Imagine having to leave the comfort of your abode to go looking for a place to relieve yourself while out camping.

Talk of inconvenience, right?

I mean, as a camping addict who wants to struggle with simple things such as taking a piss or a dunk while your aim is to enjoy your camping activities?

However, fret not. Toilet developers are keen on providing the best composting camping toilets for RVs and campers to improve user experiences.

But first things first.

How best can you select the best composting toilet that will suit your camper or RV needs?

Choosing the Best Composting Toilet for RVs and Campers

Campers and RV owners are always on the move and as such require dry flush toilets tailored to that kind of lifestyle.

Most RV owners and campers are irked by the thought of a composting toilet initially, but they soon discover that the facilities offer some of the most effective and easy to use alternatives for waste disposal on the go.

In fact, for environmentally conscious folks, the composting toilet is eco-friendly and surprisingly clean. If properly installed, the toilet functions well and emits no odor.

So, what should you look for when choosing a composting toilet that will work for your RV or as a camper?

• Versatility and Ease of Use– What are your toilet needs for the RV or camping? What type of toilet best suits your intended lifestyle while you are on the go. Is the facility easy to use or will it make it difficult for you to enjoy yourself on the go?
• Pest proof– You don’t want a toilet that has insects and gnats crawling around while you are on the go. There’s nothing as annoying as fighting pests while you are out enjoying your boondocking or dry camping trip.
• Number of Users– The number of people who will be using the facility should inform the type of toilet you should settle for. The beautiful thing is that you can get a waterless toilet for small spaces.
• Frequency and Length of Use– Where the toilet will be put in use for a longer amount of time, it is advisable to choose your facility appropriately. It would be insane to go for a self-made composting toilet if you intend to go dry camping for say a month.

What Do You Need for Your RV Composting Toilet to Work Efficiently?

1. To cover the solid deposits and help them to dry fast, add some coconut coir or sphagnum peat moss to the compartment.
2. The urine container can be emptied down a dump or septic tank and should stay separate from the solids compartment.
3. Empty the two compartments as soon as they fill up to avoid overflow and spillage. This will largely depend on the number of users and the frequency of use of the facility.

Best Composting Toilets for RVs and Campers

Composting toilets are popular among camping addicts and RV owners since they run on waterless systems and don’t require complex plumbing hookups.

They are easy to clean and emptying filled up compost tanks is not such a hassle. If well maintained the toilets are odor free and provide campers with an effective and eco-friendly sanitary solution.

The composting toilet works by separating the liquid and solids making it difficult for sewage to form. Considering replacing your RV toilet with composting toilet?

Here are the best composting toilets that are a favorite among campers and RV owners.

1. Nature’s Head Composting Toilet

RV black tanks are a major concern for owners. Dumping the black tank can be quite a mess and when the tank clogs it becomes a major sanitary nightmare.

Nature’s Head Composting toilet offers a great alternative for RV users who wish to avoid the black tank menace.

As much as you will still have to deal with human waste disposal, the toilet offers a hygienic option for handling the wastes.

It offers a reduced ecological footprint as it minimizes the consumption of fresh water and allows campers the time to enjoy their dry camping.

The dumping process is quite easy and requires you to empty the compost container into a trash bag before disposing it into a dumpster or trash can.

Here are the pros and cons of the Nature’s Head toilet.

Pros

• No black tank menaces
• Odorless
• It is a waterless system
• You don’t need special RV toilet paper
• Environmentally friendly
• No clogged black tanks or systems
• Availability of add-on accessories and replacement parts
• Round the clock customer service from the company

Cons

• Affordability- The toilet is quite expensive
• Requires light usage
• Can accommodate fewer users
• The urine container fills up too fast

Nature’s Head offers the following models.

a) Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet with Close Quarters Spider Handle Design

This is a urine separating model that is self-contained and portable, making it a favorite for RVs and campers due to its convenience and size.

Features of the toilet

1. It is a non-electric system and requires no plumbing hookups to operate.
2. The toilet does not have a holding tank which is any camping addict’s nightmare. This makes is stench-free and its built-in fan makes air circulation better for a fresh smelling environment.
3. The toilet is easy to install, clean and maintain. Routine maintenance practices will ensure you enjoy your facility better and longer.
4. The toilet is built with stainless hardware that makes its frame robust and durable.

Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet with Close Quarters Spiders Handle design is 22 x 20.5 x 21.7 inches in dimension and weighs 28 pounds.

The pros and cons of this model are:

Pros

• It is lauded as one of the best composting models
• Robust and durable
• Convenient and easy to use
• Comfortable  full-size elongated seat
• Uses no water
• Consumes less space
• Built with an onboard fan and vent hose for better smelling environment

Cons

• Difficult to clean out the solid wastes
• Small urine container
• In case of a malfunction the toilet smells
• Cannot handle baby wipes or paper towels. Only toilet paper can be disposed into it.

b) Nature’s Head Dry Composting Toilet with Standard Crank Handle

The faster the composting of human waste while you are on the road or out camping in a remote location the better for you.

It makes it easier to empty the composting container faster allowing you to move around lighter. Literally.

Who wants to move around with partly composed waste in their toilet chamber anyway?

Nature’s Head Dry Composting Toilet with Standard Crank Handle design is a good camping toilet to meet your needs.

The model is built with a hand crank agitator in its base to allow for faster composting to take place.

Features of the toilet

1. Comes in a molded design
2. Built with a 12v power plug
3. It includes a bottle cap and a 5’ vent hose
4. The toilet is self-contained and urine diverting
5. Fan available for low volume air circulation

Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet with Standard Crank Handle design is 19.8 x 20.8 x 20.5 inches in dimension and weighs 27.2 pounds.

The pros and cons of this model are:

Pros

• Waterless operating system
• Quick and stress-free installation process
• Easy to operate and use
• Maintenance is easy and straight-forward
• The toilet is odorless
• Sturdy and durable
• No septic hookups required

Cons:

• Requires frequent emptying of the urine container
• Toilet seat is a bit narrow for users

2. Sun-Mar Composting Toilet

Campervan and RV owners have an alternative composting waste management system in the Sun-Mar toilet brand.

Although it is lauded as a great option most users find the brand quite expensive compared to Nature’s Head composting toilet.

Furthermore, most accounts by users generally paint the brand’s toilet as easily breakable and not so easy to use.

Here are the pros and cons of the Sun-Mar toilet.

Pros

• Effective composting system
• Pest proof
• No smell
• Portable

Cons

• Expensive
• Easily breakable
• They take up more space

Sun-Mar offers the following models.

a) Sun-Mar Excel Self-Contained Composting Toilet, Model# Excel

Fitted with a bio-drum necessary for the composting process, the Sun-Mar Excel model offers campers and RV owners a no-smell self-contained composting toilet option.

Features of the Excel Model

1. Suited for high capacity use with one facility serving 3-4 persons in a residential setting. It can handle even higher number of users if installed for weekend use in a cabin, accommodating at least 6-8 persons.   
2. A detachable footrest is included to serve short people who would find the toilet to be out of reach.
3. Pest proof toilet so you won’t have to worry about gnats and insects.
4. Low profile unit and can therefore easily complement any bathroom.
5. The NSF/ANSI Certified toilet is easy to maintain.
6. Built with an emergency drain and a venting kit to make it user friendly.
7. Includes a fan for better air circulation

The pros and cons of this model are:

Pros:

• Waterless operation
• 100% non-polluting therefore is eco-friendly
• Odor-free system
• Minimal or no nuisance from pests
• No need for complex septic systems
• Fairly priced given its features

Cons:

• If not properly handled it may lead to hazardous leaks
• Emptying solid contents of the drum can get a bit messy

The toilet is 33 x 22 1/2 x 33 in dimension and has a vent stack size of 2 inches. It weighs 100 lbs.

b) Sun-Mar Excel Non-Electric Self-Contained Composting Toilet, Model# Excel-NE

Off the grid campers will find this waterless toilet for mobile homes convenient given that it is non-electric yet offers efficiency in the composting process by breaking down human waste in an odorless manner.

Features of the Excel-NE Model

1.   The model has a variable diameter bio-drum fitted with a recessed handle that aids in the efficient processing of compost.

2.   Suited for high capacity use, at least 2-3 users in a residential setup and 5-7 persons if installed in a cabin for weekend use.

The pros and cons of this model are:

Pros:

• Requires only one drain
• Includes a venting kit for better productivity
• It is NSF/ANSI Certified
• Non-electric model
• Waterless design
• 100% non-polluting

Cons

• There are cheaper models in the market

The toilet is 33 x 22 1/2 x 32 in dimension and has a vent stack size of 4 inches. Its standard weight is 90 lbs.

c) Sun-Mar Compact Self-Contained Composting Toilet, Model# Compact

Camping addicts who are environmental enthusiasts will laud this model. It is eco-friendly waterless toilet system that emits no repulsive odors.

Features of the Compact Model

1. The toilet is built with a venting kit and has a venting stack size of 2 inches.
2. It is a self-contained model fitted with one drain and an emergency drain.
3. It is designed for single users in residential settings and 3-4 users for weekend use in cabins.
4. Fitted with a detachable footrest.

The pros and cons of this model are:

Pros:

• Requires no water to run
• 100% non-polluting
• Comfortable and easily accessible

Cons:

• Is an electric system therefore not ideal for off the grid applications
• There are cheaper alternatives in the market

The Sun-Mar Compact model is 33 x 21 1/2 x 28 ½ in dimension and complements any bathroom. Its standard weight is 90 lbs.

3. Separett Villa 9215 AC/D

This is yet another urine diverting, waterless composting toilet ideal for off the grid application by the Separett brand. It is a fresh release that hit the US market in 2018 replacing previous Villa models.

Features of the Villa Model

1. Can operate on either AC (On-grid) or DC (solar or battery)
2. Fitted with a single speed fan
3. Comes with adaptors tailored for both AC and DC
4. Can support venting up to 20 feet
5. Includes 10 compostable bags
6. 1 waste container with a lid is available
7. Child friendly with additional child seat
8. Intertec ETL Certified
9. 5 year and 3 year guarantee on manufacturing defects and the fan respectively

The pros and cons of this model are:

Pros:

• Urine diverting mechanism making it an odorless system
• You don’t have to fully compost the toilet content
• Easy to dump the compostable liner bag

Cons

• No return policy on toilets
• Prior consent for use in local area has to be sought

The toilet is 18.5 x 23 x 27.75 inch in dimension and weighs 34 lbs

Conclusion

Composting toilets work by converting human wastes to compost. They provide the best alternatives for waste disposal and sanitation for campers and RV owners. You could also consider a DIY RV composting toilet.

Waterless toilets for RV are comfortable to sit on and provide the clean feeling of familiarity when you must relieve yourself while on the go. The toilet feels like a home toilet and is easy to operate.

As a camping addict, make your pick for a camping toilet based on your needs and preferences.

Consider the various RV composting toilet pros and cons to make the best buy.

Good luck!