Bathroom or not?

[cragy07]

Trying to weigh up whether or not to put a bathroom with shower in my camper, and would like other people's views. If you have got one or built one was it worth it? do you use it?

Pro's for me - would be good for long distances and parking in the wild, might help re-sale, might increase value, the Mrs might like it.. lol

cons for me - a lot of work to do, can be expensive, takes up space.

I am really 50/50 about the Idea, and my camper van layout will depend on what I go for.

any feed back would be great, Cheers.

[RustWidow]

Do it, as you say it will be useful, a compact type as in older caravans (ie with a tip up sink) would be useful and having a loo is always useful

[walt1984]

It depends where your going to camp.
If your going to do a night in the wild then on to a site you might just want a room big enough to get a loo in.

[cragy07]

Thanks for the comments guy's.

Yeah saw those flip up sinks, great space savers.

Just don't want to regret building and installing a bathroom when I could just use a portable toilet.

I will come to a decision as some point

Cheers.

[ColinJack]

Thanks for the comments guy's.

Yeah saw those flip up sinks, great space savers.

Just don't want to regret building and installing a bathroom when I could just use a portable toilet.

I will come to a decision as some point

Cheers.

We bought our camper with a shower already fitted. We have done three round trips to Malaga from Norfolk (roughly 6000kms each) and lots of shorter trips through Europe and UK. We haven't used the shower yet (4 years later) because at best you can only get a 5 min shower before it runs out of hot water! Carver water heater holds 5 litres of hot water. We also have a portable Thetford loo which we do use at night when required. It is an age thing!

Personal view is that you are better off with just a portable loo. Even when wild camping you can normally find somewhere to blag a shower before setting up for the night. In Europe many service areas have showers. That said there are lots of campsites out there - we always find one with showers and loos.

[pelmetman]

Had our camper nigh on 24 years, used the shower about half a dozen times ......

If I was building my own camper then I'd put the Thetford at the back, so it can be serviced through the back door, and I'd have the kitchen sink opposite, with a fold out door arrangement to create the bathroom when needed ..........

[ColinJack]

If I was building my own camper then I'd put the Thetford at the back, so it can be serviced through the back door, and I'd have the kitchen sink opposite, with a fold out door arrangement to create the bathroom when needed ..........

Yup - that is how we have it - open back door to remove Thetford. Don't want to be humping that through the van to service it!

[dbroada]

ours has a toilet/shower room but we use it more for additional storage than for its intended purpose.

The toilet gets used every night at about 4am (its an age thing) but the shower has never INTENTIONALLY been used. From this you may gather it has been used to make all the stored items wet. The lever doesn't lock off and when the pump is turned on (for the kitchen sink) and it doesn't stop after a few seconds it means the shower is on.

[ColinJack]

The lever doesn't lock off and when the pump is turned on (for the kitchen sink) and it doesn't stop after a few seconds it means the shower is on.

[ake]

I use the shower in ours every morning when we're away

[bigyellow]

first up you need a decent loo if there is ladies present, mine does like to be comfortable during the day

as for the shower we if its set up properly then yes they are a god send and if used correctly

most people stuff in a 5l carver and a naff water pump and hope for the best

try to learn how to shower with 5 litres first,

i am massive six foot three and 14 foot round and built like a BFG as the grand kids call me and i can shower easily with 5 litres

need more water then consider a water holding tank that can be heated up via the engine or exhausts

we are doing one at the moment and we are looking at 10litres per minute water pumps and 20 litres of warm water storage ( note not red hot water, warm water) warm enough to have a shower with

toilets are eather cassette or built in we prefere cassette as it allows us to empty with ease any where we legally can, same with the grey water too, inboard tanks are ok until you realise you have to more the whole van to empty the tanks and the drain point is in the wrong place for your particular van to use

[bigjohnthomas]

Just cut a hole in the floor and have a right big sh*t down it
Bathrooms are for girls
Hope this helps
Allcock

[jonochap]

Not missed the shower, sink of hot water (solar bag) and a sponge works well when required...adding water tanks and equipment has always worried me about mpg and speed. If we get any slower we'd be rolling backwards down the hills!

[pelmetman]

Just cut a hole in the floor and have a right big sh*t down it
Bathrooms are for girls
Hope this helps
Allcock

I know a chap who uses a builders bucket with a bin bag .........He then dumps the bag in dog poo bins ........

I'd like to see the face of the council operative when he empties the bin .....

[pelmetman]

first up you need a decent loo if there is ladies present, mine does like to be comfortable during the day

as for the shower we if its set up properly then yes they are a god send and if used correctly

most people stuff in a 5l carver and a naff water pump and hope for the best

try to learn how to shower with 5 litres first,

i am massive six foot three and 14 foot round and built like a BFG as the grand kids call me and i can shower easily with 5 litres

need more water then consider a water holding tank that can be heated up via the engine or exhausts

we are doing one at the moment and we are looking at 10litres per minute water pumps and 20 litres of warm water storage ( note not red hot water, warm water) warm enough to have a shower with

Alternatively the OP could fit a Paloma gas heater, then his hot water supply is only limited by the amount of fresh water and gas he has onboard .........