Installing a composting toilet in the Airstream

[@ourtinycabin5077]

I love seeing how gently you both teach the girls. Good job to Dad for tackling this project, and to Mom for agreeing to it. :)

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks Our Tiny Cabin! We make it a point to try to challenge ourselves. 😀

[@lisamcgrath3132]

Wow, great job Michael...also great job Linden helping mommy & daddy!!

[@weweresnowedin5801]

Can't wait to see how everyone adjusts to the new toilet. Love your video

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks for your kindness!!

[@bonibarker6899]

Yep, that's a double bagger job if I've ever seen one. I enjoy the humor and how real you are in your videos. Impressive Micheal, well done.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks for your encouragement, Boni! Papa worked so hard filming this video - the project took him three times as long as it would have without having to also film.

[@howardwatts4238]

this is the best vid of install of composing toilet i have ever seen and i think ive seen them all, your little girls are a natural. thanks

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks for your kind encouragement, Howard! We’ve managed to watch a fair amount of videos about composting toilets ourselves. They can be strangely addicting. I think it’s the type of investment that you don’t want to leave anything up to surprise.

[@laurelrunnels637]

I love that you are instilling confidence in your girls at a very young age that they are capable of doing things! Way to go Linden! You are very smart and helpful! 😀

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Glad you enjoy the videos Laurel! Thank you for connecting with us. We are hoping that confidence and competence can be learned early by doing lots of hands on experiences.

[@donnaharris4459]

You guys make me laugh, talking poop and toilet stuff 🤣😂 well done Michael 👍👍. Hope you are all well and continue to stay safe.❤🇬🇧

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thank you so much Donna! We are well and safe and wishing the same to you! 💙❤️💚

[@DreamingOutloudRVing]

Well done on the install! Now you can go a long time between tank dumps!!

[@marypritchett115]

This turned out to be a very good “how to” video and as always the girls are adorable. Great job.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Good to see you Mary! Thanks for being here with us!

[@galemakutty]

Linden was Ready LOL Good luck with your new Potty and be safe🙏 😊

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Haha yes she just always wants to be first! Didn’t care if she’s in the middle of a parking lot. 🤣

[@hardtruth2039]

I am considering doing this in our 5th wheel. Then replace the black tank with an additional fresh water tank. That would give us 100 gallons of fresh water.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Yep, that’s exactly the reason why we did it. No regrets so far.

[@yc3613]

Spontaneous loud belly laugh at Linden’s last move there. It’s the part about raising children I miss the most. Thank you.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Haha! She always wants to be first! Doesn’t matter if she’s in the middle of a parking lot. 😀

[@markbeaver5010]

Great DYI video, Dad did a great job on the install and the help from Linden was awesome!!!!

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks Mark! Yes Linden is turning out to be a great helper! 😀

[@carolinewest2217]

I may have used a johnny house before but I like the modern convenience of a flushing toilet. Call me spoiled lol. Good job Michael. The girls are getting so big. Olive looks like she has grown since her injury. Linden is growing up and oh my Maple is almost as tall as Linden. Such pretty little girls and they have such great parents. Stay safe and well.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thank you Caroline! Yes they grow so fast! Where is the slow-down button? 💙❤️💚

[@carolinewest2217]

@@ThreeLittleTrees I couldn't find it with my kids and now I have a 15 yr old granddaughter, followed by a 12, two 10 yr olds then an, 8 and a 6. that's just the girls. I also have one grandson who is 4. That one boy has 3 big sisters. Now I just say no to them when the I wants get to expensive. Careful when you blink of they're be all grown up. Stay safe and well. I hope you and your family have a great day.

[@TinaRice4]

OK I just feel compelled to say Fun Times! LOL WOW he did a great job with the installation!!! 🙌🙌🙌

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thank you for sharing your kindness Tina! Glad you’re here at our channel!

[@TinaRice4]

@@ThreeLittleTrees Awe You are very welcome! Oh yeah! I love your channel! 💕

[@daralen4232]

Awesome job Michael. Love your videos.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

So kind of you to reach out Daralen! Thank you!

[@bobshaw4063]

Michael great job installing the composting toilet . I think you can also use saw dust or peat moss instead of the coconut core ?

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks Bob! Yes, it is my understanding as well that you can use those materials as long as they don’t contain chemical treatments that could interfere with the composting process. We decided to start with the coconut coir mainly because of the convenience factor. (It’s available in those small, pre-cut bricks which are easy and clean to store in our white van.) If we had sticks and bricks house, we might try something cheaper, in bulk.

[@bobshaw4063]

@@ThreeLittleTrees Your welcome & Thank You for your reply .

[@BriggsontheRoad]

You need to write a book on the hilarious things your sweet babies say!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣💕

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Haha! Thanks for being here Briggs on the Road!

[@ciaobella8963]

Nature's Head is the best composting toilet out there. Nicely done!

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks for watching, Janice! So far we are super happy with the toilet and the installation.

[@dawnparker9884]

Great video!! 👏

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks you for your kindness, Dawn!

[@randallcaraway1944]

Great video. I enjoy your interaction with the children and how you are helping them learn. Stay safe and healthy.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thank yuh Randall! Glad you’re here!

[@melbell3925]

😂😂 the Home Depot slow mo hands

[@JC-jw6dp]

Great job

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks JC!

[@JJs-ClassC-Adventures]

Great job Michael. I always go to Lowes or Home Depot numerous times for any job. I could see Michelle was very proud of your work.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Haha and I thought it was my special style to go so often. I’ve found the closer I am to the store the more likely I am to complete the project. Thanks for being here, J J

[@julieh3327]

We know the feeling of putting a hole in your RV! Ours was a 2 1/2 in hole. SCARY! Good job! Thanks for sharing your journey.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Hi Julie! Always nice to see you here. Amazing how intimidating it can be to bore a hole in something expensive. :)

[@trumptman]

Great video you guys. Enjoyed Michael's talk time as that is exactly how I feel when doing work on my travel trailer. Michelle's ad-hoc first reaction to the finished toilet was pretty funny. The youngest ran off with the potty bucket like it was a purse. It was super interesting overall as well. Thanks for the awesome video!

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks so much for being here nickmusings! Always so nice to read your thoughtful comments. It’s really funny I didn’t notice that Olive ran off with her “purse” until it was pointed out in the comments. I had to go back and watch it closely! 🤣

[@kathrynstires25]

Great job Michael. I was nervous about drilling a hole in an Airstream as well. An I don’t even have a RV yet! Michelle you’re doing a great job as a parent. Miss those times when my kids were so young. Now I have my grandchildren. Can’t wait til we get a RV. It’s still on my bucket list! Stay safe in your travels.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thank you Kathryn! We are trying hard to cherish these times when they are young. It’s funny you were nervous for the drilling as well. There’s just something so permanent about drilling holes.

[@franielee38]

Yay!!!! Good going guys!!! Hope it goes well!!! Hugs&Love 😊

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thank you franielee38! Great to see you as always! 💙❤️💚

[@denisebunker6674]

Michelle you are brave.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

🤣 Thanks! So far, so good.

[@harold1316]

Brave man. Great job

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks Harold!

[@mkmcem5096]

Wow that was awesome.....congratulations on the install

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks for reaching out, Warrior Woman!

[@thepiddlingpicker6623]

Great vlog...I love the way you both teach the girls. Hi three little trees!

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thank you Angela B! Glad to see you here as always!!

[@beblessed3227]

PAPA ..WOW it's amazing when you get by the point of no return of can I or cant I...and you both get into the LETS DO THIS and see what happens ...your showing your daughters how to JUST TRY...OMG to THREE... CUTENESS OVERLOAD MOMENTS (my favorite part of my comment ...

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

You are so right. There’s something empowering about crossing that line and finally finally taking action on a decision. We get to stop worrying about whether we should try it. Now we’ll know and move on with life either way. Thank you for being here short grub - always enjoy reading your comments!

[@janetfolkerts5827]

i noticed the sink cabinet door creates a new challenge. Simply take if off, turn it upside down and the hinges will be on the left side and open from the right. I know this adds to your 'To Do List'.. :-)

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

That’s a brilliant life hack! I love it. Our cabinet door actually still opens with the new toilet, it’s just the “Squatty Potty” (gloried step stool) that blocks the door, so that can just move out of the way to open the cabinet. Thanks for reaching out Janet! Glad you’re here!

[@kevinseckerson7666]

The funniest was when olive mad the urine diverter into a purse 😅😅😅

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Hahaha I hadn’t even noticed that! Thanks for pointing that out! 🤣

[@dcordero1]

Great video! We installed our composting toilet over three years ago and all things considered, we're glad we did it. There are a lot of different opinions on whether it is really composting our not after two weeks but you can decide for yourself. We have now started using spagnum peat moss because it is much cheaper than coco coir. Good Luck!

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience dcordero1! So far we love ours. In addition to having the extra gray tank, we also use a lot less water, not having to flush the sewage anymore.

[@vickibrown2619]

Thank you so much for the GREAT detail. We are actually thinking of doing this in our trailer too. 😃

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Awesome. So far we have zero regrets! Let us know how your experience goes.

[@DWDinAtlanta]

Seems to me that you had trouble with the gray tank filling up before the black tank did a few videos back. I think it will be the lack of fresh water that will bring you in from boondocking longer than a week. I know there is a learning curve to that but with 3 small kids, you need water! LOL Somebody toddled away with the urine bottle. LOL I hope you found it.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

It’s true, we used to max our on gray tank first, until we got so many helpful tips from all y’all that enabled us to conserve water much more. Then the black tank became the issue. But you’re right fresh water is always in need, but we’re able to use far less water without needing to manage the sewage anymore. Also it’s easier for us to fetch extra fresh, or carry extra water in the white van.

[@CarrieMtn]

Great job. I hope to put one in my camper some day. Are you going to divert the urine like Astreamn" life did?

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

We are considering doing that part too. Would be nicer not to have to dump the liquids tank every other day. Still looking for more specifics about how to make a cap like the one they made. Thank you for reaching out Carrie! Let us know how it goes with yours!

[@KatieT81]

We only extended wknd camp and I really want a composting toilet.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Hi Katie T! I can tell you that we are now about a month into having the new toilet, and we are loving it. I can’t imagine ever wanting to deal with sewage again, even if we only did short trips.

[@patobrien1460]

Your girls are so special!

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks for watching, Pat!

[@HaroldMalaby]

TMI subject but I get it. Nature's Head has good reputation just too expensive. It will be interesting with kids good luck 😉.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks Harold! So far only Linden is potty trained, but I imagine Maple will probably be ready to join in soon.

[@Ringelsocke.]

Hi fam! *YAAY* a man - a word and the job is done! 👌🏻 The girls 🌳🌳🌳 will learn quickly, how to use it because they don't know any different. Ok.... they know different, but only for a short time in their lifes. I won't install a composting toilet in my home, but this video was a fantastic distraction from sewing masks. Yes, I'm still on it. And I love to see how you fill your life with wonderful memories and if you ever forget one, you can rewatch it. 👌🏻 Stay safe!!

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Hi Ringelsocke! So nice that you are sewing masks. We’re going to have to learn how to sew so that we can make some also. Might be a nice activity to get the kids involved with.

[@Ringelsocke.]

@@ThreeLittleTrees The internet is full of patterns, youtube has tons of videos. I'm sure you will find something very easy to involve the kids. 👌🏻

[@peterdement]

You missed the most important part of the streaminlife install! That is directly plumbing the urine into the existing black tank. This eliminates the worst of the composting toilet tasks: having to empty the urine tank regularly (sometimes daily)

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Nope I didn’t miss it. 🤓 They actually did that urine-diverter mod two years after their initial install. So in a similar fashion, we are starting with part 1 for now and will see how it goes before we do that 2nd part. If you look closely at the platform that we jigsawed, you’ll see we even planned for it by cutting a notch that will eventually provide the space for the pex tubing that drains the urine down into the black tank. Did you do the urine diverter mod? How did you do it? We could use advice on what kind of cap to use. They removed the red Oatey cap but didn’t specify the new parts they used.

[@kevinseckerson7666]

I would also suggest diverting the urine diverter into the black tank .

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Michael is very much wanting to try that. He even cut a notch into the wooden platform he made for the toilet, in anticipation of leaving a path for some pex tubing someday. Still not sure what kind of cap to use for the black tank that would allow tubing in.

[@roguegypsy7827]

That was fun! Don’t get lazy and not stir it every time! Take it from me👍🏽

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Good advice! Thanks for reaching out Rogue Gypsy!

[@blklez39]

❤️

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Thanks for sharing the love Poohbaby44! 💙❤️💚

[@lyndon5478]

You guys are best. What brand did you guys get and model?

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

It is the Nature’s Head composting toilet. As far as I know they only have one model. Love it so far.

[@hairtiecoocoo]

I can't wait to see how this toilet works for all you girls. I know you will be honest about it.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

We sure will 😂

[@josepinchero]

An airstream this big prob. has a very large black tank. how does the NH composting toilet get you more time than a very large black tank? Also, is it hard to get the NH unit outside for emptying? (can someone older w/ back issues do this?). if you do mostly campgrounds, i'm guessing you'd prob just prefer the black tank right?

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

The compost toilet allowed us to combine the old black tank with the grey tank using a $20 valve cap. This doubled gray capacity and gray was usually the limiting factor. Yes it was somewhat awkward to carry outside and empty. With 5 people we were only getting 1 week before having to change it. After a couple of years we went back to flush toilet since we weren’t boondocking enough to make it worth the extra hassle of emptying the compost. Now I would not recommend a compost toilet unless boondocking is main priority, or maybe a solo camper who could get 5-6 weeks between changes.

[@josepinchero]

@@ThreeLittleTreesgreat advice! thanks. we're considering a new airstream Caravel right now....and i was pondering all this. i think we'll just keep the tanks how they are (it has a 23 gal fresh and 30 gal combined black/gray).

[@allens7476]

Okay, you're the canary in the coal mine. I had a recirculating toilet on a boat once and it was the grossest thing ever. This is different, but do you replace the sawdust every time you empty it? I assume so. Curious to hear more.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Right now we have three users (two are still in diapers). After two weeks we changed out the compost, replaced with fresh coconut coir material. Took only five minutes to change, super easy, didn’t smell bad at all, just exactly like soil. The liquids bottle filled every two days, but that was easily just dumped down the shower drain. Urine smells very strong for a minute, but after it’s rinsed down, that’s it. So far we see no reason to ever go back to a flush toilet.

[@BarefootGranny352]

Great job! Maple will probably potty train quickly with this set up.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

I suspect you are right. She’s going to want to be like big sister. 😀

[@kellybryson7754]

If the manufacturer says two bags, just use two bags. Plus, I'm assuming you need room for poop.

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Hi Kelly! I think it was confusing that I showed bags in this video. I was actually just practicing for when we eventually empty it. The bags are just for emptying. No bags ever go inside the composting toilet. I just wanted to practice emptying while it was still clean, to make sure I had the right size of bags. Thanks for being here!

[@lorichaulk5583]

So are you going to make your black tank soMething else

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Yep, now it is a second gray tank. It gets us from 40 almost double, up to 77 gallons.

[@1380beagle]

😂🤣 “for your eeeerrrr”

[@urbanwithoutgrace6683]

Hells bells, you got yourself a HONEYDO!!!

[@ThreeLittleTrees]

Honey do this! Honey do that! :)