Caravan Bathroom - Yes or No???

We have had an (semi) off road van for over 12 months and done about 15,000km. To date we have not had a problem with mould at all and once had a bit of a smell but that was more due to me not bothering to empty the container after a few weeks back home. Of course you have to use the right chemicals and empty it out on occasion.

As far as the missus is concerned I reckon its great. We stop anywhere - do a lot of free camping - and I don't have to worry at all about the lack of ablutions!!
Cheers
Fred (L)

There has been a very long thread about this recently and the overall opinion was to have one.

Perhaps some better personal hygiene is required as our van which we had for 3 years never suffered from either problem.

My wife cleans the shower out EVERY day and when showering we open the vent and dont get condensation.

The toilet smelt a little but more from the horrible Thetford chemicals than the waste.

We now use differenr stuff and empty it regularly and we woudnt know it was there.
A bucket under the bed would smell worse I would think..

Our new van has a full ensuite and we wouldnt be without it.

Have seen showers in some parks i wouldnt use with boots on.

We use the park toilets for serious business and always shower in the van.

AS I said cleanliness is godliness.

Would never be with out our bathroon, certainly no toilet smell and we use it. And never had a problem with mould. They must make sure they use the exhaust fan though. And I always have windows open in the bathroom. We have a breather tube to the outside from our toilet cassett and I really think that helps alot with the smell.

I would never have a van with out a full ensuite, and I have a full size front loader in there as well. I think they would be sorry if thye didn't get a toilet and shower. We always use the van park ones if we are in a park though.

Karen

Ev

We had a seperate shower and toilet in our van (had the van for 18 months).

We trqvelled in style. If we got another van it would have to have a shower and toilet.

The smell from the toilet did not travel through the van and we never experienced mould in the shower and both got used everyday we travelled.

They may have had poor ventilation.

Hi Ev
We built a shower / toilet in to our old van 7 or 8 yrs ago, wouldn't be without it. Never had mould problems at all. No permeating smells either, however we do have a small, press button wall mounted air freshener we use on the odd occasion.
Cheers
Neil

We wipe our shower/toilet down after showering (30 sec job) and use Napisan in the toilet and don't have mould or smell. Empty usually first opportunity (dump point) after 3 days.

Alan

Thanks for all the feedback, I did think was odd considering what I have read on this forum and of course the number of vans that have them.

Cheers
Ev

G/Day Ev

No problems at all with Toilet and Shower, and zero odours in van, maybe lazy people might create problems.

Cheers

Ev, have a shower without mould and it is three years old - well just on. Have a toilet too, without smells:-)) It is a vacuum one though with the cannister outside. It sucks the contents away like an aircraft loo. The smells come from chemical toiltets. I prefer our shower to using cvp ones, even though it is tiny in comparison. Just step out to clean and dry floors.

we have a combined shower toilet. Never had mould or any smells. Always better to have window as well as vent. We have never used the fan in the vent. Window and vent are always open.
Never heard anybody complain about mould. Some chemicals do have a strong chemical smell. Use a capful of Coles or Woolies Home Brand Nappy Treatment and Cousins Morning Fresh in the flush tank. Keeps the algae away from the flush tank water when not using town treated water and gives the bowl a bit of lubrication and keeps it clean.
What do you do when you are parked in the wilds, freezing cold wind blowing rain and you need a no. 2 without a toilet? Our hot shower under the same circumstances is wonderful. Those without a shower toilet always wish they had one.

Dont do what l did make sure you screw the cap on the cannister tight everthing good after that

My 11 year old wanted a toilet in the CT until we told him he'd have to also empty it!

Gidday,

We are a family of 5 travelling oz long term, we opted for shower and toilet, we have now been on the road almost 12mths (November 4th) I clean the shower with Bi-Carb and vinegar, I also clean the loo with vinegar (we also use the odour be gone disc's in the toilet cassette). we don't have an issue with mould or smell.

I even use the shower in the van at Caravan parks so it gets used a lot.

Its so much easier when free camping (Racheal our youngest - refuses to use long drop loo's - Princess!!) so its a real must - that and I don't want to be getting out of bed to take kids to the loo in the middle of the night.

Cheers
Caroline

I don't know how anyone can crapp that close to where they eat & sleep.

Hear Hear I wouldnt use some park showers with boots on.

Always use the van I know whos been there and its always clean.

Amazes me how people can take 10 mins to have a shower.

Just cos you paid for a site doesnt mean you have to run the place dry

Some people are unbelievable.

After 6 years in Brisbane we have learnt to shower in 4 mins or less.

Like to see them try it in a van with a 23 litre HWS ROFL

Ev, do these people have toilet & shower in their homes?! :) Wouldn't have thought the issues would be much different (ok, except the caravan toilet stores the stuff until you dump it, but these usually seal up pretty well)