Thetford discontinues the recirculating toilet

[Bill]

I just had a phone conversation with Paul Wipf, the CEO of Trail Manor Industries. He tells me that Thetford has discontinued making the recirculating toilet used in the Trail Manor. Although a few of our members have heard this rumor, Thetford has still not publicly announced it - they have simply stranded their customers. Thetford has no stock of these toilets, and TM has only a few in their factory inventory.

So where does this leave Trailmanor Industries?

Paul would like to switch to the Dometic Sealand M-28, and he sought RVIA approval to do this. However, RVIA refused. The current RVIA code requires that anything with a black water tank must be vented through the roof. Sidewall venting, or through-floor venting, is not allowed. There is apparently no realistic appeal or variance process for this requirement. So when the factory exhausts its limited stock, all Trail Manors will be built with the currently-optional cassette toilet.

And where does it leave Trail Manor’s owners and buyers?

You can no longer buy a Thetford toilet, or any parts, through Trail Manor. Their stock on hand will be used for new builds until they run out, which will be soon.

My personal thoughts are these:
1. If you need parts for your Thetford recirculating toilet, find them and buy them now. RV parts places, physical or on-line, may still have a few parts in stock, but once they are gone, there will be no more.
2. If you are planning to buy a new TM soon, and you want the Thetford toilet, order it now, put down a reasonable deposit, and specify in the purchase contract that it must have the Thetford toilet.
3. The RVIA is an industry group. It sets standards for RV manufacturers, but it has no jurisdiction over owner changes or upgrades. You could buy a new Trail Manor with no toilet at all. Once you take delivery, you would be free to install an M-28 or other toilet of your choice. A number of Forum members have done this.

Sorry to announce this, but it is apparently true. We would welcome any potentially helpful thoughts.

Bill