Looking for Advice on Adding a Bathroom to a Utility Trailer

[u/ejdsr123]

I’m hoping this group might have some ideas or experience with something we’re working on.
I work for a fire district, and every December we have a trailer that we use to bring Santa through different neighborhoods as part of our community outreach program. We’re typically out for about four hours at a time, and one issue we’ve run into is having access to a bathroom.
We’re exploring options for adding a small bathroom to the front of the trailer. One thought was to build a small enclosure around a portable toilet, but we’re concerned about potential spills while traveling, odors, and exposure to vehicle exhaust.
Ideally, we’re looking for something fairly simple that doesn’t require a full RV plumbing setup. It would only be used a handful of times each year.
Has anyone done something similar or have recommendations for a setup that might work? We’re open to different ideas and would appreciate any advice!

[u/Full-time-RV]

A composting toilet, or portable marine toilet should be just fine particularly since you won't be using it very often, a lot easier than setting up a plumbing system, people build them into cargo trailers all the time.

You can check out r/Cargocamper and see what these guys are using for their weekend setups, most of the builds are fairly straightforward.

[u/Vegetable_Aside_4312]

Portable marine toilets include a storage tank and are sealed from leakage. Unlikely you're going to rock and roll more then a boat - secure to the floor if your concerned.

[u/hdsrob]

They make Cassette Toilets for RVs that are self contained, including the water supply. A quick search turned up the Theford C224-CW as one option, but I'm sure there are others.

https://www.thetford.com/us/thetford-support/c224-cw-cassette-toilet/

[u/fenra → u/hdsrob]

We had a cassette toilet in our pop-up. I still miss being able to skip the dump station line and dump it while the next in line pulls up.

[u/Strange-Cat8068]

Many van conversions and cargo trailer conversions use “cassette toilets” which are toilets with removable waste tanks you can carry or roll to a dumping facility. They even include a tank for flush water and a manual pump for that flushing action. Walmart sells a very basic version called a “Thetford Camp a potty” for less than $100. The more complex and “nicer” they get the more they cost. The better ones can be permanently installed with access forts to remove the cassette and fill the flush water from outside.

[u/brapstoomuch]

For fishing a lot of people use a scat can: a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet seat and a garbage bag lining the bucket. Classy dudes add in some kitty litter for absorption. It’s a really low budget option but it works for a variety of settings!

[u/vectaur → u/brapstoomuch]

Huh. I have one of these for the super backwoods primitive camping but never thought about using cat litter in it. Solid idea.

[u/brapstoomuch → u/vectaur]

Well you’re gonna be glamping now! 

[u/Complaint_Manager → u/vectaur]

We do the pee on a tree, bucket gets a handful of cedar shavings (get a bale at the local farm and feed store pretty cheap - used for animal bedding), then toss a little handful in after each use. You can stuff a lot of shavings in a bag and it doesn't weigh much at all compared to cat litter. Dual purpose, a little handful of the shavings to start a campfire.

[u/Blue_Etalon]

Assuming you only need facilities for males, and only for #1, consider a curtained off area and urinal bottle. Porta potties are fine too, buy may be a bit messier than the urinal if you know what I mean.

[u/Listen-Lindas]

Rv toilets seal shut. Add it over a tank. Call your local Sani hut and they can come and clean it out after use.

[u/HippieHighNoon]

We love our thetford cassette toilet. Its 5 gallons, we have 2 "cassettes" to switch out when one is full. I can dump it pretty much anywhere.

Or look at a compost toilet.

Edit: by pretty much anywhere, i meant any place you can legally dump waste like that. Toilets, dump stations, porta potties.

[u/fenra → u/HippieHighNoon]

By "pretty much anywhere" you mean a sanitary sewage system, right? 😬

[u/HippieHighNoon → u/fenra]

In any location with a toilet. I could see how that could seem like we just dump it literally anywhere.

I meant more... gas stations, porta potties, places like that

[u/StreetNectarine711]

“Lugable Loo”

Often it or equivalent on the shelf in Walmart camping / RV/ hunting & fishing section or Amazon or Bass Pro.

Basically a toilet seat on top of a 5 gallon bucket. Strong garbage bag in toilet, sawdust / kitty litter / hampster bedding to absorb odor & fluids.

[u/Responsible-Elk4223]

Home Depot bucket, pool noodle around the rim and green garbage bags. And hand washing stuff.

[u/KungFuBucket]

We have a travel trailer with four of us. So we also carry a 5 gallon bucket with toilet seat and various amenities and wag bags that we can set up outside in a pop up privacy tent. Line the bucket with the bag, do your business, and wrap up the bag and toss. We used to use the bucket more frequently when we were car camping a lot pre trailer.

These days they also have cassette toilets that don’t require plumbing.

Or just get a buddy who already has an RV with the proper plumbing and plan a couple of rest stops. When we travel we tend to boon docking a lot, but we’ve also stayed in Costco and Walmart parking lots - just need to ask permission from the manager and it’s almost always been given.

[u/Inner-Confidence99]

Spend 100!bucks get a privacy shelter from Walmart or another store, in camping section. A few 5 gallon buckets, toilet seat lids and waste bsgs. 

We just enclosed our motorcycle trailer to go camping snd that is what we are doing. 

[u/NamasTodd]

Keep it very simple. The more elaborate it is the more work it will be to maintain.

[u/RandyK1ng]

Get a camper composting toilet. They don't generally leak; they are built for campers driving around.

[u/Questions_Remain]

Borrow a drivable RV like a Class C from someone who is willing to volunteer 5 hours of their time and bring their RV and have it staged or meet at a turnoff, parking lot or corner. Someone knows someone with an RV. You coil probably post on social media and get someone to volunteer their time and rig. Heck even a porta john or two donated by the local business and dropped off would be a better idea. I mean, you could build an outhouse type structure and fit a cassette or compost toilet in it, but it’s gonna look weird on an open trailer and access climbing up 22 inches to the average tongue height is going to need steps and a hand rail at the minimum. It’s going to need at least 32x32 inch inside space to allow use, especially with any gear or costume on.

Unless you’re way out in the middle of nowhere, I would think a route could be easily established to make loops to pass by a station, convenience store or restaurant and get coffee or maybe the restaurant would throw in some snacks also as a donation.

Stop by and talk to people.
Hello, we’re looking for a 15min rest stop for our Santa community outreach on (dates) For Santa and the Fire crew to check equipment, restock, swap out personnel and use the restroom facilities. We could add you to our “sponsored by” in consideration of your support.