How to Make Your Own Composting Toilet for RV or Van 🚽/ How Does a Composting Toilet Work? 🤔 / Quick Overview of Compost Toilets and How to Build One ⚒️/ Van Life Toilet Build
We knew before we began our van build that we wanted to go with a composting toilet that uses zero water. After much research, we learned that they are the least likely to smell and the easiest to dispose of waste. But we were floored when we saw how much they cost - many popular composting toilets cost $1,000 or more. So we decided to dig a little deeper into the compost toilet world and learn exactly how a composting toilet works.
As it turns out, the mechanics are pretty simple and you don't need much to get the same result from a homemade DIY composting toilet - all you really need to do is separate the liquid from the solid. So we took a stab at building our own compostable toilet and found it was pretty easy. With all materials included it costs us less than $50 and a day's work.
Installing the funnel was the trickiest part because, as it turns out, women and men aren't built the same, and finding the right funnel and placement for a female took some trial and error.
For the urine diverter, we used a large round funnel we found at an automotive shop, but would also recommend a larger, perhaps rectangular-shaped option. Essentially, the larger you can fit, the better. The funnel is screwed directly to the bottom of the toilet seat, so when you lift up the seat, the funnel can be easily removed and you can reach the urine catch.
We framed it out using 1/2-inch plywood for the top and base, four 2x2s, and three 1x2s. We topped it with a standard toilet seat. We also used leftover cedar plank boards from our van build to frame out the side of the toilet. This kept it lightweight and easy to maneuver around - perfect for van life. The cedar is also thin so it is easier to get that curved wood look.
We love our composting toilet and think it works great for our space. It is light, portable, and easy to dispose of waste. Smell has never really been an issue because we keep empty it often.
We use coconut core or peat moss for our solid substrate. A few scoops before and after we go, every time! If you notice any smells, add a bit more to cover it up. We also clean it regularly using a homemade cleaning spray that consists of 65% water, 30% white vinegar, and a 5% blend of rose water, Florida water, and essential oils.
To dispose of the urine, simply dump it into the nearest toilet, porta potty, dump station, or outside away from any homes or water source. To dispose of the solid, just bag it up and save it for compost or toss it in a dumpster.
We hope you enjoyed a tour of our homemade composting toilet! Let us know any questions you have in the comments below and don't forget to check out our full van tour video.
🤟STAY IN TOUCH
►Instagram: @jakeandemmie
►Email: jakeandemmies@gmail.com
All the music we used in this van tour video is from The EMatic:
Music by C4C - Last Call - thmatc.co/?l=88B60E17
#compostingtoilet #rvtoilet #diycompostingtoilet
1 мар 2023
