Insightful Guide on Modern Portable Toilets
Using Portable Toilets for Events

The Evolution of Portable Toilets
When was the first portable toilet invented? It happened sometime in the 1940s, during World War II. As war raged on around the globe, military bases sprang up in Europe and Asia, and these temporary outposts need sturdy, sanitary toilets that were not only clean but also mobile. Stateside, shipbuilding yards began to provide these new portable toilet units for these workers, and engineers added them to bomber aircraft.
These early portable toilets were usually made of metal or wood, and they were very heavy. Their weight presented a challenge, because it was difficult to transport them from one place to another. They also tended to be less sturdy and sanitary than one would hope, made of wooden panels and metal storage tanks. In the 1970s, though, a major advancement in porta-potty technology occurred, when a man named Harvey Heather designed a one-piece fiberglass unit called the Strongbox. It was lightweight enough to be easily transported and much easier to clean, but it couldn’t be stacked for transportation, and it didn’t have natural light. Soon, plastics began to be used to build porta-potties, and that became standard practice in the 1980s. Luxury restroom trailers came into play in 1984, when a company founded by George Harding, who had first patented a plastic portable toilet in the 1960s, introduced an eight-stall, three-urinal, 32-foot-long trailer. This was ground-breaking because it made it easier to get many clean restrooms to a single location.
Variety and Sizes of Modern Portable Toilets
Today, portable toilets have reached another level of variety. It’s still possible to rent a porta potty for a day, but there are also bathroom trailers for rent, with multiple units involved. You can rent a basic model or choose from various amenities that provide a better user experience for those attending your event.
Features of Modern Portable Toilets
Modern portable toilets are typically made of polyurethane, which is easy to clean and doesn’t absorb odors. When you are considering how much to rent a porta potty for, you can find units to fit just about any budget. There is a wide range of options available, from basic portable toilets with toilet paper and hand sanitizer to luxury porta potty units with features like flushable toilets, running water, climate control, and more.
The Advantages of Modern Portable Toilets
There are some good reasons that the portable toilet rental industry is a 2.1-billion-dollar industry. Portable toilets are convenient and make life easier for event organizers and anyone who has to manage a crowd. They can be delivered and set up quickly, and they’re an eco-friendly option because they save water over using built-in restrooms. They can be placed conveniently for guests or workers, and they come in a wide variety of sizes and configurations to accommodate all types of people.
Overview of Ben Toilet Rentals Product Range
At Ben Toilet Rentals, we have a large assortment of portable toilets for rent. We can provide rental units for construction, commercial projects, agricultural needs, personal or business purposes, special events like weddings, parades, and parties, and emergencies. We also offer handwashing stations and shower trailer rentals. Our units include:
- Standard Single Restroom Units: These are 44 inches wide, with a door opening of 73 by 24 inches and a floor area of 861 square inches. The seat height is 18 inches, and the tank volume is 70 gallons.
- ADA Compliant Units: These handicap accessible unit are 90 inches high and 67 inches wide, for a floor area of over 6,000 square inches, with a seat height of 18.75 inches.
- Single on Wheels: 64 inches high and 25.94 inches wide, these units have 20 gallons of fresh water, 22 gallons of gray/wastewater, and foot pump operation.
- Double on Wheels: This feature two stalls, on 13 feet long by 6 feet wide trailer, available with a pin or ball hatch. There are attached hand washing stations with a 30-gallon water tank.
- Luxury Units: Available in 2-stall, 3-stall, and ADA-compliant units, these features hands-free, flushing porcelain toilets, vanities, mirrors, soap, and hand towels, stainless steel sinks with running water, and non-skid, one-piece flooring. They also have air conditioning and a low-level heating strip, trash receptacles, and a 125-gallon freshwater tank.
The Leaders in Portable Restroom Rental
When you are looking for top-of-the-line porta potty and bathroom trailer rentals, trust Ben Toilet Rentals, Northern California’s leader in portable restroom rental, offering portable toilets for construction, agricultural, emergency, and social needs. We pride ourselves on fast, friendly customer service, expert planning, and quality service, and our vast experience makes us fully able to meet all of your needs when it comes to portable toilet and shower trailer rentals. Not only have we served Gridley, Yuba City, Chico, and the surrounding areas since 1966, but we have also been tasked with serving large events like the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic games, providing assistance with disasters like earthquakes, fires, and floods, and served organizations like the Boy Scouts of America BMW Clubs of America, the United States Forest Service, and much more. We even offer 24/7 emergency service, to be there when you really need us. For more information about how our friendly, experienced team can meet your needs, call 800-767-8276 or contact us through our website.