bathrooms

ute man · Newbie

bathrooms

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the gang ute man, enjoy here and out in the playground.

I have only just, in October 2014 updated from Avan camper with no facilities on board at all, to a full CV with full ensuite. Best thing I did. I did think of not getting a van with ensuite and just use the good old outside toilet/shower tent but so glad I didn't. If you can work it into your budget do it mate.

Keep Safe

DOUG

Blues Man · Guru

Hi ute man 'welcome to the forum, Definately get a unit with toilet and shower you won't be sorry ,even if it takes a little longer to get the dollars together

Blues man'

iana · Guru

I think a bit more info is required. Are you solo? m or F. Age makes a big difference.
When I was young, a small tent to camp in, and when the time comes a shovel and a roll of toilet paper.
The later down the track with the missus, a camper trailer and use of camp facilities.
Now we are over the hill, its all thought to getting a van with a toilet.
But you don't get anything for nothing, Toilet and shower in a van equals bigger heavier van, equates to increased petrol consumption. Bigger TUG (love that American).

robo24 · Senior Member

Til our current van we put a porta pot in a fabric pop u shower tent in the annex we now have a Spaceland Dekuxe with toilet on one side and full shower on the other.We also purchased a second cassette for toilet for times when dump point not close.We have also changed from blue liquid chemical to sachets.More convenient and fresher odour.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

we travel quite a bit and when we free camp we always use our toilet as if there is a public one available, its usually filthy and full of flies - not to mention the smell (yuk). We usually shower each day using the minimum amount of water - wet ourselves down, soap up and clean, then quickly wash off - amazing how much water you don't use this way. We also have a top loading washer which again doesn't use much water.

Many will say we're a home away from home, rather than camping, but it depends on your age and whether youre up to squatting down on a small hole in the ground, can handle no showers and just wiping yourself off with baby type wet wipes and washing your gear in the hand basin till you go to a caravan park

PeterD · Guru

A lot depends upon the maximum length and weight you are considering. Comparing vans of the same length, the less space you waste on ablutions facilities the more liveable they are. For vans under 6 metres you should consider whether you can really benefit from a full ensuite, combo unit (shower dunny cubicle) or no facilities. We only do a limited amount of free camping so a shower tent suffices us. Most Oz vans without facilities include a pottie cupboard under the double bed or under the wardrobe in twin bed models. If you are on the edge of the parking area you can always jackknife the rig and use the potty out in the open. You thus have the capacity to carry one in your van. Our van is 5.5 meters body length, we have opted for a large kitchen and plenty of seating over an ensuite of any type.

Regarding facilities across the Nullarbor, there are a couple of earth closet dunnies. We have used them OK. It depends upon whether you are one of those "overly delicate" types or not that determines if you can cope with them or not. You will probably be saving in excess of $10,000 and a lot of length and weight. It's a value judgement that only you can make in the long run. You will probably have a few vans over your travelling life if you are not too old when you start, if so then start small and work up as you trade up.

However if you are intending to start off with one of those overly large gin palaces then my views expressed above will have little value, you will not get a van without a full ensuite.

-- Edited by PeterD on Sunday 1st of March 2015 04:30:19 PM

Yabbietol · Veteran Member

We have moved from a great little Avan Cruiseliner (pop up) without shower or toilet and have ordered a new caravan with shower and toilet. Last year we travelled to WA from NSW in our Avan and the main thing that we really would have liked to have was an on board toilet. Some places have nice toilets but many are not clean and across the Nullarbor in SA they are only at roadhouses, we have also found in other areas the lack of toilets in some rest areas is a real nuisance.

Your own clean toilet is really worth having, a shower is good too, but not as important. These days many vans come with both and in our opinion well worth having. When we were younger and tougher they were not important, but as we get older comfort becomes more important. External caravan showers are good, but only if it is warm or you are real tough.

An on board toilet is really nice on a cold and wet night at 3am, especially if you get travellers diarrhoea. It is very much a personal choice, what sold us was a hiring a camper van with a toilet when in Canada, we did not use the shower much, but as they often come as a set we decided to get both. I think in our next van we will use the shower a lot more when we free camp and use more basic council camp grounds.

Good luck
Terry

aussietraveller · Guru

G'day and welcome to the Forum Barry we travel with a full ensuite van now after having had several without and I can assure you that we will never again travel without a full ensuite that is always clean and has not been used by some rather inconsiderate people who don't think about the people following them, mate it's worth the extra up front cost.