Compact washrooms and seperate showers

[TheTravelMan]

hi there, Just after your thoughts and idea's on shower's in caravans. I curretly have a van which is 16 years old and has the standard compact all in one shower, sink and toilet room. We find this a little small with having young children and therefore have never used the shower. We would like a new caravan with a seperate shower but at the moment the model we would like a Bailey Pageant Provence is out out of our price range. We have been looking at a Swift Challenger which is only a few years old, but only has a compact washroom however it does seem a little more spacious than our current one. Anyway enough of the ramble are the newer compact washrooms better and how may of you use them to shower, more so if you have young children, how do u manage? Your Comments much appreciated! Thanks.

 

[chrisn7]

Andrew this is one those compromises that we all face at some time in caravanning, and I have been in exactly the same situation, even down to the caravan age.

If you have a traditional side washroom, then you probably have an end sleeping area for the children. This can be more of an advantage than a larger washroom as the children get older and want their own space (and for the friends they bring back!)

You also have to decide just how much you want a shower. Views seem to be divided between those who absolutely must have one, and those who see them as an inappropriate use of valuable space when you can use site facilities.

We elected last time for an end washroom with side dinette/double bunk layout. This gives a much more spacious feel to the central area of the caravan, and the end wash/dressing room has proved a hit with growing up daughter. The shower? Well that gets used as an extension to the wardrobe.....!

 

[Chrissylizzie]

Hi Andrew

As Chris says there is generally a compromise. I am one of those who much prefers my own end bathroom facility and so we are having to compromise on still making up beds. I think one of the questions is how old are your children. Are they young enough to still need you to shower them or are they getting to an age when they will be able to shower themselves. If you still have to help them, then the more room the better, whether that be site showers or a shower in your own caravan.

We too have decided to go for a side dinette (but without the bunks as there are only two of us) as they just give you more room, but still with a large end shower room. I think the answer is to try to decide what matters to you most. Hope this helps. Keep us informed!

Chris

 

[Guest]

As posted elsewhere here, why tow a Twyfords showroom around. Out of 24 hours how many hours do the toiletry facilities get used.

Travelling with our granddaughters these days living space is a far better option even with a full sized Awning. You make your own choice , but if the weather is bad or you have and evening in the van and kids or you need some space do you let them play in the toilet or in the shower cubicle or maybe you relax in front of the vanity mirror.

No doubt the large bathrooms look lovely but how much use do they get.

 

[Chrissylizzie]

I think the end bathroom if generally prefered by women as most of us prefer our own toilet!!, whereas some men seem to think they are a waste of space.

 

[chrissie2]

I think the end bathroom if generally prefered by women as most of us prefer our own toilet!!, whereas some men seem to think they are a waste of space.

I'm going to have to get myself checked over, then, because I'd always worked on the assumption that I was a woman, but as I've always regarded end bathrooms as a total waste of space, perhaps I'm wrong about the gender!

 

[Dave_5040181]

A seperate shower is not a waste of space in my book, it's essential.A combined unit means you have to dry it out continually before using the toilet.

 

[Guest]

Well I can't say we found it a problem in Italy with three adults and two under tens showering this summer.

We have this magic thing called a Curtain, and no it does not cling to you. Plus having polished all the surfaces with silicon from day one water doesn't really hang around much if it should get near the toilet.

 

[chrissie2]

It is a waste of space if you prefer to use the site facilities, as we do. No worries about constantly re-filling Aquarolls, no need to keep emptying the waste container, no danger of water leaking into your 'van, no steam getting everywhere and usually more space to move and a more easily regulated water supply, all of which suit us fine. Of couse, if you regularly use no-facility sites, the whole subject needs to be viewed differently, but we don't, so prefer to have the space (or a slightly shorter 'van than we would need with a end washroom).

We never minded the trips to the shower block with the children - it was certainly easier than trying to get wriggling kids showered - and dried off afterwards- in the caravan!

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

I'm a male but I prefer the end washroom Chrissylizzie but like you Her Ladyship does love her end washroom ;O) Lots of people prefer the end bedroom but I think THEY are a total waste of space - each to their own :O)

Nothing irritated me more than traipsing off to the showers only to find them all in use and having caught athletes foot (another disease thats not caught off dogs but other humans, with reference to the dog thread- hehheh!)I rarely use site showers, preferring to use the vans. I don't find filling the Aquaroll or emptying the Wastemaster a chore either, it's my excercise.

While on the subject of showers will people please dress appropriately whilst going to the shower block because some sights I've seen while dressed in their night attire puts me off my breakfast - hehheh!

 

[LMH]

There's two threads in seperate sections on this.

Copied and pasted:

Hi Andrew

We had an old caravan the sort where you open the door, and have to step into the shower tray to use the loo. I had one shower (shower curtain clings to you and god help you if you drop the soap!!), - never bothered again. The tiny bathroom was the only thing I disliked about that van.

We have a newer model now with an end bathroom and to us, it's luxury. It has a proper shower cubicle and the hot water really is sufficient for a decent shower and you can also rinse your hair off, use conditioner and rinse that off too without the fear of the water running cold. The loo is fine (don't want to go into too much detail there!!). The wardrobe is also in the bathroom and that's handy too. There's plenty of shelving to put toiletries on and the basin has a nice cupboard under that, provinding more storage.

There is also a good light in the bathroom, a skylight and a light inside the shower cubicle.

Myself and daughter utilise the shower all the time. Husband tends to use the site facilities.

I can't comment on the models you are interested in as I don't know anything about them.

I think you have to have a serious think about what you need from a caravan and what you can do without. For us, it was L shaped seating, a decent bathroom and a full oven and anything else was a bonus.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Regards.

Lisa

 

[LMH]

I'm a male but I prefer the end washroom Chrissylizzie but like you Her Ladyship does love her end washroom ;O) Lots of people prefer the end bedroom but I think THEY are a total waste of space - each to their own :O)

Nothing irritated me more than traipsing off to the showers only to find them all in use and having caught athletes foot (another disease thats not caught off dogs but other humans, with reference to the dog thread- hehheh!)I rarely use site showers, preferring to use the vans. I don't find filling the Aquaroll or emptying the Wastemaster a chore either, it's my excercise.

While on the subject of showers will people please dress appropriately whilst going to the shower block because some sights I've seen while dressed in their night attire puts me off my breakfast - hehheh!

Lord B

Couldn't agree with you more about attire whilst going to the shower block. You should have seen some of the sights I saw whilst on a site with 99.5% travelling people. Not pretty.

Lisa x

 

[chrissie2]

I'm a male but I prefer the end washroom Chrissylizzie but like you Her Ladyship does love her end washroom ;O) Lots of people prefer the end bedroom but I think THEY are a total waste of space - each to their own :O)

Nothing irritated me more than traipsing off to the showers only to find them all in use and having caught athletes foot (another disease thats not caught off dogs but other humans, with reference to the dog thread- hehheh!)I rarely use site showers, preferring to use the vans. I don't find filling the Aquaroll or emptying the Wastemaster a chore either, it's my excercise.

While on the subject of showers will people please dress appropriately whilst going to the shower block because some sights I've seen while dressed in their night attire puts me off my breakfast - hehheh!

Please rest assured, I am always fully and correctly dressed when going over to the shower block. I actually tend to shower late afternoon or early evening, when there are rarely any queues. Flip-flops (carried over there, not worn on the way) take care of any risk of athletes foot, or other nasties. And of course, the walk to the showerblock is good enough excercise for me! But please feel free to conduct your own ablutions where and when you wish.

 

[chrissie2]

There's two threads in seperate sections on this.

Copied and pasted:

Hi Andrew

We had an old caravan the sort where you open the door, and have to step into the shower tray to use the loo. I had one shower (shower curtain clings to you and god help you if you drop the soap!!), - never bothered again. The tiny bathroom was the only thing I disliked about that van.

We have a newer model now with an end bathroom and to us, it's luxury. It has a proper shower cubicle and the hot water really is sufficient for a decent shower and you can also rinse your hair off, use conditioner and rinse that off too without the fear of the water running cold. The loo is fine (don't want to go into too much detail there!!). The wardrobe is also in the bathroom and that's handy too. There's plenty of shelving to put toiletries on and the basin has a nice cupboard under that, provinding more storage.

There is also a good light in the bathroom, a skylight and a light inside the shower cubicle.

Myself and daughter utilise the shower all the time. Husband tends to use the site facilities.

I can't comment on the models you are interested in as I don't know anything about them.

I think you have to have a serious think about what you need from a caravan and what you can do without. For us, it was L shaped seating, a decent bathroom and a full oven and anything else was a bonus.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Regards.

Lisa

Strange, Lisa, I think you have just described the caravan we would NOT want! We do as it happens have an oven in our present one, but could happily live without it. But it is good that there is sufficient variety in what is available to cater for such very different requirements. Poor, Andrew, he must be feeling even more confused by now!

 

[LMH]

There's two threads in seperate sections on this.

Copied and pasted:

Hi Andrew

We had an old caravan the sort where you open the door, and have to step into the shower tray to use the loo. I had one shower (shower curtain clings to you and god help you if you drop the soap!!), - never bothered again. The tiny bathroom was the only thing I disliked about that van.

We have a newer model now with an end bathroom and to us, it's luxury. It has a proper shower cubicle and the hot water really is sufficient for a decent shower and you can also rinse your hair off, use conditioner and rinse that off too without the fear of the water running cold. The loo is fine (don't want to go into too much detail there!!). The wardrobe is also in the bathroom and that's handy too. There's plenty of shelving to put toiletries on and the basin has a nice cupboard under that, provinding more storage.

There is also a good light in the bathroom, a skylight and a light inside the shower cubicle.

Myself and daughter utilise the shower all the time. Husband tends to use the site facilities.

I can't comment on the models you are interested in as I don't know anything about them.

I think you have to have a serious think about what you need from a caravan and what you can do without. For us, it was L shaped seating, a decent bathroom and a full oven and anything else was a bonus.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Regards.

Lisa

Hi Chrissie

It's just that my daughter and I don't like the idea of using a shower or toilet that has just been used by a person who doesn't seem to mind in what dirty state they have left it in. I've found that a lot of communial showers don't have long handled brushes etc to sweep the floor after use, nor is it possible to rinse the shower area if the shower head is fixed.

Not our cup of tea really.

Lisa

 

[Chrissylizzie]

There's two threads in seperate sections on this.

Copied and pasted:

Hi Andrew

We had an old caravan the sort where you open the door, and have to step into the shower tray to use the loo. I had one shower (shower curtain clings to you and god help you if you drop the soap!!), - never bothered again. The tiny bathroom was the only thing I disliked about that van.

We have a newer model now with an end bathroom and to us, it's luxury. It has a proper shower cubicle and the hot water really is sufficient for a decent shower and you can also rinse your hair off, use conditioner and rinse that off too without the fear of the water running cold. The loo is fine (don't want to go into too much detail there!!). The wardrobe is also in the bathroom and that's handy too. There's plenty of shelving to put toiletries on and the basin has a nice cupboard under that, provinding more storage.

There is also a good light in the bathroom, a skylight and a light inside the shower cubicle.

Myself and daughter utilise the shower all the time. Husband tends to use the site facilities.

I can't comment on the models you are interested in as I don't know anything about them.

I think you have to have a serious think about what you need from a caravan and what you can do without. For us, it was L shaped seating, a decent bathroom and a full oven and anything else was a bonus.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Regards.

Lisa

Hi Lisa

We are looking at several different layouts at the moment so I am interested to know what you like in particular about the L shaped lounge area.

Chris

 

[chrissie2]

Hi Chrissie

It's just that my daughter and I don't like the idea of using a shower or toilet that has just been used by a person who doesn't seem to mind in what dirty state they have left it in. I've found that a lot of communial showers don't have long handled brushes etc to sweep the floor after use, nor is it possible to rinse the shower area if the shower head is fixed.

Not our cup of tea really.

Lisa

Lisa, you really don't need to justify your choice, we all have our preferences. We must have been pretty lucky with our sites, because in twenty years I can only think of two or three times when we have found showers in less than acceptable condition. The worst that we have usually experienced is to get down there and find there is no hot water!

 

[LMH]

There's two threads in seperate sections on this.

Copied and pasted:

Hi Andrew

We had an old caravan the sort where you open the door, and have to step into the shower tray to use the loo. I had one shower (shower curtain clings to you and god help you if you drop the soap!!), - never bothered again. The tiny bathroom was the only thing I disliked about that van.

We have a newer model now with an end bathroom and to us, it's luxury. It has a proper shower cubicle and the hot water really is sufficient for a decent shower and you can also rinse your hair off, use conditioner and rinse that off too without the fear of the water running cold. The loo is fine (don't want to go into too much detail there!!). The wardrobe is also in the bathroom and that's handy too. There's plenty of shelving to put toiletries on and the basin has a nice cupboard under that, provinding more storage.

There is also a good light in the bathroom, a skylight and a light inside the shower cubicle.

Myself and daughter utilise the shower all the time. Husband tends to use the site facilities.

I can't comment on the models you are interested in as I don't know anything about them.

I think you have to have a serious think about what you need from a caravan and what you can do without. For us, it was L shaped seating, a decent bathroom and a full oven and anything else was a bonus.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Regards.

Lisa

Hi Chrissie

I wasn't justifying my choice at all. If I like something, I buy it, regardless.

Lisa

 

[TheTravelMan]

Thanks everyone for your comments so far, varied as they are as you say everyone to their own. I'll give this more thought and another look around some caravans. End bathroom idea not an option as we prefer the end sitting / bed area. hence my reason for a bailey provence as this has seperate shower cubicle but as a side washroom. My kids are 5 and 6 and we still need to help shower them at the mo. Thanks again.

 

[LMH]

Hi Chrissylizzie

Long time no speak, hope you are ok.

We went for an L shaped as my husband is 6ft 2 and it means he can stretch out to read or watch tv without his feet dangling over the ends of the cushions. We can seat four or five people comfortably. There is a large long window one one side with a small seat and sometimes my daughter sits on there if we have guests. Also, when you make the bed up, it's enormous.

We were interested in a fixed bed when we were looking but unless you can tow a twin axle, I found that most of the bathrooms were on the small side. (Although I didn't look round lots of vans). After a few years of having to put up with a tiny inadequate bathroom, we were certainly ready for a change.

Lisa

 

[Chrissylizzie]

Hi Chrissylizzie

Long time no speak, hope you are ok.

We went for an L shaped as my husband is 6ft 2 and it means he can stretch out to read or watch tv without his feet dangling over the ends of the cushions. We can seat four or five people comfortably. There is a large long window one one side with a small seat and sometimes my daughter sits on there if we have guests. Also, when you make the bed up, it's enormous.

We were interested in a fixed bed when we were looking but unless you can tow a twin axle, I found that most of the bathrooms were on the small side. (Although I didn't look round lots of vans). After a few years of having to put up with a tiny inadequate bathroom, we were certainly ready for a change.

Lisa

Hi Lisa

Yes I am well thanks, hope you are too. Thanks also for your thoughts on the L shape. We have looked at a couple like this and did like the spacious feel. We too like the end bathroom and are also finding that we would need to go for a twin axle,bigger car etc. which we don;t want to do. The compromise for us I think will be having to still make up the beds as, as I posted before, the perfect van for us is not made!!