Well, the 28 year old AquaMagic II is out and sitting in the plastics recycle tub, carpet out, floor flashed & tiled - It's time for a replacement toilet.

For an entry-level coach like mine, logic says to install the AquaMagic V, the low-end industry standard. But before I order, I'd like to hear some feedback on alternatives.

1. Thetford vs. SeaLand vs. LaToilette
(Oh NO.... Not the French again!)

2. China vs. polymer bowls

3. Hand vs. foot pedal operation

4. Options like hand sprayer attachment and riser platforms....etc. etc.

RV bolt-down toilets seem to range from about $75.00 to over $500.00, so there must be some issues that need consideration......

I know you guys are flush with ideas, observations & opinions, so how 'bout some potty talk?

Being blessed with abundant adipose area abaft, I like our Bravura foot flush. I would certainly recommend you try one.

It has a very good flushing action and is easy to maintain. However, being boondockers exclusively, we do not have it connected to the water supply. We use a kitchen sprayer with a conical brass nozzle on the end. It is powerful enough to clean the bowl with an incredibly small amount of water.

The foot flush offers some advantages over a hand flush, but decorum forbids its discussion on such a genteel forum as this.



Oh, yeah. Be sure the sprayer hose does not reach the door or window if little boys use your bathroom.

As I get older I have substantially increase assets, if you know what I mean....I know you do.

I will be looking for a terlet with a larger and higher seat to accomidate my "weighty" position in life.

Any suggestion along those lines and will the throne fit the same hole...spot??

Dave, it appears that some of the higher-end, china bowl units are touted as being able to use standard residential seats & lids...I'd guess that equates to more "bearing surface".

There's also a polymer floor base available, claiming to be universal fit, that raises the whole assembly up 2-1/2" or so, closer to residential parameters......

...And I know exactly what you mean about "adjusting" to the RV bathroom environment as we get older....As a matter of fact, my kids have told me that my ability or inability to properly use the facilities will be a benchmark for determining just when they take my Barth keys away from me and make their first contact with the intake counselor at Happy Acres.......So I wanna get this new toilet thing right the first time...the buzzards are circling......

billh, your nozzle idea is dine-o-mite..Thanks!

I should also add that we rotated our Bravura a little to allow a little more room. I am also going to remove our vanity and make a new, smaller one with a smaller sink with a high bar-type faucet spout, but using the original wood and doors. We need only enough sink for tooth brushing or hand washing.

If that does not make our Lilliputian-sized powder room at least tolerable, I will have to move the toilet a little. Heck, I'm just itchin' to drop that tank and turn it around, anyway. Right now I even have to be careful how much body English I use when brushing my teeth or I will pop the door open.

"Dave, it appears that some of the higher-end, china bowl units..."

If this "higher end" unit is not elevated enough: we installed one of the plastic bases which raised the entire unit about 2". It was easy to install and looks much like the commode (my sainted mother insisted "toilet" was an act, not a device).

My personal experience; My original Thetford failed once due to corroded valve, I fixed it and it worked for another year or so. When I ripped up the old floor Suzy demanded an upgrade and I went with the Thetford tall with hand actuation. This unit works very well even when under the 12 v. pump. The circulation cleans the bowl much better than the old rinse system did. I paid 142 bucks at my local RV dealer. The old Thetfords used a 10-4 bolt pattern. while the new ones use a 9-3, so a change in attachment to the floor may be necessary. [These are clock references]

I went through this on my SOB. I ordered a new Thetford, and discovered I'd have to replumb some, and as Danny mentioned, redo the mounting plate, so I sent it back and bought an overhasl kit for about $105.

As per Bill H's advice I replaced ours with the Bravura last year and am very happy with it. It was an easy diy job and it works and looks great.
It's on sale here: http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-toilets-tanks/83-1879.htm

sure would like to know where you can buy the plastic bases to raise toilet height...never seen them, thanks bob

Last time i looked camping World had them. I bought one for my previous SOB from a local RV supply store.

Here is the toilet riser at Camping World
Riser

The prices for the risers seem to get footballed all over.....My best price came from on-line store I located by entering "RV toilets" in Froogle...Remember to specify color.

Say Dave,
Didn't you have an extra one that hooked on the Draw bar. seems i remmember you wern't using it anymore!

Update: Based on recommendations here, I installed a new foot-pedal Thetford Bravura....

The bride likes it for its exterior design & lack of nooks & crannies....also installed the 2-1/2" riser under it - I think it'll make a comfortable difference.........

I like it for its ease of installation....the removable shroud makes access a piece of cake. (The old one required a socket, universal joint, long extension & ratchet to get at the floor bolts...couldn't find my universal joint, but did find my Saws-All - worked even better.)

Also tapped into faucet feed for hand hand rinser, al la billh...drilled counter top next to toilet for socket trim - looks good!

But, nuthins' ever easy, is it?.......

While rootin' around with the rear plumbing I discovered that the coach had been originally plumbed with Qest - one of the polybutylene systems from the '70's-'80's that cost Shell $950mil in a class-action suit over chlorine eroding the fittings. Apparantly, the front portion of the coach (easy part) had been redone in pvc by the previous owner, so I never really noticed the polyb in the bathroom.
Water stains indicate past/current failure of the polyb at just about every fitting. I'd imagine that some campgrounds with private water sources use the SWAG method of adding chlorine, so that may have accelerated it.....

For those with late '70's - early '80's coaches, you might want to take a look at your usually-hidden plumbing fittings...I think the older polyb systems might have been around for about a decade or so before they got pulled from the market.

Anyway, ANOTHER Barth rehab adventure begins...
(Hmmmm, I wonder if A.J. Foyt's '78 Newell used polyb?...might have to amend my bidding strategy...