Composting toilet install

[danbr]

We're just starting a new config (Ford Transit 350 HR) with Sportsmobile North and we would like to use a composting toilet (probably an Airhead). They told us that they would not install it - does anyone know the reason for that (since it bolts to the floor with 4 bolts . . .)?


Also, any suggestions about vent locations? I'd hate to put another hole in the roof :-). I found some earlier forum threads that suggested venting through the floor, but I'm not clear on how that might work . . . particularly since you would have to seal any vent pipe penetration in the shower floor!



Thanks!


Dan

[pdg978]

We vented our Airhead through the side of the van since we have a penthouse top. I was concerned that odors but it is a nonissue. There are no foul smells. We also mounted the toilet on a teak floor mat so we didn't have to penetrate the shower pan. It's worked out great for 1 year+ we've been using it.

[nyyankees588]

I'd second the previous comment - we install nature's head toilets in the travel trailers that the company that I work for makes. We install them on teak mats (you can cut the teak mats to size) so that you don't have to bolt/screw anything in to your vehicle. I'm not familiar with the Airhead, but the nature's head very easily vents out the side. We run the flexible hose the toilet comes with in to a 2" PVC pipe that goes through our subwall. This is covered on the outside by a standard 2" PVC vent cover.

[danbr]

Thanks very much! I'll talk to Sportsmobile about running the vent for me. And I like the idea of the teak mat - I was definitely concered about bolting through the shower floor!


I'm already comfortable with the "technology"; we've had an Airhead installed on our cruising sailboat for the last 8 years :-)

[grinnelljd]

Originally Posted by danbr

We're just starting a new config (Ford Transit 350 HR) with Sportsmobile North and we would like to use a composting toilet (probably an Airhead). They told us that they would not install it - does anyone know the reason for that (since it bolts to the floor with 4 bolts . . .)?


Also, any suggestions about vent locations? I'd hate to put another hole in the roof :-). I found some earlier forum threads that suggested venting through the floor, but I'm not clear on how that might work . . . particularly since you would have to seal any vent pipe penetration in the shower floor!

Thanks!

Dan

Just stumbled across this thread and thought perhaps, even months later, my example may prove useful given how long these builds can take to arrange.

I had Sportsmobile North build out my 2018 Sprinter 4x4. Like you, I discovered that they were unwilling to install a composting toilet, but I was able to talk them into installing the vent for the toilet to include the installation of the vent fan and the 12 volt wiring to power it. I forwarded the parts (fan, fan shroud, and mushroom vent cap) to Sportsmobile North ahead of the build and Chad did an awesome job of the installation. The vent had to be placed more inboard than I had wished, due to the sloping wall of my Sprinter van. Your Transit has less curve to the walls so your vent can likely be placed closer to the outer wall.

I asked Chad to wire the vent fan directly to the house batteries so that it could remain on even when the 12 volt system is turned off, but I did have him add a switch so I can still turn it off if I am placing the van into storage without the composting toilet in use.

I didn't want to bolt the toilet mounts through the shower floor so what I did was obtain a slab of HDPE plastic that I mounted the Airhead toilet mounts to and then I bolted this plastic slab to a teak shower mat using four stainless steel bolts and Tee nuts. The teak shower mat is awesome because it lets us use the bathroom without having to stand in any residual water that may remain after using the shower.