Internal Van Shower vs. Campsite Shower Facilities: What do you use?
It’s one of the oldest debates in the community, do you use your internal van shower or do you prefer to use campsite shower facilities?
Some of us swear by the privacy of an internal wet room—perfect for those rainy off-grid mornings. Others argue that the weight, humidity, and grey-water management aren't worth the square footage, preferring to rely on campsite facilities, with Club Campsites having excellent hot showers for members to enjoy.
Share your thoughts below on the following:
- The Humidity Battle: How are you managing the steam? Does your caravan suffer from damp?
- Resale Value: Do you think a van without a shower is harder to sell in today's market?
Let us know your specs below. Tell us your water tank size and your "shower-to-storage" ratio. Let’s help anyone thinking of buying a caravan or motorhome decide if a wet room is a "must-have" or a "nice-to-have."
Cast Your Vote below!
Internal Van Shower vs. Campsite Shower Facilities: What do you use? 29 votes
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Comments
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Internal Van Shower
Only very rarely did we use site facilities, much preferred to use our own even if it meant carting more water and waste around. Having said that the washroom in the caravans and motorhomes we purchased were very much part of the decision on which van we purchased.
David
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Campsite
We always tested the caravan's shower when we first got one and that's the last time it was used in it's lifetime.
When we had children with us it would have used up too much hot water and/or having to queue and now even though there is only (usually) two of us and our present one is large enough we still use the site showers. I must confess to like taking my time and having even more space. I'm usually up early and there's never a queue. After a day's walking in the hills in all weathers we came back in all sort of conditions and both want a good shower at the same time.
We use the shower cubicle for storage on the floor while a plastic clothes horse hold the shower towels. Above that we have a removable rail for any wet clothing.
One more point, and I'm not being critical of my fellow campers here it's up to them, I see others going for a shower wearing full outdoor coats, 'normal' clothes, shoes… Whatever the weather or season, for me it's a t shirt and shorts. I may take an umbrella if it's raining.
Certainly club site showers have changed over the years with the latest refurbishments being fantastic. I hated with a passion those that had push buttons!
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Both
We like to be independent enough to tour without electric and facilities, so we use our onboard shower a lot, both on electric and via gas. I have short hair nowadays and use a combined shampoo/conditioner in the van, so it’s a simple once off rinse. No steam as we have skylight open, and bathroom window cracked. A trigger shower head means we don’t waste water while soaping up. After showering it’s a quick wipe down of surfaces, shower curtain goes out the wide open window to dry out.
If on a Club site, or anywhere with decent facilities, then we will use showers, but we won’t queue. Depending on how much overnight fee is, we may or may not have a good long shower and hair wash.
We originally toured without a shower onboard, so come from a just get on with it, strip wash, shower when there is one background. So today’s outfits are a luxury. MH tank is onboard, so there’s no faffing with water barrels and pipes, we just fill up either as we leave, or as we arrive, as we do use our outfit off site.Hence both, but mainly onboard facilities. Fitting a trigger shower head is a game changer.
No damp, we manage the water and the steam well. Resale value, wouldn’t know, we have really only had two outfits in past 40 years, current one is into year 12 now, and it will probably see us out. I think it depends on the individual whether or not losing the bathroom would work. Some have never used bathroom so would like the extra space, others, us included, can’t comprehend traipsing off to loo in middle of a rainy night, and like the freedom of being able to shower anywhere. I don’t think manufacturers of big outfits would be bold enough to ditch the bathroom, but there are outfits more adventurous out there, compact, space inhibited that don’t have a bathroom as such. To me, some of the big outfits are like towing an en-suite hotel room around, but with freedom to move around from place to place. Nice for long stays, but at a very big price.
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Both
It all depends on the site and weather whether I use the van shower or not, my other half always uses the van shower. Our fresh water and waste tanks are large and while the wet room is small compared to a site shower room, it is perfectly usable. Condensation has never been a problem, probably because we have extractor fans in the roof of the wet room. Having on board shower facilities give you far more flexibility with site choice.
peedee
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Campsite
In an Eriba it is questionable if you could actually have a shower, although folklore does throw up a few instances where it has been done.
If we had a "normal" van and were not on a limited facilities site, then I would still use the site facilities. The space, water pressure and availability of hot water is a no brainer.
I don't think resale value comes into the equation as you will always find buyers who are not interested in the shower, just as you will buyers who are not. The market can cope with both.
Colin
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we very very rarely use site facilities. Shower or toilet. Having a useable shower was a must with the vans we have bought. Current PVC has a 100l fresh tank, slightly smaller waste tank, and a swing wall so no wet curtain. Open the roof lite and the shower base dries quickly. We really don’t like the faff of gathering up all shower stuff to take to showers which often have insufficient hooks which are not hidden from shower splash, lack of suitable seating and wet floors. And that’s not mentioning other peoples hair etc in drains or worse and shower soapy water from other showers running through. Yuck.
This is also why we tend to use Aires and CL sites rather than pay a lot of money for facilities we never use, and why we are disappointed in the club closing non facility sites and changing the pricing regime of those still existing.
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Internal Van Shower
I agree with all the points raised by Hja and take the dog along. Only very occasionally I may use a site shower if not on a serviced pitch, OH always uses the caravan shower, which in our current van, is very large. It also has a 40 litre on board tank, so no shortage of water, and the Alde heating gives plenty of hot water.
We will probably miss the tank and the large shower when we get the new van, but the new shower is still a good size. Present shower room has an extractor fan, never had any damp or leaks in the 18 years we have owned the van. Just wondering if we can get one fitted in the new van, it has 2 roof vents in the shower room.
Would always want a dedicated shower compartment rather than what I would call a “wet room”, unless it was the swing wall type, cannot abide clingy shower curtains!
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CampsiteConsidering Your Shower Options When Travelling
It is worth noting that the question regarding shower choices may not be as straightforward as it seems and perhaps does not fully reflect the answers you are seeking??
Internal Van Shower vs. Campsite Shower Facilities: What Do You Use?
The initial question - whether to use the van shower or the campsite shower—appears simple at first glance. However, it is important to recognise that the question also extends to include the broader campsite shower ‘facilities’.
For us, we do utilise campsite showers at every opportunity, but we also make use of the van shower ‘facilities’. In practice, we tend to use both, depending on convenience and circumstances. One could argue that "facilities" should also encompass other things - ablutions, sinks and washing areas, and not just showers - would this then further reflect in responses??
Perhaps I am overcomplicating what might be a straightforward question, but these considerations reflect how individuals approach the topic and provide you responses.
Clarifying Preferences and Measuring Demographics
In reflecting on the simple question, I recognise that I may now be embarking on a bold course of action by suggesting a clearer picture of the question. In order to achieve greater clarity, by examining the age of those showing a preference – a simple ten year groupings could serve as a valuable barometer for additional measurement, offering further insight into the underlying present and future trends and patterns of club members in relation to the original question posed supported by age.😏🙇♂️
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Campsite
We formed caravan habits early in life. Fetching water for six of us to shower in a caravan was never going to happen .
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Internal Van Shower
Since buying the Knaus at the end of 2018, we have both only used the shower in the van. One of the features that appealed to us when choosing a new van was the fact that it had a very large 'bathroom' - two wardrobes, loo, sink, proper shower cubicle with a door, bathroom cabinet etc etc. I had an onboard tank fitted before purchase (50L) which fills automatically from the aquaroll - so plenty of water on tap. I also upgraded both water pumps so that now, the shower pressure is almost as good as it is at home. Another feature which I really like is that the shower walls are not sealed to the shower tray with a silicone bead which usually fails over time. Instead, Knaus have opted for a shower tray with a significant up-stand behind the shower walls - so there's no way it can ever leak.
As far as managing condensation is concerned, we find that opening the roof-light and the window slightly, soon clears any steam and moisture.
One additional feature that I have added is a domestic, electrically heated towel rail which not only warms the towels and the bathroom, it's been a boon for drying towels in the winter months when it's too wet to dry them outside.
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Both
If I'm paying for a campsite with shower facilities and they are acceptable then we'll use those but have no qualms about using own facilities. Been that way for 35+years so can't see us changing habits now.
Only caravan we ever had without a shower was our first one. We tended to stay on facility sites for the first couple of years. Didn't make any difference to resale price as we got more for part-ex than we paid for it.
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"Perhaps I am overcomplicating what might be a straightforward question"
I’m terribly afraid you are, Steve. As the title shows, the poll is only about shower facilities, not other facilities and demographics and other items play no part in this very simple exercise.
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We used the shower a few times on sites without facilities, but are can afford to, and are prepared to pay for sites with showers and loos. With a 12 ft c'van body, the loo gets used for night time or ridiculously wet weather only. Site showers all the time as space so limited, and they are invariably better than the van shower.
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Both
I will use a site shower when there is one available, however that is quite an infrequent occurrence as we generally use sites without that facility, but the OH only uses the one in the caravan, and this has been the norm for very many years. At least we know what has been going on in our own shower compartment which isn't the case with those on a site! I have no problem with having to swap over and refill our aquarolls and emptying the waste water container, as the walks to the tap and drain add to my total daily steps!😁
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Campsite
I have always used the caravan site facilities, including the washing up area, unless of course, there are none such as at Borrowdale, but I did wonder about the dampness issue when one morning at Broadway, I was retuning from an early morning walk and saw a van which had water streaming down every window as sometimes happens in a kitchen if you don't shut the kettle lid properly so it doesn't turn off! Perhaps that is what it was but surely, if you use a shower regularly in your van and wash up in the van, however much you wipe the area down afterwards, then over time it will become damper inside than someone who uses the site facilities instead?
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Now we have got rid of the Lunar which was the best layout we have had but too many issues with it and now have a smaller Adria which did have shower extension in with basin tap well that was taken out plus shower curtain as toilet area too small for showering in and now have a normal tap over sink and will be using site facilities from now on but we are only touring nearer to home here in France and not using it to come to UK anymore as we now prefer cottages which we have booked for later in the year.
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Both
We mainly use the showers on site I just like the little bit extra room you get but we do use the shower in the van sometimes mainly if we are on a CL or if I have been out a morning cycle and come back while the on site showers are closed for cleaning then I use our own. Our van has a very good sized washroom right across the back of the van so the shower cubicle os a good size
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Both
@Steve3 I have to agree, you are overthinking the question in this instance.
Forgive me, but shouldn’t your answer, based on what you have posted be “both”? You do use the site shower facilities, and you say you use the van shower “facilities”. So in essence, you use the onboard bathroom as well.
Sites have facility blocks, which are usually made up a number of showers, washrooms, toilets. A touring outfit either does or doesn’t have a bathroom. What’s in that bathroom can vary. We have had an outfit with no bathroom, just a portaloo and fold down basin, and full on shower, washbasin and flushing toilet.Answers given won’t be entirely based upon “age”. The chosen outfit is the more likely indicator of whether or not someone will use onboard or site facilities. We joined the Club age 25, purely for access to good facilities, using a tiny micro camper. Now age 65+ (how did that happen😄) we don’t happen at the moment to be Members, but we do still tour, because we now have a small motorhome with a bathroom.
Age can be a factor, it might be that many touring find a small bathroom not good if there are mobility issues. Those of a childrearing age might not fancy lugging water around, or prefer to shower a couple of children together in a much larger space. Some of any age might simply not fancy the onboard bathroom at all and prefer to stroll to a facility block, given just how good the Club’s are nowadays. Others will much prefer at any age to stay in their own outfit. Lots of variables.0 -
Internal Van Shower
Our first three caravans didn't have proper bathrooms, in fact the first didn't have space for a toilet! That covered the years 1982 to 1998. Then in 1998, with the boys of an age when they didn't want to come away with us we purchased a Sterling Europa 460. This was absolute luxury as it had an end toilet/bathroom compartment across the back of the van with a separate shower and for the first time a cassette toilet. From then on all caravans and one motorhome also had the end bathroom so it was an easy decision just to use the van facilities.
David
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@Francis Our Lunar also had rear bathroom with the best shower compartment we have ever had and did use it on a couple of CL's in UK.
Again agree with other ventilation is key with built in shower roof vent and window both open when showering and no issues.
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Internal Van Shower
Since we switched to a MH in 2019 we have used the van shower. When we had a caravan we used both. Our first van 2005 - 2013 had a very poor shower and we only used it a couple of times on CL’s. Our second 2014 - 2018 had a separate shower compartment and we used it when on service pitches and a few times on standard when the facilities were busy. Humidity in the Motorhome isn’t an issue if you have the roof light open there is a significant airflow from vents in the door and all the steam goes out of the roof.
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Internal Van Shower
We always use the caravan in the UK but frequently use the site showers when abroad. Much rather walk from bed to bathroom, then shower in a guaranteed clean environment. As I always go second, it is my job to dry the shower area (just like at home) so within a couple of minutes I'm out of the shower and dress for the one and only time. Collection and disposal of water is a job I enjoy - what else would I do with that 5 - 10 mins a day.
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