Exterior Showers vs. Interior Showers
Van showers are one of the most controversial items when planning your build. We see a lot of couples disagree about needing an indoor shower when planning their van build. Everyone’s needs are different and there are several factors to consider when deciding whether you need one or not.
How do you plan to travel? Are you living in your van, going on long-term trips, or short term trips?
If you plan on living in your van, then you might want to have an indoor shower. However, I will say that I know quite a few people who live in their van and do not have an enclosed indoor shower. Instead, they have a shower off the back of the van and have a gym membership. They go to the gym to shower (and use the sauna!). Alternatively, many people stop at campgrounds with hot showers when they are on van trips. It is convenient and you can usually find one nearby- unless you are off-grid.
We include an exterior shower off the back of the van on all of our full builds. We also include a custom shower curtain for the times when you want some privacy. Though sometimes that is not enough.
Where in the country do you live? How often do you plan on living in or travelling to cold climates?
Climate is a crucial factor when deciding on an indoor shower. For instance, if you live in Montana you are going to want an indoor shower. Or if you spend large portions of time in the mountains, it could be a necessary thing to include in your build. If you live in Southern California and you only travel to cold climates for a few days at a time, you might be on the fence. One question that can help decide is thinking about storage- which brings me to my last point….space.
What size van do you have? Is it a longer wheel base, such as a 170” Sprinter or a shorter wheel base, such as a 144” Sprinter?
Space is finite in a van and when planning a build you want to make sure to be as efficient as possible and to maximise storage and living space. Storage and living space play a huge role in how much time you actually want to spend in your van. it can make the difference of shortening a trip or staying on vacation for longer if you and your companions are completely comfortable.
If you have a van with a longer wheel base, you have more space and much more flexibility with having an enclosed indoor shower. One thing to make the indoor shower even more efficient is to include L-track on the walls on the inside. That way, when the shower is not in use you can still have hanging storage inside.
If you have a 144”, there is less space to work with so you will need to get a little more creative with how and where you want the shower to be. There is all sorts of cool solutions to this now. If you dont have room for a fully enclosed shower, you could always hide a shower pan in a bench seat cabinet. When you need to use the shower, you open the bench seat, step into it and hang up a shower curtain around you. It is simple but it works!
If you decide not to have an indoor shower, you can still get clever with how to take a quick rinse indoors. For instance, if its cold outside and you don’t have access to a hot indoor shower, you can easily wash your hair in the kitchen sink. That may sound rough to some, but it is a great solution when you need it. Van living is all about creative uses of space, living simply (yet comfortably) and enjoying the maximum amount of time in nature. So get outside and enjoy it!