Finally ditched the black tank: my dry loo journey

- Totally agree on the fan - skip it once and you’ll never forget again.
- Coconut coir’s a solid choice. I’ve tried peat moss too, but it’s messier and harder to store.
- One thing I’d add: check your vent seals every few months. Even a tiny leak can let odors creep in, especially in humid weather.
- Noticed the same with water use. Makes winterizing way easier since there’s less plumbing to worry about.
- Only downside for me is finding good cover material on the road sometimes... gas stations don’t usually stock coconut coir, go figure.

Yeah, tracking down cover material is the real scavenger hunt. I’ve resorted to sawdust from hardware stores a couple times - works in a pinch, but it’s not as neat as coir. And totally get you on those vent seals. I thought mine was fine till I caught a whiff after a rainy week... turns out one tiny gap can make a big difference. Not missing the black tank drama though, that’s for sure. Winterizing used to be a whole project, now it’s just... done.

Man, the vent seal thing is wild - one minute you think you’ve got a fortress, next thing you know, you’re sniff-testing every corner like a bloodhound. Had a similar episode last fall. I’d patched up what I thought was the only weak spot, but nope, missed a crack near the fan housing. Ended up spending a rainy afternoon with a flashlight and a roll of butyl tape. Not glamorous, but at least I didn’t have to mess with hoses or black tank valves.

I hear you on cover material too. Coir’s great, but it’s like gold dust around here. I’ve used everything from pine shavings to shredded leaves in a pinch. Once tried some leftover hamster bedding - wouldn’t recommend unless you want your loo smelling like a pet store for a week. Still, I’ll take that over the old black tank routine any day. Used to dread winterizing - always felt like prepping for battle. Now it’s just dump, rinse, toss in some dry stuff, and call it good.

Funny thing is, I was skeptical about switching at first. Thought the dry loo would be more work or smellier, but honestly, it’s been way less headache. Only downside is explaining it to guests who expect the usual setup - watching their faces when they realize there’s no flush lever is always entertaining.

Man, I totally get the struggle with finding decent cover material - coir’s like unicorn dust in my area too. I’ve ended up using sawdust from a buddy’s workshop more than once, and it actually worked out better than I expected. The vent seal thing is no joke either; I’ve seen folks chase phantom smells for weeks before realizing it was just a tiny gap around the fan. Ever had to deal with guests who flat-out refuse to use the dry loo? I’ve had a couple who just couldn’t wrap their heads around it, which always cracks me up.

Funny you mention guests - I've had folks act like the dry loo is some medieval torture device. I get it, change is weird, but honestly, once you realize it doesn't smell (if you seal it right), it's way less gross than a chemical toilet. Sawdust's been my go-to too, though I tried shredded leaves once... never again. They just clumped up and made a mess. Still, I wish people would get over the mental block - it's not rocket science, just basic biology and a bit of common sense.