Trying to choose a chemical porta potty is something you don’t want to spend a lot of time on, but at the same time, you want something that will last so you don’t have to make this particular purchase frequently. We want to help you make the right decision the first time. That’s why we put together these in-depth reviews of the best options out there. We want you to be happy with your purchase the first time around!
Have you checked out the Camco 41545 5.3 Gallon Travel Toilet yet? If you haven’t, you’re missing out. It’s a pump action flushing portable toilet, which at the time of this article, comes in at less than $100. Between the height of the unit and the flushing mechanism, the Camco 41545 will give you all the comforts of home when you are camping, hunting, or just need a solution for long cross-country drives.
The Design
The Camco 41545 is a flushing type portable toilet that does not require electricity to use. With its tall height (about 15” tall) and larger toilet seat, it feels a lot like bringing your home toilet with you.
Instead of being made out of flimsy plastic, this porta potty is made out of molded ABS resin and has a very sturdy seal. A fresh water holding tank as well as a flush tank helps to keep down on smelly odors.
The spring-loading latch used for removing the flush tank makes putting everything back together simple. We also appreciate that the inside of the flush tank has been smoothed down so cleaning the unit is pain-free.
Lastly, the dumping elbow on this bad boy is very handy for keeping the mess to a minimum when you are cleaning the flush tank.
How It Works
You can check out our – How Does a Portable Potty Work Guide, to get an idea of how chemical porta potties work. The Camco 41545 Travel Toilet is a flushing chemical type portable toilet that does not require the use of electricity. While this model does come with a users manual so you can get more detailed instructions, we’ll give you a quick breakdown.
First, you’ll add the deodorant chemicals to the flush tank using the instructions described on the deodorizer you are using. Next, you’ll add the water to the fresh water tank. At this point, you snap the two tanks together, and you are ready to go!
Depending on how often the portable toilet is in use, will dictate how often it needs to be cleaned. Compared to other portable toilets in its class, the larger tank on the Camco 41545 only needs to be cleaned every three days on average.
I would like to note that most liquid chemicals for portable toilets only last about three days, so I would recommend cleaning it out, at least, every three days regardless if the tank is full.
One of the primary benefits of the Camco portable toilet is that it doesn’t use other chemicals beyond a deodorizer. This translates to being able to dump your waste down a toilet at a rest stop or campground restroom facilities. Make sure that you never pour your waste, especially with chemicals around fresh water sources, however.
Optional Items That Are Useful with the Camco 41545 Travel Toilet
Rubber Gloves
We recommend that you invest in some cheap disposable rubber gloves for use when cleaning your portable toilet. This will help you keep the spread of germs to a minimum.
Toilet Deodorant Chemicals
These are a must in keeping the smell down, and you’ll have plenty of options to choose. This porta potty comes with a few samples to get you started, but you’ll need to invest in more.
Toilet Paper
While you may prefer 2-ply toilet paper at home, using 1-ply or biodegradable toilet paper is better for any portable toilet because it breaks down faster.
Things to Keep In Mind
The spring loaded latch on this model needs to be maintained.
After a time, the spring-loaded latch gets worn and harder to use. You can just grease the spring with olive oil or Vaseline as this happens and it will work just like new.
Clean Up
Make sure that you take proper care of your portable toilet after a trip as well as during. Once you are back home and putting everything away, be sure to clean the toilet out with soap and water. After cleaning, it’s important to store the Camco in a cool, dry place to avoid any damage to the unit.
Size
One downside of the Camco portable toilet is its size. While small in size overall, it’s not small enough to fit in the back seat of a mid-sized sedan. It wouldn’t work well if you plan to use it in the car. However, it would work well for minivans or SUVs if you are willing to give it space. This portable toilet is more suited for camping or RV use.
Lack of toilet paper storage
Make a note that there is no toilet paper storage on the Camco 41545 Travel Toilet. It’s not a big deal; you’ll just want to remember to have a container that seals to keep your toilet dry.
Limit what goes down the “drain.”
You should never flush trash, feminine hygiene products or wet wipes in your portable toilet! Doing so can lead to clogs and some pretty horrible clean up. Always keep a trash receptacle for those types of waste next to your portable toilet.
Overview
Overall, we think the Camco 41545 5.3 Gallon Travel Toilet is a great buy! It’s reasonably priced, works well in an emergency, handles odor control admirably, is very handy in a camping situation, doesn’t tip easily and is simple to clean up. We recommend it!
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