New to Forum -- couple of quick questions

[rescuerobert]

Hi,
New here. Wife and I are new grandparents. Looking to buy a Sportsmobile for stealth camping
when visiting grandchild in Redwood City, Ca. Any thoughts on the viability of this plan?
Are you basically happy with the quality of the Sprinter Sportsmobiles? How easy are the porta-pottis to deal with?

Thanks,
Robert

[billwilson]

Welcome
You will find a high satisfaction here with both styles

Porti potties work great for us
We have the small thetford
Easy to move and clean

[jage]

Porta Pottis (Thetford Electric) are heavy and messy. Dragging it down to the basement and dumping solids mixed with sani blue is hardly fun, and that's before it splashes everywhere while you're trying to dump it. I have plans to add a dump station to my home septic because I can't stand dumping it inside. Luckily mine is broken so I don't have to deal with it currently!

I'm sure for liquids only it's just fine, or if you take it to an RV dump station maybe, but overall I wish whenever I have to dump it that I'd gone with a built in black water system. Never had one, so honestly I can't say it's better, but from the grass is greener perspective it sure looks good.

The Thetford is better than bagging in a bucket style porta-potti for many reasons, and anything is better than nothing.

[billwilson]

Au Contrair my Pottie

was $70
holds 2.5 gal of water to flush
therefore 2.5 gal of waste

weights what 2.5 gal of water does

Keep in mind, my wife weights in at 90 pounds
and if i suck up my gut i weight in at 190

Small "Throne" for a guy like me but ample

Unlike the Esteemed Jage, i have no basement, therefore i dont slosh it around

[charlie56]

Originally Posted by jage

Dragging it down to the basement and dumping solids mixed with sani blue is hardly fun, and that's before it splashes everywhere while you're trying to dump it.

Tips
Only put enough fresh water in as you think you need for the trip (plus a little more). Lightens the "load" so to speak.

Find a pit toilet on your way home and dump it there. The distance between the seat and the pit pretty much eliminates the splash back factor.

[cellularSTEVE]

I love my porta potti.

I replaced my driver seat with it so I only need to stop for fuel.

Seriously, it is much easier to dump/clean than I would have imagined. I did not use mine for nearly 2 years until another member convinced me how easy and practical it is.

As to your other question, I would look at other Sprinters (not just Sportsmobile) to compare. I have seen some really nice ones that are more "deluxe" inside than a Sportsmobile.

steve

[Ford_6L_E350]

There are different porta-potties. The older ones have a lid on one corner - remove lid to dump. Can be messy.

My SMB came with a much nicer PP. It has a spout that rotates away from the toilet

(see item 5 on the diagram):

http://www.thetford.com/HOME/PARTS/Port ... fault.aspx

With the spout, effluent goes where intended and no mess!

I carry a gallon of water in the SMB. I've used it to cool the radiator when I was overheating, but mostly I use it to fill the rinse reservoir on the PP. Then I refill it where ever.

Porta-Pottie - don't leave home without it.

Mike

[billwilson]

Same Same me

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

There are different porta-potties. The older ones have a lid on one corner - remove lid to dump. Can be messy.

My SMB came with a much nicer PP. It has a sport that rotates away from the toilet

(see item 5 on the diagram):

http://www.thetford.com/HOME/PARTS/Port ... fault.aspx

With the spout, effluent goes where intended and no mess!

I carry a gallon of water in the SMB. I've used it to cool the radiator when I was overheating, but mostly I use it to fill the rinse reservoir on the PP. Then I refill it where ever.

Porta-Pottie - don't leave home without it.

Mike

[Angel]

I love my porta pottie. No black H2O to worry about. I have the smallest Thetford Marine 135, good for 27 flushes, holds 2.6 gal waste and has a easy empty spout. I do not fill the fresh H2O flush-just use a squirt bottle-so it is lighter and lasts longer. $81 plus shipping of $6.

Angel

[jage]

Originally Posted by billwilson

holds 2.5 gal of water to flush
therefore 2.5 gal of waste

weights what 2.5 gal of water does

Think your math is a bit off there.