From composting RV toilets, to chickens in the RV -- our readers have plenty to say

Nearly every week we hear from our readers on a variety of published topics. We appreciate the opportunity to share viewpoints -- here's a compilation of some recent comments. Please direct your views to Russ at rvtravel dot com.

Composting Toilets

Just read your RV Tip of the Day by Chris Noble (RV Daily Tips Issue 716. September 28, 2015). I found this article is misleading because it leads people to believe that they can safely abandon their black tanks and keep on going by composting their waste. Not so.

I have had an Airhead composting toilet on my sailboat for a couple of years and the problems I have encountered there will show-up in an RV just the same. The problem is the urine bottle. It fills up very quickly and then what do you do with it? Stop by the road side to dump it? You cannot dump it into the toilet for obvious reasons. Depending upon where you are on the water, you have to make a personal choice. You cannot do this on the road.

I removed the Airhead composting toilet because I encountered a problem that could not be fixed. Namely, depending on what tack you are on when sailing (i.e. to which side the boat is leaning), you will at times be unable to control the flow of urine. By force of circumstance, it will go into the composter and then you ruined it. While I do believe in the principle of composting toilets and actually liked the Airhead very much, I removed it from the boat.

I would not even suggest to put one into an RV. It will cause problems that will be messy to deal with.

-- Ronald Hiemann


I have been thinking about putting a Nature's Head in my trailer for a while. I have been holding back on  a composting toilet because all composting toilets, in order to function, need to be maintained at a temp of 68 degrees F or above. People need to consider this parameter very carefully when considering a composting toilet. Below 68 F bacterial activity ceases or slows down a lot. It won't start again until proper temp is reestablished. This can be a big problem unless temps are kept in mind.

I'm no expert, so you should verify the above info for yourself before accepting it as correct.

--Tim (timsworld42)


Gas v Diesel

I believe Steve in his article (RV Daily Tips Issue 723. October 7, 2015) has missed a very important point in his assessment concerning CCC [acronym for Cargo Carrying Capacity]. Diesels do give you thousands of pounds for cargo plus. But there is something called safety in a higher number.

There are way too many gas models available with the CCC under 1000 pounds, maybe a little more, but since most first time buyers go with gas, they don't realize that they must include in this calculation their body weight. We know an overweight RV leads to many problems down the road. (pun meant)

--Dan Pankiewicz

One thing you did not mention, that I always hear in such discussions, is the quiet and leg room in the driver’s cab for diesel. In addition, though you mention power, pulling a toad uphill is supposed to be much better with a diesel. And basement space, with the engine in the rear, is better with a pusher. Finally, the CCC in too many gas models that I have looked at is very small, allowing only a few hundred pounds in shorter gas models like the Tiffin 31SA.

We are about to make a purchase after several years of planning and research. We are looking at about 33-36 feet in length to get the features we need. We will travel in the mountains pulling a toad. We want good basement space. What do you think?

-- Steven M. Jenkins 


Chicken Coop RV

Yesterday, in the news column ("Latest RV News," RV Travel Newsletter: Oct. 3-9. Issue 710) was a discussion of RV parking laws compared to chicken coop parking. You asked if an RV could become a chicken coop.

Way back in 1980s, just out of college and setting up on 20 acres, my wife and I hand built a  2x4 frame camper for our flatbed truck. This allowed us to stay in town near our employment on winter weeks if snow got over four feet deep on our one and a half mile walk-in to the mountain land. It had full frame insulation, stainless sink and counter, standard RV propane heat, skylight, couch/bed, lighting, and the door disguised to look like a cargo box truck so we could park anywhere.

Now, since it was always on jacks near the house and never used, we gave it to a new homesteader family to help them get started. Before we knew it, they had converted it to a chicken coop

--Steve Willey


On buying parts from RV dealers

I read Steve Savage's article (RV Daily Tips Issue 679, August 6, 2015), "Looking for RV parts? It's difficult if you're 'locked out' by the manufacturer."

Please convey my compliments to him on such a well thought out piece of writing. I've not had a lot of experience in the subject but I have listened to the stories of fellow travelers thru the years. No doubt my time is a'coming. Gulp.

Thank you for the work you do. It greatly supports 'us' out here.

--Austin J. Crehan, Jr.


I have had great success from online dealers either at Amazon or EBay.  I have an 2006 40' Gearbox Toyhauler and we are active fulltimers. I do a lot of maintenance. Brick and Motor dealers are my last resort, especially Camping World.

--Steve and Fran Rosenlund


All letters published subject to editing for clarity, brevity, and editorial standards. 
"Writers Room" photo: Shannon Clark on flickr.com

RV quality control and construction methods baffle some

In early September we published a story by Steve Savage, an RV repair technician in Tennessee. Steve questioned some of the construction and quality control methods used by the RV industry today. It didn't take long for our readers to respond. Here's a sampling.

Boy, did [Steve's] article today in RVTravel.com hit the nail on the head! A few weeks ago, I attended the FROG (Forest River Owners Group) Rally in Goshen, Indiana. Over 700 owners of Forest River products showed up. One reason so many attended, is that during the rally, Forest River technicians would fix up to five problems per RV for free (some limitations). Many people had more than five issues and many RVs were less than one year old and still under warranty. Quality control is obviously NOT a priority at the factories.

I have to agree about just gaining access to effect repairs. One of my five repairs was a replaced water pump. The water flow when using the pump was poor. Once technicians replaced the pump, the flow was still poor. It seems that someone at the factory had installed the power panel in such a way, that the hose running from the fresh water tank to the water pump had been crimped. It took two technicians about an hour to find and correct an issue that should not have happened in the first place. 

Before buying my current Super C motorhome, I gave serious consideration to a $400,000 Itasca Ellipse Class A motorhome. The build quality on drawers in the kitchen pull out island was very poor. If the factory couldn't get a simple issue like building a drawer right, how badly would they handle the more complicated issues found in a modern, high end rig?

After the FROG Rally, I drove to ProCustom Inc; a repair and customizing shop in Elkhart, Indiana. The bed, couch, and dinette have all been replaced. The original furniture was beautiful "eye candy" but sadly, once you sat or lay down for more than 20 minutes, was not at all comfortable. It seems that appearance is far more important at the factory than usability. I guess the people who design RVs, don't actually use the products they design. People new to RVing are taken in by the eye candy and, don't realize how uncomfortable the OEM equipment is until they've actually lived in it for a while. 

While at ProCustom Inc, I've spoken with several full timers who are here to get upgrades to their old motorhomes. They ALL told me that they looked at new RVs but, were not impressed with any new RVs currently made. It made more sense to them to spend $50,000 to $150,000 (or more) in doing major upgrades instead of buying a new RV with poor build quality. 

The first manufacturer that realizes that quality MUST go in at the factory will have buyers beating a path to their door (and their dealers). This is a serious problem that RV builders want to ignore.  Please continue to shine a light on it. Thank you!

John Koenig

***************

I would be one of the first in line for quality rather than glitter.

Irma Smith

***************

I read the article three times. What a true train of thought and clarity of reasoning the man delivers.

I recently retired from a wonderful life of aircraft design: I clearly understand design for manufacture-ability, quality and repair-ability. Be it far from me to even attempt to walk in Steve's shoes, but I will glad and stridently agree with his reasoning and declarations.

I studied RV forums for years before I bought my 5th wheel. One year ago I purchased the 5th wheel. I've studied the 'design' of RVs and truly wondered who in the world is on first, because clearly no one is on second, and no one is on third and surely no one is at home plate.

Yeah, I own one. But my chagrin is deeply rooted to think the manufacturers feel we, the buyers, are such idiots.

Austin Crehan

***************

I'm in the transportation security industry, and I own a travel trailer.  

I think Steve is off-base with this rant. Everything about an RV is a compromise. It's not a house, and it's not a cargo trailer....it's in between. Certainly, manufacturers can build a stronger, tighter, more robust unit.....but, it will be heavier and costlier.

The bottom line is that to build a bullet-proof RV of any sort would increase the costs to the point where very few can afford it.

Most manufacturers have done a decent job of offering a variety of models at various levels of that compromise. Personally, I think that if folks perform normal maintenance, they'll find MOST RV's hold up pretty good, especially considering what we put them through. 

Blake Williams

***************

Bravo!  New standards that include easy access for service must be implemented!

Stephen M. Jenkins

***************

Kudos to Steve for writing this, and to you for publishing it! My husband retired from a major automotive dealer, and from the moment we bought our first RV we were FLOORED at the lousy quality. And we'd bought a brand that was, at the time, touted to be one of the best on the market. Our slide-out broke our first trip -- no manual means to put it in -- a disaster. 

Steve's points were right on, especially when he says car buyers wouldn't put up with half the stuff we RV owners are asked to simply accept as part of the RV experience. Where's the motorcoach owner's association in all this? Why aren't we hearing the voices of the other owners' groups? Why aren't we hearing from the Escapees and other general RV membership groups??

Thanks for letting me rant -- inspired by Steve's insightful argument. Thanks again for publishing it!

Ellen Behrens

***************

All letters published are subject to editing for clarity, suitability, and length. Got a "rant" or a mild observation of your own? Write us -- Russ at rvtravel dot com. 

Base photo courtesy - bashireios-1 on deviantart.com