We never use the shower ... largely because the shower facilities on most sites (continental ... we don't camp in the UK) are far better than the caravan's ... and unlimited water supplies ...
As we are mostly 'fair weather' hot/sunny campers, the 'traipsing' to and from the site sanitaires is never a problem ...
Yes we use the loo for peeing (at night), and the washbasin for washing hands etc ... but that's it. Storage area whilst travelling.
We started using the caravan shower while my wife was having chemotherapy and was worried about any chance of an infection from the site showers. She is now well past the risk of infection stage but we both still use the shower as it is so much easier than walking to the shower block.
We did find it hard to regulate the temperature so I fitted a Thermostatic Mixer Valve like this in the pipework under the wardrobe. This gives us water at a constant temperature which is really good. The way I've done it the wash hand basin also has the same fixed temperature of water but that is no problem.
I do not think we'd ever go back to using the site facilities.
------------- We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.
We use the shower, yes it is the fully line cubical type. Why pay to have the facility and not use it. I don't see the point. I do ensure the 50ltr aqua roll is full before we go to bed, the two kids and us two adults get showered and breakfast stuff washed up without a problem. We use ecocamel shower head and their stop valve to save touching the mixer once the temperature is set.
Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 17/9/2017
I am watching French/Dutch folk right now, trailing to the block in the dressing gowns, shower bag and towel under their arms - in the rain!
There are water points within ten yards - far nearer than the block, to their vans, yet they are signally not kit out for using them. They are back and forth to the taps with kettles and watering cans to replenish their meagre on-board 'supplies'.
Why do folk put themselves through this?? They've paid exactly the same as me for their pitches, but choose to trail back and forth umpteen times a day for showers/toilets/water. I do not buy the 'weve paid for the facilities so we are using them' bit. The best facilities are in their own vans (which they've paid handsomely for), with a tap outside. Why not do themselves a favour and make the sensible choice. I fill the aqua barrel once a day, empty the bog and hog every day or so. Thats it. If i was going to 'camp' this way, i'd have kept the tent.
A lot of continental spec vans don't really have usable showers, so you have to use site facilities. What I don't understand is people who have fully spec'd vans and not use the ensuite facilities. TBH I can't remember the last time I used a site shower, certainly not in the last 12 months.
Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 17/9/2017
I am watching French/Dutch folk right now, trailing to the block in the dressing gowns, shower bag and towel under their arms - in the rain!
There are water points within ten yards - far nearer than the block, to their vans, yet they are signally not kit out for using them. They are back and forth to the taps with kettles and watering cans to replenish their meagre on-board 'supplies'.
Why do folk put themselves through this?? They've paid exactly the same as me for their pitches, but choose to trail back and forth umpteen times a day for showers/toilets/water. I do not buy the 'weve paid for the facilities so we are using them' bit. The best facilities are in their own vans (which they've paid handsomely for), with a tap outside. Why not do themselves a favour and make the sensible choice. I fill the aqua barrel once a day, empty the bog and hog every day or so. Thats it. If i was going to 'camp' this way, i'd have kept the tent.
A lot of continental spec vans don't really have usable showers, so you have to use site facilities. What I don't understand is people who have fully spec'd vans and not use the ensuite facilities. TBH I can't remember the last time I used a site shower, certainly not in the last 12 months.
I think it depends on the van, my van technically has a shower, but I would never use it as:
A) Its tiny, barely enough room to put a cat in it let alone swing it about.
b) As others have said, unless the showers are fully lined, the chances of leaks are just too high. My shower isn't fully lined so I prefer to be cautious and use on site facilities.
At the end of the day I think its all down to personal taste, and neither option is right or wrong.
As others have said, unless the showers are fully lined, the chances of leaks are just too high. My shower isn't fully lined so I prefer to be cautious and use on site facilities.
It is sad when people have so little faith in build quality of a caravan they daren't use the shower. If folks want to use site facilities that's fine, but believing that they have to is something different.
As newbies, before we bought we decided that it's best to have a choice ref showering. However, our plan is to use the site facilities when available, but we got a van with a shower that actually does the job.
Our's has the ecocamel system, which aerates the water to provide a pretty decent shower experience. The shower cubicle is separate from the WC in what is basically an "en suite" type arrangement.
We plan to do the CL/CS sites, so I'm sure the decision will pay off, but time will tell.
Quote: Originally posted by boff on 18/9/2017
As others have said, unless the showers are fully lined, the chances of leaks are just too high. My shower isn't fully lined so I prefer to be cautious and use on site facilities.
It is sad when people have so little faith in build quality of a caravan they daren't use the shower. If folks want to use site facilities that's fine, but believing that they have to is something different.
This is just my opinion so don't bite my head off, but my opinion of the current caravan industry is similar to the car industry back in the 60's and 70's.
Back then the mentality was "that'll do" "that's good enough" etc. and cars of the time were pretty ropey quality wise.
And unfortunately the caravan industry is the same, I bought my current van brand new and there are so many little things that are slightly wrong. Cupboards not quite lined up properly, latches that again don't quite line up properly etc.
Maybe I'm wrong and perhaps I've just been unlucky, but after speaking to a fellow caravan owner he says the exact same thing. The problem he had is with electrical cables going under the van. on his van they are basically clipped under the floor, which is fine, except on three occasions he has had stones kicked up and damage the cables.
Quote: Originally posted by shaggy2000 on 20/9/2017
Quote: Originally posted by boff on 18/9/2017
As others have said, unless the showers are fully lined, the chances of leaks are just too high. My shower isn't fully lined so I prefer to be cautious and use on site facilities.
It is sad when people have so little faith in build quality of a caravan they daren't use the shower. If folks want to use site facilities that's fine, but believing that they have to is something different.
This is just my opinion so don't bite my head off, but my opinion of the current caravan industry is similar to the car industry back in the 60's and 70's.
Back then the mentality was "that'll do" "that's good enough" etc. and cars of the time were pretty ropey quality wise.
And unfortunately the caravan industry is the same, I bought my current van brand new and there are so many little things that are slightly wrong. Cupboards not quite lined up properly, latches that again don't quite line up properly etc.
Maybe I'm wrong and perhaps I've just been unlucky, but after speaking to a fellow caravan owner he says the exact same thing. The problem he had is with electrical cables going under the van. on his van they are basically clipped under the floor, which is fine, except on three occasions he has had stones kicked up and damage the cables.
I'm not going to bite your head off as a matter of fact I agree with you. Unfortunetely we voted with our feet and decided not to buy a British made Caravan. We are now on our third Hymer in 12 years. It is not perfect but on the whole the fit and finish is so much better. As it was in our first Hymer a 2001 entry level van. Electric cables under the van? All cables run inside in conduit and that was on a van that is over 15 years old.
Just to cheer everyone up the shower panel did fall off the current one on the third trip out, it did cost me £8 to fix lot cheaper and quicker that a 240 mile round trip to the dealer.
Back on subject I rarely use the shower in the van more than once a day and a usable shower is an absolute must have for us.
Had both styles of bathroom and currently have a separate shower cubicle again. We found we really missed the extra storage space in our last caravan as it was a wet room style.
We tend to do a mix of using it and not using it depending where we are. Generally its great for storing the aquaroll/waste thingy in transit. If we go somewhere with a pitch that has permanant water and drainage we use the shower. If not then we use facilities onsite then i use the space for a collapsable zip bag to put dirty washing in etc. We are 2 adults, 2 young kids and a spaniel so we have a lot of dirty washing! The bag is fairly out of sight and gets zipped up and put in the roofbox to take home so aquaroll etc is then transported back in there
Some site facilities are great and some not so good, or non existent. So were flexible, some of our favorite sites don't have shower facilities and it would be a shame not to go there because we weren't prepared to use the shower in our end washroom van. Likewise some sites we have stopped at have great facilities so in that case we use them. What I do object to is having to pay extra on top of the site fee's to have a shower. Last site was 50p for 5 mins, I would have got bored waiting for the shower to finish (not much hair to wash)!
we go on mostly rallies so use our shower all the time, you just need to get organised we make sure the water is full 50ltrs before bed, we can get 2 x great showers in the morning out of one barrel, look after it the same as the one you have at home replacing the sealant when necessary, ventilate. 20 odd years of caravanning we have always used the van and the kids did (they stay in premier inns now apparently caravanning isn't cool enough LOL)
Im told theres nothing wrong with a baby wipe shower
I use ours regularly, just start off with a full barrel and you can't go wrong lol. It's a mixer tap so you get in the cubicle and get your temperature sorted then a rinse down then obviously turn tap off while washing body/hair. I have long hair and with shower 2 shampoos and a conditioning I still have half a barrel left.
------------- a tent, folding camper and 6 caravans later ... June
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: CARAVAN SHOWER
