How to hire honey wagons for your next film shoot

As any location manager will tell you, when it comes to organising a film shoot, logistics are everything. Although toilets are not very glamorous, they are crucial for ensuring cast and crew are kept comfortable, especially on location without facilities on hand. Enter stage right, honey wagon hire to the rescue!

What is a honey wagon?

Here in the UK, the term "honey wagon" typically refers to a mobile trailer equipped with toilets. Overseas, in the US for example, honey wagons sometimes have additional amenities like showers, changing areas, and even make-up stations. They’re a common sight on film and TV sets, particularly on urban location shoots or during cold weather location shoots. 

Why you need honey wagons on set

Whether you're shooting in a city centre location or on a windswept moor far from civilisation, your cast and crew need basic facilities. Hiring a honey wagon helps to:

•    Maintain hygiene and morale on set

•    Avoid delays due to off-site toilet breaks

•    Meet health and safety requirements for productions (current guidelines can be found on the Government website).

•    Offer cast and crew privacy, especially on sensitive shoots

Steps to hiring a honey wagon

Honey wagon hire does not have to be daunting and following these steps will give you a great head start!

1 Assess your needs carefully, giving careful consideration to:

•    The number of people on set – from runners to MUAs and catering staff, there are so many more people on a set than just the performers. A large cast and crew will need more units or higher-capacity trailers.

•    Length of shoot - longer shoots may require more durable, high-spec units and arrangements for ongoing maintenance should also be taken into account.

•    Location logistics – think about vehicle access. At Fortis Hire, we use a range of 4X4 vehicles to deliver our luxury toilet trailers. Our units vary in width and length so please refer to individual unit descriptions for detailed floor plans and sizes. We can advise on space needed for vehicle access and manoeuvrability.

•    Type of honey wagon – at Fortis Hire, we offer a range of standard, plastic portable toilets for hire. While offering basic facilities only, the single-unit toilet would be better for small shoots where budget and space is at an absolute premium. Our luxury toilet units comprise multi-cubicle trailers with spacious interiors with models that are perfect for cast and crew, lead performers and VIPs. Standard portable toilet hire Vs luxury toilet hire for film and TV productions sets out the differences to help you decide. 

2 Choose a reputable supplier of honey wagons, preferably an experienced company with a track record in the industry. They will understand the unique nature of the business and will also have contacts in other areas that may be required, such as generator hire or attendant services. 

A good supplier should:

•    Deliver to your location at a time that is convenient for your schedule.

•    Give access to emergency support 

•    Maintain exemplary standards of hygiene, supplying units in excellent, clean condition and offering a maintenance plan for long-term hires.

•    Be happy to provide reviews, references, testimonials and recommendation from other productions.

3 Consider utilities and confirm the following:

•    What power supply is required? At Fortis Hire, our units operate on a 13 amp domestic supply and where none is available, we can provide contact details for trusted generator hire companies.  

•    Is there an onboard water tank or will you need a separate water source? Our units are completely self-contained and require no mains water. We also offer the Event 4+2 Toilet which can be mains connected and is ideal for long term hires.

•    What about waste removal services for long shoots? As licence holders with The Environment Agency, Fortis Hire is qualified to empty the units and remove all waste for ethical disposal. However, we can offer mains drain toilet hire for extended shoots where mains water, drainage and electricity is available which removes the need to empty the trailers. 

•    Are eco-friendly portable toilets available? We offer several environmentally-friendly models, including the Fresh Flush 5 Bay Toilet which is powered by solar energy, and our vacuum toilet pods which are chemical-free and water-saving.

4 Book in Advance

Honey wagons get booked out quickly during peak production seasons (spring to autumn). We always advise you to book as soon as you have confirmed dates to avoid last-minute problems.

5 Insurance and Compliance

It is the responsibility of the customer to have valid insurance in place against damage, vandalism and theft. All luxury portable toilets must comply with HSE standards, and you should be made aware of any necessary arrangements for cleaning, servicing, and access. You may also need to notify local councils if the unit will be parked on public land.

Honey wagon hire from Fortis Hire

Every single person on your set deserves the very best facilities and at Fortis Hire, we have worked with Pinewood, Longcross, Elstree and OMA:X studios. We are also a certified We Are Albert supplier, giving our customers the confidence and peace of mind that we understand the demands of the industry. 

To find out how we can help your next film shoot, email us at sales@fortishire.co.uk or give the team a call on 01525 643850 today.