Is there any way to safely shower regularly in a wet room?

[Pomegranate]

Hi everyone, this is my first post on this forum and I would really like to hear your advice. I've been thinking for some time to get a caravan and recently I looked at some used models. I really like how continental brands look inside, and from what I've heard they also have a better build quality.
However, all the models I've seen have a wet room instead of a proper bathroom with a separate shower cubicle, like most British models. And because I would like to use the caravan for off-grid camping and/or sites with minimal facilities, I would really like to have a shower that I can use regularly and won't cause infiltration issues. My budget is not very high, so I am considering models from 2000-2010 from brands like Knaus, Fendt, LMC and Wilk.
Is there any way to shower in such a wet room and avoid damp/rot? Would any of the following options work?

1. Add some sealant(?) around the edge of the shower tray, then protect the door with a curtain and crouch down on the floor to avoid splashing water, then dry/air very well.
2. Get a caravan with a window in the wet room, add a long tube to the shower head, then pull it out the window and wash outside. I am planning to use the caravan only in the summer, so cold wouldn't be a problem.
3. Don't shower in the wet room, use a solar camping shower outside (like the ones they have at Decathlon).
4. I've seen some models that have a French bed with the sink next to it, then the wet room only has the toilet and the shower. The shower can be closed with a curtain all around you, like a mummy. Get a caravan like this.

Which idea would you consider to be the best? Are there any continental models with a separate shower? Or maybe should I try to find a British caravan with one?

 

[Mr Plodd]

I think you are greatly over-thinking matters !

Any caravan that has such a wet room will have been built with the expectation it will get used, so the construction will reflect that.

It's possible at that age that sealant around tue shower might have cracked, so a thorough and careful inspection might be needed to rectify any possible weak spots.

Personally I would just get on and use the wet room as its intended to be used, that being as a wet room!! AFTER carefully checking for anywhere the sealant might have come loose.

 

[Lutz]

I agree with Mr Plodd. I have had nothing else other than caravans with a wet room and have never encountered any problems although I normally use the site sanitary facilities and not the shower in the caravan itself that much.
I have found that it’s not so much the sealant around the tray that is an issue but that the tray itself can start to crack with ageing of the plastic after about 10 to 15 years. That is something to watch for with the need to seal any such cracks as soon as possible. However, I would imagine that the same applies to older caravans that have a separate shower cubicle, too.

 

[Andy Norfolk]

Not sure about earlier models but our Adria has a normal bathroom as is a continental build.

 

[Buckman]

A foreign made caravan may attract a higher insurance premium than a British built caravan, but otherwise there should be no issues with using a wet room however expect everything in that area to get wet?

 

[Dustydog]

Welcome to the Forum Pomegranate.

I think you are worrying too much. As others have said wet rooms were designed for a specific purpose and if looked after correctly , as you do with a separate shower, you will not have a problem.
Interestingly even the 2007 Knaus comes with a specific shower.
See this advert for example

Auto Trader Caravans - New and Used Caravans For Sale

Find your next caravan with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used caravans. Over 3,000 caravans online. Simple, easy, quick!

www.autotrader.co.uk

 

[otherclive]

I’ve had vans with a separate shower cubicle or others c with a wet room. The former is more convenient as it’s secondary role was a hanging space for wet weather gear to dry off.

With the wet room ones all had skylights, and one had skylight plus window too. As others have said check the sealant and repair if required. After use we would sponge out the wet room ones and leave the door open and curtain open too. A bit more inconvenient than a shower cubicle but not that much.

 

[Pomegranate]

Thank you everyone so much for all your answers!

Personally I would just get on and use the wet room as its intended to be used, that being as a wet room!! AFTER carefully checking for anywhere the sealant might have come loose.

I have found that it’s not so much the sealant around the tray that is an issue but that the tray itself can start to crack with ageing of the plastic after about 10 to 15 years. That is something to watch for with the need to seal any such cracks as soon as possible.

I guess I was put off by several topics I've read where people mentioned damp issues from showers. I will definitely check the sealant around the tray. And also I think I need to be looking for a wet room with walls that can get wet. I've seen some smaller caravan models (like Sterckeman) that had wood cabinets and no waterproof wallpaper inside the wet room.

With the wet room ones all had skylights, and one had skylight plus window too.

I think I will choose a caravan that has a window in the wet room, not just a skylight. So everything can dry very fast. For quick showers to simply get the grime off, I can definitely manage without a shower cubicle.

Not sure about earlier models but our Adria has a normal bathroom as is a continental build.

Interestingly even the 2007 Knaus comes with a specific shower.

I believe some continental manufacturers made UK-adapted models, adding separate showers, ovens and so on. I've been looking at caravans on German websites and they have a different layout inside. Two I've loved are a Knaus Sudwind 500 TK from 2002 (sadly no window in the wet room) and a Fendt Saphir 540 TK from 2003.

expect everything in that area to get wet?

I need to make sure to remove the toilet paper before showering

 

[Dustydog]

Some caravans of the era you are looking at didn’t have fully plastic lined shower cubicles, just the ordinary wallboard. Ours on day one was only half lined.

We measured up and via Amari Plastics Bristol the supplied made to size panels which we fitted ourselves, all sealed with Sikaflex 522. Don’t use domestic silicone sealant. It doesn’t last in the caravan environment.

Home

Amari Plastics

amariplastics.com

 

[Pomegranate]

Thank you! I'll look into that.

 

[trevormonty]

Had 2000 bailey 2 berth with wet room containing vanity. Now have 2009 Adria 430 same layout as one in link. While both are wet rooms and require showering in curtain Adria definitely has lot more room. Still need to dry floor and walls out with sponge at end. I hang Adria curtain out window to air dry weather permitting. Have vanity outside where it won't get wet is big advantage also useful when cooking if using kitchen as work bench, vanity gives alternative easy access tap.

One big advantage of Bailey is heater was next to bathroom and ducted, easy to dry and made great drying room. Adria heater is other end of cabin with duct heating in bathroom near useless.

Adria comes with electric only 300w 5L HW cylinder so expect short shower and quite wait between them. NB mine had been replaced with gas/electric by previous owner.
Also Adria only has gas heating not electric with battery being optional with no AC charger. Previous owner had fitted 250w solar panel so charging isn't issue. With 100AH LiFep04 I reckon the orginal 300w HW could've been used off grid for couple showers without killing battery.

With most european vans check energy options for heating and HW, also lot don't have oven/grill. We miss one on bailey, but every new van is compromise.

The Adria Altea 430 comes in quite a few layout, think I got lucky with mine as it has kitchen bench extension over bed. Big plus for cooking and washing up.

Build quality on Adria is excellent no damp issues. No front windows means one less place to leak or have stone go through while towing.
NB 2000 Bailey was also watertight which is more than can been said for 2009 versions I looked at. Not good era for Bailey.

Seat swabs are very basic, Bailey's were far more supportive.

We like french bed layout of Adria but there are also some UK vans eg Swift Alpine that have same layout with better appliances.

View: https://youtu.be/C-44PLdwgtU?si=qGm7q7AFp4FuoQPk


Happy hunting and no matter who seller is (private or dealer) get it inspected.

 

[birdman101]

We always have had caravans with separate showers,after having one with wet room and resulting floor cracking after 3 years from new with continual walking on it. Whereas a separate shower the floor tray gets much less useage to cause it to crack.

 

[Dustydog]

We always have had caravans with separate showers,after having one with wet room and resulting floor cracking after 3 years from new with continual walking on it. Whereas a separate shower the floor tray gets much less useage to cause it to crack.

Unless you are someone who travels with loads of heavy things on the shower tray🙀

 

[Lutz]

We always have had caravans with separate showers,after having one with wet room and resulting floor cracking after 3 years from new with continual walking on it. Whereas a separate shower the floor tray gets much less useage to cause it to crack.

The cracking doesn't necessarily occur through usage. Ageing, due to leaching of plasticisers over time, especially under direct or indirect exposure to sunlight, is more likely to cause cracking.

 

[birdman101]

I don’t think cracking at 3 year old is due to ageing only through use