When my husband, Tom, and I began seeking our dream Sprinter van conversion, we might have appreciated to resolve on must-haves all through the development. A form of selections was whether or not or not or not or not we might have appreciated to have a Sprinter van with a toilet (inside bathe and bathroom).
After debating and exploring assorted building choices, we acquired proper right here up with various causes to not have a toilet in our Sprinter van. Though we’ve got an exterior spray station, we would not have a bathe or a bathroom.
On this textual content, I’ll clarify the explanations behind our resolution and embody quotes from completely totally different van lifers on whether or not or not or not or not they selected to have a toilet of their rig. I’ll furthermore dive into the professionals of getting a Sprinter van with a toilet that will make it easier to resolve if it’s appropriate in your good building and journey vogue.
Cons of a Rest room in Your Sprinter Van
After cautious consideration, we lastly determined we didn’t need a Sprinter van with a toilet. These cons are the primary causes behind our numerous.
1. Quite a bit a lot much less dwelling area
We determined to not have a toilet in our Sprinter van because of the world an inside bathe and bathroom take up contained within the assemble.
Tom and I reside full-time in a Sprinter 144” wheelbase with our canine, so we already don’t have heaps room to unfold out. Since Tom is 6’5”, we might have appreciated to get a mattress in our van that’s oriented lengthwise barely than all via the width (he’s so tall that he couldn’t match side-to-side in a Sprinter van even with flares).
On account of our mattress takes up further home than most, this restricted what we might do with the remainder of our building. Except for the cupboard space underneath the mattress, we solely have room for overhead storage on one aspect of our mattress, a kitchen galley, and one bench seat with storage beneath.
If we had chosen to have a bathe, our kitchen galley could also be half the scale. I’m not sure the place we might have match our pots and pans, plates and bowls, fridge, gray water tank, trash can, and meals for our pantry. We might furthermore haven’t any counter area since we’ve got a sink and induction differ.
My buddy Isabella Janssen (@thelonesol), a solo feminine van lifer, feels the an similar about her resolution to not put a toilet in her Sprinter van DIY assemble. “There’s not sufficient area in my 144”, and I didn’t need to have that area taken up as quickly as I knew I wouldn’t use it. An outside bathe was the swap!”
When you’re a solo van lifer with an extended wheelbase Sprinter van, you might have further area for a bathroom and inside bathe. It merely doesn’t make sense to sacrifice the restricted area on a bathe in a 144” Sprinter van.
2. Requires further water
When it is best to have a Sprinter van with a toilet, you benefit from further water out of your water tank and can refill the tank further usually.
The water tank in our Sprinter van holds 20 gallons. We use this water primarily for dishes, washing arms, brushing tooth, and cooking meals.
We furthermore carry a separate 5-gallon transportable tank for ingesting water and low. Between two folks attempting to make the most of water conservatively, these 25 gallons often remaining about 5-7 days before we have to refill.
If we had an inside bathe and flushable bathroom that we used often, we’d have to refill our water each 2-3 days. We choose dispersed campsites and protect off-grid for so long as doable before returning to metropolis, so it wouldn’t work for us to refill our water that on a regular basis.
Sam and Whitney (@back2naturevan) are a van life couple with a bathroom of their Sprinter van nonetheless no bathe. “We chosen to not go for the bathe as they take up a ton of area contained inside the van, plus the surplus moisture, and quantity of water you’d want to preserve.”
When you’re the kind of traveler who likes to remain at campgrounds with easy accessibility to water fill-ups, that’s more than likely not as big of an issue.
3. Assemble is dearer
Van conversions that embody a full bathtub (bathe and bathroom) are inclined to price considerably higher than these with out a bathtub. As first-time van patrons, we realized how rapidly prices add up and didn’t need to add one different concern to our invoice.
We furthermore heard tales of many van lifers regretting their resolution to get a toilet of their van due to they not usually used it. These tales made us reluctant to spend the additional cash on one issue we might not even want or use usually.
Relying on the bathroom, these might be further reasonably priced to buy independently. We figured we might all the time get a cassette or composting bathroom later if we determined to have a bathroom in our van.
4. Pointless as a result of completely totally different choices
Though we don’t have a toilet in our Sprinter van, that doesn’t point out we don’t choose to make the most of bogs and showers as a substitute of counting on a spot all through the flooring or physique wipes. After we began researching van life, we felt relieved to overview relating to the plethora of choices for showers and bogs on the freeway, together with public amenities and exterior bathe heads.
We realized that we would use bogs at gasoline stations and public parks (the place we work more often than not). For showers, iOverlander has a attribute the place you will apply a filter to the map and see shut by showers in an home. Ahead of we acquired a Planet Nicely being membership, we used this to hunt for recreation facilities and campgrounds the place we might pay to clean.
After we spent the winter months in Arizona, we determined to hitch a Planet Nicely being membership for just a few months. At $20/month for a membership with a buyer go, it’s a no brainer when touring in states or areas with Planet Nicely being places.
Sydney (@sydneysjourney_) is a solo feminine van lifer who has a bathe in her Sprinter van nonetheless regrets her resolution due to it’s easy to hunt out showers whereas touring: “I would like I didn’t have a bathe—it takes up an excessive amount of area, and I’ve been capable of finding low-cost or free scorching showers alongside the freeway. I’d heaps barely have the world!”
Sam and Whitney (@back2naturevan) furthermore use public bathe amenities and their exterior bathe: ”We make the most of Planet Nicely being, together with group facilities for our showers. Our sink faucet furthermore swings out of the sliding door for a fast rinse if we would like it.”
We’ve got the similar attribute in our van – a bathe head that attaches to our water tank out the as soon as extra of our van. We’ve got used this exterior spray station a variety of occasions after we’ve wanted a fast rinse, nonetheless it’s strong in areas the place others are tenting shut by. And since we don’t have a water heater, it’s fairly chilly!
5. Factors can go unsuitable
Relying in your plumbing system, there’s all the time a chance for one issue to interrupt. Though the probabilities of this occurring is susceptible to be slim, it’d result in dear repairs or hurt to your van.
Sydney (@sydneysjourney_) has a flush bathroom in her van and dislikes it heaps that she plans to swap it out for one issue fully completely totally different. “I’ve a flush bathroom and hate it! I’ve had so many components with it. I can’t protect off-grid so long as I need to due to I’ve to go and empty. The black tank have to be actually small to go effectively with underneath the Sprinter van. The bathroom has leaked twice, and I needed to get repairs carried out!”
She plans to interchange her flush bathroom with a composting bathroom due to they’re “further useful, further off-grid good, and have fewer components!” Sydney says she’ll all the time need a bathroom in her van.
Totally completely totally different challenges embrace having a bathe in your van. Natalie Minas (@natminas) has a bathe in her Sprinter van and has an enormous water tank.
“The big water tank for the bathe makes it troublesome to winterize the van. It positively ruined my water pump from some freezing temps!”
Professionals of a Rest room in Your Sprinter Van
Though our Sprinter van doesn’t have a toilet, we acknowledge the benefits. Listed underneath are some the rationale why some folks put a bathe or bathroom of their rig.
1. Comfort
Though public bogs have showers and bogs, they are not all the time clear or easy to entry for off-grid van lifers who don’t need to return to metropolis to clean.
Keith and Hannah (@keithandhannahh) have a bathe of their 170” wheelbase Sprinter van, and so they don’t remorse their resolution: “We like having a bathe for occasions after we may be not near a gymnasium. It’s useful to have the choice.”
Elly Summers (@summers_on_the_road) is a solo van lifer who agrees with Keith and Hannah relating to the comfort of getting all the objects you want (together with a bathe and bathroom) on the freeway.
She explains, “I’ve a full moist bathtub (bathe and Nature’s Head composting bathroom). I really like with the flexibility to wash and use the amenities at any time. I nonetheless use public seashore showers and washrooms when doable to keep away from losing a variety of water, nonetheless it’s good to have the choice after I am further distant or socially drained.”
Alternatively, Natalie Minas (@natminas) acknowledges the comfort nonetheless hardly makes use of her bathe on account of it’s not as satisfying. “I even have a bathe, which I uncover myself utilizing heaps loads a lot much less usually, though it is vitally good while you merely want a fast rinse. I nonetheless very heaps get pleasure from going to completely totally different areas to take longer, heat showers.”
2. Multi-use
Your rest room can have various makes use of in your van. Not solely can you put it to make use of for its major carry out of showering and utilizing the bathroom, nonetheless it might additionally double as a gear closet to retailer exterior units that will have gotten moist and need a spot to dry.
Kate and Curt Gallagher (@gogogallaghers) acknowledged they don’t use the bathe of their Sprinter van usually for showering nonetheless use it in a number of methods to accommodate their adventurous life-style: “We love the additional storage our ‘rest room’ supplies notably for our ski gear like moist jackets, bibs, swimwear, robes, Camelbak, and so forth.”
3. Privateness and security
When tenting on land with completely totally different folks and few bushes or bushes to cowl behind, it’s just about not attainable to make the most of the lavatory or bathe with an exterior spray station with out anybody seeing.
It is usually fairly laborious to navigate not having a bathroom when stealth tenting in cities or staying at Harvest Host places after the enterprise closes. No individual desires to carry all of it evening!
Having a bathe and bathroom in your rig permits you to use them further discreetly and really actually really feel further cozy having privateness whereas touring. Keith and Hannah (@keithandhannahh) clarify, “We like having a bathroom due to we like going to the lavatory in our private residence and on no account having to depend on public restrooms.”
Natalie Minas (@natminas) agrees and offers that having a bathroom makes her really actually really feel safer on the freeway. “Though I solely use my bathroom for #1, I’m all the time so grateful to have it! As a solo feminine traveler, I really actually really feel way more protected having a bathroom in my van, so I don’t want to depart the van inside the midst of the evening to tinkle.”
4. Low-maintenance
When you resolve to have a toilet in your Sprinter van, you will spend money on one issue low-maintenance, notably for the bathroom.
Kate and Curt Gallagher (@gogogallaghers) acknowledged they “agreed by no means to go together with out a bathroom” nonetheless didn’t need one issue that may very well be a ache to maintain. That’s why they selected a composting bathroom, which they’re saying is “terribly low repairs.”
Sam and Whitney (@back2naturevan) even have a low-maintenance bathroom. “Our bathroom is a cassette bathroom, and we’ve got been pleased with this as correctly. It’s a easy, reasonably priced choice that will very effectively be a bit step up from a bucket with a lid.
We use biodegradable chemical substances that do a perfect job of conserving the scent down. It’s fairly easy to empty (often at dump stations, nonetheless you can even use public bogs or porta potties).”
It’s attainable you could go together with out a full rest room in your van and get a bathroom as a substitute. Though a bathroom takes up further area, Sam and Whitney have discovered it value it: “I don’t find yourself utilizing it fairly often, nonetheless I’m glad we’ve got it as quickly as I would like it. Whitney makes use of it daily, so we positively get our cash’s value!”
Should I put a toilet in my Sprinter van?
There are quite a few elements to contemplate when figuring out whether or not or not or not or not it is best to get a Sprinter van with a toilet. We lastly determined it was not value it because of the funding, the quantity of area it takes up, and the additional water utilization when there are such a lot of public amenities on the market to vacationers.
We’ve got been dwelling on the freeway full-time for 9 months in our Sprinter van with out a bathe or a bathroom. Though we’ll see ourselves sometime along with a small bathroom in our van for these moments after we actually should go, it’s doable to go together with out!
There are furthermore perks to having a toilet in your Sprinter van, notably relating to comfort and privateness. All folks has their very private wants and splendid ranges, so there’s nothing unsuitable with having a toilet in your van if it really works largest for you and your journey vogue.
Do it is best to have questions on whether or not or not or not or to not put a toilet in your Sprinter van? Let me know all through the strategies beneath!
Further Articles to Examine: