Camco portable toilet 5.3 gal review

What it is and who it suits

This is a portable travel toilet of the kind sold for RVs, boats and camping, with a 5.3-gallon holding tank that detaches for emptying. Camco's own product page lists it as item 41541, and our tracked listing is Amazon ASIN B004SFKJIQ.

It suits a household that wants a more conventional seat and flush for a longer outage or a water outage, and that has a place to empty the tank, such as a working toilet or a dump station. This review is researched, not tested. It relies on Camco's product page, a retailer that reprints Camco's description, Ready.gov and CDC.

Design and size

The retailer copy of Camco's description says the toilet has a detachable holding tank with a sealing slide valve and a bellow-type flush, plus a carry handle, and that three sample Drop-IN RV black tank treatments are included to control odors. Camco's page does not carry that description itself, so check the box contents.

Camco's page gives the size as 14.31 inches long, 16.25 inches wide and 16.88 inches high, with a shipping weight of 13.1 lb. The shipping weight is the packed figure, so the empty toilet will weigh a little less, and a full tank will weigh much more. Water is heavy, so plan on emptying it before lifting.

Warranty and instructions

Camco lists a 12 month warranty from the date of purchase, with a receipt, and notes that the instructions are available in English only. One review on Camco's page, a single customer, reports a poor experience with pressure building in the tank when the elevation changes. That is one comment, not a pattern, but it is a reason to keep the receipt and to read the instructions before an outage.

Sanitation basics from official sources

Ready.gov's basic kit list includes moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation, and its water guidance says to store at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation. A toilet does not replace either.

CDC's emergency-response guidance on sanitation is written for field and shelter settings, but its points carry over. It says to use chemical toilets in the immediate term where available and where the means to service them adequately exists, and to install handwashing stations at every sanitation facility. Pair any toilet with soap and safe water for hand washing. Our how much water to store guide helps size the supply.

How it compares with the other picks

Our emergency toilet comparison lists the Reliance Luggable Loo and a Camco bucket toilet, both 5-gallon buckets with a seat that are used with bags sold separately, along with Cleanwaste WAG Bags and Reliance Double Doodie bags, which are waste-bag kits. CDC describes bag systems as single-use bags that are buried or properly disposed, typically used inside reusable buckets, and notes that a supply of roughly one bag per person each day is needed.

The Camco toilet trades that bag supply for a tank you must empty and clean. It is bulkier than a bucket. For a few days, bags are the lighter option. For a week or more, or with children and older adults in the home, a tank can be more comfortable.

Verdict and who should skip it

A reasonable step up from a bucket for a longer outage, provided you know where you will empty it. Skip it if you have no safe place to dispose of waste, if storage space is tight, or if a stack of waste bags in the kit would do. Keep a few bags and some soap anyway as a backup.

Where do I empty the tank?

Camco's description, as a marine retailer reprints it, says the tank is detachable. In a short outage that usually means a working household toilet or an RV dump station. Check local guidance if sewer service is disrupted.

Does it come with instructions in Spanish?

Camco's page says the instructions are available in English only, even though the item is the English and French listing. Read them before you need the toilet.

Can it replace a stock of water?

No. Ready.gov says to store at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation. A toilet still needs water for flushing and for hand washing.

Is a bucket toilet with bags simpler?

For a few days, often yes. CDC describes bags used inside reusable buckets as lightweight and easy to transport, but they need a steady supply of about one bag per person a day and a disposal plan.