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showers in the transit?

47K views 79 replies 27 participants last post by  Transit-Paul 
#1 ·
Wondering whose done it and pics? Size of water tank? How is the water heated? Issues? Re-dos?
 
#3 · (Edited)
The problem with a shower inside the van is the large amount of wasted space. You only shower at the most once per day. I shower every other day when traveling. The object is to utilize the space for other purposes when not showering.

My shower is located directly behind the drivers seat. Have high roof so I can stand up straight in the shower. Shower width is 30". When not showering the space has the shower water tank at the right bottom with the portapotti mounted on top of the tank to get the correct elevation. Directly above the portapotti is a pivoting/removable shelf. Two food storage containers sit on the bottom shelf. Above the storage containers is a second pivoting/removable shelf at sink counter height. At the top are 3 removable towel rods that are made like a toilet paper holder. A 3/4" copper tube with a fixed 3/4" wood dowel in one end and a movable dowel in the other end with a spring between the two dowels.

To use the fixed portapotti you remove the two food containers and pivot both shelves so they rest against the back wall of the shower to give access to the portapotti.

To shower you remove the 3 towel racks, the two food containers and the two shelves. The portapotti remains in the shower while showering. The shower does not have a door or a shower curtain. The right side has the SS shower water tank at the bottom with the tank top sloped to direct the water to the custom SS shower pan that is on the left. The showering procedure is different. First you lay down a towel in the aisle and kneel down in the aisle with your head over the shower pan and proceed to wash your head. Next you get inside the shower and wash the rest of the body. Use a flood nozzle instead of a spray nozzle to reduce the overspray. Not like a shower at home but you do get clean.

The heated water supply is obtained by heating the water electrically using a kit for RV's that converts a propane RV heater to electrical. Kit includes a 120 volt AC pencil cartridge heater and a thermostat. There are three sources for the power. Shore power, "shore power" from a vehicle powered inverter with engine running or power from the house inverter. With the 625 watt heating element it takes about 1/2 hour to heat the 5 gallons of water to 90 degrees. A submersible 12 volt DC cylindrical pump is used to get the water out of the tank to the shower garden hose. All the water in the tank is at the correct temperature so no hot/cold water mixing required and no plumbing.

Had this system in the sold Sprinter and about half done with the Transit installation. Will document the design when it is finished.
 
#4 ·
During my first build I was setup for the shower behind the drivers seat. On the second build I bought a solar shower that sets up outside between the rear doors. That gives me more counter space and allows me to have a fridge. My bed is a fixed platform and I really like it so I've had to make a few sacrafices.
 
#5 ·
Would love to see (especially pics!) those with combo shower and toilet, with gray and black water tanks. I've been following along with many van builds to get away from a class B, but few are able to make compromises to make this happen.

For those that have, why do you usually put it behind the driver's seat? What does the rest of your van look like (e.g., bed in back, stove top between bed and shower, closet on opposite between bed and sliding door, etc.)?
 
#6 ·
I added the second shelf at sink counter height in the Transit build. That more than doubled my counter space.

The layout link is:

http://www.ortontransit.info/layout2.php

The Transit layout is the same as the sold Sprinter. That worked well for my application. The link for the pictures of the Sprinter:

http://www.ortontransit.info/testsprinter.php

Wanted the sink and portable 2 burner stove located at the slider door so it can be open for view and for steam and smells to exit up and out of van. The sleeping platform is at the back of the van across the van. There are bench seats above both wheel wells and a table between the seats. The bed platform consists of four 27" wide panels that are hinged just below the back window indents. Two on each side. They fold up against the wall for storage and swing down and sit on the table top for a bed platform. Back two down for one person sleeping and all four down for two people. During the day the front two panels are returned to vertical position so there is a usable table for two people.

The bed platforms can be stored against walls and the table can be removed in about 10 minutes so van can still be available to haul cargo.
 
#8 ·
I added the second shelf at sink counter height in the Transit build. That more than doubled my counter space.

The layout link is:

Wanted the sink and portable 2 burner stove located at the slider door so it can be open for view and for steam and smells to exit up and out of van. The sleeping platform is at the back of the van across the van. There are bench seats above both wheel wells and a table between the seats. The bed platform consists of four 27" wide panels that are hinged just below the back window indents. Two on each side. They fold up against the wall for storage and swing down and sit on the table top for a bed platform. Back two down for one person sleeping and all four down for two people. During the day the front two panels are returned to vertical position so there is a usable table for two people.

The bed platforms can be stored against walls and the table can be removed in about 10 minutes so van can still be available to haul cargo.
Orton, do you have bigger pictures of your build? The ones on your site wont expand. They are fixed.
 
#11 ·
A couple of pictures of the shower build in progress.

The first picture shows the two shelves down in normal position. Second picture shows them pivoted up against the back wall when portapotti is used. The bottom shelf will have two storage bins on it and the top shelf is at sink counter height to add to counter space. Shelves are removed when showering. The front stops and the back "hinges" are made from 3/8" rubber to prevent rattling. The portapotti is sitting on a wood box which will be replaced with a 14 ga. SS tank which will be the 5 gallon shower water tank. The top is sloped toward the fabricated SS shower pan that will be installed to the left of the portapotti. Shelves are also temporary and will be replaced with aluminum angles with a Corian shelf insert. Portapotti has SS clips on the bottom to attach it to the top of the wood blocks that are bolted to the top of the tank.
 

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#12 ·
YouTube is a great source of info a campervan build. Here's one:

Also, Google 'campervan shower' (or whathaveyou), select 'images,' select one that looks interesting and follow the link/thread provided therein via 'Visit page.' Good chance you'll end up in the U.K.
 
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#19 ·
YouTube is a great source of info a campervan build. Here's one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyynYuQAgMw
Also, Google 'campervan shower' (or whathaveyou), select 'images,' select one that looks interesting and follow the link/thread provided therein via 'Visit page.' Good chance you'll end up in the U.K.
I like this idea. It doesn't mean that you are giving up a lot of space for a bathroom. It makes for more flexible storage. A utility room with easy access or a closet for hanging clothes, shoes, boots and coats. A place to hang winter coveralls. It also allows for an open floor plan up front. A LWB would end up having the same floor space as a RB plus a garage. :)
 
#13 ·
I have the 130 WB medium roof. It's high enough for me to stand up in. It's a Sportsmobile build with a 2.5 gal electric hot water tank, a 20 gal water tank, and a shower hose in the back. There are small bar braces in the ceiling. I haven't tried it yet, but I plan to set up a shower curtain (two curtains actually) and stand in a basin. I could also open the back doors and shower outside.
 
#14 ·
I have to post my opinion, which always the best opinion, imho:

A van is just too small a space to have a dedicated shower and toilet, AND sink, and all the tanks and pumps associated. Especially if they are only used occasionally. And to add to the misery index, trying to travel and sleep with more than 2 people in such a van. And then try to squeeze in a 4 burner stove! It's worse than every prison cell in the country.

I know it's a popular layout for some reason, maybe because it's become so common, or because people want to mimic an actual house because they cannot conceive of functioning differently. I like the multi-use concept, there's no reason why the shower stall couldn't also be a closet, tossing everything out to take that once every few days shower. Maybe have it set up so the water runs onto the ground; only using biodegradable soap/shampoo. Portable toilet, or even better and more expensive, a composting toilet. BLAMMO! No need for a black water tank and all their issues!

As for water and hot water, any 5 gallon bucket will do, but there are some better shapes and sizes. One of those portable Coleman hot water on demand systems for the shower, which runs off a 1lb propane tank and has a built in pump. One cool thing about that is you can take it out of the van and use it in a shower tent if you want, it's not built-in or wired to the van.

My uses are different than your uses, I am seldom in a position where I wish I had a full bathroom in my van, everywhere I camp there are either bathrooms or it's so remote my cat-holes would never infringe on anything. For showers, I have a RoadShower and I put a shower curtain on a bar between my open rear doors and shower on the ground. Haven't set it up yet in the Transit, but it got a lot of use in the Sprinter. Note, I really like the roadshower, I'm planning on making a semi-permanent mount for it on top of the Transit. Being able to pressurize it with a bike pump is a great concept. If I trusted the fittings more I would mount it vertically inside the rear door. It has plastic fittings in some places, which I'll replace with brass.
 
#25 · (Edited)
Note, I really like the roadshower, I'm planning on making a semi-permanent mount for it on top of the Transit. Being able to pressurize it with a bike pump is a great concept. If I trusted the fittings more I would mount it vertically inside the rear door. It has plastic fittings in some places, which I'll replace with brass.
Really cool idea, albeit a little pricey IMO.
Could you help me understand the idea of mounting it inside? Does that not defeat the solar heating concept?
 
#15 ·
Couldn't agree more with the above. We have found that spare "living" space makes travel less stressful. If one is too boxed in by fixtures there is suddenly no room for the books, spare jackets, dog food, box of pastries from the bakery, favourite hat(s), biking shoes, bedding, iPads, the 6 pack of guiness nitro IPA you just had to buy but can't get in the fridge yet, and countless other things two people seem to need access to at any moment on the road. And if getting at some of this stuff means lifting the mattress and digging it out, that gets old.


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#16 ·
I fully concur with those, like Orton, who believe a shower takes up a lot of space., In fact, we've lost 4.5' from the back of our van for our bathroom configuration. And we don't have the extended version, just the medium height 148" wb. When the Murphy-style, full size bed is down there is virtually no floor space left. Then again, when the bed is down we're sleeping, so who needs the floor space? When the bed is up we regain a significant amount of that cabin space which can also be used for the table and seating.

On the other hand, to use the toilet or shower we open the door and step inside. There is no need to move shelf A to position B and rotate 63 degrees clockwise. Nor do we cart sewage to a staging point. And although the composting toilets probably work great, the thought of one inside a van just turns us off completely. (Don't you still have to separate waste before it goes into the unit?) We have purchased a (not-yet-installed) dry flush toilet.

Then again, although we have a sink and refrigerator, there is no stove. This is not a problem for us, as my wife has frequently noted, "We're not cooking, that's why there are restaurants all over the country." We're not interested in 'stealth' or 'boondogging.' Just comfortable traveling.

So it really is just a matter of each person's priorities. Our priorities are a clean bed and a clean bathroom - with shower -wherever we travel.
 
#21 · (Edited)
I like having a portable two burner stove so cooking can be done inside, on the fold down table out the slider or on a picnic table.

The fold up table on the forward side of the sink cabinet is very useful with the swivel passenger seat. Use it for eating and for computer work.

Picture posted is the sold Sprinter build. Have made a few more improvements for the Transit build.
 
#23 ·
I like the layout in hack saw's video; it utilizes the storage space as a shower. With the shower curtain instead of a door, it allows a wider variety of storage, including bikes. If I were to add a bathroom, I'd do it there. Seeing out the back window isn't important anymore thanks to rear cameras. Make the shower/storage out of stainless or aluminum panels and you have no worries about damaging it with pointy and heavy gear. I still wouldn't want a fressh/gray/black water tank system, I'd go portable with all that.
 
#24 ·
It's interesting to see the different opinions on this topic.

I totally agree a cluttered van is no fun to live in and it's getting messy in no time. The challenge is to find the right balance between conveniences and living space. We have the high-roof extended length.

We want a small sink & oven because we enjoy cooking and eating our home-made food (healthier, tastier, cheaper).
We also want a composting toilet, because we think it will make our long-term travel much more enjoyable, especially in winter.
Finally, we want some living space (seats swivel & "couch") to relax and, well, live in it.

This means no permanent shower. We travel for mountain biking & backcountry skiing, so showering is imperative.

We bought a Mr Heater BOSS XCW20 portable-propane shower (http://amzn.to/2jaG9zm). We used it a few times in summer and it worked great.
In summer, we shower outside and we don't mind (we will install curtains in the back doors for privacy).
In winter (think snow & below 0F temps), we came out with this plan (see attached picture):


The base is a water-heater pan with drain; the shower curtain will be glued (somehow) to the base, so you have to "jump" in the shower then raise the curtain (like a dress?) and hook it to the ceiling just below the fan for moisture evacuation. It won't be "that" nice to shower: space will be very tight, it will create moisture in the van and the curtain will be hard to dry. But, you know, we will try anyway. The shower can then be stored somewhere out of the way.

Hopefully that will work for us! Keep the ideas coming!
 

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#26 ·
Note: you cannot cook food in a sink. sinks have no purpose in a van other than to mimic a house.
 
#30 ·
I am not sure if these are still available (or already mentioned) but the shower I had in our Coleman popup looked like a knee-high small doggy bath with a formica top. The shower curtain was attached to the underside of the top/cover. The ceiling above had great latches to attach this to and viola!, a great stand up shower that mostly goes away when not in use.
 
#37 ·
Is this floor layout possible in the 148" Mid?
Sportsmobile has a gaucho bed that pulls out like this one except with a simpler design. In the video it looks like she sleeps sideways across the van. At the height of her bed and with wall insulation, she would have less than 6 feet of bed length (in the Transit). The Sportsmoble gaucho pulls out to sleep lengthwise (it can be any length), but is only 45 inches across. The width is enough for me and my wife to sleep comfortably and it allowed us to put cabinets on the other side. The video didn't show folding feet to support the bed when in the bed position (something I would want).
 
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