Making boom-boom the European way, mit die Defäkation Karton!
We recently sold our original-equipment portable chemical toilet with wooden cabinet. Though the previous owners seldom used it, and we never did, I thought I’d share these photos and a bit of history for the sake of posterity.
Apparently available only to those customers who picked up their new Vanagon Campers in Germany as part of VW’s tourist delivery program, the cabinet boasts classic Westfalia design.
Reproductions Now Available here
This authentic vintage piece features a sturdy plywood cabinet with the familiar Westfalia laminate finish, and a padded seat top upholstered to match the interior of the early Vanagon Westies.
The enclosed Porta-Potti is a compact two-chamber toilet: open the lid and do yer bidness, pull the front handle to open the bowl valve, and give the unit a couple of flush pumps to rinse the bowl clean; then close the valve. Waste is collected in the sealed lower chamber, preventing odors. When full, simply empty into any campground toilet or sanitary station, rinse, and continue using! Refresh with common RV toilet chemicals available at any RV supplier.
Made by Thetford, still the world’s leading manufacturer of mobile sanitation products for the RV, marine, camping and truck markets.
Here’s more info on operating one of Thetford’s similar models: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyhqPO3TfYA
When you don’t need a toilet for your trip, the entire combo can be easily removed for storage, or simply remove the toilet and just use the cabinet as a basic storage compartment with convenient padded seat top!
The Westfalia-Thetford portable toilet combo is a classic piece of vintage camping kit, and ready to ‘go’ wherever you go!
Reproductions Now Available here
Due to the surprising amount of interest in this unique vintage item, even after it was sold, I took some measurements, made some blueprints and started makin’ sawdust …
I can now offer a handful of these very authentic reproductions of the toilet cabinet, in both Beige/Brown and in Gray.
These reproduction cabinets are the same approximate dimensions as the original (but sized to fit popular modern Porta-Potties), utilize all the same materials (laminated birch plywood, trim, hardware, etc.), and are upholstered in new complementary fabrics.
Check them out, and contact me with any questions!
Jeffrey Lee
Camp Westfalia
