When you’re out and about in your camper or RV you’re going to need to go to the toilet, brush your teeth, shower and do all the necessary ablutions, just as you would at home. This means you’re going to want to have a toilet, shower and sink to do these things with.
There are two main options. Depending on the size of your camper, the needs of yourself and your travelling companions, and your budget you are going to have to choose between a wet or a dry bath.
Of course, one thing you cannot escape is the fact that you will have your own sewage system.
All waste from your bath facilities will collect in a holding tank and you will have to empty that tank on a regular basis.
The Difference Between Wet And Dry Baths
Wet and dry baths are two options open to people with campers and travel trailers. In both cases, the toilet, shower and sink are all in the same room.
Given the limited size available for amenities it makes sense to place these facilities together.
The difference is that in a wet bath the shower is the room and the toilet and sink are essentially within the shower.
The shower consists of a shower head on the bathroom wall and the whole compact space is the shower.
The overall space taken up by the toilet, shower and sink will be smaller in a wet bath. The toilet, sink, and storage compartments in a wet bath will be designed to handle water and made of appropriate materials to do so.
In a dry bath, the shower is in the same room but it has a separate space in the room with either a door or curtain sealing it from the toilet and sink.
The overall space taken up by shower, toilet and sink will be proportionately larger for a dry bath than for a wet bath.
In a dry bath, the toilet, sink and storage aren’t necessarily made to handle water because water from the shower should not be drenching them as in a wet bath.
Materials Of Showers
RV shower pans of older model RVs will be made of metal that’s painted or coated in ceramic.
Shower pans of newer model RVs will be made of fibreglass or acrylic.
Baths And Vehicle Types
Wet baths are more commonly found on campers and on vintage travel trailers that are smaller. Teardrop RVs, pop-ups, truck campers and Class B RVs tend to have wet baths to use space most constructively.
The Scamp 13′ Deluxe has a very small fiberglass camper trailer, within which is a full wet bath.
Dry baths tend to be on larger travel trailers and campers because more space is required.
Even pop-up campers will have a shower and a toilet, though the toilet may be the cassette type. This type of toilet is one that is visible in the living area, although it can be hidden behind a piece of furniture.
It’s unlikely that truck campers will have a bathroom, unless it’s a large truck camper. Some of the large truck campers may come with a wet bath. Most truck campers have a port-a-potty.
Pros Of A Wet Bath
They use up less space because the toilet and shower are in the same compact space.
The entire space can be used as the shower, with the toilet lid down, so this means the shower space tends to be larger than for a dry bath.
You could sit on the toilet seat while you shower. This may appeal to those who have health conditions or are elderly.
The showering effectively removes dust.
Cons Of Wet Baths
The shower and toilet being in the same compact space means that a lot depends on how much space there is.
Potentially, wet baths mean more shower room but that may not be the case if the space for the shower and toilet is tiny.
There’s likely to be little storage space and it will get wet.
RV toilet paper will have to be covered by an umbrella or similar or it’ll get soaking wet.
You’ll have to dry everything off every time you shower.
Before you shower, you’ll have to put anything you don’t want getting wet out of the way.
A lot of drying of things may mean a lot more laundry.
If you don’t dry everything off all the time you’ll always be stepping in water whenever you need the toilet and mildew will develop.
Pros Of A Dry Bath
There is potential for two to share a shower when the shower is in a separate space, but this depends on how big that space is and how big the people concerned are.
There’s likely to be more storage space as there may be a vanity and overhead storage. Obviously, these could get wet.
Toilet paper won’t get wet in a dry bath because the toilet is separate from the shower.
Less time spent drying the bathroom, as only the shower space will get wet.
No need to remove things before showering.
Cons Of A Dry Bath
Separate shower and toilet areas are likely to mean the bathroom area is larger and this means less space in the camper or RV for other areas.
Potentially more time and effort spent on cleaning, including cleaning out the vanity and storage areas.
Since the vanity, storage areas and toilet are less likely to be made with water in mind, there’s the potential that moisture from the shower will cause mildew. Storage areas will need to be regularly checked.
Conclusion
Personal preference as to how you want the limited space of your living quarters apportioned is going to be the clincher and this will take into account needs, size of your vehicle and budget.
However, the very fact that so many campers, RVs and similar are now offering well constructed, effective ablution facilities is a real bonus. There are a lot of choices out there.
Besides, if you like the idea of taking your living quarters with you into the wilds then you’re probably someone who has other things on your mind than just the practical things.
If you wanted all the luxury and conveniences of life then you’d probably stay at home. It’s the adventure you’re after and the practicals are assessed more for functionality than anything else.
Through this blog, I want to share all of my hints and tips, along with reviews of the best RVing accessories. I hope this blog will help others with their RV trips, and make traveling easier for you.
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