Toilets for camping – how to poo when there’s no loo

In this guide to when nature calls in nature, learn about the different types of toilets for camping, the pros and cons, how to make your camping toilet private and more.

Not everyone has an inbuilt toilet in their camping or caravan set up and let’s face it, some of the best camping spots in Australia are far from a thunderbox. Additionally, sometimes the facilities that are on offer are too gross to even think about using.

We all have to go at some point and holding it in is not a comfortable option. So in the absence of a usable dunny, how do you poo when there’s no loo? Well, I’m going to show you …um … I mean tell you.

Keep reading to learn about the different types of toilets for camping, their pros and cons, how to make your camping toilet private, how to decide who disposes of the toilet waste, and how to find public toilets in Australia.

The different types of toilets for camping

Chemical toilets for camping

Chemical toilets for camping are the closest thing you will get to your home toilet when you’re on the road. They have a holding tank for the poop and a flush tank that is usually pumped by hand.  There is both a top section (like at home) and a slide valve which you must pull out to do your business.  The slide valve seals off the waste when not in use and when pulled out, ensures a swift passage from your nether regions straight down to the holding tank. 

When the tank is close to full, you must dispose of the waste at a dump point.

Pros

• Closest thing to your home toilet
• Can’t see whats in there
• Easy to use
• Masks odours
• Sturdy and can usually handle a bit of weight

Cons

• Need to find an official dumping station to empty it
• Need to buy and use the chemicals
• Takes up more room than other options

There are a number of different chemical toilets on the market for camping and the Camec portable toilet from Outback Equipment pictured below is as good as any. At just under $150, this one is easy on the wallet, features a 20-litre holding tank and also has a level indicator so you know when to empty it.

Compost toilets for camping

Composting toilets are gaining traction in popularity as you don’t need to empty them as often as a chemical toilet and you don’t need to find a dump point to dispose of the waste. To cut a long story short, basically, the urine is kept separate from the faeces and it therefore keeps the smell and ‘gross factor’ at bay. You can read all about how they work over at our sister publication, RVDaily here.

Pros

• No need to find a dump point to dispose of the waste
• Don’t need to empty it anywhere near as much as a chemical toilet

Cons 

• The most expensive option on the market

They are a few options on the market but in terms of portability, the GottaGo from Joolca is a great choice because it can actually be used as a chemical toilet or a compost toilet.

Foldable toilets for camping

Foldable toilets for camping do not use chemicals, rather your “deposits” drop down into a bag for easy removal later. They have a seat like a normal toilet but may or may not have a top lid.

Pros

• Doesn’t take up much room when folded up in storage
• Easy to dispose of the contents
• Low cost

Cons 

• Some camping toilets are not very sturdy (read the reviews before buying)
• Some do not feature top lids and therefore attract flys
• Need to buy bags to catch the waste

There are two main types of foldable toilets for camping. The first is a box style (like the Elemental Bush Dunny pictured below), which gives old-fashioned thunderbox vibes. It folds up flat when not in use and expands to a box shape when you want to use it. You can dig a big hole underneath and place it on top, or catch the waste in a bag. At around $100, you can’t go wrong!

The second type of foldable toilet for camping is a toilet lit with legs kinda deal (like the Companion portable toilet chair below). At just $26, this is one of the most cost effective toilets you can buy for camping and the waste simply drops down into a bag underneath.

Bucket toilets for camping

Bucket toilets for camping are exactly as they sound. It’s basically a no-nonsense large bucket with a toilet seat type lid on top. The bucket is lined with a bag to catch the waste which can then be easily disposed of later.

Pros

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Easy to remove the waste afterwards

Cons

• Not the most comfortable option (but it could be worse!)
• Need to purchase the toilet bags

The well-known Thunder Down Under bucket toilet pictured below is a popular choice for under fifty buckeroos.

Doing it the old-fashioned way

When all else fails (like when you forget to pack the toilet), you can always do it the “old fashioned way” by digging a cat hole aka poop hole. However, if you are going to do it the old-fashioned way, make sure to follow the rules for outdoor toilet etiquette listed below. There is nothing worse than arriving at a campsite to find crap stained toilet paper littering the ground. Don’t be that person!

Five simple rules for digging camping toilets:

• You hole should be at least 150 metres from camps, trails and water sources. If you’re in croc-country, be extra careful. Nothing like spotting a croc to help move things along!
• It should be at least 30cm deep.
• It should be wide enough to account for bad aim.
• Burn your toilet paper or pack it back out with you.
• Fill the hole back in when you’re done!

If you can’t find suitable poop real estate to dig your camping toilet hole you should consider packing it out with you.  Which in some cases, can be even easier than digging a hole in super hard ground. Try these wag bags for those times when you need to pack it back out. They come preloaded with toilet paper, hand sanitiser and a biodegradable solution that breaks down the waste inside the bag. You awkwardly do your business, zip it up and put it somewhere safe until you can find a bin…

…or someone’s doorstep. Just kidding!

How to make camping toilets private

With the exception of small children, nobody likes eye contact when pooping. Here’s how to improve your privacy while doing your business when you’re on the road.

Find a temporary spot in your existing set-up

If you have a camper or caravan set up and it’s only you and one other, you can drag the toilet in, kick your other half out, use the camping toilet, and pack it away again.  Travelling families will find this tiresome as they’ll be dragging the damn thing in and out every 20 minutes.

Invest in an ensuite tent

Ensuite tents are a dime a dozen and are sold at most camping stores. They are usually sold as pop-up tents or poled tents.  Just remember to peg it down to save you the embarrassment of it blowing over while you’re sitting on the loo.

Hide it behind some bushes

For more remote camping locations, find a nice set of bushes with a great view and set up your camping toilet behind the bushes.

Hook up an ensuite awning

Ensuite awnings are practical for a bunch of reasons (think camp showers and changing clothes), but they are the bee’s knees when it comes to portable camping toilets. The only downside is that if your car has a lift kit and bigger tyres like mine, some brands don’t have any extra drop in the fabric. This means people will see your ankles while sitting on the toilet and will know what you’re doing in there. Does it matter? Not really.

How to find public toilets in Australia

Some clever people at the Australian Government Department of Health set to work creating a National Public Toilet Register Map app for your phone. The app provides info on over 19,000 public toilets across Australia and even includes information on accessibility, opening hours and whether there are showers, baby change tables and sharps disposal.

It’s smart enough to find nearby toilets, search for toilets in a place you plan to visit and can even give you directions on how to get there.  Get the app from the official National Public Toilet information site. 

How to decide whose job it is to dispose of the waste

Well, the general rule is that whoever uses the camping toilet first has to empty it out. Of course, you could always play rock, paper, scissors, be the first to yell, “I dibs not” at the top of your lungs, or even resort to outrageous bribery.

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