Is a shower a must-have for your adventure van? A simple answer is YES, if you want your camper to be truly self-reliant. With your own shower, you can bathe whenever you like and maybe perform other practical tasks such as washing pets, cleaning camping gear, equipment, dishes, solar panels, or even the exterior sides of the vehicle.
A simple bucket bath can help rinse off sweat and keep your body cool. However, a full warm showerβwhether from an ensuite or an external setupβis quicker, more relaxing, and far more convenient.
That said, there are several types of showers to choose from when fitting out a caravan, campervan, or RV. In this article, we'll highlight eight practical shower ideas you can considerβsome permanent built-in solutions, others portable or temporary options.
Featured Caravan and Campervan Shower Products
EZY Thermostatic Quick-Connect Exterior Shower Kit
The EZY Quick-Connect Exterior Shower Kit is our first recommendation, not just because of its popularity in Australia, but because it strikes an excellent balance between functionality and convenience. It includes everything needed for a reliable shower in your adventure van, starting with a built-in thermostatic mixer. This lets you enjoy comfortably warm showers in cold weather or a refreshing cold rinse when you need to cool down.
The handheld shower kit comes with a showerhead that offers three different spray patterns, so you can tailor it for showering, rinsing, or cleaning tasks. It also features an integrated lock-off trigger, allowing water to flow continuously without constantly holding the buttonβa critical feature for water conservation or hands-free use.
As a quick-connect external shower, this unit uses a thermoplastic hose that attaches and detaches from the outlet valve without any tools. Once detached, you can store the hose and showerhead neatly in the included netted bag.
Other key features of this exterior shower kit worth noting include:
- A compact yet wide showerhead for excellent full-body coverage
- 2-metre flexible hose with an on-handle water flow control lever
- Screw-mounted and suction-cup shower holders for flexible positioning
- Durable brass and high-impact plastic construction
- Straightforward barbed inlet fittings for easy installation
- An ergonomic shower handle that remains comfortable to grip even when wet
Watermarked Double Mixer Black External Shower Box
Our Watermarked External Shower Box here is a convenient and highly functional solution if your adventure van has limited interior space. It features a handheld shower system integrated into a sleek, black lockable box. (A white versionβthe Watermarked Double Mixer External Shower Boxβis also available.)
Basically, you won't need to remove the shower hose after use, as you can simply lock everything securely inside this compartment. The contents remain safe and protected even when driving at speed on rough, corrugated roads.
In addition to the lockable box, the shower system includes a traditional mixer valve with two taps for adjusting the hot and cold-water supply. The mixer valve's outlet connects to a 1.2-metre hose, which still offers ample reach for showering and other common cleaning tasks.
Furthermore, this outdoor shower kit has a compact showerhead that delivers a narrow spray pattern, ideal for quick rinsing and efficient cleaning. The showerhead also has an integrated trigger lever that controls both the flow and strength of the water spray.
However, the showerhead is trigger-activated, so you must hold the lever down for continuous flow. While this design was intentionally chosen to help conserve water, you'll have to improvise for hands-free operation. For example, you can secure the trigger lever with a rubber band to keep the water running.
A few additional features of this external shower box you should know include:
- A compact, 32.5 Γ 20.0 Γ 9.9 cm design
- Clean, recessed mounting option
- Built-in moulded soap holder
- Can be mounted vertically or horizontally
- Rugged plastic and brass construction
- Elegant, corrosion-resistant chrome plating
- Soft backing gasket for reliable waterproof sealing
- Multiple keys are included for locking the lid
What Are the Best Shower Ideas for Caravans, Campervans and RVs?
As mentioned earlier, having your own shower in your van is the most convenient way to maintain self-sufficiency and personal hygiene while travelling or camping off-grid. Below are some of the best mobile shower ideas to consider for your application:
Built-in Quick-Connect External Showers
A built-in external shower is one of the most versatile options for adventure vans, and the quick-connect version makes it especially practical. It features a hose with a quick-connect fitting, allowing you to easily attach or detach it from the dedicated shower outlet valve (usually on the side or rear of the van) without tools.
Even though it's simple, a quick-connect outdoor shower gets the job done. Depending on the model, you can enjoy warm or cold water with either a customisable or fixed spray pattern. A great example is the EZY Shower Kit we mentioned earlier.
Built-in Dedicated External Shower Box
A built-in external shower box is another excellent choice if you want an outdoor shower solution. It consists of a handheld shower kit integrated into a lockable compartment that mounts on the side or rear of your camper. This lets you securely store everything inside after useβan ideal choice when interior space is limited.
Like quick-connect external showers, an outdoor shower box is highly versatile. Besides showering, you can use it to wash pets, clean gear, rinse solar panels, and more. Some models, such as our Watermarked Double Mixer Black External Shower Box we've highlighted above, even include a thermostatic mixing valve, delivering comfortable warm showers even in cold weather.
Built-in Interior Shower Ensuite
The third great shower option to consider for your caravan, campervan, or RV is a built-in interior shower. Of course, you'll need to keep it small and compact to make the most of your vehicle's limited space, but it conveniently lets you shower any time of day, all year round.
When installing an interior (or ensuite) shower in your van, though, it's not just about having hot or cold water. You'll also need to decide between a dry bath or wet bath design and plan smart storage and organisation for everything.
Portable Shower Bag
If installing a showerβwhether inside or outsideβin your adventure vehicle isn't feasible, you can consider a portable shower bag. It consists of a large, collapsible plastic bag with a built-in hose, nozzle (or showerhead), and hanging strap. To use it, you simply fill the bag with water, hang it from a tree branch or a hook on your vehicle, and open the flow trigger on the showerhead or nozzle.
Portable shower bags come with various features, with some cleverly designed to absorb solar energy and heat the water naturally.
Portable Tankless Gas Shower
Another excellent way to stay clean while travelling or camping off-grid is with a portable tankless gas shower system. This setup provides instant, on-demand hot water by heating cold inflow through a built-in gas-powered heat exchanger. It features a compact, lightweight design that typically includes a gas regulator, shower set, cold-water supply hose, and a folding handle.
To use a portable tankless gas shower, you simply connect everything and hang the unit from a hook in your van or on a tree. This versatility allows you to comfortably use it as an external shower for bathing, rinsing off, or even cleaning gear.
Portable Shower Pump
A portable shower pump is another effective bathing solution for off-grid trips when you need a temporary shower. It comprises a compact, battery-powered pump that submerges into a bucket or tank of water and delivers a consistent, pressurised stream to the showerhead. The device usually comes as a complete kit that includes the showerhead, whichβdepending on the brandβmay offer variable spray patterns.
Thanks to its compact and portable design, this shower pump can be used almost anywhere, inside or outside the camper. However, it has no built-in heating function, so the only way to enjoy a warm shower is by filling your container with hot water first.
A Simple Bucket Bath
Bathing from a bucket is about as simple as it getsβno installation or special accessories required. You just need a bucket filled with cold or warm water and a smaller container (like a jug).
Next, you just grab your washcloth and soap to clean yourself. Then, use the small container to pour water over your body for rinsing.
While not very common in caravanning or RVing, the bucket bath is a widely used technique in many rural areas around the world where showers are unavailableβlike the Filipino "ligo sa timba." The first time may feel awkward, but when you're off-grid, you must be prepared to rely on even unconventional methods for basic hygiene and survival.
Public Showers
Finally, you can use public showers along your travel route or at campsites. Many campsites offer toilet and shower facilities for guests. And if those aren't available, consider local recreation centres such as gyms, public swimming pools, beaches, or water parks.
While this approach can work, relying on public showers during a road trip or camping adventure is often unreliable. Not every location you visit will have accessible campsites, gyms, pools, or water parks with shower facilities.
Key Takeaway
Overall, an interior ensuite shower is the most convenient option for your adventure van, as you can use it anytime and in any weather. However, it must be both functional and compact to maximise spaceβa premium commodity in caravans, RVs, and campervans. This means carefully assessing your available space before deciding to build one.
If your assessment shows that fitting an interior shower cubicle is impossible, you'll need to choose one of the other options discussed. But before defaulting to public showers, seriously consider an external shower.
An external shower can even serve as your main shower system. You will only need to surround it with a tension-rod curtain or a pop-up tent for privacy and modesty.
A tension-rod curtain or pop-up tent can also help when using a portable showerβwhether it's a portable shower bag, a tankless gas unit, or a pump-in-bucket setup. But, of course, these options tend to feel more cumbersome compared to a dedicated ensuite shower, external shower box, or quick-connect shower.
Which Shower Solution Is Right for Your Adventure Van?
The best showering solution for your caravan, campervan, or RV depends on your van lifestyle. If you're a full-time van-lifer, an ensuite shower inside the camper is usually the most appropriate choice. If space allows, consider adding an external showerβwhether a shower box, quick-connect setup, or portable optionβfor quick rinses and cleaning tasks (like washing gear).
If installing a shower inside or outside your van isn't feasible, don't simply settle for public facilities along your routes. Make sure you always carry at least one of the four portable shower solutions in your storage for situations where no public options are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a shower in my campervan?
Yes, if you want your camper to be truly self-reliant. Your own shower lets you bathe whenever you like and handle practical tasks such as washing pets, cleaning camping gear, dishes, solar panels, or even the vehicle's exterior.
What is the most convenient caravan shower option?
An interior ensuite shower is the most convenient, as you can use it anytime and in any weather. It just needs to be functional and compact to maximise your van's limited space.
Can an external shower be my main shower?
Yes. An external shower can serve as your main shower systemβsimply surround it with a tension-rod curtain or a pop-up tent for privacy and modesty.
How do you get hot water with a portable shower?
A portable tankless gas shower heats cold inflow instantly through a built-in gas-powered heat exchanger, while some shower bags absorb solar energy to warm the water. A portable shower pump has no heating function, so you'd fill the container with hot water first.
Ready to build your van's bathing setup? Browse the full shower collection at Campervan Builders and find the right solution for your caravan, campervan or RV.
