I think simple is a relative term and is usually a trade off with comfort and convenience.
I'd agree holding tanks, water tanks, and etc.
are not simple when it comes to the build. It does add some complexity to the camper, but once it is in and working properly, it is so worth it. It is simple as using the sink, toilet, and shower at home because it is the same. So I'd say it is simple simple from a use perspective and A++ for creature comforts.
I know, nothing will last forever.. so you will have to fix something sometime. So design it so any repairs are going to be easy and so that you do not have to deconstruct your trailer to fix or replace a fixture or appliance
years down the road. For 90% of the repairs, it should just be unscrew and replace maybe once in the life of the trailer or maybe never.
The bottom line, you will be filling up something with water before you leave whether it is a few 5 gallon cans or a 60 gal fill on the camper and you will be dumping those gift bags or cassettes or the little catch basin or bucket under the sink regularly or replacing the compost or pee catch in the toilet or setting up or taking down a shower tent/catch basin. All that adds up. On the other hand, I really do not find dumping the black water and gray water hard or even disgusting once a trip. Done right, you never see it, touch it (disposable gloves just in case of a drip), or smell it.. at least not any more than you will tying off the bag or dumping a cassette or portable tank from the porta potty or etc. etc.. . Gray water flushes the hose after the black drains and you slide it back into the sleeve it came out of. It takes about 15 minutes or less at the dump station, typically on the way out and once a trip. The process takes no longer
and more likely less time than the cumulative waits daily to use a dirty shower or toilet at a gym or campground (that has been my experience camping over many years). And lets be real... a warm shower beats wipes hands down any day. Wipes are an alternative like Tofu burger is to a good T-Bone steak. Gets the job done.. but doesn't leave you as satisfied. Something to think about also if you are planning to be very remote and dumping becomes a concern due to time out in the bush, you can always just put a bag in the toilet and use it like a bucket and gray water is okay to put on the ground wherever you are tossing the buckets daily. You can do that starting out until you think you will be okay until you can dump. Most times if super remote.. you will have weeks on the BW tank and can dump gray water where you are at if needed. So I'd expect that to be rare if ever under normal circumstances.
Additionally, I find public toilets usually disgusting where you cannot just take your time and relax, and a lot of the showers are almost as bad unless you are paying good money to use it. So everything is a trade off. But simple is a relative term I suppose.
I do agree that if I lived up in areas that freeze regularly I may have a different opinion... but I probably would have just built a subfloor with all plumbing essentially inside the cabin and have one or two air fittings and a low point drain to blow out the water at the end of the season after I pour in some antifreeze in the traps. The FW tanks have drains that just open in seconds. I did that in a hunting camp in NY a few times and it literally took 15 minutes. I thought it was simple.
In any case.. food for thought. Enjoy your build and post pics! The good thing about building your own is that you can start out very basic and simple in terms of the build and then upgrade as time, money and skills allow or never if that is what you really want. It will be custom to your needs and desires and typically if you built it, you can fix it! An 8'*16ft is a good size so you have tons of options for anything you want to put in it. You can be fully self contained like a glamper or nothing but an aluminum tent with a cot.. the possibilities are endless.
by officersdr » Tue Dec 18, 2018 6:41 pm 
