Dometic Toilet Problem

No direct help but found this, perhaps you could figure it out from the diagram.

https://www.leisurespares.co.uk/brands/dometic/toilets-dometic/ctw4050/ctw4050-main

Worst case scenario, dont use the flush, keep the dilute pink in a pop bottle next to the toilet.

John - you have my sympathy.  We have a new Knaus Starclass 695 which had that toilet fitted.  It was useless! Like you, I found the blade difficult to operate - despite there being plenty of silicone grease on it and my continual spraying with silicone.  It leaked from the blade every time it was tipped up for emptying.  The stupid, over-complicated telescopic handle jammed in the open position and then, finally, the flush mechanism packed up altogether.  Added to which the wheels are so small on the cassette that they were useless on anything but smooth tarmac. All that in 5 months.

The dealer was unable to do anything under warranty other than to swap it for an identical model and based on their experience of continual problems with Dometic toilets, I paid them to have it changed to a tried and trusty Thetford. It went in perfectly other than the fact that the flush is now taken from the internal water tank, rendering the outside filler cap superfluous.

You may laugh - but on our recent three week holiday in Cornwall, it was a joy to use and empty as compared with all the hassle I had with that useless Dometic

R&R, I'm sorry to hear that you have had similar problems to me re the blade mechanism but also pleased, in a way, that I'm not the only one to experience it. I wonder how many other CT members with the Dometic toilet have also had problems?

It has crossed my mind more than once about fitting a Thetford as a replacement but I guess it isn't a cheap option.

John - if you do a search of other forums - as I did when I realised that Dometic toilets weren't as good as they made out - you will find loads of complaints similar to those I've highlighted. That was what swayed me in the end, to fix the problem once and for all.

I believe the dealer more or less did it at near cost price (so they said!) but it was still £600.  However, when balanced against what we had paid for the van and the fact that we are unlikely to be buying another, it seemed justifiable to me. I just wanted something I could rely on.

The only problem you might have is whether or not you have an inboard water tank. Although the toilet has gone into the van with no signs that it has been changed, if it had had a header tank, the filler holes don't line up on the outside of the van - so they fitted the model without the header tank (although it looks as if it has one, if you understand). Your van might be different, but I doubt it.

'I believe the dealer more or less did it at near cost price (so they said!) but it was still £600. However, when balanced against what we had paid for the van and the fact that we are unlikely to be buying another, it seemed justifiable to me. I just wanted something I could rely on.'

Or something reliable to go on?

Sorry, I'll get my coat.....

I've been in touch with Dometic UK several times in the last few days. Their customer service department has told me that the cause is the anti-siphon valve which has probably got some muck in it. This can be caused by using too much rinse aid, ( something that I don't often use). A possible solution is to flush through several header tanks of warm water to try to dislodge the bits. Although some black bits did come through it didn't cure the problem.

Failing this as a cure, I was told at it would need the valve removing from inside the toilet housing, a job for a service engineer. In view of this I have now asked twice for the name / location of a service engineer in our general area. So far I've had no response from Dometic about this. Pretty poor service.

Although we have very few caravan workshops around us we do have quite a lot of boat yards including boat builders. They must put toilets into new boats but do they fit Dometics, that is the question.

When I first emailed Dometic I had a reply within hours but by strange that they can't email with the name of a service agent. Very frustrating.

Any new caravan purchase in the future will NOT have Dometic equipment fitted having experienced problems with the Dometic fridge and now the toilet in the current caravan.

My overall impression of the Dometic toilet is that the design is over-complicated and the materials flimsy and just not up to the job. You did well for yours to last 4 years - we had all our problems within the first five months of ownership of the van and every time we used it, something else failed or didn't work properly. The flush mechanism failing was the final straw.

With regard to boats - they are a different beast altogether and I think you will find that Jabsco toilets are the preferred choice - another tried and tested brand that's been around for years in the marine world.

I’ve just had to replace the sealing o ring under the blade of our Dometic toilet and was in disbelief at the cost of a rubber o ring £80 I think were all being taken for ride by these manufacturers. It’s cheap unreliable equipment at an eye watering price.

You do not need to have an on board water tank to use a toilet without a flush tank, the water can be drawn from the Aquaroll.

Our previous van, a Sterling Eccles Emerald, had this arrangement, and it took us ages to remember that we had to keep the separate flush tank on our present van topped up!

The only slight drawback would be if you wanted to use and flush when stopped for, say, lunch, we got round this by having a small 10 litre water carrier that we dropped the external pump or water uptake into. This travelled in the back of the car.

The water was of course also handy for hand washing and kettle filling.

 I too have a Dometic in my Clubman SB and I hate it with a vengance - if I try to use the flush it ends up leaking onto the blade and then the floor, I have resorted to the pop bottle next to the loo! I've had it looked at  but short of taking the unit out the problem couldn't be found.  

I have been considering replacing it with a Thetford, so can I ask please what model Dometic did you have removed and what Thetford did you replace it with?

Thanks

Carole