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07-25-2020, 03:32 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 15
Year: 2013
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner C2
Engine: Cummins 6.7
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Can you put the composting toilet on top of the wheel well?
So I'm very close to pulling the trigger on a short bus, just trying to make the layout work roughly before i write a fat check.
I keep coming back to the bathroom over the wheel well and I'm wondering if anyone has ever put the toilet on top of it? I think it would be awkwardly high, but thought it could maybe work?
Maybe I'm trying to hard to put a round peg in a square hole.
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07-25-2020, 03:45 PM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 7,030
Year: 2003
Coachwork: International
Chassis: CE 300
Engine: DT466e
Rated Cap: 65C-43A
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If you're building your own DIY toilet, there's no reason it wouldn't work. You can use a shorter cat litter bucket instead of a 5-gallon bucket and lower the whole thing. If you're dropping a grand on a Nature's Head, that might be up a bit high.
FWIW it's not uncommon for people to shave off some of the top of the wheel well, something you could do to keep your toilet down low.
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07-25-2020, 04:12 PM
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#3
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Almost There
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: BZN, MT
Posts: 92
Year: 1982
Coachwork: Ford
Chassis: E-350; 4x4 Minibus
Engine: 351c.i.
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You could always build a step in front of it if you can't reduce the overall height.
__________________
-Travis & the DawgBüs
<<1982 E-350 cutaway, Collins Bantam ext. body, Maximum 4x4 F-350 drivetrain conversion>>
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07-25-2020, 04:17 PM
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#4
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 7,030
Year: 2003
Coachwork: International
Chassis: CE 300
Engine: DT466e
Rated Cap: 65C-43A
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DawgBüs
You could always build a step in front of it if you can't reduce the overall height.
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Heh, I was thinking it's more the issue of stage fright than accessibility, but I forget not everybody keeps all their windows like I'm doing.
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07-25-2020, 05:04 PM
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#5
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 15
Year: 2013
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner C2
Engine: Cummins 6.7
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Yea, not sure how it would be climbing up there.
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07-25-2020, 05:37 PM
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#6
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Grayson County, VA
Posts: 1,438
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: 65
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We put our Nature's Head toilet up on the wheel well. It's a tall toilet, so we built a little step in front of it that doubles as extra toilet paper storage.
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07-25-2020, 09:58 PM
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#7
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 421
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The real beauty of doing a DIY skoolie is you can do it however you want, and customize things to make them work. You should absolutely put it over the wheel well, and make a step as mentioned to make it work--you will be super proud of your work, and the fact that you built your skoolie to your exact spec that you wanted. I did this with a few things on my bus and, although it took a little engineering and thinking, put things where I wanted them to go and even though they might look weird or silly (like the AC sticking out the forehead with a backing plate--but it works GREAT! and I have extra free space in the back for a future bunk bed!) I'm super happy I made it work!
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07-26-2020, 08:45 AM
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#8
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: pa
Posts: 2,528
Year: 98
Coachwork: 1. Corbeil & 2. Thomas
Chassis: 1 ford 1998 e350 4x4 7.3 2 mercedes 2004
Engine: 7.3 powerstroke & MBE906
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As a kid I used to ride on trains. Looking into the toilet you could see the rails moving under you.. It was very loud and windy. The toilets were always positioned at the beginning or end of the cabin....so close to the wheels. Sure the maintenance crews found a piece or two..
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07-28-2020, 01:15 PM
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#9
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Almost There
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: BZN, MT
Posts: 92
Year: 1982
Coachwork: Ford
Chassis: E-350; 4x4 Minibus
Engine: 351c.i.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by musigenesis
Heh, I was thinking it's more the issue of stage fright than accessibility, but I forget not everybody keeps all their windows like I'm doing.
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Haha! I didn't even think of that! Theres plumbing companies that place decals/paint on the drivers door that makes it look as if they ARE on the toilet. This person could just get one of those. No one will suspect a thing.
__________________
-Travis & the DawgBüs
<<1982 E-350 cutaway, Collins Bantam ext. body, Maximum 4x4 F-350 drivetrain conversion>>
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07-28-2020, 02:29 PM
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#10
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 994
Year: 1999
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I would not like having to navigate a step when getting up at night to use the toilet.
Also might consider if you ever wanted to change to a wet toilet, no way to drain it over the wheels. But do what works for you, anything is possible, even draining over the wheels even though I said no way you can, of course you can just lot more difficult, maybe a second step too..
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07-28-2020, 06:54 PM
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#11
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Virginia
Posts: 2,406
Year: 1971
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: International Loadstar 1600
Engine: 6v-53n detroit
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joeblack5
As a kid I used to ride on trains. Looking into the toilet you could see the rails moving under you.. It was very loud and windy. The toilets were always positioned at the beginning or end of the cabin....so close to the wheels. Sure the maintenance crews found a piece or two..
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Yes and the sign that says do not use while in the station.....
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07-28-2020, 07:21 PM
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#12
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Western Oregon
Posts: 876
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Blue-Bird
Chassis: TC RE 3408
Engine: 5.9 Cummins 12V Mechanical/Allison MT643
Rated Cap: Blue-Bird says 72 pass.
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The last time I was in China was in 2014, but they were still using trains like that, and they had signs in Mandarin and English.
At that time they were working toward getting rid of all those old trains, the new, high speed trains don't have toilets that let you see the tracks.
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08-01-2020, 04:33 PM
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#13
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 55
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I remember looking at the tracks on the Durham to Petersburg ride. For some reason, using the water fountain on the train was a big deal to little me too. My poor mother.
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08-01-2020, 06:35 PM
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#14
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: SoCal
Posts: 44
Year: 2003
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: MicroBird
Engine: 7.3L powerstroke
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Depending on what kind of Short Bus you are considering. I can't speak for others, but my 5 window, BlueBird "MicroBird" on a E-450 cutaway chassis has NO inside wheel wells to deal with. For what it's worth... It also has a relatively flat ceiling contour (more headroom and space for upper storage around edge of ceiling)
A couple of pics of interior prior to floor removal. Only thing that encroaches on my floor space is the diesel fill tube, rear heater box, and hydraulic wheelchair lift. (Heater box and lift will be removed)
A couple other advantages of the "MicroBird" shorty is:
* An all aluminum body (no rust & much lighter)
* Extra 7"-8" under body storage for gray water/fresh water/generator/air compressor, etc (due to lifting the body up above the wheel well.
* Still has a 74" (6' 2") headroom
* Windows sit 7"-8" higher than normal (safer as the bottom of an open window is well over 6 feet from the ground)
* More ground clearance with the elevated floorplan.
* Maybe even add some external insulation under bus
* Able to add under floor storage and/or recess the shower floor below the bus floor
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08-01-2020, 08:10 PM
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#15
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Mt Vernon, WA
Posts: 523
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Bluebird, Collins
Chassis: G30 Bluebird Microbird, E350 Shuttle Bus
Engine: 1995 Chevrolet 350, 1992 Ford 460
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I considering specializing in conversions for extra tall people so toilet over the wheel well might work good.
As far as height is concerned that is. The term “relative placement” comes to mind. (How is something placed relative to everything else)
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08-02-2020, 10:26 AM
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#16
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 5
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Absolutely! I built a raised platform over it and popped the toilet on top. Generally sitting down when I’m using it anyhow. Even tall people are able to adapt to the arrangement. I did have to put it kind of an angle though so long legged people knees don’t hit the wall
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08-02-2020, 11:37 AM
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#17
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Western Oregon
Posts: 876
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Blue-Bird
Chassis: TC RE 3408
Engine: 5.9 Cummins 12V Mechanical/Allison MT643
Rated Cap: Blue-Bird says 72 pass.
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My plans have a sink on the wheel well. I am not using a factory-made, pre-composting toilet, though, I am building my own, and it will actually compost. That is one of my main design criteria I have been organic gardening and composting for decades, and I am sure I can pull this off.
There will be 2 composting chambers, sitting right next to each other, right next to the wheel well, and they will be 20 gallon hazardous waste containers I found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LDEP0C/
Most homemade compost toilets use 5 gallon buckets, but such small containers simply do not have enough thermal mass for the compost to heat properly. But mine will heat.
In addition to the larger size containers I have also designed a manifold system that will bring fresh, outside air under slight pressure from a muffin fan to the bottom of each container. My bacteria will have plenty of oxygen.
I have almost everything I need for this project and intend to put it all together after I get my floor finally finished. I will start a thread on this then in case anyone is interested.
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08-02-2020, 12:08 PM
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#18
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,222
Year: 1999
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: TC1000 HandyBus
Engine: 5.9L 24V-L6 Cummins ISB
Rated Cap: 26 foot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gs1949
My plans have a sink on the wheel well. I am not using a factory-made, pre-composting toilet, though, I am building my own, and it will actually compost. That is one of my main design criteria I have been organic gardening and composting for decades, and I am sure I can pull this off.
There will be 2 composting chambers, sitting right next to each other, right next to the wheel well, and they will be 20 gallon hazardous waste containers I found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LDEP0C/
Most homemade compost toilets use 5 gallon buckets, but such small containers simply do not have enough thermal mass for the compost to heat properly. But mine will heat.
In addition to the larger size containers I have also designed a manifold system that will bring fresh, outside air under slight pressure from a muffin fan to the bottom of each container. My bacteria will have plenty of oxygen.
I have almost everything I need for this project and intend to put it all together after I get my floor finally finished. I will start a thread on this then in case anyone is interested.
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EEEWW! 20 gallons of ... poop ... or is that 40 total ... with you everywhere you go for months at a time? Then what do you do with it?
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08-02-2020, 12:32 PM
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#19
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Western Oregon
Posts: 876
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Blue-Bird
Chassis: TC RE 3408
Engine: 5.9 Cummins 12V Mechanical/Allison MT643
Rated Cap: Blue-Bird says 72 pass.
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That will be 40 total, well-ventilated and eventually well-composted. When finished, the compost will be safe to use anywhere on crops that are either ornamental or for animal food. Personally, I would not hesitate to use it on human food crops that I was sure would be cooked before consuming.
And I plan on asking before I actually do this, but from the regulations I've read I think it could be legally dumped almost anywhere in a national forest that is more than 200 feet from a stream.
The only question in my mind is whether I can get proper composting activity throughout the whole mass without any turning of the pile. I may have to occasionally stir a little.
I do intend to use compost starter so it should go fairly quickly. I'm thinking maybe 6 months between batches, but that depends on usage and so might be more or less.
But I'm doing a lot of guessing here. Compost toilets that actually produce compost instead of just producing desiccated excrement are not all that rare, but those are all immobile installations built in a shed or something, and it's usually a shed with a basement.
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