How-TO Tips

Replacing an RV Toilet

Jeff Johnston: One of the fun things about owning an older, used RV is customizing it, upgrading it, getting something to replace an old component that maybe works a little better. One thing that is really easy to replace and very worthwhile to replace is the toilet. Now, the one that’s in this older model is a Thetford, and it’s 14 inches tall, which is right about this high, approximately. Some of the manufacturers seem to think people were a lot shorter back then, and they put these little tiny toilets in, and this one is a new Thetford Aqua-Magic with a foot flush, and it’s about 17 1/2 inches tall, and for your average, full-sized adult, that’s a little more space you have for your knees, and so on, just making it more comfortable. 

And the owner this trailer is also suffering from some mobility issues, so when you are down close to the ground, it’s a little harder to stand back up than if you’re a little bit higher, so this is gonna help him along those lines.

If you want to raise your toilet for similar reasons, for example, one other option with Thetford is their toilet riser. They have this kit that’s about a 2 1/2-inch riser, and it simply fits down on the floor, and then your original toilet bolts right down on top of it. Has all the same connections and so on that are used in a typical RV. So this is one option that’s very useful and little bit less expensive, maybe, than buying an entire toilet, however, the toilet is not that expensive, and it’s one of those items you can replace, and this one also has the option of the hand-flush little hose, which we’re not installing today. But doing a toilet swap on an RV is one of the easier projects you can do.

All you need is a half-inch open-end wrench or socket, and a pair of pliers or the correct size spanner wrench in order to get the plumbing off the back. So we’re gonna jump into the trailer here and see what we can do to be able to get the old toilet out, put in the new toilet, and make it a lot more comfortable and easier for the owners to use. Be sure to watch the show to see the actual installation by Jeff.

With very little effort, a new Thetford Aqua-Magic V toilet can add a new level of comfortable functionality to your RV.