The Thetford toilet: a virtual tour and fixing it for good

Well I emailed Thetford about the problem I was having with water leaking past the slide valve into the drain pipe. The first email I got said basically what poster on this thread had said the problem was. It said to send them the model number of my toilet and they would send me a new slide valve seal with instructions on how to install it.

I emailed them the information requested. I then get an email saying the Thetford toilet model I have is a recirculating toilet as if I did not know. I explained to this person I know it is recirculating toilet and explain the problem with the slide valve.

That was three days ago and I have not heard back yet.

I was much happier with our toilet before reading these posts and seeing the photos. What a nasty design this is! But thanks for the information anyhow... I'd say it is about time for TM to redesign and go to a cassette toilet. We had one on our previous tent trailer and found it to be without flaws and very clean to use.

[Bill]

Opinions will vary, of course, but actually, I think the Thetford toilet is a great design for the set of demands that a TM or other lightweight imposes. As Dave / Shrimp Burrito noted in the other thread, a cassette would be very difficult to integrate into a TM because you can't empty it when the TM is collapsed. Both of the overlapping shells, plus the sidewall of the main box, would all have to have an opening cut in them. That's not something I would welcome in my TM.

I am the first to agree, however, that Thetford's customer interactions could use improvement.

Bill

[ShrimpBurrito]

I agree, Bill: I think the concept of a recirculating toilet like the Electra Magic is a great design for the TM. I just think the Electra Magic could use a number of relatively minoro design changes that would improve its function about 200% and all but eliminate the problems that some folks have with it.

Dave

[Wavery]

Originally Posted by Bill

Opinions will vary, of course, but actually, I think the Thetford toilet is a great design for the set of demands that a TM or other lightweight imposes. As Dave / Shrimp Burrito noted in the other thread, a cassette would be very difficult to integrate into a TM because you can't empty it when the TM is collapsed. Both of the overlapping shells, plus the sidewall of the main box, would all have to have an opening cut in them. That's not something I would welcome in my TM.

I am the first to agree, however, that Thetford's customer interactions could use improvement.

Bill

The cassette could be pulled out before collapsing the roofs. That's the nice part about the cassette. You could empty it and put it back before collapsing or take the cassette out and put it in the TV and empty it at home.

What actually happens if you use standard toilet paper in lieu of the special RV paper?

[Wavery]

Originally Posted by photoadjuster

What actually happens if you use standard toilet paper in lieu of the special RV paper?

We use standard, single-ply, paper in ours and have had no issues (yet).

[Wavery]

Originally Posted by Scott O

harveyrv...I could have sworn that the cassette on our Starcraft was below floor level. We haven't had it for over a year so my memory may be faulty. Also, without being too graphic, could you explain your backflush method? I also do this using the SewerSolution, but wonder how much water is actually going into the tank since it is so much higher than the hose connection. The water does come back out relatively clean, so maybe this works better that I think. Thanks.

We use the "Flush King"...........
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...ush-king/20522

I have the same concern. I never know exactly how long to let the water run because each place will have different water pressure. I figure that it's probably about 5-7 Gallons per minute. I let it fill for 30 seconds if the pressure seems really high and 45-60 seconds if it doesn't. I haven't had an overflow yet.

First the thank you. Thanks to all the forum members who took the time and posted their experiences with the Thetford toilet and especially to Bill for the article on how to take the toilet out and Shrimp Burrito for the pictures.
(Your legs are fine, the deck shoes do need replacement though.. ) Without that information toilet removal and valve repair would have been much harder.

Second, an observation. The reason the slide valve in the Thetford failed, ( the infamous " no whoosh " sound when valve pulled to empty ) was that the rubber slide seal that closes that area by making contact with the slide had become deformed and would not allow the slide to close fully. Hence the toilet liquid could leak out into the main drain. Just as stated in the thread.

Our TM spends a great deal of time closed as we still are too young and poor to retire.

I think that if I had kept the toilet valve closed during all the storage time instead of open, ( only opening it up to drain ) , and closing it again afterwards upon arrival home the slide seal would not have failed as it rests on the slide when closed. Georgia heat, humidity and time spent in the open position may have contributed to the gasket material folding the way it did. If closed the slide would in effect help the seal to hold its shape.

Only Thetford products have been used in the toilet and only liquids go in it. No solids if you get my drift...

Thanks again to all the folks who shared their experiences.

Joseph, when we stored our past trailer with holding tanks, I emptied, then flushed and flushed again, maybe 2 or 3 times.
I lubricated what rubber parts I could reach with Dow Corning 111 silicone lubricant which won't wash away with water. I left the drain valves open and the drain cap off, covered with a piece of scrap window screen to keep the critters out.
We never had an odor problem or a gasket problem.
The Dow Corning product is recommended by swimming pool plumbing valve manufactures because the water moving through the valves at 50-75 gal per minute will not wash off the lubricant from the rubber gaskets and o-rings (at least for a year or two).