Family Caravan. Do you include a Shower and Toilet

Dinger
I would think about 70% of people I have met on the road who have the shower and toilet in their van are now using the enclosure for extra storage. As you don't intend to spend much time away from van parks think about these things:
1: van park owners are spending fortunes upgrading their facilities so they can charge exorbitant rates for their sites,
2: most park facilities these days are excellent,
3: If you have the toilet, someone (usually you) has to carry the cassette through the park to the dump site to empty it,
3: You then have the job of cleaning it and re filling the chemicals (at your expense),
4:most van manufacturers make the shower stall so small you can't swing a cat, compare that to the size of the shower stalls provided in modern parks.

tg

We have a shower and toilet in our van. We almost never use the shower as we stay mostly in parks. If staying in a national park you probably won't have water laid on, so you will have to have big water tanks to have enough for four showers.

The toilet however is worth it's weight in gold to us. It is only a cheap pota poti which lives in the shower, which is now more a toilet than a shower. If the van doesn't have a shower/toilet or shower where the pota poti can live, think about where it might go. Think about where it will be when used by your wife and the kids.

Other things that you may already have thought about.....

I know space will be at a premium with 4 of you living in the van, but try to have dedicted beds for everyone, not a bed that must be turned into a table or seating each day. It will get tiresome fast. Seperate bunks for the kids is the go if possible.

Get everyone to pack the absolute minimum of clothes they will need for the trip, then let them only take half !! One "good" set of clothes each, the rest "neat casual", with at least a weeks worth of sox, jocks, and bras. Weekly laundry is a "Good Thing".

Comfortable walking shoes for all, along with sandals for the warm areas. Thongs or plastic slipons for each person to wear IN the caravan park showers. Fungal infections can be rife in the communal showers.

If possible, make your first stop, for a few days, just down the road from home. That way you can nip home for that camera lead or gameboy that got left behind. Almost anything can be bought on the road though, so don't panic!

Don't take enough food to last the 12 months. You can buy food anywhere in Australia. When you unpack after you return, you will hate yourself for paying the fuel costs to drag those uneaten cans of baked beans all around Oz :)

Get the kids to keep a diary of their travels. They will re-read them years later, and so will you.

My 2cents, your milage may very etc etc :) Good Luck and Enjoy!!

Cruiserman

I have just installed a shower in a 17.5' van I am rebuilding. We didn't include it in the original design as we were going for a couple of singles with a central storage unit. But the wheel wells were still in the way.

The best way of overcoming this issue was to make either two singles or a queen double off to one side. This gave plenty of room for a 1000x700 shower in the corner.

Whilst we had the same issues as yourself, in the end, the "option" of having the shower with a portable toilet inside is a benefit that didn't cost much and should be worth the effort of doing.

I was never in favour of an outdoor shower as the "oldies" will be mainly using this and winter is the preferred time for travels we really didn't compromise to gain the shower. We expect to be making use of the better facilities also, but I am a bit shower shy in public places and cannot stand "dirty" shared private facilities.

If it were to cost me to have had this option, I might have a different outlook. Having said that, we now have hot water on tap that wasn't included before in the plan. Showering is planned during the day and powered by the gennie whilst "on the side of the road" as such (it will be winter after all). Then we can settle into our night spot and be wherever we like in relation to facilities. Better than a cold night walk with your hands between your legs.
My two cents worth.
PS my van is a '73 Millard 17.5' four berth with ALL the mod cons and hopefully will be finished soon for an early Aug departure. It has been a chassis up restoration, which has allowed us to include the shower etc.

Cheers Cam

Have had a van without shower/toilet for about 30 years and are about to replace it with a shower/toilet model. Toilet will be great on cold wet nights and early mornings. Shower will be used on cold nights or very busy times. I know several couples who rarely use their shower because of the cost of gas versus facilities already paid for. Thus we have elected to have 240v and gas powered hot water system. The van also comes with dual water tanks which we will only utilise in National Parks. How short sighted and wasteful of the people who use the shower as storage space!! You are wise to be planning carefully.

cont..... But the bottom line is whether YOU want a shower and toilet or not and only YOU can decide that.

Dingerbell

First there is the problem of the tow vehicle and its recommended towball weight and weight it can pull. Remember that you must work on loaded weight which could be well above the 'dry' weight.

Then there is the budget - maybe that is first for most of us.

I would forget devoted internal shower and toilet areas and go for the maximum usable internal space with made-up beds for all family members. The bottom bunk is a seat too.

For starters have a look at the double bunk Jayco 20.64-2 in the on-line brochure:
http://www.jayco.com.au/_pdf_files/2007_Caravan_Brochure.pdf

I have no connection with Jayco and have used it as an example because they are very popular rigs, especially in those configurations.

No harm in having an external shower for quick wash-off - could be useful when out of parks. Remember that water comes from a tank, not from mains, so there are limits.

I would add an annexe roof only but with provision for walls later if ever required. This is to give some shade and rainproof area. Later you can always have a shade cloth wall at one end for privacy. The annexe, like everything else has to be stored somewhere when underway. Some 'roll-up small' matting for the annexe makes life comfy.

In any van, open floor space and storage space are at a premium and you have to learn how to minimise.

It is a good idea to have a portable toilet on board but it can be put away anywhere it will fit until needed for occasional use.

Don't be talked into expandas, poptops and the like, you will be best served by a full sized van and the others will drive you crazy with kids. You need to be able to stop along the road for food and a rest. Likewise, the chief cook and carer needs things laid out ready for action otherwise it is all too tedious and 'busy' to enjoy a relax and glass or two.

EV700

We have only had our shower/toilet van for a short time (Picked up in Feb 07) & only been away in it for 4 weeks total. Having coming out of a camper trailer we would never be without either the shower or toilet. The Toilet is the most important of the 2 options but they are one & the same area so no lost space.

We like to camp as much as possible so a shower once every few days is a godsend, & having the warmth & privacy of an internal shower cannot be beat. We have used a car shower before but being able to dry & dress in the caravan is great.

With a well setup van there is not a lot of lost space, & the Mrs will be gratefull on early cold mornings that the toilet is only a short stroll away.

On our few day stay recently the Caravan Park facilities were a 5min walk away & weather was poor, so our own shower was very welcomed. Would be even moreso if camping.

Downsides are increased water use with the Shower (We have 2x80lt tanks that will last 6-8days with 5min showers every day & other usage) & emptying the toilet (Aparently its the husbands responsability even if he dosent use it) which you would have to do with a porta Potta anyway.

Hi guys, wifey & I are currently 6 months into a long trip (no time limit). Toilet is invaluable unless U all want to go walkies in middle of nite 4 wee wees. Kids in particuar might find that spooky. No privacy with porta potty. Shower not so crucial unless U have problems with using communal showers. External shower no use if staying in parks - waste of money. Not all that easy though to buy van with toilet but no shower. Better resale for van with both. As mentioned by others, shower makes great wardrobe & shoe closet. We find most valable (& cost saving) device is washing machine. At average 3/4 dollars a load keeping 4 people in clean clothes can become Xpensive. Washer will pay for itself plus much more hygenic. You never know just what the person before you has tried to wash out of their clothes. You will need to utilise outside area for recreation & relaxation so awning is essential. With clip on walls can act as spare room in all weather. If yo plan to mostly stay at van parks use their power and water (showers ) as this is what U pay for. For 4 people fridge space will be a premium. If U can get a larger fridge go for it. We find 150 litre ok for the two of us but with four ?. Lean toward UHT milk & similar non refrigerated foods. Light on clothes & replacde as U go. When Ure on the move no one notices U wearing the same clobber. Van of choice determined by budget & tow motor. Lean towards popular widely sold brands with better dealer networks. Dont worry about buying fancy; as nobody in van parks suffers from eliteism. Look for reliability & practicality. Any more questions happy to help.
PS great lifestyle guarantee youll love it!

DB, have a toilet and shower in the KK and if we actually go to a caravan park, Heather is inclined to use the shower in the park, and me in the van. I like to get my feet dry and keep the clothes dry too, which is hard in the small cubicles. You can stay warm too, and just have the pjs on.

Its just the reverse with the toilets, she wants the one in the KK that I have to empty, and I use the one in the park. If you are getting one, there are some like ours that don't use chemicals - just like airline toilets. Don't stay sitting on the seat when you flush incase you get sucked in! LOL, pretty unlikely though......

Hi, we have a shower/toilet in our Jayco van, lets put it this way, when you want it, its there, middle of the night, rainy, blowing and cold you will appreciate it, lets face it, that is usually when nature calls, yes you will use the camp site one when you can. We also free camp and it is very handy when away from ammenities, I would say go for it. The showers are adaquate, and the toilets are very easy to manage and keep with the modern non evasive chemicals. Happy travels.