Showers - are they worth the space?

[Dorwyn]

I've met a number of people that say they never use them (even some who never use the loo exept in an emergency – someone else copes with the waste, one said). But looking at the lack of storage and worktop space in smaller PVCs, I was thinking you could leave out the shower and use the saved floorspace for another storage unit, perhaps a thin wardrobe. Plus you are not introducing more damp into the van.

I know someone that uses an outside (hang-up type) outside shower on aires - which of course you're not supposed to. We tend to use aires for a few days, then a campsite for the facilities.

A nice shower room on a larger van is attractive. On a smaller one, not so sure. Mind you, any step away from the Elsan toilet we had on our first caravan – euck!

 

[34127]

There are a lot of options to use showers at places like service stations, leisure centres etc. There may be a small charge at leisure centres but not expensive.

 

[scotjimland]

Put it this way.. I wouldn't buy a van without a shower..
IMO essential if you want to wild camp .. I can't stand being dirty .. for me a shower isn't an optional extra

 

[MattR]

Our PVC has a shower unit in the washroom / loo - the floor is the shower tray. It doesn't take up any more space and provides the option for a shower if required. We haven't used it much but I would prefer to have it than not.

 

[mjltigger]

We haven't got one but probably will for one. We have a toilet and it won't take a lot to shift it around to get a shower in.

Ours is Lwb transit so maybe not as small as you were thinking.

We strip wash when we are away but rinsing my hair over the sink is a pita.

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[Mikeco]

The shower base only takes up the same space required if you fit a toilet. My toilet/shower cubicle is only 900mm long so therefore it makes no difference.

Mike

 

[Techno]

We use our shower on caravan club sites. Really nice to get out of a hot shower into your heated van and sit in the captains chair in your skiddies with a glass of wine. No traipsing across site in towel n slippers like tuggers

 

[Bertie Bassett]

Put it this way.. I wouldn't buy a van without a shower..
IMO essential if you want to wild camp .. I can't stand being dirty .. for me a shower isn't an optional extra

In the proverbial nut shell

 

[buttons]

Do I look like I need a shower............
.

 

[Tea Bag]

Hi.
As ScotJimland says,it is a must have,at least you know who has been in there last,as for the room it takes up, some of the "Bathrobes" i have seen on Persons-PC ? going and coming back from various shower blocks,would fill our wardrobe on their own........ "The BATHROBES !!!",not the people DOH !
Tea Bag.

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[wizzer59]

Ours makes a great extra wardrobe (not for me obviously) and shoe storage. (Even more obviously not me)

 

[32143]

Our PVC has a shower unit in the washroom / loo - the floor is the shower tray. It doesn't take up any more space and provides the option for a shower if required. We haven't used it much but I would prefer to have it than not.

Ours is the same, runs across rear of van. It can also be used outside the van, which is useful for rinsing dogs and wet suits off.

 

[davidbaldam]

It all depends is off site you want to smell or not, mind you it wouldn't be your problems only those around you.

 

[magicsurfbus]

I'm definitely grateful for the shower on aires, and it also allows you to stay on more basic (ie field with tap) campsites so you can save pennies there.

The solar shower bags are quite handy for free hot water for washing up or for sink washes, especially when put to use in southern European sunshine, where the water comes out hotter than from the tap. I've used one inside the MH shower too, which is a bit slapstick.

 

[wizzer59]

.View attachment 54905

WHO is that guy???

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[Peter & Elaine]

No shower no loo no van
Elaine would not have a van without
And she will not use on site facility's unless they are spotless clean

 

[Dorwyn]

That's a no, then

 

[Peter & Elaine]

WHO is that guy???

Wait till you meet him

 

[Minxy]

We don't shower now ... we much prefer to have a good strip wash or use the occasional facility elsewhere if the opportunity arises. Whilst it's nice to have a shower in the van its a pain in the bum having to mop up afterwards, so we'll stick with getting a good scrub.

As for hair washing, I do it over the kitchen sink - put warm water in the washing up bowl and wet my hair then shampoo to a good lather, then using a jug rinse off ... much easier than trying to do it over the tiddly bathroom sink.

 

[buttons]

WHO is that guy???

Some reprobate..............

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[Dorwyn]

Actually, thinking about it, most of the showers abroad are full of bities, waiting for you to disrobe and display lots of biteable area. One time in Annecy, I'd just had a shower, was drying myself and was intrigued by this tiny little thing that was doing a crab-like dance, round and round in circles. I looked closer at it, went to squash it with my finger, and it just shot off the wall like an unguided missile. But it must have missed me. Though I did avoid the missus for a while, till I was sure I hadn't caught something, if you know what I mean. Oh, the joys of camping!

 

[MattR]

The resale value of the van might be lower if it does not have have a shower; I get the impression that most people prefer to have the option of a shower in the van, even if they don't use it much.

 

[Techno]

I didn't get on with the combined bog/shower of the Autocruise Starspirit, far too much faffing about drying everything afterwards
A fit for purpose shower cubicle with separate ablushion is the only way!

We have bog starboard side and shower port side

 

[MattR]

I didn't get on with the combined bog/shower of the Autocruise Starspirit, far too much faffing about drying everything afterwards
A fit for purpose shower cubicle with separate ablushion is the only way!

If you have the space for both. Alternatively, I believe that a combined unit is better than not having a shower.

 

[Techno]

If you have the space for both. Alternatively, I believe that a combined unit is better than not having a shower.

Yes agreed, we used to both shower to make it worth the chore of drying it out.

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[scotjimland]

We don't shower now ... we much prefer to have a good strip wash or use the occasional facility elsewhere if the opportunity arises. Whilst it's nice to have a shower in the van its a pain in the bum having to mop up afterwards, so we'll stick with getting a good scrub.

As for hair washing, I do it over the kitchen sink - put warm water in the washing up bowl and wet my hair then shampoo to a good lather, then using a jug rinse off ... much easier than trying to do it over the tiddly bathroom sink.

We did that when we went camping... basin of hot water and a wash down..

When we got our first caravan with hot water it was sheer luxury having a proper shower.

why you do it by choice when you have a perfectly good shower in the van (unless you are short of water) is hard to fathom.

hair is washed in the shower.. not in a hand basin.

Strip wash.. no thanks

 

[Minxy]

We did that when we went camping... basin of hot water and a wash down..

When we got our first caravan with hot water it was sheer luxury having a proper shower.

why you do it by choice when you have a perfectly good shower in the van (unless you are short of water) is hard to fathom.

hair is washed in the shower.. not in a hand basin.

Strip wash.. no thanks

Our PVC only has a small water tank so as we wild camp and use aires we'd be forever topping it up if we showered every time we needed to be 'cleaned'! As I said, we do sometimes shower if the opportunity arises, but a proper strip wash is just as good and I hate washing my hair at the same time as showering, much prefer to do it separately.

 

[Lenny HB]

We were looking at 2 or 3 models in the Exsis range it was the one with the biggest washroom we went for. I would consider a Motorhome without a shower or loo not fit for purpose. When away in the van both of us have a shower in the van every morning & we certainly don't want to use someone else's dirty loo. When on sites still use our own facilities, but out of the last 100 nights in away only probably 2 or 3 of them have been on sites.

 

[Goldilocks40]

I wouldn't be without mine....love it

 

[Techno]

I would consider a Motorhome without a shower or loo not fit for purpose

It wouldn't be a motorhome but a campervan

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