Pop up Camper... Porta Potty vs. no Porta potty

[Familyman18]

Hello everyone, I'm brand new to this site, and brand new to camping in general. I've gotten to a point in my life where I've realized being outdoors with nature on weekends is possibly the absolute best I could do for my young family and our mental and emotional health. I have decided to investigate purchasing our very first POP CAMPER, since we are first time, budget oriented campers at this point.

The questions I'd love feed back on is this...

Is it worth having a pop up camper that has a porta potty built in? What about a shower?

What should I look for in a used pop up?

Anything else you can tell this new, but eager to learn novice?

Thank you all.

[Sagebrusher]

What kind of places are you going to be camping? If you are going to state parks, most of them have showerhouses and flush toilets. Many National PARK campgrounds also have at least flush toilets. U.S. National Park Service - Experience Your America
If, however, you are planning on camping in National FOREST campgrounds, they often do not have flush toilets/showers. US Forest Service - Caring for the land and serving people.

Most private campgrounds also have full amenities.

[Judy Ann]

I would think a porta potty would be great in a pop-up camper, but I could manage without a built in shower as there are many options for bathing. I guess that this would be a family decision based on age and priorities. I hate venturing out in the woods in the middle of a cold night...just saying! ;-)

[Grandpa]

Welcome to the forums Familyman. Since I don't usually camp where you will using your pop-up, I'll just go along with the excellent advice you have all ready received. (but about 3 AM I start wishing my backpacking tent had a port-a-potty.)

[CozInCowtown]

Simple, if somebody poops or pees in it then somebody has to clean it up later.
Y'all will have to determine who the "cleaner person" is!!
If nobody is gonna clean it up when y'all get home then I say do without.
We have a 5th wheel and this is just part of the fun.
Coz

[Familyman18]

Thank you all for that advice... and to grandpa for the warm welcome. I wonder if there are members in the forum who have had the experience of owning a pop up without a porta potty...

What kind of camping do you folks do? How did you get started? Any reading materials you would recommend to a first timer like myself?

Thanks

FM

-----
In reply to Coz: good point, thanks for that, I guess I would be the "clean it" person... Can't be that bad right?

[CozInCowtown]

Well, whatcha gonna do with all that poop and pee?
I have a tie in to the septic system at my home but without that you gotta have a dump station.
Probably $20 or so to dump, I have not used one in years so I am not sure about that.
You gotta look at the full picture of what y'all will be doing while camping.
Out in the wilderness or campgrounds with full hookups?
Just my .02 worth from my camping experiance.
Go by your local camper supply and ask them for some input.
There was a movie a couple of years ago with Robin Williams called RV that is well worth watching for some good pointers on how to "RV".
***LINK TO MOVIE***
Coz

[Familyman18]

Great stuff Coz, thanks for the advice. I will check out that movie.

If I use a camp ground with hookups, can't I just empty the porta potty with their hookups before we leave?

We don't have septic here, I live in the city, (sunny Sarasota, FL), so that would be an issue.

I think at first we would probably use campgrounds with full hookups, etc. What are the online resources you use for finding great places to camp?

Thanks again,

FM

[ppine]

I had an older tent camper that had a portable head that you can buy in any RV catalogue for about $100. It has a simple portable tank that is easy to detach and empty. My girl really liked having it in the middle of the night. I have a shower in my travel trailer and had one in a truck camper and rarely use them.

You can spend a lot of money for a fancy tent camper, but until you are sure you like them I suggest a used one for under $3000. You can always add the portable head if it doesn't have one. On longer trips we usually stop at an RV park once in awhile to charge up the batteries and use their showers.

[Familyman18]

Thanks for that advice. Basically a portable head accomplishes the same thing, and it doesn't have to be necessarily built into the unit. That is the budget I had in mind, and one without a head would be cheaper, right?

FM