The Grey Nomads Forum

Shower or not?

scotia59 said
12:59 PM Nov 30, 2011

Hi eveyone, we are in the process of re-fitting our van and are split over whether to fit a shower or not?

We plan doing as much free camping as we can over the next 5-10 years.

I want a shower/toilet inside, hubby is happy with outside shower tent, which we already have and have used many times.

Please help - what is your preference?

thanks

Jean

Landfall said
01:31 PM Nov 30, 2011

smile A "no brainer" ensuite inside.

Dusty biggrin

Boroma577 said
01:33 PM Nov 30, 2011

I actually voted for inside but I have both and use both.

Definitely inside when cold, windy, raining etc but outside when hot, sandy, grubby (working) etc.

Mind you, you can add several thousand dollars more to the cost of your van with the added option of an indoor shower....so that might be a consideration.....or not.

Gerty Dancer said
01:41 PM Nov 30, 2011

We dont have an indoor shower, for reasons of weight and cost, and when Free-camping I have regretted that a bit. I've regretted having a proper toilet with a door you can close even more!

Happywanderer said
01:51 PM Nov 30, 2011

I'm voting for inside, only because if you have the room and can afford it why not.

pauline said
02:20 PM Nov 30, 2011

We have inside shower/ toilet combo, came with the 2nd hand van we bought ................and very happy with it.

NeilandRaine said
02:59 PM Nov 30, 2011

we have inside shower........... it makes a great storeroom. It is a bit tricky actually and you have to find a good balance. We do use the shower but not that often.
When camping out bush we use river water, heat it up in solar bags and use the shower tent (no river we use inside but dont stay long.) This leaves us more fresh clean water for every day things.
It also saves gas. So im saying when free camping if you have an alternate you can stay longer. However SWMBO would not not have an inside shower and loo.

Boroma577 said
03:05 PM Nov 30, 2011

NeilandRaine wrote:

When camping out bush we use river water,

It is quite amazing how resourceful you become with water, isn't it??

I personally think water is our most precious commodity when living and traveling on the road.

We also have a short hose with spray nozzle on the end and have attached it to a nearby tap and used it for showering as well.

Happywanderer said
03:51 PM Nov 30, 2011

Thats a great idea Boroma, must get one of those just in case. Used to have one to wash the dog in the bath years ago.

Joe said
04:33 PM Nov 30, 2011

Happywanderer wrote:
I'm voting for inside, only because if you have the room and can afford it why not.

Ditto on that.

We have a very small van, purposely chosen so we can drag it down as many rutted and ugly tracks as we can find, so we don't have the room for a shower and toilet, but my wife would love to have one.

_wombat_ said
04:38 PM Nov 30, 2011

inside shower/toilet combo

goinsoon said
04:38 PM Nov 30, 2011

I can give you a ten word answer

INSIDE, INSIDE, INSIDE, INSIDE, INSIDE

We have been there and have done the outside thing and if you want less than 2nd best put a shower outside

dogbox said
04:48 PM Nov 30, 2011

i vote for inside
you can always shower out side if you want but just think of a cold wet or frost morning in winter when you make the descion

scotia59 said
05:20 PM Nov 30, 2011

wow, so many responses!

Thanks everyone, the consensus seems to be inside.

You know what this means............I WIN!!!!!! Looks like we are fitting a shower.

cheers
Jean

Hylda&Jon said
05:22 PM Nov 30, 2011

No Doubt, INSIDE, its just so much more convenient & 'normal'. When on the road full time you have to forgo many of lifes little pleasures but if you can afford it & have the room then why forgo a private, clean & comfortable place to have a shower. My views also apply to an inside loo, it's so nice to have a place of your own & in your own home"mobile in this case" to sit in private & quiet peace & contemplate life as you do your business.

Cheers

Jon

goinsoon said
06:23 PM Nov 30, 2011

Yeh!

What Jon said biggrin

Joe said
06:39 PM Nov 30, 2011

Words of warning - if you do choose to refit and install in inside shower then make sure you pay lots of attention to the waterproofing and ventilation. Remember that caravans are flexible so your shower walls and base will be moving around so choose them carefully to provide natural waterproofing and not to simply rely upon the silicon sealant.

Natural waterproofing? You know, making sure that lips overlap each other and any water running down will end up going down the drain and not leaking between seams and wetting (and then rotting) the timber frame of your van.

goinsoon said
06:43 PM Nov 30, 2011

The single unit blown plastic or fibreglass ones to go for

the rocket said
08:31 PM Nov 30, 2011

Hi, Inside. cheers. sharon and strop

the rocket said
08:32 PM Nov 30, 2011

goinsoon wrote:
The single unit blown plastic or fibreglass ones to go for

Hi, that dancing just cracks me up. you are very clever. sharon and strop. thanks for cheering my day up. smile smile smile smile smile smile

03_troopy said
09:07 PM Nov 30, 2011

Gerty Dancer wrote:
We dont have an indoor shower, for reasons of weight and cost, and when Free-camping I have regretted that a bit. I've regretted having a proper toilet with a door you can close even more!

hahah, one of my best memories is sitting down to contemplate life just as the sun rose, with the view of NT stretched out as far as I could see... Could have struck me with a thunderbolt there and then, i'd have been OK with that.

Elle on Wheels said
09:35 PM Nov 30, 2011

An inside shower and loo has not been a priority for me because of cost and space. If you do get one make sure it is a decent sized one. I recently rented a huge Kea with a tiny shower and only used it once - it was too cramped to get a decent foam up and impossible to dry myself which defeats the purpose really if you have to step out into the main van to fling a towel around.

chris & terry said
10:45 PM Nov 30, 2011

Inside, 100%. Also there are many camps that are stating "self contained only". While I am happy to shower almost anywhere, my wife will say no to this, she says something about women being made differently to men. Just seems picky to me, but who am I to disobey.

terry

Duckster said
06:00 AM Dec 1, 2011

Absolutely inside. Cold winters breezy day and you seriously free outside. Couldn't manage with the shower toilet on board.

Smokeydk said
09:29 AM Dec 1, 2011

Outside for me.........not many vans I can stand up in....let alone in one those combo shower/toilets....what happens when you drop the soap.......LOL

Beth54 said
11:19 AM Dec 1, 2011

Bathing in the Diamantina Bore in the middle of nowhere was the best outdoor experience I've had, but one can't do that in many places.

Indoor for me, if I could fit one in my little Nipper.

A friend of mine has your tall problem Smokey. My problem is width rather than height, but I can still use the shower in my sisters van.

goinsoon said
05:01 PM Dec 1, 2011

Smokeydk wrote:
Outside for me.........not many vans I can stand up in....let alone in one those combo shower/toilets....what happens when you drop the soap.......LOL

Oh! I can tell you from experience, you see the water handle goes right up

aussietraveller said
05:03 PM Dec 2, 2011

Another vote for inside but beware of the extra weight you will be adding in regard to maximum axle and ball weight as well as maintaining balance overall, we wouldnt be without our en suite especially when free camping.

scotia59 said
02:47 PM Dec 3, 2011

thanks again for all the answers and for all the suggestions and advice.

We have decided to go with a shower/toilet combo 700 x 720. I masked out our home shower and have tested it for size and that seems to be good, so now we just have to decide on best spot for it and fit it.

regards
Jean

Boroma577 said
05:25 PM Dec 3, 2011

scotia59 wrote:
thanks again for all the answers and for all the suggestions and advice.

We have decided to go with a shower/toilet combo 700 x 720. I masked out our home shower and have tested it for size and that seems to be good, so now we just have to decide on best spot for it and fit it.

regards
Jean

Good on you Jean, I am sure you will be very happy with your new shower/toilet combo.

Will you post us a pic of it when it is done please?

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