A Nature's Head install has four parts: fix the toilet to the floor, vent it outside, give the fan 12V power, and, on the diverter models, plumb the urine line. None of it needs water lines or a black tank. The steps below follow Nature's Head's own user guide and installation sheets for vans, RVs and other vehicles. Cabins and boats differ mainly in the vent, and both are noted.
Still choosing a model? Start with our Nature's Head buying guide. For a quick list of power and vent parts, see how to power and vent a Nature's Head.
What's in the box, and what isn't
Each toilet ships with:
- The 12V fan, already mounted on the right side as you face the toilet
- A single-pin 12V cable
- A fuse and fuse holder
- An inside vent flange
- 5 feet of 1-1/2" hose with ends
- Two L-brackets with knobs, and screws for a wood floor
- The agitator handle and an Allen wrench
Not included: the outside vent, and the 110V AC adapter. You'll also need a 1-3/4" hole saw for a Shell Vent or a through-the-floor diverter.
1. Pick the spot and check clearances
Allow at least 1.5 inches behind the toilet (about 2 inches for the through-the-floor model) so the bowl can tilt, and 2 inches on the left so it can slide off its slip hinge. Make sure the lid opens fully.
The fan housing and the agitator handle can both be swapped to the opposite side. Decide which side the vent hose should leave from before you drill anything.
2. Mount it to the floor
- Attach the two L-brackets to the toilet with the knobs, sitting in the recesses under the base. Nature's Head's guide shows that as the correct position; brackets outside the recess are wrong.
- Set the toilet in place and trace around the brackets.
- Remove the knobs, lift the toilet off, and line the brackets up with your marks.
- The bracket holes take #12 countersunk screws or bolts. With the supplied screws, drill a 1/8" pilot hole. Check what's under the floor before drilling.
Don't overtighten the hold-down knobs, because that damages the threads in the base. On a floor that gets wet often, put a little sealant in the holes before the screws. Spare brackets, knobs, washers and screws come in the Mounting Hardware Kit.
Wet bath: Nature's Head says the toilet can stay in a shower, held with heavy-duty Velcro if you'd rather not drill the pan. If it stays in while you shower, drill a small drain hole in the bottle holder, cover the toilet and unplug the fan cable.
3. Vent it outside
Nature's Head's manual says the unit must be vented outside. Venting carries away odor and moisture so the solids can dry and compost. Whatever the route, the outside end needs two things: a cover so wind can't blow back against the fan, and a screen against bugs. The fan pulls air in through the filter-only housing and pushes it out through the fan housing. The hose must attach to the side with the fan in it, and neither side should be blocked.
Through a van or RV wall
The Shell Vent with Installation Kit includes a vent with an insect screen, 12 inches of 1-1/4" PVC and an interior trim ring. Nature's Head's install sheets go like this:
- Drill a 1-3/4" hole through the outside wall.
- Remove the vent's cover (two screws) and screw the back of the vent over the hole with its four screws.
- Run the 1-1/4" PVC through the wall into the back of the vent, trimming it to the wall's depth. On a thin uninsulated wall, the toilet's inside flange is enough.
- Put the cover back on, then connect the hose from the pipe or flange to the fan housing.
On a moving vehicle, Nature's Head says to mount a side Shell Vent at a 45° rear-facing angle. On the roof, the opening should face the rear. It discourages venting through a vehicle floor because of blow-back when driving, and asks you to contact it if a floor vent is unavoidable.
Hose length and turns
Nature's Head doesn't recommend more than 20 feet of hose. Extra 1-1/2" hose is sold by the foot (vent hose extension), and 1-1/4" PVC can stand in for longer runs. For a sharp 90° turn right at the fan housing, use a 1-1/4" PVC street elbow, screwed or pinned to the housing.
Cabins and boats
In a framed, insulated wall, the Shell Vent goes on 1-1/4" PVC through the wall. A raised cabin can also vent through the floor. On a boat, the Portos-1 mushroom ventilator mounts on the deck or cabin top; see our boat install guide.
4. Power the fan
Nature's Head's manual gives these fan figures:
- 0.07 A while running
- 1.68 Ah per day
- 20.16 watt-hours per day
- 5.5 mm x 2.5 mm plug
Those numbers agree: 0.07 A x 24 h = 1.68 Ah, and 1.68 Ah x 12 V = 20.16 Wh. (The manual's "0.084 watt" instantaneous figure should read 0.84 W.) The fan is meant to run all the time. Unplug it only if the toilet will sit unused for a week or more, because otherwise it can dry the medium until the handle won't turn.
| Your setup | How to connect |
|---|---|
| House 12V system or a battery | The included single-pin cable with the supplied fuse holder. Nature's Head specifies a fuse of no less than 2 A and no more than 5 A. A 6 ft 12V cable covers longer runs. |
| An existing 12V socket | 12V plug with on/off switch and 6 ft cord |
| No socket yet | The 12V Cigarette Lighter Power Kit (socket and plug; wire the socket to a fused 2–5 A circuit), or the socket panel (inline fuse included) plus the 12V plug |
| A clean wall port in a wet bath | 12V Wall Power Port Kit with a waterproof plug and 6 ft cable |
| 110V household power only | 110V AC adapter. No fuse is needed on the adapter. |
Polarity: the cable sticker marks positive. If the sticker is gone, Nature's Head says the wire with the white stripe is negative and the wire with writing is positive. Unsure about your wiring? Its manual says to consult an electrician. Our fuse sizing answer explains wire-versus-load fusing in a van.
5. Diverter models: plumb the urine line
Through-the-floor
- Mount the toilet, set the diverting drainpipe in front of it with its flange flat on the floor, and trace the flange and its four screw holes.
- Remove the toilet. Use the paper template to center a 1-3/4" hole, then drill 3/32" starter holes for the flange screws.
- Seal the flange to the floor with waterproof caulk or silicone.
- Glue 3/4" PVC into the underside of the flange and run it to a holding tank, gray water system or sewer system.
- Add a P-trap where odor could come back up the line. Nature's Head says this matters most when the drain goes to a holding tank or sewer. We list both of its options: the 90 Degree P-Trap and the In Line P-Trap, each 3/4" Schedule 40 PVC.
- With the bowl latched, the soft seal on the urine spigot should be partly compressed on the drainpipe. The kit includes an extra seal.
Multi-directional
The brass swivel fitting is push-lock. Cut the 1/2" hose square and push it in about an inch until it bottoms out. To release it, hold the collar against the fitting and pull. Route the hose straight down or along the side to the back. Leave enough slack that the bottle lifts out without disconnecting the hose. More hose is sold by the foot (urine diverter hose).
Only route urine into a tank or system that's approved for it where you camp or live.
6. Add medium and test
Pour in pre-moistened coco coir or peat moss to the level of the agitator bar (horizontal): about 3 gallons in the standard, 2 in the Weekender. Plug in the fan and confirm air is blowing out at the vent. Our coco coir and emptying guide covers the daily routine.
FAQ
Can I vent a Nature's Head through the floor of a van?
Nature's Head discourages it in moving vehicles because of blow-back while driving. It recommends a side wall or the roof, and asks you to contact it if a floor vent is unavoidable.
How much battery does the fan use?
Nature's Head rates it at 0.07 A, or 1.68 Ah per day at 12V running continuously. Its FAQ rounds that to under 1.8 Ah a day.
What fuse does the fan need?
No less than 2 A and no more than 5 A on a 12V circuit, per Nature's Head. A fuse and holder come with the toilet. No fuse is needed when it runs on the AC adapter.