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Old 05-06-2009, 11:40 AM   #21
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Re: Porta Potti usage info?

If anyone's looking at buying a Porta potti, REI is having their anniversary sale right now, including 20% off a single item. The Century 2.8 gallon gets good reviews on Amazon, and is available at REI:

http://www.rei.com/product/740513

$85 * 0.8 = $68 with free shipping to the store.

(The only funny thing I noticed was that the holding tank is smaller than the fresh water tank?! Isn't it usually the other way around?)

Cheers!
Mike.

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Old 05-06-2009, 06:54 PM   #22
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Re: Porta Potti usage info?

I store mine in the van ready to go with the blue fluid in place. If it's not more than half full with blackwater, I don't even bother emptying it. Mine really doesn't get smelly.

(Though I'm often lazy about it) I like to keep the whole van ready to go with non-perishable food, water, sheets, pillows, etc. (for spur-of-the-moment trips or emergency getaways).
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Old 05-06-2009, 08:10 PM   #23
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Re: Porta Potti usage info?

The wife is the main user of ours, as I tend to rely on the bushes and a shovel. Ours is good for about 5 days, and I prefer to empty it before it's full. It is a pain to clean, requiring MULTIPLE rinses.

I store it with the supply tank containing whatever water was left when we return, and use the proper quantity of deodorant and a little water in the holding tank for storage.

The main problem we have is that we live at 8000 feet elevation, so our tanks are both pressurized when we get home. The potti rocks a bit due to bulging of the bottom surface. We've learned to vent both upon arrival home, especially leaving the covers closed when venting the holding tank.

John Tarr
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Old 05-08-2009, 12:47 AM   #24
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Re: Porta Potti usage info?

Ah very good comment oldfart3! We often change altitudes so I will certainly take your recommendations into account

The release pressure trick is stated in my user's manual... I had been wondering what it was all about ... now I know and yes best to keep lid closed during the operation

I have stored ours for a week now using the empty/open option I will check it out this weekend... then I will do the filled-with-chemical/closed option and see whether that changes...

I guess you get into a routine after a while finding the best ways to deal with the "Potti"
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Old 05-09-2009, 04:11 PM   #25
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Re: Porta Potti usage info?

I bought the blue stuff, but read about using Pine Sol as an environmentally friendly option. It works well and I put it in the freshwater tank. Pine and ammonia smell nice and makes for a build in deoderizer

Not sure Pine Sol is good for more than a few days and I empty mine at first chance.
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Old 02-07-2010, 11:50 PM   #26
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Re: Porta Potti usage info?

I use the below porta potti and never empty it till it's full. The only time I have notice an odor is after van was sitting in sun closed up for days and handle for waste tank was not closed all the way. I checked to make sure all was fine and closed, then pumped a little water so there was 2" of water over opening to help keep seal wet during storage and I have never smelled anything since.

http://www.thetford.com/HOME/PRODUCTS/P ... fault.aspx


I use inside van and open doors to vent if needed after finished. Waste tank is not bad and is not open that long. I only open to flush and then close.

I use this type of tank chemical

http://www.thetford.com/Home/Products/C ... fault.aspx
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Old 02-08-2010, 10:38 AM   #27
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Re: Porta Potti usage info?

We have the Theford mini (not the model, just their smallest, think it is the 175)

Use paper from the rv store
Use blue stuff he handed me

Sat once for 30 days in rig
No smell

It is a casset type
Unlatch top
Carry to bathroom
Empty
No smell
Dump in fresh water, swirl
Dump
Repeat three times
Add water and blue stuff
Back in the rig

Sadly don't have usage more than 4 days

Cost me about $60 on line
Small, easy to use and clean

That's the "End" of this post
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Old 02-08-2010, 12:20 PM   #28
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Re: Porta Potti usage info?

I think we have the same model. Only time we got smell was when we left the hatch slightly open for altitude change ... And then forgot. Even then it was not bad.
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Old 02-08-2010, 03:42 PM   #29
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Re: Porta Potti usage info?

We used the single bottle blue stuff. It comes in an 6- or 8 pack of small bottles. They worked great. One trip, we ran out and bought some orange stuff at walmart and that turned out to be bad news. They dont work nearly as well and it pretty much smells if you use it once. Stick to the funny blue stuff.

Joe
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Old 02-08-2010, 05:06 PM   #30
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Re: Porta Potti usage info?

Our blue stuff is a little drop in packet that must somehow dissolve, and it works great.
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