Toilet Trouble? - our campervan toilet gives us problems! DIY fix

Our toilet flush has stopped working, here’s how to fix it! Our campervan has a Thetford toilet and pump, and it’s giving us trouble. Has the fuse blown? Is the pump faulty? We show you how to fix a campervan toilet.
Thanks for watching and following our fun family adventures with our campervan!
We are Jordan, Jo, Holly, Izzy and Poppy, the calicamperfamily. Our current van is a 2022 Ford Nugget Plus. It is a 5 seater and sleeps all 5 of us too.
We are British and live and work permanently in Northern Italy alongside Lago Maggiore, near the Alps and not far away from Milan.
Tell us what you think by commenting and we try and answer everyone.
Thanks for tuning in!
Equipment used to film and produce our videos:
IPhone 13 pro
IPhone 12
IPhone SE
DJI Spark drone
Insta360 Go 2
Viofo A119 Mini Dash Cam
Lumafusion editing App
IPad Pro.

[@slowlywilding]

Hi, we asked on Facebook for order genuine ‘ family van life accounts’ and yours got suggested. Love your content

[@CaliCamperFamily]

Haha, that’s nice! We just had a look at your channel and subbed…👍. What a great van you have, it’s brilliant 😃👏🏻

[@slowlywilding]

@@CaliCamperFamily amazing, thank you. She is a beauty of a van ( but definitely came with its problems!)

[@cjs5790]

Very clear, excellent camera work too! Another note about using suitable fluids - ordinary kitchen surface cleaners can damage and make brittle caravan/motorhome plastics. I discovered this was possibly the reason for fine cracks in our shower tray. I’ve used the Thetford ‘bathroom’ surface cleaner since and had no problem over several vans since then. It’s dearer but is peace of mind to maintain your van for a longer life! Have a fantastic trip away.

[@CaliCamperFamily]

Thanks for that…a good tip indeed. I’ll get some of that for us…nice to keep it nice! 😃👍

[@lee.m.bennett2635]

The “dirty” water is algae caused often by the flush chemicals. We use Milton once a month (we full time) to sterilise the flush tank 👍

[@CaliCamperFamily]

Thanks for that! I will look into the Milton steriliser 👍

[@richardcope3850]

Our toilet stopped working and I tried everything with pumps & fuses. It was none of that. Basically, I had brimmed the flush tank in preparation for a long trip to Denmark. Whilst driving this leaked, splashed into the void under the flush switch and slowly filled that kidney shape space and shorted out the circuit board. Not a cheap fix but it was actually fixed under warranty within two weeks! Needless to say I don’t fill the flush tank more than about 75%. Water did have bits in it but nothing major.

[@CaliCamperFamily]

That’s a good tip and a reason not to overfill it. There isn’t a max fill line on the clear tube indicator, so not surprised this happened. Hadn’t thought of that consequence though. Also, It was good they fixed it under warranty for you, above all, I’m amazed by that. Westfalia/Ford have still not been in touch about the battery issue…makes me wonder how long it will be!

[@Wheres_wanda_wandering]

Poppy did an excellent job as the camera person and you did a splendid job fixing the pump. Take care Gill

[@torrianobertamoni7459]

Ciao buongiorno, sei veramente bravo, riesci sempre sistemare tutto 🙏

[@louisehollyhead6807]

Apparently the black sludge occurs from the pink flush fluid. We had a caravan before our nugget and always used pink and blue but have recently switched to elsan organic green which goes in both the top and bottom and we find as well it is better in terms of dealing with smells and not giving off much of a chemical smell either. Just nice and neutral but with enough aroma to do the job. Seems better all around. I get that people don't always buy branded. This is one area we personally choose to as over the years we've found some of the cheaper ones don't break down paper and other bits and let things smell. But there are other brands of green that goes in top and bottom and you should avoid the black sludge...apparently..could be one of those urban myths but I have seen the same thing being said by loads of people in caravan Facebook groups and yes you have to choose your info carefully. Everyone poses as an expert but it is a conistent message I keep seeing. We accidentally ended up with green because I ordered late before going away via amazon and couldn't get the usual pink and blue on next day so got the elsan green by accident and regardless of anything we like the green best and I guess every time you flush you do get a bit of extra watered down chemical that helps break stuff down. All personal choice I guess. Thought it was worth a mention. Great video as usual. If we ever need to take our nugget plus apart and service bits and pieces you channel has it all!

[@CaliCamperFamily]

Thanks for that. Good tips! I will give that a go as the black sludge is probably the reason the pump stops working. Thanks for watching and the great comment! 👍

[@ianhewlett647]

Thetford have advice to use diluted bleach to kill off the black spores, it used to be on there website. Make sure you flush away the bleach afterwards. I don't use anything except fresh water in the flush tank, but do regularly drain it when not in use. Not sure how is that is on the nugget.

[@CaliCamperFamily]

Me and Poppy show you how to fix our Thetford toilet. Please comment, like and subscibe!

[@cabbunk9906]

Great work!! This is why I always pack a few tools when we go away in the van❤❤

[@cabbunk9906]

PS the 'toothy gap' parts were hilarious!😂

[@CaliCamperFamily]

Always, always carry some ‘scratch’ tools…! I’m with you on that!

[@russellrivers-scott7928]

Another excellent video, well explained and well done to your new little helper Poppy. ❤ Looking forward to your adventures in Disneyland, Paris. By the way, what a gorgeous view you have from your house. 😊

[@robinmorgan1149]

Another great video… love the adventures and the maintenance element. Considering fitting the toilet seat cover in my new high top plus about which I think you’ve done an installation video. Can’t find it anywhere on your site. Can you advise please on how I can find it?

[@CaliCamperFamily]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIPYop-Kl95ga9Usi=QdMUCDBFDLqEVkA2

[@CaliCamperFamily]

Thanks Robin. Here is the link above. Well worth fitting a toilet cover. Glad you like the maintenance elements. Thanks for watching and commenting…😃

[@rhysstatham7407]

Bit of topic what cycle rack system are you using I just bought a Autocampers conversion based on the Ford Transit Custom which has barn doors at the back looking for a rack that gives me access with the bikes fitted.

[@CaliCamperFamily]

Hi, mine is an Atera Strada DL 3+1. Works well, although I’ve never tried it with barn doors. It might work but depends also on your towbar. If it’s a swan neck, then there’s no adjustment, but if you have a more traditional tow bar, then you could fit a spacer to help give you a fraction more clearance. Thanks for watching. (BTW, if you look back, we did a video on the Atera some years ago) 😃

[@rhysstatham7407]

@@CaliCamperFamily thanks I'll take a look only recently came across your channel .