We received this poll question from a reader, Sandy, who told us she dreamt it! We love that you, our readers, dream about us! We’re honored! And thanks for the great question, Sandy. (Psst: If you ever have a good question for a poll that you’d like us to ask, email us at editor (at) rvtravel.com. Thanks!)
If a stranger approached your RV and asked if they could come inside and use the bathroom, would you let them? Would it depend on the person? On the location? On the time of day? On other circumstances? Would you never let a stranger use your RV’s bathroom?
Please, after you vote, leave a comment explaining your answer. We’re curious to hear your thoughts.
Mother with child or small child alone, maybe. No males over 12.
Besides a feeling of trust, it would take a detailed explanation of do’s and don’t’s of using an RV toilet so that they didn’t cause problems.
I would direct them to the closest restroom in the campground we are in
Too many head case/nut jobs out there, also you never know if they are casing you for thieft later.
Have any of you been stuck on a highway, waiting in a line of traffic with no place to take a pee ? I have, and it’s not a pleasant experience. Of course, before I would allow anyone, I did not know, use my bathroom, I would clear the medicine cabinet of any prescriptions.
paid a large sum of money to sleep in my own bed and use my private bathroom. From a Plumber who has worked in many public restrooms. You don’t want to know what I have seen.
I was waiting for blasting to stop on I-90 in the Washington Cascades. A gentleman from a couple of cars back knocked on my window and explained he really needed to use a bathroom and asked if he could use mine. I let him. No problems. Sometimes a good deed can make you feel good.
Similar situation for us. We were caught in a large back up on I-75 in Kentucky for a lengthy time. There was a steep drop off next to the guard rail in both directions. I spotted a lady coming towards us from several cars ahead, and she was practically doing a “dance”. My wife hopped out of the truck and offered her our restroom in the 5ver. Needless to say, she was very grateful!
I can only think of a very few situations where I would not allow a fellow human being to use my rv bathroom. We’re the compassion?
“Stupid is as stupid does” if you ever let a complete stranger in your rv for any reason!!!
no way…..not in this day and age.
We spent a few summers at an RV park in PEI. 95% of the campers were locals who towed their RVs maybe 10 miles to spend the summer. One day the electricity went out and the park’s water did not function. As the other campers were local, they don’t fill their fresh water tanks. As we weren’t, we had water in our tank. So yes, we did let a stranger (to us) use our bathroom. It was the only functioning toilet in the park.
If there’s other alternatives (vault toilets, sani-huts, business facilities), I’d recommend they go there first and judge their reply.
My default response is of course I’d let them use my bathroom. When fear and paranoia becomes so great that it emboldens me to deny a fellow human this very basic dignity, it’s time to get off the road.
Armed robbery is more likely to occur in the parking lot of Walmart when loading groceries (Look at where you park, how far you carry your purchases to be observed and how close the exit it is for thieves to get away). If you’re going to be paranoid, that’s a good place to start….
In today’s America pretty much NO.
We wouldn’t normally allow a stranger to use our bathroom but it would depend on the circumstances. Most people would have to be in dire straits to even ask.
The one time we’ve done it was at a vehicle accident a long ways from any facilities. One of the ladies involved was quite desperate so we let her in and told her how to use the toilet. There were no problems and she was grateful.
That was thirty years ago and the situation hasn’t presented itself since. Hopefully it never will again.
Depending on the circumstances, who the person was-male, female, child, and what my lizard brain was saying, I would probably let them in. My lizard brain, that part of my brain that is controlled by the primal instincts of survival that have been around forever, is really good at keeping me out of bad situations. When I listen to it…
Yep, I checked “most likely” but depending on a bunch of circumstances.
Like others, in extreme cases, yes. In most cases my gut might say no…in which case I would try to say my “no” gently with something like, “I’m so sorry, but Lic is sleeping.” (Lic is almost always sleeping; she’s a cat.)
Not in this day and age. My safety is my responsibility. I’ll give them a roll of TP and point them toward the nearest tree.
Reminds me of a bike rider at the Tour de France who used a spectator’s camper as he was having an emergency.
Possibly, but less than likely. Maybe a young child with either my wife or myself to accompany them inside depending on the child’s gender. Mom would be welcome inside to “supervise” us.
Nope. I have literally rebuilt my home from the chassis to the engine suspension fuel system and finally the house. I got rid of my black tank and installed a cassette toilet. So I never use the toilet for “poop”, I would direct them to the nearest restroom and wish them well.
This one was easy. No, because I don’t have a bathroom and don’t want one.
But honestly, if I had a bathroom the answer would still be no.
In today’s America pretty much NO.
If I ever did (which I highly doubt) I would have both of us also in the motorhome while said person is using the bathroom. Might be uncomfortable but much safer for all.
Your questionnaire thingy just keeps buffering it has the last two times and not before.
Nope!..Find the little boys-girls bush. No total strangers are getting into “Lucy.”
Errant child possibly, but not without a chaperone today.
No. No strangers in our camper.
Only if it was a pregnant lady with no other alternative.
Yes, I did it once on I-80 Donner Pass when traffic was stopped waiting for the road to be plowed.
This would be the only time I would consider letting someone into our home. Considered this in Arizona when the highway was closed and we sat still for almost an hour. Fortunately no one asked.
Never
Probably not.
If there was not public restroom I probably would let them use it if it was another RVer or traveler. Much would depend on the circumstances.
I replied “No, Never” but I wasn’t thinking outside the box. I was in the mindset that I was in a campground and someone was just walking by and asked use it. If I was in traffic on the highway and a woman or kid needed to use the bathroom, I would most certainly let them.
Most likely not because we are usually in campgrounds that have rest rooms. We did regularly tailgate at college football games and rarely allowed anyone to use our bathroom because the toilets used huge amounts of water to flush, filling our black tank quickly. The new RV has a better and more water-efficient toilet, so the probability of saying yes is greater now when we tailgate. However, the probability is still low. It would need to be someone we know, or someone we know would need to “sponsor” them.
We would’t because we travel with quite a few dogs and they would raise too much of a ruckus if anyone entered the motorhome. Plus I would not feel safe having someone entering into our ‘home’. Only in case of an emergency with a child or a woman … and then they would not be allowed in there alone.
This actually happened to me. I said no.
We have allowed parents, and players of our 18U baseball travel team use our RV bathroom, but no total strangers.
What a great way to see what is inside of your rig. There is no way anyone is using my bathroom. Woman and children are sometimes used to make you feel more comfortable.
Camping at an annual auto related swap meet, wives of my car guy buddies preferred my old rig to porta-potties! Guess they were not quite strangers.