Mobile homes come in different sizes and types, though they can get relatively small. With this, you may be wondering if any toilet will fit in a mobile home. We have researched this and will answer your question in this post. Keep on reading to learn more!
Most standard-size toilets will fit in a modern mobile home. Due to federal building codes, the plumbing and parts needed to fit a toilet into a mobile home (otherwise known as a manufactured home) are similar to that of a standard home.
With this in mind, what are some things to look out for when fitting a toilet into a mobile home? We will answer this as well as explain the difference between a mobile home and a manufactured home in the next sections. Finally, this post also goes over how to choose toilets for other non-standard homes. Read on!
Will Any Toilet Fit In A Mobile Home?
Mobile homes that follow standard building codes can use most toilets. Some toilets may be too big or need different parts to suit the home's plumbing, but these are outliers. The only difference between traditional homes and mobile homes is that the latter is designed to be moved around.
Some people may use the terms mobile home and manufactured home interchangeably. They are essentially the same thing but started to be referred to as manufactured homes after 1976 with the enforcement of new building codes.
You will only run into limitations when choosing and installing a toilet in your mobile home if it is too small. In this situation, you can simply opt for a smaller-sized toilet. This can be an issue if it is too small for your use, however, so take into account the dimensions of your bathroom.
A few other things you need to remember is the plumbing system in your mobile home. Establish a good waterline and make sure it is safe for toilet installation. Chances are you will end up with toilets on the smaller end when it comes to the plumbing in mobile homes.
One final thing to note is that the toilet size you can use is more limited for other types of mobile homes. Examples are trailer homes, tiny homes, RVs, and vans. If your mobile home does not have a plumbing system, it will decrease your options even further.
Since mobile homes are meant to be movable, more compact sizes are ideal. If you need help choosing and installing a toilet in your home, it is a good idea to call a professional. But this can be a DIY job if you know what to do.
Can You Put A Regular Toilet In A Trailer?
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Trailers are a type of mobile home. Unlike Manufactured homes, which are made to stay in one location, trailers are engineless living spaces attached to a vehicle. This sets trailers apart from RVs, as the latter has their engine (RV is short for Recreational Vehicle, after all).
You cannot put a regular toilet in a trailer. Unlike manufactured homes, trailers are not equipped with the same plumbing system used in standard houses. This is the same case for RVs, as well as campers (which are smaller trailers).
For your trailer home, camper, or RV, opt for smaller toilets. If your mobile home has a plumbing system, pick a toilet that fits it. If your mobile home does not have a plumbing system, there are ways around it. You can either create a system or use a chamber-pot type setup.
Mobile homes without plumbing systems can make use of a gravity-flush toilet. These flush into a waste-holding tank that you must empty and clean regularly. Note that you may not always have a constant fresh water supply, so you will want to conserve flushing and cleaning water.
Click here to see RV Flush Toilet on Amazon.
There are porcelain toilets on the market for RVs, but plastic may be more common. Either option can work, and you might even prefer the porcelain toilet just because it feels more standard. Another thing your mobile home bathroom should have is a vent cap.
Are All Residential Toilets The Same Size?
Residential toilets, particularly for standard homes and manufactured homes, can vary in size but usually have these dimensions: 17 to 19 inches seat height, 21 to 31 inches back height, 20 inches wide, and up to 30 inches deep. Toilets can be rounder or more elongated.
A term used for measuring toilet dimensions is called "rough-in." This is the measurement from the finished wall behind the toilet up to its center at the waste pipe. This can be 10 inches, 12 inches, or 14 inches. Most toilets will follow these sizings and have them indicated in their information sheets.
Do not install your toilet too close to the wall. Doing so will negatively affect your plumbing system and make your space seem cramped. Accessing toilet parts for repairs can also be difficult without enough space.
Bathroom Building Codes
The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) is the organization that monitors and prescribes these guidelines. It is best practice to follow their standards to maximize not just your space but also your safety.
In the US, bathrooms need to follow federal building codes. Most modern homes and mobile homes follow these specifications. The minimum space for a toilet is 15 inches from any side wall and 30 to 32 inches from other sanitary fixtures. This clearance space ensures ease of movement and better sanitation.
You could have less than 2 feet of space for a toilet with a minimum of 21 inches. However, the NKBA recommends 30 inches at the minimum. If you have a smaller toilet, you may be able to manage it with smaller space measurements than this.
Aside from clearance around the toilet, consider toilet height as well. This can affect your comfort and how you move, especially for people with mobility issues. The standard seat height mentioned above is also specified by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Always measure your bathroom and toilet before installation. Rough in your toilet, and double-check to ensure you have a well-working plumbing system. It is not the most ideal to let your toilet and shower share a drain, so try to make them have separate drainage lines if possible.
How To Choose A Mobile Home Toilet
When choosing a mobile home toilet, you must consider these things: your plumbing system, bathroom size, and waste disposal. Manufactured homes do not have to worry so much about these since, as mentioned, most modern units are equipped with standard toilets.
Consider your options for smaller or mobile homes that will move around a lot. Measure out your available space to see if it will fit the standard. Take the rough-in dimension and pick a suitable toilet. If standard or gravity flush toilets are not an option, be ready to choose alternative options.
Can You Use A Mobile Toilet?
An alternative to standard toilets for mobile homes is a mobile toilet. These are good options for trailers, campers, and van-lifers. Portable toilets require different maintenance from standard toilets and can be a hassle, but they are space savers for smaller homes.
Bucket toilets are the most straightforward option. You can get them as buckets with a lid or toilet-shaped ones with a detachable waste bucket. These look similar to cassette toilets, but the two are not the same.
Cassette toilets or chemical toilets eliminate odor through chemicals. While the holding tank fills up, you do not have to worry about bad smells. This option is a little pricier than a bucket toilet but may be better for you if you go a long way without being able to dispose of your waste.
Click here to see Portable Cassette Toilet on Amazon.
Whichever option you go for, make sure to follow proper safety standards and procedures. Things can go wrong with your toilet with or without plumbing, so it is best to be prepared in any scenario. Finally, properly dispose of your waste in a designated facility.
Wrapping Things Up
Standard toilets will fit manufactured homes (a mobile home type). However, not all mobile homes can fit a standard toilet. Other types of homes, such as trailers, RVs, and the like, do not have the plumbing facilities or space for regular toilets.
When it comes to installing a toilet, follow the prescribed building codes and clearances. You can choose to install your toilet by yourself or contact a professional to help you.
Did you find this post helpful? If you did, check out our other posts before you go!
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Hi,
There was one part in the above article that was a little unclear for me. I have a mobile home I recently purchased, however it is a 1966, and needs serious remodelling. It’s a double wide but the bathrooms are tiny. Currently both normal sized toilets are in a space 27.5”, the tank lids are 19.25”. So neither are in compliance with NKBA 30” min. In one bathroom I want to take out the current built in vanity that’s 59.75” long which is the width of the room. Put in a new vanity and have the toilet next to it. It would all be fine if I had bought a 24-30” vanity. Unfortunately I had purchased one that I can’t return that is 35.5” wide leaving me 24.25” for the toilet. Personally I’m fine with that as I am a small person. But some day it will be sold as I am not immortal.
I’m am pasting the bit from above that confused me. “ You could have less than 2 feet of space for a toilet with a minimum of 21 inches. However, the NKBA recommends 30 inches at the minimum. ”
this mentions 2 feet with a minimum of 21”. So is it legal (thinking about resale) for me to have the toilet be in a 24” wide space? Thanks in advance for your advice!! I can send you images of my layout in corresponding emails if that helps. Also, I have many years of experience DIY remodelling and moving toilets, but I’m not a professional and have not had to deal with code for a small space before.
Thank you!
Marie
Hi I live in a doublewide maybe 50 or 60 years old the toilet needs to be replaced that is the problem i can’t find a toilet like it this one flushes the waste back through the baseboard not down through the floor