we are going away 31/7 for 16 days, can't wait!!!!! and not sure in the ability to use the washing facilities that the various sites we are staying at so was thinking of showering in the caravan - that's going to be a nightmare, does anyone have any good tips for body wash shampoo etc
I am assuming your model has the toilet/shower facillities across the back
so should be no problems at all no different to showering at home just remember not to run the shower all the time in otherwords wet hair and body turn off shower shampoo and soap body turn shower on and rinse off job done. just make sure you fill your water barrel before you start, we normally get two showers out of our aqua roll with some water left over
Showering in a caravan is no different to showering in a campsite shower cubicle, in fact I think it's more convenient and hygienic in the fact that you are not walking on a wet floor that many other folk have walked over previously thus reducing the risk of infection. There are a couple of things to take into consideration which is to fill the water barrel first and that the hot water in the onboard tank will be hot from the start and as the hot water is consumed it is slowly filled up with cold water from the barrel so the temperature decreases very slowly so it's important to save hot water by not running it constantly. Obviously there are different size water barrels ranging from 29 litres to 50 litres so the bigger the barrel the more water can be consumed for showering but remember that the bigger the barrel the sooner the waste tank will require emptying. It's not such a big deal once you've done it a couple of times.
Why is it a nightmare? You've got a perfectly adequate and functional shower cubical.
You just have to practice economy with the water. A typical aquaroll has enough water for 2 showers, ensure it's full before you start, allow 30 mins for water to heat before showering if it's not already heated, the water heater only has 10 litres of hot water, so may need 20 mins to reheat for a 2nd person to shower, but part of that will be while the 1st person is drying off and dressing and 2nd person is getting ready to shower. Grey/waste water tank should not be too full before you start.
Use what's often known as the 'Navy' shower technique. Wet yourself - turn water off - lather up - water on, rinse yourself - turn water off. Not so different from what you'd normally do, just maybe a little briefer with the water on. Any soap/shower gel/shampoo you normally use is fine.
If you linger too long or faff about with multiple hair products you may find the water getting cooler, and 2nd person will need a refill of aqua roll, learn from that, you are using far too much water than is necessary! It's easy to have a perfectly good shower without any difficulties or hardships. I always use my onboard shower, never had a problem.
I posted a similar article a fortnight ago querying tips to avoid getting scalded or frozen in the shower - we already use the navy system, I am considering buying a shower head with a trigger on so that the thermostatic lever ( mixer tap ) can be left in the same position once an ideal water temperature is found
When my boiler packed up at home, I would boil water in a kettle, about 3 times, and pour into a bucket, dilute with sufficient cold water, and shower with the aid of a cup.
That lasted a few months before I had the boiler replaced.
Ladies may prefer the aid of a small stool.
Should work in a van's toilet/shower cubicle to minimise the risk of scolding.
DK
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We always use our shower in the caravan. One tip is to use a two in one shampoo and condition. Turn shower on wet body and hair turn shower off, put two in one shampoo on shower gel on wash body. Put shower back on rinse everything off.
I always make sure I wipe the excess water out of the shower cubicle after showering with an old microfibre towel.
We much prefer to shower in the van. All of the caravans and the two motorhomes we have owned we have almost exclusively used the onboard shower. Why have one if you don't use it? I must have had approaching 1500 showers in our various vehicles!!!
dont bother with the on board facilities...Find a suitable stream or river...Pick a pick rock and just beat yourself against it until the soap lathers up sufficiently...
Come on people ...you have never used the facilities in your van / motorhome????????????
I was on site last summer for two weeks on a CL and a ''neighbour'' in a motorhome who would fill a 5 (FIVE) litre container each day and that was for his drinking / washing for himself and partner ...he said a wash down with a flannel was sufficient. as he didn't like to use his shower in his £65,000 motorhome in case it caused damp - needless to say we didn't go round for a drink or other refreshments :(
Our first two caravans didn't have showers . With our first Monza we has a holiday in New Forest on a no facilities site.
We just closed awning curtains stood in bowl and used jugs of warm water. Water heated in a kettle!
My wife was handwashing some clothes outside when one of the ponies decided to drink from the washing bowl as she hung the clothes out!
Caused much amusement.
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My first van was a 10’ 6” 4 ( yes four ) berth Thomson T-line inherited from my gran. We used a toilet tent and a wooden duck board - the shower was a plastic watering can with like warm water - great fun but do I miss the old day ? No chance !! Central heating , hot and cold water on tap !!!
We couldn’t use the shower in our previous AS Clubman because the tray wouldn’t drain. (Yes we did try to sort it.) Strip wash with a flannel at the sink worked perfectly well. Hair washing was the issue. You do need to be a contortionist to wash hair in a tiny sink.
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