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11-13-2020, 08:33 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 156
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What to do with poo in the winter?
Our 5th wheel is now sitting on our new land up in northern Wisconsin giving us the comforts of home...until i go outside to sit on my Luggable Loo seat/bucket combo out in the freezing cold. So, i'm wondering what would be the downsides to using the bathroom in the 5th wheel during the winter months.
The wife is concerned that it will smell. I can't imagine it would smell all that bad in the winter...thoughts?
The plumbing is all winterized already, so i would likely keep a gallon or two of water next to the toilet to rinse things down. We'd likely only go up 1-2 weekends a month over the next 4-5 months of winter when it would rarely get above freezing. So worse case scenario, 3 people x 1 "#2" visit per day x 20 days = 60 potential #2 sessions. I can't imagine that would fill up the black tank requiring me to dump it to my transfer tote any sooner than spring.
So, can we safely use the camper toilet without damaging anything and not making the camper smell like an outhouse?
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-2018 Arctic Wolf 265dbh8
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11-13-2020, 09:12 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Idaho
Posts: 8,069
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the only problem I see is keeping the black tank from freezing.
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Retired Navy
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2016 Flagstaff 26 FKWS
AF&AM & El Korah Shrine of Idaho
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11-13-2020, 09:19 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Ocean City, NJ
Posts: 140
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When I go winter camping, I put a dollar store trash bag in bowl, use it, and then put it in a lidded 5 gallon bucket. Dispose of later in trash just like doggie poo.
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2019 Cherokee Grey Wolf 29TE
2018 Ford 150 SCAB STX 3.5 EB
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11-13-2020, 09:27 AM
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#4
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 13,292
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Don't use water... add some antifreeze to the bowl, do your thing and then flush with more antifreeze. Use whatever favorite chemicals you always use for odor.
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2016 Flagstaff 8529IKBS Diamond Package 5th Wheel-Goodyear Endurance Tires
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TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater - Sinemate 3500w Gen.
Days Camped: '18=51 ☼ '19=58 ☼ '20=110 ☼ '21=15
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11-13-2020, 09:33 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 12,185
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The key to keeping RV black tanks working is lots of water, so using a bucket to was things down will likely cause big issues. Also the liquids in the tank and drain plumbing ( to dump valve) will freeze. The tank can expand, but you will crack the dump lines and valves. A few better choices.
1. Buy a portable cassette based toilet to use in the winter and take the cassette home to dump.
2. Contact a porta-potty company and rent one for the winter.
3. You may also buy a used porta potty and add water conditioner salt to keep it from freezing. Then just have it pumped in the spring.
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11-13-2020, 09:47 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 156
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So if i used RV antifreeze like 5picker suggested, would i still have to worry about the tank freezing? The stuff is cheap enough and our visits up there would be infrequent enough that it won't cost me much.
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-2018 Arctic Wolf 265dbh8
-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 High Country
SOLD-2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 w/ Max Trailering Package
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11-13-2020, 10:04 AM
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#7
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 13,292
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Quote:
Originally Posted by willie1280
So if i used RV antifreeze like 5picker suggested, would i still have to worry about the tank freezing? The stuff is cheap enough and our visits up there would be infrequent enough that it won't cost me much.
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NO, if all you are using is antifreeze and chemicals, it won't freeze.
With that said... I completely forgot about the portable cassette toilets like Flybob mentioned and we had back in our pop-up days. If I were just going there on selected weekends, that would be the ticket for me.
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2016 Flagstaff 8529IKBS Diamond Package 5th Wheel-Goodyear Endurance Tires
2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4 - Factory Puck B&W Companion
TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater - Sinemate 3500w Gen.
Days Camped: '18=51 ☼ '19=58 ☼ '20=110 ☼ '21=15
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11-13-2020, 11:38 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 10,292
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Quote:
Originally Posted by willie1280
So if i used RV antifreeze like 5picker suggested, would i still have to worry about the tank freezing? The stuff is cheap enough and our visits up there would be infrequent enough that it won't cost me much.
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Depending on the brand of Antifreeze nothing in the tank will freeze until some seriously low minus temps.
As for smell, cold weather has a tendency to keep odors down as the "fermentation" that causes them is reduced greatly.
I would just plan on some extra effort to flush tank come spring.
I spend 6 month living in my TT one winter in Denver. Used tank daily and dumped every week or so (I had hookups). Added a tank heater that I only turned on a day or so before dumping. No issues with pipes or valves.
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"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will."
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2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2004 Nissan Titan
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11-13-2020, 02:04 PM
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#9
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Just as confused as you
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: south central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,680
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Don't worry about pee freezing. It won't dilute the AF much and the salt it contains will help. RV AF turns to a jell until it gets to -40 to -50 depending on which kind you use.
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Richard & Jill
2014 Flagstaff 832IKBS Classic Super Lite
2018 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Z71 4WD All Star Edition
Camping since 1989
Car Shredder Op/Tech, Scrap Metal Recycling - retired
I deserve hazard pay when camping with my relatives.
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11-13-2020, 06:01 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Shreveport LA
Posts: 468
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Make poopcicles
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11-13-2020, 06:43 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 783
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I once made a giant poopsicle out of a sewer hose.
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11-13-2020, 06:56 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 10,292
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hshaynes
Make poopcicles
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phillyg
I once made a giant poopsicle out of a sewer hose.
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There's a couple of mental pictures that will be hard to forget
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"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will."
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2004 Nissan Titan
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11-14-2020, 04:12 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 3,337
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Librarianocnj
When I go winter camping, I put a dollar store trash bag in bowl, use it, and then put it in a lidded 5 gallon bucket. Dispose of later in trash just like doggie poo.
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Inasmuch as human waste is considered Hazardous Waste I do not think disposing of it in other than than an approved facility, into a septic system or burning it is a good idea.
Pathogens, some of which are deadly, can enter the aquifer and contaminate the drinking water.
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2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2008 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
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11-19-2020, 07:39 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 609
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Note that antifreeze comes in different temperature ratings, which are for burst point rather than freezing point.
Commonly available -50° F antifreeze has a freeze point of +20° F while the -100° F antifreeze has a freeze point of about -20° F.
https://www.splashwash.com/applicati...s_10-22-18.pdf
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11-19-2020, 07:55 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 40
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That's what they do on freight trains. Of course some guys have been know to toss them from the train; until they get caught.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Librarianocnj
When I go winter camping, I put a dollar store trash bag in bowl, use it, and then put it in a lidded 5 gallon bucket. Dispose of later in trash just like doggie poo.
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Mark and Cindy
2020 Rockwood MiniLite 2109S
2006 Toyota Tacoma dual cab 4x4
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11-19-2020, 08:00 PM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Camano Island, Washington
Posts: 23,826
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkPW
That's what they do on freight trains. Of course some guys have been know to toss them from the train; until they get caught.
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When we last traveled on trains, in Europe about 5 years ago, some trains had toilets with open holes that dropped poo straight down on the tracks.
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Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.) 
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
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11-19-2020, 08:01 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 10,292
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkPW
That's what they do on freight trains. Of course some guys have been know to toss them from the train; until they get caught.
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Years ago the waste from restrooms on trains in this country went straight down a tube where it dropped on the tracks and no doubt splattered all the running gear/undercarriages behind it.
Think of all the people who walked on railroad tracks years ago totally ignorant of what they might have been walking on.
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"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will."
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2004 Nissan Titan
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11-19-2020, 08:49 PM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 55
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Everytime we go winter camping/trip in our rv, we use windshield washer to flush the toilet and only liquids, no solids go there. Windshield washer is a lot cheaper than rv antifreeze and stay liquid even on coldest temp.
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11-20-2020, 06:04 AM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Librarianocnj
When I go winter camping, I put a dollar store trash bag in bowl, use it, and then put it in a lidded 5 gallon bucket. Dispose of later in trash just like doggie poo.
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I second this approach. In fact I stack several bags inside each other so you can just tie a bag off and the next one is ready and waiting. For females, a little kitty litter will absorb urine and eliminate the splash back.
Edit: Remember if you are concerned that waste is toxic that lots of baby diapers end up in the city dump every day.
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11-20-2020, 12:06 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 10,292
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Accountingphd
Edit: Remember if you are concerned that waste is toxic that lots of baby diapers end up in the city dump every day.
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And baby diapers are DEFINITELY Toxic. Been known to incapacitate grown men. 

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"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will."
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2004 Nissan Titan
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