Showers....do we really need them...in a van

[whitetop]

I have had a caravan for about 10 years now and was thinking.....in 10 years we have used the shower in the van no more than about 4 or 5 times....we always use the site facilities..

Think I would rather have the space

 

[cooky1]

We have never used the shower in any of our vans over the last 10 years or so, as we always stay on site with showers. If we used cl's or equivalent hen we would possibly use it.

I would rather have the space or even pay less for the van in the first place if having a shower fitted was an option.

Graeme.

 

[joeby]

so why are you telling us about it ,

 

[Chrisbee]

If there was no shower fitted to my caravan I wouldn't have bought it. Mrs Chrisbee and I use it every day. Tv ariel & microwave, now those are a total waste of money, space and weight.

Wouldn't it be boring if we were all the same?

 

[cooky1]

so why are you telling us about it ,

Think the clue was in the title!

 

[davedee]

Quite,Chrisbee.And that's the point - we're all different,with different requirements,etc.

As for us, we use the lot; shower, micro, tv ariel,even the little shelves above the bedroom windows.

But like you say,it would be a boring world if we were all the same.

Dave

 

[lordmonty]

If there was no shower fitted to my caravan I wouldn't have bought it. Mrs Chrisbee and I use it every day. Tv ariel & microwave, now those are a total waste of money, space and weight.

Wouldn't it be boring if we were all the same?

we don't have a seperate cubicle but the space is fairly large so it doubles up as another wardrobe[we've also put a rail accross]it is perfect for overnight stops when were en-route so they do have there uses albeit not for showering,on site the dog's food and all the shoes/boots end up in there[just hope he don't eat em!!!]

 

[LMH]

Hi David

I LOVE our bathroom in the van, it was one of the reasons we bought that particular model, we use the shower in the van all the time.

We use a mixture of CC, C&CC sites and CL's but we still use our shower. I wouldn't be without it.

Lisa

 

[emmerson2]

As my van is unique and I want to preserve it, I don't use the on-board shower, as I believe that all that steam and damp has to go somewhere, and not all of it can escape. What we use is a double-size toilet tent, and a free-standing shower. It's worked well for years, and no damp in the van. It helps that Royales have a door on either side, so the shower tent goes outside the "back" door.

 

[Guest]

The shower for us is a must have, it gives us flexibility with the sites we can use.

In the busy summer periods, site showers can be to busy or closed for cleaning just when you want to come back from the beach and go out to the shops or a restaurant for lunch.

We use sites showers much of the time but always have the van shower at the ready.

Also it is often easier for our grandaughters to use the caravan shower.

 

[tangophil]

I love the convenience of my shower in the van. Although I do visit the shower block if I'm on a site with showers, I like the fact that as and when necessary I can just jump in my own shower and not have to worry about getting dressed whilst still sopping wet in a space no bigger than a wardrobe and then making my way back across the site to my van. (however sometimes this can be fun and all part of the caravanning experience).

The shower really comes into its own for my 13yr old daughter who is at the stage where she doesn't like going to the shower block as there is always the worlds largest spider dangling above her (or so she says), she loves having a shower in our lovely large end bathroom and then being able to get dressed, do her hair and make-up in relative comfort.

Perhaps it would be a good idea for manufacturers to make it an option for a shower, but I wonder just how popular they would be, especially when selling or trading it in?

I for one would never even consider buying a van without a shower, but there are obviously those who would. It might be worth such as Swift running a pole to see if there is any kind of demand!

Phil

 

[Chrissylizzie]

For us one of the best points of our caravan is the shower. Just before Christmas, a cold wet and very windy day and dark at 4.00p.m. A glass of wine, snug and cosy, use the microwave for part of the evening meal, then a bit of TV, shower and bed. No traipsing over to a shower block. Just how I like OUR caravan to be, so as previously said, we all use our vans differently, so having that choice is great.

 

[jinty0_0]

in the past year we have had a few power cuts at home so our shower in the van has been very handy, just go out turn the gas and the water mains on into caravan and we are nice and warm and have a lovely hot shower. we tend to use sites with showers but have used the caravan shower on the odd occasion

 

[mick_5064141]

Hi,

Of course I use the shower cubicle where else would I keep my fishing gear to dry/store

Mick

 

[Michael_374361801]

4 Showers in 10 years isnt really that hygenic.Is it a big van?

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

lucas only uses it at the minute. we only use cc sites so use there showers.

jo-anne

 

[MikeAce]

My wife uses ours, i prefer the size of site showers, however, i will use it if i cant be bothered to walk over to the blocks.

Whats the point of having one and not using it? might as well buy a tent.

 

[spj]

We always use the shower in the caravan, most of the time we are on a rally site but even when on a site with showers we dont use them, I like to have a shower before bed so I dont need to get dressed again to walk accross a site.

20 years ago only higher spec vans had hot water and showers so people needed the shower blocks, but todays modern caravans have everything in them to allow you to live in them without the need of site facilities, some people choose not to use the caravan which is their choice, we rarely use fully equipped sites as I see no need to pay for facilities we will not use.

Maybe a discount on sites when you dont want the showers would be a good idea?

spj.

 

[tash]

Unfortunatley my wife is dissabled and uses it all the time.So do I. I know some caravaners that never use the oven . Come to that my wife never uses the oven in our house except to burn stuff er think i better shut up.

tash

 

[Martin_374323560]

We use our 'van shower every single day we are away. I have to admit that the Microwave gets a fair amount of use too!!

 

[bigbilly]

We use all the facilities in our caravan including the shower as we seldom use commercial sites.

There does seem to be an argument, especially in todays climate of reducing weight, to build an absolutely basic caravan and a long list of optional extras.

I note that there are threads about people who don't use the shower, the microwave, the oven, any gas appliances and even people that won't use the built in loo !

I assume the basic van could be built relatively cheaply as well.

Bill

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

The concensus of opinion seems to be in favour of showers and I also agree. I know a lot of caravanners and all use their showers with the exception of one. They use it has a storage area and only use the toilet for #1s, and that is only at night. The reason? They say it's the re-sale value that they don't use them!

Like Martin we also find the microwave a God send.

An happy outcome for all is for manufacturers to make a cheaper van for those who don't want them and for all sites to charge for those who use the showers. That way I will be happy using my caravan shower and not be subsidising those who use site showers. I will be quite happy to pay if for some reason I have to use the site facilities.

The only other alternative is what someone else has already mentioned, buy a tent :O)

 

[Dustydog]

The beauty of caravanning is to be at one with nature, as far as you can. So the cl's and cc sites like Low Moor and Grummore demand you have your own shower.

I just love being self supporting as far as possible. It also focuses the mind on how much water you use. I'm the muggins who empties the wastemaster and fills the aquaroll.

Chers

Alan

 

[SteveW77]

I stopped at a site in Belgium last night, the showers were 1 Euro for 3 minutes, Thats 4 Euros a day. Not while I tug one around in the back of the van.

Steve W

 

[Pat_374304630]

My wife would string me up if I bought a van without a shower.