A self-contained camping unit is a technical term used in the rules for dispersed camping on certain public lands in the United States. Some camping areas, notably LTVAs, require campers to be "self-contained". The primary qualification is the ability of the camper to safely hold a sufficient amount of human waste so that owners don't need to improperly dump it before reaching a dump station.
This example is from the BLM supplementary rules for LTVAs:
“ Self-contained camping units must have a permanent, affixed waste water holding tank of 10-gallon minimum capacity. BLM does not consider port-a-potty systems, systems that utilize portable holding tanks, or permanent holding tanks of less than 10-gallon capacity, to be self-contained.[1]”
Other requirements may be:
- separate gray and black tanks.
- exterior gate valve for dumping tank[s].
Exceptions may be:
- Campsites near a vault toilet or restroom[2]
- A composting toilet in lieu (loo!) of black tank, ranger's discretion
Related concepts
Sometimes "self-contained" also means something like "livable space" for purposes of qualifying as an RV. In this case it can also involve:
- a separate electrical system (as with a house battery)[3]
- the ability to cook and heat[4]