poptop or full height
Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 06, 2011 at 14:25
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Barry C4
Hi all, we are looking at upgrading to van with shower/
toilet, currently have 16' poptop but concerned about odours etc from
toilet in poptop van, would full height van be the way to go, welcome any thoughts.
Reply By: Member -Dodger - Wednesday, Apr 06, 2011 at 15:01
Wednesday, Apr 06, 2011 at 15:01
We have a Jayco 18ft PopTop van with shower
toilet combo.
The trick is to allways use the exhaust fan when going to the toot and showering etc. This then draws air from the van into the shower and out the roof vent. We have not had any odour problems at all.
I also use NappiSan in the bottom tank and the pink perfumed additive in the top tank.
We have two friends that have full vans and they do exactly the same also without odours.
AnswerID:
450486
Follow Up By: Barry C4 - Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 15:41
Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 15:41
Hi dodger, why did u go with poptop van, have u found much difference in fuel economy over what your friends with the full height vans are getting.
FollowupID:
723056
Follow Up By: Member -Dodger - Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 15:50
Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 15:50
Went with the POPTOP because of clearance under carport where it is stored when
home. AS poptops have to have stronger walls I think that any real gain in fuel economy would be very little.
Another good reason that when going down tracks it is a case of if the tug clears any overhanging branches then so will the van. In the hot areas the van is easier to keep cool because the skirt at the top has large zippered windows that are insect proofed which lets air thru the van easier.
We have had 4 vans and only one was a solid van and we find that we prefer the poptop. Just a personal thing.
FollowupID:
723057
Reply By: Member - res.q.guy (Vic.) - Wednesday, Apr 06, 2011 at 16:32
Wednesday, Apr 06, 2011 at 16:32
Hi
You can now get a vent kit, if you do have problems with smell.
I saw it the other day in a magazine.
Toilet Vent Kit
Cheers
Neil
AnswerID:
450495
Reply By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Wednesday, Apr 06, 2011 at 17:22
Wednesday, Apr 06, 2011 at 17:22
Hi there, we have what looks & sounds like the same van as Dodger & agree with his comment that provided you use the exhaust fan you do not have problems with odour. The concept of a shower/
toilet combo suits us as it takes up very little space.
The things we don't like about the combo are firstly that the shower water drainage point is in one corner which results in not all the water always draining out & we at times have a need to sop the last bit up after using the shower, and secondly, the water from the hand basin discharges into the
toilet cassette which of course fills it up quicker. Other than those two issues, we love the overall concept of a pop top. Mind you we have never owned a full van, so it would be interesting to hear from others who have owned both.
Look luck with your update & safe travelling.
AnswerID:
450503
Follow Up By: Barry C4 - Wednesday, Apr 06, 2011 at 17:55
Wednesday, Apr 06, 2011 at 17:55
Thanks for all the great info, just another query, do you find there is enough space within the combo shower/
toilet, what about drying off.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Wednesday, Apr 06, 2011 at 18:39
Wednesday, Apr 06, 2011 at 18:39
Yep, there is enough space, not by any means roomy. I am about 1.8 tall and about 95 Kg of pure muscle and find it OK. The toot lid & surrounds gets a bit wet though.
Without doubt I reckon the full en suite would be the better bet, more roomy etc. but it comes at the expenses of space.
If you look at most vans with full en suite they take up the full width of the van and somewhere at a guess about 3 foot of the total internal length. That being the case you would need a van round about 21 foot long to have the equivalent living space of an 18 footer.
FollowupID:
722991
Follow Up By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 12:23
Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 12:23
Hi again, the info I gave in my first reply Ref. hand basin water discharging into the
toilet cassette is incorrect. The water from the hand basin discharges through the same sullage outlet as the shower. My apologies.
FollowupID:
723031
Follow Up By: Barry C4 - Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 15:36
Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 15:36
Thanks for the update, was a bit mistified re basin drainage, also with regards basin is it a decent size that u can actually get your hands into.
As u say the full ensuite would be great but dont want to any larger than 18 ft van as weight becomes an issue.
How do u go lifting the poptop on the 18 ft van, can it be done by one person.
Thanks again for your depth of knowledge.
FollowupID:
723054
Follow Up By: Member -Dodger - Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 15:53
Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 15:53
Both SWMBO and Myself can put our top up without much exertion mainly because of the gas struts.
FollowupID:
723058
Reply By: Member - Captain (WA) - Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 16:01
Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 16:01
The type of toilet impacts on what odours you get. We have a poptop with shower/toilet combo but is a vacuum flush and we have zero odour issues. This type of loo uses no chemicals and relies on the waste being macerated as it travels into the tank. The vacuum pump has a charcoal filter that removes any odours from the air being discharged.
Initially I was skeptical how well it would work, but use has shown it to be great, far better than the chemical types IMHO. While emptying the tank is very easy and all is sealed until you undo the spout, its at this point there is odour (and lots!). But I suppose emptying any toilet waste will never be a pleasant experience.
Cheers
Captain
AnswerID:
450592
Follow Up By: Barry C4 - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 07:20
Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 07:20
Hi Captain, This sounds like loo used in planes, what creates the vacuum each time u need to flush, also did this loo come standard with van and how often do they recommend replacing charcoal filter.
Thanks heaps
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723220
Follow Up By: Member - Captain (WA) - Sunday, Apr 10, 2011 at 15:18
Sunday, Apr 10, 2011 at 15:18
Hi Barry,
This was the standard loo on the AORC Quantum. The vacuum system stays charged once you turn the vaccum pump on, the toilet outlet is sealed and opens to suck the contents into the tank when you flush - you hear the vacuum pump kick in when this happens.
The manual says to replace the charcoal filter "as required" or every 3 years, whichever is first!
Cheers
Captain
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