Finally ditched the black tank: my dry loo journey

Yeah, I made the switch about a year ago. Honestly, I was bracing for way more hassle than it turned out to be. The install took a bit longer than I thought - mainly because the old plumbing was a pain to get out and I had to patch up the floor where the old flange was. But once it was in, it’s been pretty smooth sailing.

Biggest surprise for me? How much less maintenance there is overall. No more worrying about leaks or dealing with sensors that never read right. The only thing that caught me off guard was how fast the solids bin fills up when you’re camping with more than two people. If you’ve got a family or guests, you’ll be emptying it more often than you think. Not a dealbreaker, just something to plan for.

I do miss the convenience of just dumping everything at a station and being done with it, but not enough to go back to the black tank life. The smell thing is real - no more weird chemical funk hanging around, which is a huge win in my book.

One tip: keep an eye on your vent fan and make sure it’s running right. Had mine clog up with dust once and didn’t realize until things started getting... musty. Quick clean fixed it, but now I check it every couple weeks.

All in all, no regrets here. It’s not perfect, but honestly, neither was the old setup. At least now I know exactly what’s going on down there instead of hoping the sensors aren’t lying again.

The only thing that caught me off guard was how fast the solids bin fills up when you’re camping with more than two people.

Yeah, that’s the one thing I didn’t really plan for either. Took the dry loo on a long weekend with my brother and his kids last summer, and wow, it filled up way quicker than I expected. Ended up improvising with some extra compostable bags. Still beats wrestling with stubborn tank fittings, though. I actually enjoy not having to second-guess those tank sensors anymore - never trusted them much anyway. Vent fan tip is spot on... learned that one the hard way during a dusty week at the lake.

Still beats wrestling with stubborn tank fittings, though. I actually enjoy not having to second-guess those tank sensors anymore - never trusted them much anyway.

I get the appeal, but honestly, I’ve never had much trouble with tank fittings if you keep up on maintenance. Those sensors can be a pain, sure, but a little vinegar flush now and then usually keeps them working for me. The dry loo’s nice for simplicity, but dealing with a full bin mid-trip seems like just trading one hassle for another. Curious if anyone’s found a way around that besides just packing extra bags?

Those sensors can be a pain, sure, but a little vinegar flush now and then usually keeps them working for me. The dry loo’s nice for simplicity, but dealing with a full bin mid-trip seems like ju...

Yeah, the mid-trip full bin is a bit of a curveball. I tried the “just pack extra bags” route but, not gonna lie, I once misjudged and ended up doing some creative shuffling in a gas station parking lot - definitely not my proudest moment. Now I just keep a small airtight container as backup. Not glamorous, but it beats the old slosh-and-slosh routine with the black tank. Honestly, I’ll take a little awkwardness over those sensors lying to me any day.

Man, I’ve been there with the “oh, I’ll just bring extra bags,” then suddenly realizing I’m one bag short and it’s 90 degrees out. Not my finest hour either - ended up triple-bagging and praying nothing leaked while trying to act casual at a rest stop. Honestly, I still get nervous about the whole “what if the bin fills up” thing, but at least it doesn’t involve those mystery sensor readings. You know the ones - says you’re empty, but *surprise*, you’re not.

I have to admit, though, sometimes I miss just pulling a lever and watching everything disappear (out of sight, out of mind). But then I remember how much time I spent cursing at those sensors and cleaning gunk out of places I’d rather forget. Trade-offs everywhere, right? At least with the dry loo, what you see is what you get... for better or worse.

Man, I totally get the relief of ditching those unreliable sensors. I’ve worked on enough rigs where folks swear the tank’s empty, then you open it up and - nope, not even close. Dry loos are a whole different beast, but at least you know what you’re dealing with. Ever had issues with lingering smells, or does the setup keep things under control? I’m always curious how people handle that part. Still, not having to snake out a clogged black tank is a win in my book.

Yeah, those sensors are a joke half the time. I’ve had folks panic over “full” readings, only to find out it’s just a wad of paper messing with the sensor. With dry loos, I’ve noticed smell really depends on how often you empty and what you’re using for cover material. Sawdust works better than peat in my experience, but if you slack on maintenance, it’ll definitely let you know. Ever try adding a little vent fan? That made a huge difference for me - keeps things way more tolerable inside. Still beats wrestling with a black tank clog any day.

Still beats wrestling with a black tank clog any day.

Ain’t that the truth. Had a “fun” afternoon once with a stubborn clog and a coat hanger - never again.

- Sensors: Might as well use a magic 8-ball for accuracy.
- Smell: 100% agree, sawdust wins. Peat just gets kinda... swampy?
- Vent fan: Game changer, but mine’s loud enough to scare off raccoons.
- Maintenance: Skip it and you’ll regret it fast. Nature’s way of reminding you who’s boss.

Dry loo isn’t perfect, but at least I’m not elbow-deep in black tank goo anymore.

Ever had any issues with critters getting into the vent? I’ve seen folks run into that, especially if the fan’s not running 24/7 or if there’s no screen. Also, curious - how often do you actually swap out the sawdust? Some say every couple days, but I wonder if that’s overkill...

Critters in the vent - yeah, that’s a real thing. I helped my uncle set up a dry loo in his hunting cabin last fall, and we thought the fan would be enough to keep stuff out. Turns out, a determined mouse will squeeze through anything if it smells something interesting. We ended up adding a bit of mesh screen over the vent pipe, just held on with a hose clamp. No issues since, but it’s wild how fast they find their way in if there’s even a tiny gap. I’d say, even if you’ve got a fan running, it’s worth putting a screen on just for peace of mind.

As for the sawdust, I think it depends on how many folks are using the loo and what kind of sawdust you’re getting. My uncle’s setup gets used by two or three people on weekends, and he swaps out the bucket every three or four days. If it’s just him, he’ll stretch it to a week, but he’s pretty generous with the sawdust layer each time. I’ve heard some people get away with less frequent changes, but I guess it comes down to how sensitive you are to smells and how much you’re willing to push it.

One thing I’ve wondered about is the type of sawdust - some folks swear by cedar because it helps with odor, but we just use whatever’s cheap from the local mill. Anyone tried different types and noticed a big difference?

Mesh over the vent is definitely the way to go. Mice are relentless - learned that the hard way myself after finding droppings in places I thought were sealed tight. As for sawdust, I’ve tried both cedar and pine. Cedar does help with odor a bit, but honestly, if you’re swapping buckets regularly, I don’t notice a huge difference. Using what’s cheap and available just makes sense. Good call on being generous with the sawdust layer; it really does help keep things fresh.

I get the appeal of cedar, but honestly, I’ve found it’s more hype than help unless you’re really sensitive to smells. Pine’s cheaper and does the job if you’re not letting things sit too long. As for mice - don’t even get me started. I once watched one squeeze through a gap I could barely see. Mesh is a must, but I’d double-check those corners every few months... they’re crafty little guys.

Mesh in the corners is a lifesaver, but I’d add - use hardware cloth, not chicken wire. Mice chew right through the thin stuff. I also put steel wool in any weird gaps before sealing with caulk. Cheap, easy, and keeps those little escape artists out.

Totally agree on hardware cloth - chicken wire is basically a mouse welcome mat. I’ve tried the steel wool trick too, but sometimes it rusts out if there’s any moisture. For me, a dab of expanding foam over the steel wool seems to hold up longer. Either way, you’re spot on about sealing every weird little gap. Those critters are relentless.

I hear you on the steel wool - I've seen it turn into a rusty mess under a leaky sink. If you want a step-by-step that’s worked for me: first, poke around with a flashlight and mark every gap, even the ones you think are too tiny. Next, I use stainless steel mesh (not the regular stuff) and pack it in tight. Then, I hit it with a layer of that pest-blocker foam - it's supposed to be chew-resistant, though I’m not convinced mice can’t just laugh at it and chew through anyway. Still, it’s held up better than just foam or just steel wool. Mice are like little plumbers themselves... always finding a way in.

That stainless mesh trick is underrated. I tried regular steel wool under my old kitchen sink and it was a rusty disaster in less than a month - plus, the mice still managed to wiggle through. Stainless holds up way better, especially if you get the finer stuff that’s tough to pack in. I’m with you on the foam... I’ve watched a mouse gnaw right through it like it was nothing, but the combo seems to slow them down at least. Mice really are relentless - almost admire their determination, if they weren’t wrecking my plumbing runs.

I hear you on the foam - mice treat that stuff like a snack bar. Stainless mesh is the only thing that’s held up for me, too, but I’ve had to double-layer it in some spots. Ever tried copper mesh? Some folks swear by it, but I’m not convinced it’s any better than stainless. Mice are basically tiny furry engineers... if only they’d use their powers for good instead of plumbing sabotage.

Mice are basically tiny furry engineers... if only they’d use their powers for good instead of plumbing sabotage.

- Had the same issue with foam - total waste of money for me, honestly.
- Tried copper mesh once since it was cheaper at the hardware store. Didn’t notice a difference, but maybe I didn’t pack it tight enough?
- Stainless mesh seems pricier up front, but I only had to redo those spots once.
- Mice chewed through everything else, even some caulk. It’s wild how determined they get.
- Still not sure copper’s worth it unless you find a deal... anyone actually seen it last longer?

Copper mesh was a bust for me, too. I get the appeal - cheaper, easy to stuff in gaps - but those little “furry engineers” just treat it like an obstacle course.

“Mice chewed through everything else, even some caulk. It’s wild how determined they get.”

Here’s what finally worked for me (after way too many failed experiments and a few late-night hardware runs):

1. Stainless steel mesh - yeah, it’s pricier, but I only had to patch up once after a year. The trick is to really jam it in there, almost like you’re mad at the wall. If you leave any wiggle room, they’ll find it.
2. For smaller cracks, I used a combo of mesh and a layer of silicone caulk over the top. The caulk alone was pointless (they just chew right through), but as a “glue” for the mesh, it actually held up.
3. Skipped the foam after watching them tunnel through it like it was cotton candy. Total waste of cash.
4. Copper mesh - honestly, unless you double or triple it up, I wouldn’t bother. Even then, it seems like it oxidizes and gets brittle over time? Maybe that’s just my luck.

If you’re on a budget, sometimes you can find offcuts of stainless mesh at metal shops or even online marketplaces. Doesn’t have to be fancy - just dense enough they can’t bite through.

Mice are relentless, but with enough layers and a bit of stubbornness, you can out-engineer them... at least for a season or two.