Bye Bye Black Tank! - Installing an Airhead Composting Toilet and removing our RV's black Tank 

You've got awesome handy-man skillz!! Not sure why everyone is so concerned about the resale value of YOUR RV... LOL. It's your home... make it yours and when it's time to sell, the right buyer will be there. I'm sure there are many people who would totally appreciate the fact that you just did all that work so they don't have to!

Great documentation on your removing of the black tank and installation of the compost toilet!

As per usual, Morton’s on the Move answer many of my in depth question and then done. There’s a lot to consider in undertaking a big project like thins. Thank you for sharing all sides of the process!!

This is good timing for us - we're about to order an AirHead for our Airstream renovation. Thanks for showing each step.

Best video I've seen yet on toilet removal/replacement. Thank you and God Bless.

Thank you guys for sharing and being so candid! I think your comprehensive attention to detail was exceptional!😘❤️

Great job as always. Glad to see another full-time family making the move to compost. Those in the know, know how to go!

Love you guys' videos! I was watching the vent pipe connections you made at the floor, had a concern, but you totally addressed it at the end with the "finger of silicone". Great job.

I have watched MANY "how to take care of your black tank" Videos. I have to say Tom, this is the ULTIMATE "Black Tank" Video - LOL I did not even know it was possible to remove a black tank (without sawing it into) because they are installed before the floor deck is installed. You guys are "DA MAN"!!

Great video and way to take the plunge on pulling the black tank! I installed a Nature's Head and was able to utilize the existing black tank vent. On the roof I have a Cyclone tank vent. On a breezey day I can feel it drawing air through the toilet. They really work.

The video is very helpful to understand what is needed with an installation and helps us consider our options in our RV.

Great job on the install, you are very talented and thanks for sharing it. I intend install one when we go full time living in the van.

I am amazed at your ingenuity

Tom you continue to amaze me!!!!

Good job Tom, you had a plan and followed it to a T. Enjoyed your speedy installation.

Good content and well presented. I might have rounded the corners of the plywood patch and covered it with flooring to match existing.

Nice work, as usual, Tom. To put the finishing touches on the installation, consider some quarter round to "soften" the edge of the plywood platform; both visually and physically (toe stubber).

Ah the days of being able to crawl into tight quarters. Way to go. Glad it's working out for you. Thanks for the video and for explaining all you do. Blessings.

Great googly moogly.. amazing job! Seriously..from the project itself to the video production..you guys did a super job! Congrats! I watched the video just to see what the flange looked like and watched the whole thing! Honestly, I'm really impressed.

Nice video, good install. I installed an Airhead composting toilet in our truck camper just over a year ago right after we picked up the TC and have been very happy with it. Infinitely better than the whole black tank thing and so much eco friendly. I hope you will do a follow up video down the road after using it a while with your impressions.

You two smart brains & Handy ！

Good job!

Very good video you are doing great thank you for showing this link😊

Very nice work, impressed, good oh ya...

Very ambitious of you to remove the black tank. Good job.

Great instructional video...Thanks

Your videos are very informative.

Howdy, Hope your both well. Just installed ours last week. More fun watching you do it!

Great job, and awesome video!!!!

You did a great job!

Just ran into this video as we are looking to do the same thing on our rig. Really appreciate this video and the installation looks great! We will have to search for the video with your thoughts on the toilet!

Sweet, thanks guys.

Oh my god..what a massive project.I’d have to have that work professionally done. Well done 👍

most excellent video

Thanks for sharing. As someone who collects and repurposes furniture and for those who might attempt this going forward it would be aesthetically pleasing to use a solid wood top from a small table top for your toilet base. Something curved. Not criticizing, appreciate you sharing.

Great video! Thank you

Very professionally done! I would love to see you install on a Roadtrek.

Great information, thank you.

nice DIY job

I wish you the best of luck, and I'll be looking forward to a review of the composting toilet about 6 mos to a year from now.........

thanks 4 the info

I’m going to need help this is a lot lol but u did a great job and great explanation

You could equalize the black tank in that set up you had. Just split the gray tank drain to run pipe/hose to the high end of the black tank. The gray tank will then overflow into the black tank. Thx for the video, it was entertaining and helpful.

Great video. Man, it would sure be nice not to have to bother with black water and all the issues of cleaning and flushing the black water tank, although, you still have to deal with a urine bottle. I believe your boondocking time could be nicely extended by a day or two due to not using any water to flush. Next, researching how to minimize and deal with gray water in a environmentally safe way. Gone With the Wynns back in their RVing days, used a composting toilet and had some good videos on the subject. They traveled to Burning Man a few years ago and there were some examples that people were using on dealing with gray water in that episode. Cheers from B.C.

The Airhead seems to be the way to go. Though I'd probably pick the domestic style, ie with an elongated seat.

It might be worth mentioning that the AirHead only comes with one fan. The second fan is a additional purchase. It's also important to point out that a person thinking of purchasing the AirHead, had better think carefully about which side the crank is on. Since it's irreversible once you purchase. We have a AirHead and so far really like it. We cut out our blk tank also and haven't regretted it.

Nice install till you used wire nuts... never use them on a RV or boat. Only homes. I would have epoxy'd the base you made as well to keep out moisture, and made it a bit smaller to match the contour of the toilet. But all in all a good install. Interested in seeing how you like it after a while. We will probably install one in our 1999 Foretravel U320 one of these days, but keep the black tank for more grey tank capacity.

I just took out an rv toilet and installed a nature's head. I kept the black tank and piped the liquid side to the black tank instead of using the collection bottle.

We have friends who use this toilet and for added natural safe drying and odor control they went to a farm supply store and bought a bag of HORSE STALL DRY DEODORIZER. It is safe to use on wood, rubber, plastic, concrete, dirt etc. it neutralizes ammonia and smell. They add about 1/8 of a cup into the solids with the fresh coconut core. Mix thoroughly then just use as normal. They have also in a pinch used cedar stall bedding with it when they were unable to get their coconut core.

My Gosh yr talented.

.......you guys amaze!!!!.......how you know all this stuff?!?!?!

Nice video. Will be interested in the review on the toilet.

Great instructional! I have the same model Mobile Suites 5th wheel. Wouldn't you think that for a fairly high end model like these are, the wiring would be done a bit more tidy and professional looking?

Nicely done. Considered composting unit, don’t think I would fully commit to removal of black tank but I get the space advantage. One thing you may want to check on- not sure doubling the fans makes sense, especially stacked so close. Has to do with turbulence and back pressure... yawn! Anyway, math and physics involved, but I know it is frowned upon in HVAC and hydraulic applications.

I might have agreed to keep the black tank. However, it may have required a bit of engineering to use it as an additional grey tank and as a urine tank...might have been a bit complex and/or voided your airhead warranty. SO, you've gained some space, lost some weight, now able to clean up the messy wiring and should be happier. Good job on the installation instruction.

Absolutely great JoB Sir. This is my intention as well. May i very respectfully ask what model Composting unit you purchased?

good video.... most stinky toilets are due to 2 things. first is that the foam toilet ring leaks air, so I coat them with a little silicon to prevent smells from entering the compartment. You can actually blow air through them. Second, the sewer tank flush system has a vacuum breaker valve that fails all the time. The valve is located above the floor, most of the time under the bathroom sink but sometimes in other locations. I eliminate them, so no more tank smells entering the coach.

Ok will have to replace the pulleys on mine maybe a lot easier thanks

Have you ever thought about how your battery and toilet conversions might work on a boat? Some boats could also use solar, so the applications could be very similar. Boat owners have to pay for pump outs, and shore power. Most boats are already wired for 12v and 110v so that would be easier. Motor yachts, not small day use runabouts.

nice work. #2 is handled. but what do you do for the #1?

Nice video! You are a pretty young guy to have so much knowledge. Tell me your background please.

What ya do is combine the grea water and old black tank and double your holding capacity for desert or remote boondocking where YOU ARE NOT allowed to surface dump. Throwing it away was a waste!

Could you route the grey tank pipe into the black tank, then link the black to grey? I'm at 1 minute, you may answer that. Also, you no doubt have plans for the Black's space utilization.

I get why you removed your black tank, but wondering if you considered resale in the future and leaving as much of the plumbing in place to facilitate easily re-installing a standard RV toilet?

Is the inline screen you used a separate purchase? If so where did you find that?

You was at an RV show. Who made that black wast tank burn off. Thanks

Next project is how Tom makes a Kayak out of the old black tank. Haha

Now, at the end of 2018, is it still so far, it's good? You have made so many great improvements to your fiver that you will have a LIST of buyers hoping for the day you post it for sale ;)

Hi my black tank pulley snapped! Ouch so thinking about bypassing the black tank and using the plumbing, all waste is plumbed in. Can i use the RV toilet for this?

You could actually combine them with a vented pipe that siphons off the top of the tank, but your grey plumbing would need to be fed into your black. In that configuration, black fills, then spills over to the gray.

Did you install the "residential" or "marine" size? Thanks!

Shit that’s a good idea!!! I’m going to do the same thing!!! Except I’m not making a shirty Kayak out of the black tank. I’m making a large large wine maker. Should be great to ferment the 🍷.

Great install video. Seems like most everyone uses the natures head toilet. Just curious why you decided on the airhead.

How do you manage compost toileting on the road? How often do you have to dump it and do you always use a dumpster to dump it? Also, I have always wondered exactly how difficult it would be if I were to permanently live somewhere, how difficult it would be to dispose of the compost continually.

Not everyone cares about how much money they are going to lose by caring for the environment. Nice video btw. Thanks

Question? Great job guys 👍but, as I mentioned at peterdement comment below WHY NOT THIS IDEA. .....why not also tap into the inlet drain pipe to GRAY TANK add a open close valve to redirect GRAY WATER (maybe gray water from BATHROOM could only drain into black tank and not kitchen) into BLACK TANK when BOTTOM GRAY TANK is FULL. This would have required you to drill a new hole in the top for inlet. Original BLACK tank carries gray water & urine to be discharged without the solids. More Capacity dry camping time. ....hopefully this could be done with out removing tank to modify, as far as vent, install vent pipe for Airhead (pvc) up the back inside back corner of toilet room and thru ceiling. .....Do you think this idea was possible with you setup? Thanks, Jeff

What's the name of the compost toilet like natures head but drains the urine? Is that this one or the marine composting toilet?

Nice job getting that stinky out. Now I don't want to remove mine but it's a mouse home.

Seems like it would be easier to just tie the vent right into the black tank. I realize it frees up some space...

I have a question. I am not an RV full timer and I live in Canada, the cold part :). Can I use the same mulch bucket for a whole camping season?

A rolling outhouse... nice.... keep a Sears catalog handy...

I’ve always wondered if the fans run continually? If not how are they activated? I know you personally have plenty of power even when boondocking, but if they run continually what’s the power draw. Good video. Thanks.

We have had an air head on our boat for the last few years. I would not recommend it. We used to be able to get good quality peatmoss. We haven't been able to find any for sum time. The problem is insect eggs. When mixed with water, they hatch and become flying insects. Last year we tried putting the brick into a 300 degree oven. It didn't work. This year i will try again for four hours instead of two. On a boat we were able to pump urin overboard when we were out of port. On land this would be a problem. The separate jug that comes with it fills quickly. I should have installed a new high tech marine toilet that uses a lot less water. It would also work very well in a rv.

Most of the time the compost heat will create a chimney draft on its own without a single fan. Two fans is way overkill! I'm starting to understand your long attachment to your blackwater tank.

Why not plumb the liquid collection from the new composting toilet to the tank (Black or Gray) to eliminate having to periodically empty the composting liquids container?

Doesn't making compost require storing it in a pile for it to decompose? How do you dispose of the solids from the composting toilet?

I would really like to hear your justification for getting rid of a liquid system. Is it more convenient? Easier? Why did you do this?

The only issue I see with your installation is that you have created a trap for condensation with routing your vent down underneath the floor and hooking back up to your old black tank vent. It might get blocked by condensation collection and or rain water seeping into the vent while driving. You'll need to keep an eye on that.

Could have bought 1/4 sheet marine plywood for base

Do the fans stay on all of the time or are the switched or timed?

(Blue Ryobi) #itstillruns !

I can almost smell it. lol

Plot twist: removing a composting toilet and fitting a direct flush toilet.

My concern is female can leak urine while having a vowel movement making the system not work properly any thoughts?

good job. Where did you buy the toilet compost? I liked that model.

might do this to my jayco camper its stationary on my land and I no longer have a truck to pull it. so getting the blackwater tank empty is a pain in the butt. I am planning on eventually having a tiny house with a compost toilet. but for now I stay in the camper and this would work out great!

My two cents... I don't know why people default to composting toilets when you still have to worry about carrying/acquiring peat moss or other stuff with you to make it work. And then you have to be careful about where you dump it because it's a substantial mass of solids. Why not just use a porta potty with Tanktechs RV, or Unique RV Digest-It Holding Tank treatment? Both of those tank treatments are like MAGIC for getting rid of smells almost instantly and digesting toilet paper. Just a tiny bit per porta potty tank is all it takes. Then you can use any vault toilet at any campsite to dump. You don't have to carry peat moss, Etc. And you don't have to keep your pee and poo separated or remember to turn a crank or make sure you're kids do when they use the toilet.. Oh yeah and you don't have to worry about installing the little fan vent tube that some of them have. There's several things about composting toilets that just add to your list of worries or concerns while trying your best to have a carefree RV lifestyle. No thanks. Edit......I forgot to mention another magic thing about Tanktechs RV tank treatment, or Unique RV digest it tank treatment, is that they make everything liquid VERY quickly and thoroughly. They use probiotics and enzymes and bacteria to accomplish this magic. I have personal experience with Unique RV Digest-it tank treatment but from what I gather on RU-vid Etc the Tanktechs RV tank treatment is very similar. That little bit of magic along with no smells and no need for ventilation or keeping things separate or remembering to turn a crank,Etc. makes a regular 5 gallon or so porta potty the best option in my opinion. A quart of either of those products will last you a long time.

Just remember if you do remove your black tank keep your release valve in place that way it will look like you are self contained...there are some TV parks that require them , a composting toilet is not considered self contained.

Hey guy, how do you know so much about this? Are you some kind of engineer or something?

So, there is only one house connected to toilet to remove moisture correct?