Top 3 reasons to put a composting toilet in a vintage Airstream
In short
Crystal McCullough, a vintage Airstream renovation expert, gives three reasons to fit a composting toilet: there's no plumbing or black tank to deal with, it saves water, and it frees up the old black tank to hold your other wastewater in line with today's environmental standards. That also means more time between dump stations when you're boondocking.
There are several reasons why anyone renovating or rebuilding a vintage Airstream would install a composting toilet rather than replace the original toilet with a standard motorhome throne.
In this blog post, Crystal McCullough, vintage Airstream enthusiast and renovation expert, takes a look at the top reasons to put a composting toilet in your vintage Airstream.
Reason 1: Composting toilets don’t need plumbing into a vintage Airstream
The first reason why I decided on a composting toilet years ago is because I knew absolutely nothing about plumbing systems, either installing a new one or retrofitting the old one.
I was a camper newbie, too, and had no experience (nor did I want any) with a motorhome black tank. Using a composting toilet gave me freedom from ever touching that nasty black tank hose.
I used a traditional portable cassette toilet for a while, but the chemical smell grossed me out, and the whole camper smelled like a portaloo. A composting loo was the best option and one I honestly recommend.
Reason 2: Less water consumption
As a bonus, using a composting toilet in your Airstream reduces water consumption.
Traditional motorhome toilets use a lot less water than a home toilet, but still, it’s using water that can best be used for something else. My old cassette toilet had a water tank that had to be filled regularly for proper flushing, too. The only water I use regularly for my Airstream composting toilet is water mixed with white vinegar or urine enzymes that I use to spray the toilet bowl after using.
Conserving water is crucial when on the road and camping in areas with limited water resources.
Reason 3: Compliance with today’s environmental standards
Until around 1974-1975, Airstreams didn’t have a gray tank. Water from the toilet went into a black tank, and all wastewater that was un-toilet related simply drained out of the camper on to the ground - a practice that today is not only frowned upon, but illegal pretty much everywhere.
Adding a composting toilet to your vintage Airstream frees up the old black tank to become the ‘new’ gray tank , keeping the integrity of the original design while complying with today’s environmental standards.
Many renovators with slightly newer vintage Airstreams built with both a gray and black tank often convert the black tank to an additional gray to allow for even more time between dump stations. If you enjoy boondocking or camping in off-grid locations, it’s really nice to be less dependent on traditional infrastructure.
What to consider before making the switch to a composting toilet in your vintage Airstream
If you are planning to invest in a portable composting toilet for your vintage Airstream, then there are a few things to consider. So before sending you on your way, I’ve created a handy list:
- Research and choose a composting toilet model that fits your Airstream's layout and your specific needs.
- Weigh the price differences with long-term savings and think about portability, earth-friendliness, boondocking flexibility, and water preservation.
If you’re like me, the pros list will far outweigh the cons, even if you know how to do your own plumbing!
