The 5 Best RV Toilets – Quality, Comfort, Performance

Last Updated on September 11, 2023 by toilethaven

Most people know the fun and rosy part of RVing, but there is another topic that you don’t always hear of. RV toilets. But what is the big deal with RV toilets?

Unlike in a home toilet where you flush your “goods” off your property, RV toilets merely store the “goods” in a holding tank below the toilet, meaning everywhere you go, they go too. What could go wrong?

They could start leaking, clog, or even smell. This is not something you want to happen to you, while all you want is to have a nice time by the lake with family or friends.

Therefore, the need to buy a good RV toilet can not be overemphasized. So, what is the best RV toilet to buy?

From experience, these are the 5 best RV toilets in the market:

Toilet Type Material Pros Cons
1. Dometic 320 Series Gravity flush Porcelain Easy to clean
Elongated bowl
Full rim
High/low profile
A little pricey
2. Thetford Aqua-Magic V Gravity flush Plastic Strong flush
Greatprice
High/low profile
Harder to clean Flush pedal at the front
3. Nature's Head Composting Toilet Composting Plastic No water needed
Well made
No odor
Quite pricey
4. Thetford Porta Potti Portable Plastic Comfortable height
Sleek
Integrated TP holder
Battery-powered flush system
5. Reliance Luggable Loo Portable Plastic Very cheap
No water needed
Not very fancy

As you can see from the list above, you are not restricted to one type of toilet when choosing a toilet for your RV. So, how different are all these toilets? Let’s explore a little further.

Types of RV Toilets

There are several types of RV toilets based on their material, how they work, and overall design. You should take your time reviewing every one of them to make sure that you end up with the one that best suits you.

These are 11 types of RV toilets and how they work:

1. Gravity Flush RV Toilets

These are the oldest types of RV toilets. The whole system comprises the toilet, fresh water tank, and the holding tank. They work the same way as home toilets, just that they don’t have a toilet tank.

When you flush the toilet (usually using a foot pedal), water flows from the fresh water tank to the bow and carries the waste down to the holding tank. The holding tank is usually installed directly below the toilet.

A seal separates the bowl and the holding tank to contain odors. The holding tank will need to be emptied at an RV dumping station when it is full.

2. Plastic RV Toilets

Plastic RV toilets are the oldest type of gravity flush toilets. Just like other RV toilets, they do not have a tank but have a plastic bowl.

The challenge with plastic RV toilets is that they are harder to clean and fade off with time. They also tend to be wiggly/rock after continued usage.

Portable and composting RV toilets are all plastic. This makes them lightweight and, therefore, easy to carry around. They are also cheaper to manufacture.

3. Porcelain RV Toilets

As their name suggests, porcelain toilets are made of porcelain material and are the modern version of gravity flush RV toilets. They are more comfortable than plastic toilets since you can have models with elongated bowls and even comfortable heights.

Porcelain is also easier to clean and does not fade, unlike plastic. I could also add that porcelain is sturdier and, in my opinion, more hygienic compared to plastic.

4. High Profile RV Toilets

High-profile RV toilets are toilets with a high seat or, in simple terms, tall RV toilets. The seat height is the distance from the floor to the top of the toilet seat.

RV toilets with a seat height of more than 17 inches are considered high profile. In other words, these are toilets that are compliant with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA.)

High-profile RV toilets are the best toilets for the tall, seniors, and disabled as they are very easy to sit and stand from.

5. Low-profile RV Toilets

Low-profile RV toilets are toiles with a lower seat height than 17 inches. They are the best toilets for shorter people or children.

Due to their short seat height, low-profile RV toilets are not compliant with the requirements of ADA of 17-inch seat height. Since RVs are private properties and not public, ADA rules do not apply.

6. Elongated RV Toilets

Elongated RV toilets are oval-shaped, just like elongated residential toilets. They are, in my opinion, the best RV toilets as far as toilet bowl shape is concerned.

Their shape and length offer users more space to sit on and are very comfortable. The only downside to elongated toilets is that they take a little more space, which RVs don’t always have in plenty.

7. Round RV Toilets

Round RV toilets have a circular-shaped bowl. They have a shorter depth than elongated toilets by about 2 inches and, as a result, are less comfortable.

The advantage of round RV toilets is that they are more space-efficient, making them the best option for a tiny bathroom. Kids also tend to prefer round toilets more than elongated ones.

8. Macerating RV Toilets

Macerating RV toilets have a small unit with fast-rotating blades that grind the waste into a slurry before entering the holding tank.

Dumping waste from an RV with a macerating toilet is easier since everything has to be converted into a slurry, which flows out better than in other toilets. The blades are powered by a motor; hence, the toilet will always need a power source to function.

9. Composting RV Toilets

Composting toilets are dry toilets (which need no water) that separate liquid waste from solid waste, where the solid waste is allowed to decompose in a holding tank to form compost matter.

Peat moss or sawdust is added inside the holding tank to speed up decomposition and control odors. Composting toilets are not necessarily cheap but can be used in an RV, houses, cabins, and boats.

10. Portable RV Toilets

Portable toilets, as their names suggest, can be easily carried from one point to another. A portable toilet can be as simple as a bucket toilet or a more sophisticated flush-type toilet.

The main disadvantage of these types of toilets is that they need to be emptied frequently and are not recommended for large groups.

Unlike a gravity-flush RV toilet that needs a dedicated dumping station, portable toilets can be emptied in any flush toilet in a matter of minutes.

11. Cassette Toilets

A cassette toilet is an RV toilet with a detachable holding tank. An exterior door where the holding tank can be easily removed, emptied, and put back is installed on the RV.

Cassette toilets are more popular in Europe than in North America. I don’t think these toilets will revolutionize how RVing is done because of the work involved in installing them. They are, however, very practical.

Reviews of the 5 Best RV Toilets

The following is a detailed review of the best RV toilets in the market. In this ranking, I considered comfort, material, quality, cost, performance reliability, and aesthetics, among others, to come up with this list.

Although most people will most likely install a permanent gravity flush RV toilet, I included the other types just in case someone wants something different

1. Dometic 320 Series – Best Overall

Dometic 320 Series Standard Height Toilet w/Hand...
  • High-gloss ceramic construction
  • Stain and scratch proof for long-lasting durability
  • Elongated bowl

The Dometic 320 series ceramic gravity flush RV toilet is designed to work and offer as much comfort and hygiene as a residential toilet. It is available in white and bone finishes.

The one thing I love most about this toilet is the elongated bowl. An elongated bowl is oval-shaped and longer than a round one. It offers more surface area to sit on, making it comfortable, especially for gentlemen.

There are two models of this toilet. One comes with a standard seat height of 18.5 inches, while the other has a low profile seat height of 14 inches. I prefer the 18.5-inch model as it is very easy to sit and stand from, especially if you have weak knees.

Unlike some flimsy seats that you see in some RVs, the Dometic 320 comes with an enameled wood toilet seat, which is pretty solid, comfortable, and of high quality. If you want to cleanse yourself the modern way, you can remove it altogether and install a bidet seat or even a bidet attachment if on a budget.

The manufacturer went the extra mile to make sure that the bowl was deep enough and had a full rim. You will, therefore, not experience water spillage, and what is even more interesting is the fact that water enters the bowl from a 360-degree angle. This is very effective in bowl rinsing.

The Dometic 320 features an ergonomic side pedal, which I think is really cool. To add water to the bowl, gently press on the pedal. Press the pedal fully to flush the toilet.

This toilet also comes with an optional hand sprayer, which I would highly recommend that you buy too. It is inexpensive but very handy in cleaning the bowl. You simply connect it to the water supply line, which is more efficient than flushing the toilet repeatedly.

The dimensions of the Dometic 320 RV toilets are:

  • Depth: 22 inches
  • Width: 14.75 inches
  • Height: 35 inches (with seat up)
  • Rough-in: 11 inches

In summary, if you want the best Dometic 320 series toilet model, pick the one with a seat height of 18.5 inches and a hand sprayer. White is also my favorite. It comes with a 2-year warranty.

Dometic 320 vs. Dometic 310 Series

Factor Dometic 320 Dometic 310
Material Porcelain Porcelain
Bowl shape Elongated Round
Bow rim Full rim Rimless
Flush Pedal Side pedal Side pedal
Toilet seat Enameled wood Enameled wood

There are a couple of toilets in the Dometic RV toilet collection, but the Dometic 320 and 310 series are the 2 best to consider. Why have I then considered the Dometic 320 over the Dometic 310? Let us look at some of their most notable differences.

To start with, the Dometic 320 series is a newer model and thus an improvement of the Dometic 310 series. There are 2 things that clearly differentiate the 320 from the 310 series.

The first difference is the shape and size of the toilet bowl. Dometic 320 has an elongated bowl, while Dometic 310 has a round toilet bowl.

On average, the length of an elongated bowl is 18.5 inches, while that of a round bowl is 16.5 inches. The Dometic 320 is, in my opinion, more comfortable than the 310 since it offers you more space to sit.

The Dometic 320 also has a deeper bowl than the Dometic 310. This is why I said the Dometic 320 feels and looks a lot like a home toilet.

I think men prefer an elongated toilet way more than women due to the nature of their “front anatomy.” Elongated RV toilets are also the best ones for a heavy person since it offers better weight distribution.

Another difference between the Dometic 320 and 310 series is in how they rinse the bowl. I can categorically say that the Dometic 320 rinses the bowl way better than the Dometic 310.

This is because the Dometic 320 has a pressurized full rim, which also uses less water, while the Dometic 310 has a rimless 360-degree vortex flush pattern.

Older models of Dometic 310 used to have plastic toilet seats, but the new models come with soft-close enameled wood seats.

Apart from those 2 differences, all the other features of the Dometic 320 and Dometic 310 are the same if you would be interested in the Dometic 310 RV toilet.

Dometic 310 Standard Toilet | Oblong Shape|...
  • INNOVATIVE DESIGN: The Dometic 310 toilet is a full-size and lightweight model, which is ideal for modern RVs. It has a simplified design, which makes it easy to operate and maintain.
  • EFFICIENT FLUSHING SYSTEM: This toilet uses a pressure-enhanced "PowerFlush" rim wash system that clears the bowl quickly and effectively. It can flush with as little as 1 pint of water, making it...
  • SLOW-CLOSE SEAT COVER: The Dometic 310 toilet comes with a new Slow Close seat cover that provides a gentle and quiet closing motion, preventing slamming and reducing wear and tear.

2. Thetford Aqua-Magic V RV Toilet – Best Flushing RV Toilet

Aqua-Magic V RV Toilet Pedal Flush /High Profile /...
  • Aqua-Magic V is the RV toilet with a classic style and taller seating height, suited for all recreational vehicles
  • The toilet has a single-pedal system - press it halfway to add water to the bowl and all the way to flush - and offers 100% bowl coverage flush
  • Aqua-Magic V has a textured lid which sheds water and resists scuffs, offering the comfort and feeling of a household toilet

The Aqua-Magic V RV toilet by Thetford Corp is one of the most popular RV toilets in the industry. It is available in either white or parchment/bone.

The main difference between Thetford Aqua-Magic and Dometic 320 is that Aqua-Magic is made of plastic while Dometic 320 is made of porcelain. The Aqua-Magic V is, therefore, lighter compared to the Dometic 320.

There are 2 things I really like about the Aqua-Magic V above all of its other features:

  • It has a powerful flush
  • It comes at a great price

I think these 2 are what makes the Aqua-Magic V a favorite toilet for most RV owners. Unless you really want a porcelain RV toilet, this one will serve you well. It is sturdy and easy to install but perhaps not as easy to clean as a porcelain toilet.

You can opt to go with the model with a standard height or the low-profile one. The low-profile model has a seat height of 14 inches, while the standard one has a seat height of 18.5 inches. I really like the standard model since you don’t have to bend your knees too much, but the low profile could be a better choice for shorter people and/or children.

Installing the Aqua-Magic V is a cinch. Although you could hire a handyman/woman to install it for you, doing it yourself is so easy and will definitely save you some bucks. It comes with all the necessary installation hardware and a small bottle of black tank chemicals.

Thetford Aqua-Magic V uses a front foot pedal to flush the toilet. It’s a little noisy but a powerful flush that lets in water from all around the bowl, which leaves the bowl thoroughly cleaned and rinsed.

To add a little water to the bowl, step on the pedal gently. This water creates a barrier between the bowl and the black tank, which is effective in preventing odors.

The one complaint I have about this toilet is that the bowl is a shallower than I would want it. There is, therefore, always the potential of water splashing back at you. It is especially a greater concern for the gents more than the ladies for reasons I don’t want to specify.

The dimensions of the Thetford Aqua-Magic V RV toilet are:

  • Depth: 17.81 inches
  • Width: 15.125 inches
  • Height: 32.5 inches (high profile, seat opened)
  • Height: 28 inches (low profile, seat opened)
  • Rough-in: 7.625 inches

Thetford advises that you use their approved products to take care of the toilet to prevent discoloration, leaks, and bad odors. The Aqua Magic V toilet comes with a 3-year warranty.

Thetford Aqua Magic V vs. Aqua Magic Style Plus RV Toilet

Factor Aqua Magic V Aqua Magic Style Plus
Material Plastic Porcelain
Seat height (high profile) 18.5 inches 17.5 inches
Seat height (low profile) 14 inches 12.94 inches
Anti-microbial seat No Yes
Rough-in 7.625 inches 11 inches

Thetford Aqua Magic Style Plus is really a good RV toilet. The only reason I considered the Aqua Magic V over it is due to the difference in cost. If you can, however, get the extra cash, then by all means, go for this model.

Thetford has been making plastic RV toilets, which don’t always sit well with some people. The Aqua-Magic Style Plus is different as it is made of porcelain.

Save for the absence of a toilet tank. It looks very much like a residential toilet. It is available in both high profile and low profile in white and bone.

Its anti-microbial seat inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria. You can customize it to suit your personal style.

The dimensions of the Aqua Magic Style Plus are:

  • Depth: 21.81inches
  • Width: 16 inches
  • Seat height: 17.5 inches (high profile)
  • Height with lid open: 33.5 inches
  • Seat height: 12.94 inches (low profile)
  • Rough-in: 11 inches

If you are looking for a Thetford elongated RV toilet with a porcelain bowl, then the Aqua Magic Style Plus is the toilet to look for.

3. Nature’s Head Composting Toilet – Best Composting RV Toilet

Nature's Head Dry Composting Toilet with Standard...
  • Hand crank agitator in base for fast composting
  • User friendly
  • Easy installation

If you specifically want a composting toilet in your RV, then the Nature’s Head self-contained composting toilet will be worth your while.

This toilet has 3 main parts. The bowl, a bin, and a pee bottle. The bowl is mounted directly above the bin, while the pee bottle is conveniently placed at the front.

It is designed in such a way that the solids wastes are separated from the liquid waste. It is important to separate these 2 to fasten the decomposition rate as well as avoid bad odors.

The pee is channeled to the bottle at the front of the toilet and is emptied daily. Solid wastes fall inside the bin for decomposition to happen. The bowl and the bin are separated by a trap door.

Prior to using the toilet, you add peat moss, sawdust, coconut coir, or any other carbon-based medium inside the bin. After every use, you will need to mix the waste with the peat moss to facilitate decomposition.

Nature’s Head has 2 models of this toilet. One uses a standard crank handle, while the other uses a spindle handle. The spindle handle model is designed for those who have a small space, while the standard crack agitator is for those whose space is not a problem.

This toilet might look small, but believe me, it can be used up to 90 times before emptying. To clean it, just use water from a spray bottle and brush to remove anything embedded in the bowl. Do not, however, use too much water. The waste needs to be as dry as possible.

Nature’s Head composting toilet uses an electric fan (12 volts) to remove bad odors from the bin, as well as keep the mixture dry. According to Nature’s Head, you can opt to turn off the fan if there is sufficient natural air movement and the hose is vented upwards.

Comfort-wise, the toilet has an elongated toilet bowl and seat, which is almost as good as your home toilet. The toilet seat height is also quite decent, meaning you don’t have to bend your knees too much while using it.

Dumping the waste out of the bin takes a minute. The bowl is connected to the bin using 2 side latches, which you simply unlatch to free the bin. These side latches and all the other metallic hardware are made of stainless steel and will, therefore, not corrode.

To help you install Nature’s Head composting toilet in your RV, it comes with the following:

  • 5 feet of venting hose.
  • 2 mounting brackets and knobs.
  • 6 feet of wiring for the internal fan.
  • Fuse holder and fuse for direct battery attachment.
  • 4 mounting bolts and an Allen wrench.

Its measurements are:

  • Depth: 19 inches
  • Width: 21 inches
  • Height: 21 inches

The total weight of the Nature’s Head composting toilet is 28 pounds. It comes with a 5-year warranty.

4. Thetford Porta Potti – Best Portable RV Toilet

best-portable-RV-toilet
Porta Potti White Thetford Corp
  • [VERSATILITY]: Award-winning, top-of-the-line portable toilet, suited for RVs, boats, trucks, vans, healthcare, medical, camping and even off-the-grid lifestyle, with a 4 gallons fresh water tank...
  • [DESIGN]: Sleek, modern, and homelike look, Porta Potti Curve comes with a comfortable seat height, increased bowl size, and battery-powered flush
  • [FUNCTIONALITY]: Easy to use and clean, Curve has an ergonomic carrying handle, an integrated toilet paper holder, and a tank level indicator

Thetford Porta Potti is the best option for anyone looking for a portable flush-type RV toilet. It is a sleek, curvaceous, and great-performing toilet, although it costs a little bit more than its competitors.

The Porta Potti has 3 main parts. It has a bowl, a freshwater tank, and a waste water tank, also known as a holding tank. The waste water tank is at the bottom and is connected to the freshwater tank and bowl by a side latch.

Dissembling the waste water tank for dumping takes seconds. The bottom of the bowl empties the waste directly into the waste water tank, although a sliding valve separates them when not in use.

This sliding valve has 2 functions. It prevents the holding tank from leaking and also contains bad odors inside the waste water tank.

The waste water tank has a capacity of 5.5 gallons, while the freshwater tank has a capacity of 4 gallons. A cap at the top of the freshwater tank allows you to add more fresh water.

Before using the toilet, you should first add a digester/deodorizer inside the holding tank to help with breaking down the waste and also remove bad odor.

To use it, pull out the sliding valve, do your business, flush the toilet, and then push the sliding valve back.

A trick I have learned is to always rinse the bowl before doing the number 2. This way, you avoid leaving waste streaks on the bowl, and you, therefore, don’t need to scrub.

Porta Potti’s flushing system is battery-operated. In order to function, it will need 6 AA batteries. The bad thing about this system is that it could fail while you are away from home or stores. You should, therefore, pack spare batteries at all times.

I have never counted, but Thetford says that you can flush the Porta Potti 56 times before emptying. To take the guesswork out of the way, the holding tank has a level indicator that lets you know when to dump the waste.

You can dump the waste in any flush toilet. Just unlatch the tank and carry it with you to the nearest public bathroom. It’s best not to do this at home.

The top of the waste water tank is a pour-out spout that swivels, allowing you to dump the waste without it splashing back at you. Rinse the tank with clean water at least 2 times and connect it back to the bowl.

The Porta Potti combines a large bowl with a decent seating height, making it very comfortable. It also comes with an integrated toilet paper holder; hence, toilet paper is always within reach.

While traveling, and especially when the trip involves a change of altitude, pressure could build up in the holding tank. It is, therefore, always advisable to open the sliding valve with the seat down to prevent waste from splashing all over your face.

The kit to hold this toilet on the floor is sold separately from the toilet. Do not forget to buy it too.

The dimensions of the Thetford Porta Potti are:

  • Depth: 17.7 inches
  • Width: 15.2 inches
  • Height: 17.6 inches

It comes with a 3-year warranty

Thetford vs. Dometic Portable RV Toilets

Factor Thetford Dometic
Flushing system battery-powered Manual
Seat height 17 inches 15.2 inches
Waste water tank 5.5 gallons 5 gallons
Fresh water tank 4 gallons 2.6 gallons
Cost Expensive Relatively cheaper

While looking to buy a portable RV toilet, most RVers would most likely consider the Thetford Porta Potti or the Dometic 975 portable toilet.

Why did I choose the Thetford Porta Potti instead of the Dometic potty? Let us compare and contrast both of these toilets.

DOMETIC 301097502 Portable Toilet 5.0 Gallon...
  • High-strength ABS construction withstands harsh environments; smooth, easy-to-clean finish
  • Prismatic tank level indicator allows easy tank level monitoring
  • Push-button flush clears bowl instantly

The first and most noticeable difference between the two is their sizes. While the Porta Potti has a 4-gallon fresh water tank and a 5.5-gallon waste water tank, the Dometic toilet has a 2.6-gallon fresh water tank and a 5-gallon waste water tank.

As a result, Thetford Porta Potti is taller than the Dometic Porta Potty. To be more precise, the seat height of the Thetford Porta Potti is 17 inches, while that of the Dometic Porta Potty is 15.2 inches.

I therefore find the Thetford portable toilet to be more comfortable than the Dometic toilet. This, of course, assumes everyone likes a tall toilet, which is not always the case.

Another major difference between the Thetford and Dometic portable toilets is the flushing systems. As we already know, Thetford uses a battery-powered flush system. Dometic, on the other hand, uses a manual pump to flush the toilet.

I find Dometic’s manual pump to be more reliable than the Thetford battery-powered one. I just wish there was a way to still flush the Thetford Porta Potti manually.

The other difference between these 2 products has to do with your pocket. Thetford Porta Potti costs more than the Dometic 975 portable toilet.

Other than that, both of these toilets are of high quality, and any one of them would serve you well. I just feel like the Thetford Porta Potti is more comfortable and attractive than the Dometic 975.

If you would be interested in the Dometic 975 portable toilet.

DOMETIC 301097502 Portable Toilet 5.0 Gallon...
  • High-strength ABS construction withstands harsh environments; smooth, easy-to-clean finish
  • Prismatic tank level indicator allows easy tank level monitoring
  • Push-button flush clears bowl instantly

5. Reliance Luggable Loo – Best Budget RV Toilet

Reliance Products Luggable Loo Portable 5 Gallon...
  • Compatible with Reliance's standard Double Doodle Bag
  • Weight: 3.00lbs
  • Economically priced portable toilet

If you just want a really inexpensive or temporary RV toilet, then the Reliance Products Luggable Loo is worth checking out. It is a simple 5-gallon bucket with a toilet seat snapped on its rim.

It is not fancy at all, but it does its job. What is even more interesting is that you do not need water to use. It works more or less the same as a composting toilet, just that it does not have a means of separating pee from poo.

How this toilet works is that you first put a biodegradable plastic bag inside the bucket, then snap on the seat. It is important to make sure that the plastic bag goes under the seat and not from the top of the seat.

Reliance recommends that you use this toilet with their 100% compostable bags and gel. The gel/chemical typically breaks down the waste and contains odor.

If you don’t wish to spend money on those things, ordinary garbage bags and kitty litter work just fine. Just scoop a little amount of kitty litter and add it into the bucket after each use.

Whenever possible, I would advise that you use the Luggable for the number 2 more than for the number 1. Needless to say, number 1 contributes to bad odors way more than number 2, which means you don’t have to empty it very often.

When it is time to dump the waste, remove the seat, fold the top of the plastic bag, and tie it into a knot if possible. Carry the bucket to an appropriate dumping area (garbage bin) and dispose of the bags and their contents.

The luggable Loo’s seat lid is designed in such a way that it snaps tightly on the rim of the bucket. This means that the lid will not open as a result of vibration during transportation. You are, therefore, guaranteed that the waste won’t come flying off the bucket.

As you can already tell, this is not the most comfortable RV toilet, but it is not terrible either. Its height is not that bad. According to Reliance, its maximum weight capacity is 200 pounds.

If you don’t have lots of money to buy a high-end RV toilet, then this might be what you are looking for. It comes with a 5-year warranty.

RV Toilet Buying Guide

There are a few things that you need to consider before buying a toilet for your RV. So, what makes a good RV toilet? There are many factors to consider, but I believe the following are the most important ones.

best-rv-toilets

1. Reliability

You want to buy an RV toilet that does what it is intended to do or rather works as advertised. There are so many things that can go wrong with an RV toilet, but I think awful odors and failing parts (especially seals) are the worst.

How, then, do you determine the reliability of a toilet even before using it? The toilet brand is one thing to consider. If a certain brand has in the past made great toilets, it is most likely to make an even better newer model.

Another way of knowing whether an RV toilet is reliable is by asking other RVers. If you don’t know that many RVers, you can check out reviews on online forums. This is by far the most effective way since you will be hearing directly from people who have actually used the toilet.

2. Comfort

Comfort can mean so many things, but personally, I look at 2 things as far as RV toilet comfort is concerned. The first one is the size of the bowl, and the second is the distance from the floor to the top of the seat.

There are 2 aspects to consider in the size of a toilet bowl. The first one is its length, and the second is the depth. A shallow bowl increases the chance of waste splashing back at you, especially so for gentlemen, as some “body parts” have to go inside the bowl.

An RV toilet with an elongated bowl, just like a home toilet, is more comfortable than a round toilet. This is because an elongated toilet is longer than a round one by about 2 inches and, hence, more sitting space.

best-RV-toilet

The RV toilet seat height determines how much you are going to bend your knees. The higher, the better. A decent RV toilet will have a low profile as well as a high profile model. If you, like me, hate bending your knees too much, go for the high-profile model.

You should also consider the quality of the toilet seat since that is where you sit anyway. Check whether it can be replaced with ordinary toilet seats. That way, you can replace it with better seats like heated seats or even bidet toilet seats.

3. Capacity vs. Number of Users

This is for anyone looking to buy a portable RV toilet. Since they are designed to be easily portable, these toilets are designed for a few people. Otherwise, they will need to be emptied daily, and in the case of composting toilets, they will not get the desired time for decomposition to occur.

4. Cost

This is a big factor. RV toilets can either be really cheap or very expensive. An example is the Reliance Luggable Loo, which costs a few bucks compared to the Nature’s Head composting toilet, which costs almost a thousand dollars.

You can also get many RV toilets in the mid-range region. There will always be something for everyone. The best thing is to buy what you can afford and that which will serve you well.

5. Material

RV toilets are either made of porcelain or plastic. Porcelain RV toilets are only available in the gravity flush category. I have yet to see a portable porcelain toilet, and I’m honestly not expecting to see one since porcelain is really heavy and breaks easily.

In my opinion, gravity-flush porcelain toilets look more elegant than plastic ones and are also easier to clean. I would prefer a porcelain toilet as compared to a plastic one, but I know to some people, this is not a major concern.

FAQs

best-RV-toilet

1. Can you put a regular toilet in an RV?

No. To start with, RV toilets are tankless to prevent toilet tank parts from breaking/shifting during transportation. Secondly, regular toilets use too much water, which would fill up the RV black tank faster than you would want.

Most regular toilets use 1.6 or 1.28 gallons of water per flush. Some use more. Compare that to the 0.2 gallons per flush used by RV toilets.

Most RV’s black tanks have a capacity of 31 to 50 gallons. Installing a 1.6-gallon per flush regular toilet in an RV significantly reduces the number of times you can use the toilet.

Another thing to remember is that regular toilets have their tanks full of water at all times. Transporting such a toilet means that water in the tank will be splashing all over the bathroom. The movement can also remove the flapper from its position, resulting in a continuously running toilet.

2. What do you clean RV toilets with?

To properly and effectively clean an RV toilet, use a non-abrasive brush or sponge and gentle toilet cleaner. Harsh chemicals will eat away the RV toilet seals, which are made of rubber, resulting in leaks and a smelly toilet.

Cleaning an RV toilet with harsh chemicals could also cause fading, especially if the toilet is made of plastic.

While doing the number 2, have some water at the bottom of the bowl to prevent leaving streaks on the bowl, which would then need scrubbing.

3. Should you poop in an RV toilet?

best-bucket-RV-toilet

Yes, you should. If you can can’t poop in it, then it is hardly a toilet. You should, however, only flush human waste and toilet paper if you want to avoid clogs or, even worse, backups.

This is not where you want to use the so-called “flushable wipes.” As a matter of fact, there are special RV toilet papers that are more absorbent and break down faster to avoid clogs.

4. Who makes the best RV toilets?

Depending on who you ask, the answer will be either Dometic or Thetford. These are the biggest manufacturers of gravity flush RV toilets as well as portable RV toilets.

Dometic has always made porcelain RV toilets, while Thetford makes plastic ones until recently when they came up with the Aqua Magic Style Plus, which is made of porcelain.

5. What is the tallest RV toilet

Dometic RV toilets and Thetford Aqua Magic RV toilets have both high-profile and low-profile models. The high-profile models have a seat of 18.5 inches, which is pretty easy to sit and stand from.

Conclusion

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I hope by now you have a proper understanding of the best RV toilets in the industry. As I said from the beginning, choosing a good toilet will save you a lot of problems that come with RV toilets.

It would be a shame that instead of enjoying a great time outdoors, you are busy fixing a clogged toilet or trying to deal with some awful stench. An RV toilet can be a long-term investment, and I would advise you not to be under budget.

If you agree or disagree with this list, I would love to hear your suggestions in the comment section. I always appreciate getting feedback from my readers, who help improve the overall usefulness of this blog.