Cramming a Crapper into a Teardrop

[MceeD]

Hello Everyone,

Not sure if this has been done before, but I haven't come across it during all my lurking.

In my design I needed to have a spot for a porta potty in my teardrop. So I figured on a drop down area in the interior cabinet.

This is a picture of it in the up position.



This is a picture of it in the down position.



Here is a picture of the door closed.



I went back and forth on the lift mechanism, linear motor or pulley's and cable.

Cable won out only due to the fact it will have no drain on electrical systems and it will still work if the kids crank the stereo all day.

[mikeschn]

But can you use it at night, when the other half is sleeping?

Mike...

[Miriam C.]

Looks like a good idea! Where will the kids be sleeping? It will at least provide some privacy and might work great for traveling.

Our first couple of times out Mike left the TD if I had to go and I left for him. Great for the person going and not so great for the others. Waiting to see the finished product. I know lots of folks will want to see this!

[MceeD]

It will be an open door policy if someone else is in the cabin

It is usable if one other is in the cabin sleeping, Although I sure it will wake them

I imagine that the wife and anyone else will want to have the cabin doors shut whilst using it. But, I plan to hang a small curtain around it when parked to allow for accidental door opening protection.

The drop down is obviously over a sleepers feet so there will be two lock off pins that go in whilst traveling and sleeping.

It is a two person cabin, any others will be tent camping. I originally designed it with a bunk for a third person, but decided I wanted a 17" touchscreen and computer instead

[Miriam C.]

Well I have had more time to think about this and So um you have the thickness of the mattress and even at 4" you only have about 3 1/2 feet tall at the most. Then you need to take off for the height of the porta potty. It is going to be very close. If you have kids and they are in a tent you might wall off space for the porta potty.

You can keep the thing for traveling and fold up the mattress though.

But I might be all wrong.....

[Oasis Maker]

Hi MceeD,

I don't want to be rude, but I don't want to be vague either in my response because you're still in the early stage with this crapper thing.

For a "normal" size teardrop, I just don't think having a crapper inside is practical. Many have pondered it and most have come away with that same conclusion after really thinking it through.

It will be very hard to maneuver around - especially at night, so count on it being completely disruptive to your spouse... but most importantly... the smell? Do you really want to turn your teardrop and such small quarters into an outhouse and hold someone hostage in there while you do?

Having a porta privy right outside or a connected side tent (Camp Inn and many homebuilds come to mind) IMHO is a much better way to go, and in the end I think will make all using it much happier.

Scott G.

[MceeD]

All great thoughts,

First off yeah it's a bit cramped.

I don't believe my teardrop is normal size. I just looked around alot then drew one up for my needs and ideas.

My first drawings were with a 5' ceiling in the cabin, which would have been perfect. But due to a small problem with getting it out the darn garage door height, it is now 4'6".

I'm using a 1/2" foam pad with a 4" memory foam mattress. I'm going with a guess it will compress to about 1". I have no plans for rolling up the mattress. that portion is at the feet and it being foam should fair well and return to form pretty well.

The portta potty I plan on using is 16" tall. I will have to lean my head forward some while sitting. Luckily, I don't plan on doing any reading in there.

The plan is not for a constant use, more of a middle of the night (wife) or for convenience/emergency.

Oasis Maker, it is not rude at all, nothing like expressing your opinion with the force necessary to convey your conviction. You actually made me chuckle

I'm certainly understanding it will be a pain for middle of the night use and if smell is a issue I hope it curtails the use a bit.

I do have a secondary plan to have a sealed lid over the potty in this event tho, and with the sound of your conviction I may just put it on now.

[packerz4]

porta-potty is just that for POTTY!

NO POOPING!

(there, I said it)

[MceeD]

porta-potty is just that for POTTY!

NO POOPING!

(there, I said it)

[mikeschn]

We don't often have emergencies in the middle of the night. But if we do, we both get dressed and trudge over to the bathhouse.

What we use our potty for is beer and wine. Especially beer. Every couple hours, even after we've gone to bed. We don't want to trudge over to the bath house every couple hours in the middle of the night.

For that, the porty pottie is perfect!



Mike...

[Conestoga]

Hi MceeD,

I don't want to be rude, but I don't want to be vague either in my response because you're still in the early stage with this crapper thing.

For a "normal" size teardrop, I just don't think having a crapper inside is practical. Many have pondered it and most have come away with that same conclusion after really thinking it through.

It will be very hard to maneuver around - especially at night, so count on it being completely disruptive to your spouse... but most importantly... the smell? Do you really want to turn your teardrop and such small quarters into an outhouse and hold someone hostage in there while you do?

Having a porta privy right outside or a connected side tent (Camp Inn and many homebuilds come to mind) IMHO is a much better way to go, and in the end I think will make all using it much happier.

Scott G.

what he said ^

but what about making that into a push-out?
as shown it would be in travel mode,
and when parked you push or pull the whole deal out the
hole that otherwise would be the portside door.

the bottom part of the unit could be lighter, easier to stow,
shallow like the base of a shower.
that would drop down to the ground.
the part that connects the shower base to the upper cabinet
could "accordion"(verb), canvas, rubber, reflectix, i dunno.
and a solid door could separate the inside of the cabin from this unit...
i'll call it a "pothole".