations perminant or portable

More poop There is availabe out there these 12 volt d/c electronic odor control. A electrobe that is below level in the tank puts current into the water in a 15 min per hr cycle very little voltage not a lot but it eliminates the odor by electrocuting the bacteria no bacteria no smell. Vert Very cool

Combine a masserator toilet and odor control you will never need chemicals ever and you will never have sewer gas and you will never clog. ALL stuff that IMO led themselves well to the 8 gal holding tank.

I last poop. May seem crazy at first but after given thought made a bunch of sence to me.

Another feature I had on my prior camper is a remotly controled holding tank dump valve.

I enderingly refer to this as "The Dave Mathews Switch" (I am from Chi but was not in the boat)

I think this is a perfect fit for these toilets with the 8 gal tank. I think a common practice with the 8gal holding tank is the daily dump, they are small and if your camping with sewer hookups I would be dumping on a daily basis to be safe and keep things fresh.

How nice would a electricly controled dump valve be just hit the button once a day.

You could be the only guy at the rally with these things. Think about the bragging rites