Placement of items inside the lav isn't uncommon, especially items such as ski's. However, the lav is also an occupiable, belted seat (and a comfortable one, incidentally). The coat closet in the lav area is available for small items, but it's generally where one puts the spare drinks and snacks for stocking the airplane on the road.
The airplane isn't really a rough field airplane. The propellers already face enough damage potential and corrosion potential (being in the hot exhaust stream). The airplane flies fast enough that it's not the same as operating a King Air from a rough strip. The P.180 should be operated from prepared surfaces, and surfaces not as short as the factory suggests.