We’ve had a Thetford RV toilet (the Aria II electrically-activated gravity flush toilet) in our Newmar motorhome for over 17 years. Not only has it worked perfectly for all that time, but it even has the original seal on the blade valve to this day!
But we know that many RVers have reason to replace their RV toilets for one reason or another. There are also travelers who build their own van campers and RVs who need to select a toilet solution that works with a less complex water system… or none at all. (See our post How Does a Composting RV Toilet Work for ideas on that topic).
So, today we’re taking a look at various types and models of Thetford RV toilets in hopes of helping to sort out the differences as a sort of guide for what’s readily available in the Thetford line.
Let’s dive right in! (Oops, sorry…maybe not the best choice of words for today’s topic.) LOL
- 1) Who is Thetford?
- 2) What Types of RV Toilets Does Thetford Produce?
- 3) Are Thetford RV Toilets Interchangeable?
- 4) Where is the ID Label on My Thetford RV Toilet?
- 5) Popular Thetford RV Flush Toilet Models
- 6) What Other Types of RV Toilets Does Thetford Offer?
- 7) Multiple Thetford RV Toilet Options
Who is Thetford?
Thetford is a leading manufacturer of mobile sanitation products worldwide.
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan with a global headquarters in Etten-Leur, Netherlands, Thetford has been making toilets and other products for the RV, camping, marine, and truck industries since 1964.
Their RV toilet products include low-water-use permanently mounted or portable toilets and tote tanks as well as waste holding tank treatments and deodorants.
What Types of RV Toilets Does Thetford Produce?
Thetford makes RV flush toilets, portable toilets, permanently installed cassette toilets, and recirculating toilets as well as RV toilet accessories and parts.
In essence, if you need a permanent or portable toilet for mobile use (or even for home health care), Thetford likely has an option available for you.
Are Thetford RV Toilets Interchangeable?
If you’ve got a Thetford toilet installed in your RV that needs to be replaced or upgraded, you can usually choose another Thetford model to install.
In fact, newer models are more water-efficient and are available in lightweight high-quality plastic (polypropylene) or home-like porcelain.
You can also probably buy a Thetford model that’s taller than the one currently in your RV for comfort and ease of use.
However, it’s important to remember that while RV toilet flanges are universal, RV toilets are not. There are many different types of RV toilets, so not all RV toilet replacements will work for every application.
You’ll want to know how far from the wall your new RV toilet is capable of mounting, the location of the drain, etc. Older RVs in particular will have older toilets with varying installations.
These details are good to know prior to ordering a replacement flush toilet for your RV.
You may want to look for the ID label on your RV toilet for more information about your particular model. Or take some measurements to compare with the specifications of any replacement you’re considering.
You can also contact Thetford directly if you’re having difficulty selecting a replacement toilet that will work for your application. You can reach out to Thetford’s customer service by calling 1-800-543-1219.
Where is the ID Label on My Thetford RV Toilet?
On a Thetford RV toilet, you’re most likely to find the ID label either below the rim of the toilet on the center front surface or behind the seat. To visualize a label located behind the seat, lift the seat and lid halfway.
On some RV toilets, you’ll find a sticker on the side with replacement information.
Your RV owner’s manual (if it’s the original toilet) should be helpful. If the toilet in your RV has been replaced previously, the owner’s manual for the new toilet will also have helpful information.
Popular Thetford RV Flush Toilet Models
If you need to replace your existing permanently installed RV gravity flush toilet, you’ve got a number of options. (Just remember to check the measurements of your particular application.)
Following are some of the most popular Thetford RV toilets currently on the market.
Thetford Aqua-Magic Residence
The Aqua-Magic Residence is a premium lightweight (polypropylene) gravity foot flush RV toilet with a residential seat and cover.
This high-profile version of the Aqua-Magic Residence is ADA-compliant at 18 inches high. (19.5″ high with the lid closed.)
This replacement is helpful to many RVers who have a lower toilet installed and need more height for comfortable access.
The high-profile version weighs just 9.5 pounds and uses a single pedal flush noted by the manufacturer to be powerful, with 100% bowl coverage.
A lower-profile version of the Aqua-Magic Residence (12.5 inches high and 8.5 pounds) is also available, as is an optional water-saving hand sprayer.
Dimensions of this Thetford RV toilet are 19.75 x 15.25 x 18 inches.
The toilet comes with a flange seal, 2 nuts, 2 bolts, and 2 bolt covers.
- [VERSATILITY]: Aqua-Magic Residence is a stylish, comfortable, and lightweight toilet, suited for all RV type
- [FUNCTIONALITY]: The toilet uses a single-pedal system - pressing the pedal half way adds water to the bowl, while pressing the pedal all the way...
Interestingly, it appears that (at least as of this writing) you can get the Thetford Aqua-Magic Residence high-profile RV toilet WITH the water-saving hand sprayer to rinse the bowl for a couple of dollars less.
- Fit Type: Universal Fit
- Residential seat and cover; Thetford Aqua-Magic Residence RV Toilet with Water Saver - High Profile, White
Looking for the low-profile version of the Aqua-Magic Residence? Here you go!
- LOW-PROFILE SEAT: Low-profile residential toilet seat with a single-pedal flush system suited for any recreational vehicle
- 2-IN-1 FLUSH SYSTEM: Powerful flushing functionality via a single foot pedal that provides 100 percent bowl coverage
Thetford Aqua-Magic Bravura
The Bravura is another high-profile RV gravity flush toilet from Thetford with a unique style designed to be easy to clean.
The front shroud is removable for access to mounting bolts and flush pedal mechanism to allow thorough cleaning. The seat and cover pod are also removable for cleaning.
This is a single-pedal flush. You’ll press the pedal halfway down to add water to the bowl and all the way down to flush the toilet.
The Bravura has a universal floor flange so it can be mounted on any existing flange.
Thetford’s water-saving hand sprayer can be installed with this toilet but is not included.
This RV toilet weighs 18.7 pounds and is 16.25 inches tall.
- 2-in-1 Efficient Flush System: The single-pedal flush system has 2 functions: press the lever halfway to add water to the bowl and all the way to...
- The Comfort Of A Household Toilet: Bravura comes with a removable seat and cover pod for easy cleaning and servicing.
Aqua-Magic V
Thetford’s Aqua-Magic V weighs only around 9 pounds.
It’s available as a low-profile toilet (14″ in height) and as a high-profile toilet at 18.5 inches. That’s a pretty significant difference in height, so be sure to choose the higher-profile Aqua-Magic V if you desire a taller throne!
The low-profile version uses a one-pedal flush (halfway for water, all the way for a flush), and the high-profile version offers a single-pedal flush or a one-handle flush.
Thetford’s Aqua-Magic V RV toilets are lightweight, durable, affordable, and quite popular. The toilets come in white or parchment.
- Designed For The Road: Aqua-Magic V is a classic-style RV toilet suited for any recreational vehicle that accepts a permanent installation.
- 2-in-1 Efficient Flush System: The single-pedal flush system has 2 functions: press the lever halfway to add water to the bowl and all the way to...
- Aqua-Magic V is the RV toilet with a classic style and taller seating height, suited for all recreational vehicles
- The toilet has a single-pedal system - press it halfway to add water to the bowl and all the way to flush - and offers 100% bowl coverage flush
Aria Deluxe II
The Aria Deluxe is the toilet we’ve had in our RV for over 17 years. This is the Aria Deluxe II and it’s very similar.
It’s a full residential-size toilet with a deep, all-china bowl and an elongated seat. It’s a high-profile toilet with a height of 17 1/2 inches and a weight of around 57 pounds.
The Aria Deluxe II has an electric push-button pulsating flush and a water-saving hand sprayer. It uses about half the amount of water other brands use, so it’s great for boondockers like us. (It includes two flush modes – residential and water saver.)
No products found.
Tecma Silence Plus 2
And finally, the Tecma Silence Plus 2, Thetford’s 12V RV macerating toilet with a wall switch.
This toilet weighs just over 68 1/2 pounds and has a powerful but nearly noiseless turbine pump, capable of pumping 120 feet with an 8-foot rise.
It has a solid porcelain base with a molded plastic seat and cover. It’s fully self-contained so there’s no need for an external macerator or pump.
The dimensions of this toilet are 13.9 x 68.6 x 10 inches.
- Amazingly powerful, yet virtually noiseless turbine pump
- Remarkably elegant European styling
These are by no means all of Thetford’s RV flush toilets but they represent several of the most popular. Should you want to look at other RV toilets currently offered by Thetford, we encourage you to check out Thetford’s website.
What Other Types of RV Toilets Does Thetford Offer?
Thetford offers several types of RV toilets that are suitable for various types of rigs.
Portable Toilets
Thetford offers portable toilets in several styles and sizes. (Check out our post on portable camping toilets to learn more about them.)
These toilets are self-contained with a detachable tank underneath. These toilets flush with water and then the tank can be detached from the toilet and the contents dumped.
Portable toilets are very popular in camper vans without holding tanks, custom-built vans, and even cars.
Cassette Toilets
Thetford cassette toilets work in a similar fashion to permanent RV toilets while offering the convenience and easy addition of what is essentially a portable toilet combined with a holding tank.
This type of toilet is permanently installed and can be used in any van or RV build that has room for the toilet and its built-in tank.
We’ve used cassette toilets during all five of our international RV trips, and show you how to manage them in this video from our trip to England:
Recirculating Toilet
Thetford also sells a recirculating toilet that’s also designed for use in situations where there’s no permanent holding tank.
Recirculating toilets operate on 12V or 24V electricity and use very little water.
Multiple Thetford RV Toilet Options
We hope we’ve been able to give you an idea of the variety of RV toilet options offered by Thetford.
There are other manufacturers of RV toilets as well, but Thetford is one of the most popular and significant producers. And our 17+ years of personal experience have been excellent!
Down the line a bit we’ll introduce options from another popular RV toilet manufacturer.
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Bruce
Tuesday 1st of November 2022
I really enjoyed reading this article and it left me pondering some double entendres afterwards to include in this comment. We bought our first travel trailer in 2020 and we camp mostly in places which at least have an outhouse so we've avoided the hassle so far of dealing with solid waste - your article on pyramiding was provocative and left us pondering the possibilities of piles of poop. However, I am thinking of building a tear drop or van RV and considering what type of toilet to use. I did a deeper dive (no pun intended) afterwards on recirculating toilets which I had never heard of but found they sounded maintenance intensive and odiferous. It would be interesting to learn about other options, such as compost toilets, etc.