Hi all,just would like to know what is really needed in the caravan,i see some vans have showers,washing machines etc,if you are not going of the highway[don,t have a four wheel drive]and are going to stay mostly in van parks do you need to have a washing machine,and or shower,i understand a toilet would be needed but what else is needed or not.
We havent got a van yet but i would like to know what people think as far as necessary items you need in your van,that way i can get a better picture of the type of van we can buy....thanks for any help.
If you are mainly going into van parks you don't need any of the items mentioned, except a porta potti for use at night especially if it is raining.
But then again if you are buying a new van it will better hold its resale value if it has a shower and toilet as many seem to consider that these items are an absolute essential in a van.
I have been camping and caravaning for 60 years and have never yet found that a shower and toilet in a van is essential, also have never see the need for the large vans that also now seem to be a must.
Cheers
David
Some things are essential for some people & totally un-necessary for others.
We almost always stay at CPs but wouldn't be without our van's shower & toilet (plus A/C, annex walls, privacy screen, gazebo, kayaks, push bike, BBQ, etc etc.).
SWMBO would like a washer but the van layout is not suitable to easily build one in & I don't want to be lifting it in & out of the 4WD. If we were buying a new van we would certainly include a washing machine.
Having our own facilities allows us to choose sites without having to worry about how far it is from the Amenities block & it's much nicer to get out of bed & take a couple of steps to your own shower & toilet particularly in bad weather or in crowded CPs. or indeed to clean up before bed. Of course in the unlikely event that we chose to bush camp then we are set up to do so. It's good to have the toilet on hand at stops along the way.
As you add additional bits the van weight & size goes up. That impacts on the type of tow vehicle required & your fuel use.
I chose my slide on camper as it suites my needs. It has everything I need to be comfortable & affords me the opportunity to tow my boat. I didn't particularly like the idea of towing a large van. I do have a shower in my camper! I haven't had to use it much, but I love it when it's needed.The toilet is also a must for me at night . We also have the truck which is very useful on the property when we are not using the camper.I guess what you choose is dependent on your own personnel needs & where you plan on going If you plan to spend months on the road then I would want all the comforts of home. I would still be happy with my slide on, because most of my time is spent in the boat or my kayak or just outside of the van.There are plenty of vans to choose from, best of luck with your choices.
-- Edited by HunnyBunny on Thursday 28th of July 2016 04:01:37 PM
Having your own little washing machine means you are saving on coins and also not scoring all the crappp that may have been washed previously particularly dirty overalls etc in the CP Laundry Machines...
We find an on board toilet for night or even when travelling, even more important than our shower.....although one of life's luxury's is weeeeeing 'out' the door from the top step in secluded area..to conserve toilet cassette space....Julie can get much further out than me however,.. as I get older......lmao....Hoo Roo.
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My plumbing see me up about 5 times a night, so bugger the walk to the Loo or even using the "Old Jerry pot" of by gone eras.
Look it is what people desire. At our age in life ( both in the twilight zone of 70's) we want a couple of comforts of home.
As for what you need in a van ... the list is endless.
If you think that when you purchase a caravan or a camping vehicle of any sort that it will be the end of expenses, let me tell you that you will be spending heaps on all those little and big extra you desire. Again I say desire.
For us a toilet was essential, as I always have to get up sometimes in the night these days. We went for a full ensuite with separate shower and are glad we have the shower and we use it regularly. If you are mainly staying in caravan parks then it wouldn't be essential, but we find it's certainly nice to have. We don't have a washing machine and haven't really missed having it. We are happy enough using van park laundries, and we would have needed a slightly larger ensuite, and therefore van, to fit one in.
