"Ultimate" dream list of trailer features?

[The Adam Blaster]

Thanks for that input Herbie!
A cassette toilet of some sort would definitely be helpful with the wife and kid(s).

On my prospective build, I'm thinking I would include a change room around the ladder of the RTT. Maybe a portable style cassette toilet could sit in the corner of the change room on the ground?

I have never seen a cassette toilet in person and have no idea how big/bulky they are...

 

[Root Moose]

We absolutely MUST have sleeping for 2 Adults + 1/2 children AND a toilet you can use without going outside. I'm a backpacker, so getting up to dig a cat hole in the middle of the night is no biggie for me, but having to put on shoes/coat/whatever to go outside to relieve herself (or escort the little one to do the same) is one of the things that will keep my wife from even GOING camping.

Our Starcraft 11RT has this. It isn't one of the trailers the "cool kids" tow but it does have the features you want. Even has an indoor shower.

Being practical about where you are really going to haul a trailer can open up other possibilities as well.

 

[The Adam Blaster]

How about sleeping on the top for two adults and let the kids sleep inside the trailer?

I think that is pretty much what Rob (R_Lefebvre) has done, and it's definitely an interesting idea. I'm pretty sure it was him that had the idea to insulate the underside of the sink, I'm definitely stealing that idea! lol

 

[Herbie]

Thanks for that input Herbie!
A cassette toilet of some sort would definitely be helpful with the wife and kid(s).

On my prospective build, I'm thinking I would include a change room around the ladder of the RTT. Maybe a portable style cassette toilet could sit in the corner of the change room on the ground?

I have never seen a cassette toilet in person and have no idea how big/bulky they are...

Here's a standard Thetford:
http://www.thetford.com/Home/Products/PortableToilets/PortaPotti135Marine/tabid/96/Default.aspx

Not very big. I like that it can be "emptied" into a standard toilet, which means I don't have to find an RV dump station.

Yeah, if you've got a change room or some other vestibule, it might be a good spot. Like I said, I probably pulled the trigger on "van" slightly sooner than I should have, as more experience and research might have revealed other possibilities, but I'm on the path now.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Yes, the insulated sink is AMAZING.

I have a Dometic porta potty from Canadian Tire. I set it up in the vestibule of our large family tent, and my wife really appreciated that at night. With the trailer, I'll be setting it up in a little pop-up toilet shelter thingy. Emptying it into a toilet is yucky though. Wish I had a hazmat suit! I find I have to fill it with water and swish it around a bit, do that a few times, to get it all out.

 

[The Adam Blaster]

Being practical about where you are really going to haul a trailer can open up other possibilities as well.

I thought on this point for a while, and then I started looking at travel trailers etc. lol This is also why on my trailer, I will probably have 2 sets of tires, something small like a 235/75R15 that will be pretty smooth, and then a set of 33's or maybe even 35's.

I live 3000 kms from my side of the family, and I was hoping to use a TT to drive back and forth to visit them in the summer, and use the trailer to sleep/eat/shower in rather than have to motel it every night.
The idea was to just pull off the road along the way and sleep where we parked, and then back on the road nice and early the next day.
With an offroad trailer and an RTT, we probably won't be able to do that, at least not every night...
My son who is 2 is absolutely full of energy, and after being in the car seat for 8 or more hours with only a couple of stops, he needs to be able to run around a lot before he's ready for bed.
I'm compromising the travel plans for the next 4-5 years so that after that, I'll have a much higher quality of life, and vacations!
I'm going back to school for teaching, so every July and August I will be able to travel as much as the bank account allows.

 

[The Adam Blaster]

Emptying it into a toilet is yucky though. Wish I had a hazmat suit! I find I have to fill it with water and swish it around a bit, do that a few times, to get it all out.

Yummy... :snorkel:
LOL

I've never seen the cassette style in person, so I'm curious how it works, and how unpleasant the emptying process is...

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Actually, my wife was less disgusted with the process than I was. I guess it's your personal tollerance level. It's not that bad really. It's just the thought... "what if" you get splashed. Yuk. Really though, if you've changed diapers before, it shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[Root Moose]

LOL @ Rob!

Must be a "townie".

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Somewhere inbetween. Live rural, but not on a farm, mom is a clean freak, my brother OCD hand-washer.... I'm just this side of clean-crazy, but don't like dealing with poop.

 

[Titanpat57]

Yummy... :snorkel:
LOL

I've never seen the cassette style in person, so I'm curious how it works, and how unpleasant the emptying process is...

No worse than emptying a regular "hassock" style porta-potta. The design is pull out the 5-6 gallon holding tank and dump it in a dump station or even a convientional toilet.

Gas mask and haz-mat suit optional.....:chef:

 

[The Adam Blaster]

Can you empty the Thetford using only one hand?
This would be critical for me, since I can't use my right hand... Just thought of that problem.
It's been almost 13 years since my accident, and I still forget the limitations sometimes! lol

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Oh gee, I dunno. I think you could, but it would be awkward. Mostly because of the swirling action needed to get it all mixed up before pouring.

 

[Tucson T4R]

Yes, the insulated sink is AMAZING.

I have a Dometic porta potty from Canadian Tire. I set it up in the vestibule of our large family tent, and my wife really appreciated that at night. With the trailer, I'll be setting it up in a little pop-up toilet shelter thingy. Emptying it into a toilet is yucky though. Wish I had a hazmat suit! I find I have to fill it with water and swish it around a bit, do that a few times, to get it all out.

I have one of the electric flush Thetford toilets. I got it for my wife but now that I have it I never go out without it even when I'm by myself. :elkgrin:

I was not too keen on the idea of emptying into a toilet either. The trick I use is to empty it directly into my sewer clean out. Luckily I have one in the middle of driveway. Just find out where your outside clean out is and make it accessible. Since the cassette is sitting on the ground when you do this, you could easily do this with one hand. Then I just open the slide door once empty and rinse it with a hose and all goes down the drain.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I do have access to my cleanout, and have thought of that too. Bet my neighbors would love it. Standing out there in my shorts smoking a cigar... "****ter's full!"