Toliet/shower questions

[fred_garvin]

I am looking at a northstar 650sc and would like opinions on the absence of a camode/shower unit. Too new to this tc stuff and still deciding between a pop up or hard side. I prefer to not stay at paid camp grounds, more remote stuff where an external shower might work or a sponge type cleaning will have to do on the cooler days/nights. Is anyone regretting not having these conveniences? Thanks.

[dadwolf2]

Are you married or single? That right there answers the question for me. In our younger years we did the tent thing but now I wouldn't own an RV without a toilet and inside shower. The inside shower gets used every trip.

[Buzzcut1]

At 6' 265 pounds, petite I am not. I fit just fine in the shower of our dry bath Lance 1055.

[albackore]

Upgrading from a TT lacking a restroom, my wife swore she'd kill me if I bought a TC without a toilet. The cassettes seemed weird to me, so I started looking for the lightest possible TC (3/4-ton) with a wet bath which pretty leaves the Lance 825 as my only option.

Now that we have the wet bath, we are soooo happy to just be able to pull over to the side of the road anytime day or night and do our duty (pun intended). I'm 6'5 and 240 and the shower's a bit small, but I manage with little problems.

[Monaco_Montclai]

Nagara by fleet wood , 4k in weight. Nice. Pop up.two kings beds, Mike wave, hard side bath.now it's all happy-camping

[DWeikert]

A bath was a requirement when I was camper shopping. I'd camped under the cap on a pickup for a while and found there were far too many times where using my outdoor portable shower was just not an option and, for me at least, a sponge bath just didn't quite cut it after a hot day in the outdoors where regular application of bug spray on any exposed skin was a requirement. I'm also a big dude (6'2" 230 lbs) and I usually step into the shower for an initial rinse, step out so I have the space to lather up, then step back in for the rinse off. As long as the weather outside is mild, the outdoor shower/toilet is fine. But the times when you need to bundle up to go outdoors, either due to temperature or precipitation, is when the indoor facilities are worth the weight/cost. IMHO.

[campn4walleye]

I wouldn't consider a TC without toilet/shower.

It's so nice not having to go outside in the middle of the night or to shower or even just comfortably sponge bathe.

It may not seem like a big deal at first, but the first blush of love (for the unit) wanes quickly when you realize you miss it.

If it's only you, it may be okay...for a woman, we require just a bit more. (We're special).:W

[HJGyswyt]

I used to be able to drive 400 miles without a break , but those days are over. I love having my bathroom where ever I'm traveling. As I read previous comments, I too am a large person and I manage just fine in my compact wet bath. I'll pee just about anywhere, but I don't like to sit down in public restrooms unless I have to.

My wife and I are also shower before bed type people. Hard for me to go to sleep feeling sticky, love to hit the sheets feeling fresh.

And I chauffeur my mom (semi in-con-tenant) and other senior relatives frequently and they too love having a bathroom when we travel back and forth across the state to visit relatives.

Go with a bathroom. If you don't use it it will always make a nice storage closet. Hans

[FreeLanceing]

If I did not have the combo T&S I would just go back to sleeping in the truck topper. For me its the #1 reason to own a tc. I use my shower most of the time even if another is availible.

[Photomike]

I tented for years and did the hole in the ground & public toilets, was very happy to get a toilet of my own that I did not worry about how clean it was or waiting for line ups. Plus in the rain, snow, at night or in the cold I could just use my own toilet.

As for the shower I have never used mine, a sponge bath is faster, easier and less mess for me. If I do want / need a shower then I find a campground with one.

[run100]

Pre-rv, we were avid tent campers and it didn't have a built-in shower or toilet. Top priority switching to an rv was a nice fully equipped bathroom. Now, we're pretty much prepared for any situation.

[hedge]

I found the shower on my '99 810WS almost useless but the one in my new 89RB is almost as good as a trailer shower. Of course you give up some room for storage but to me the tradeoff is worth it.

[sue_t]

Having a toilet was the "must have" when we purchased our 8' Adventurer camper (model 80W). Shower wasn't essential. We're usually near a creek or lake so can clean up, if needed. If that doesn't work, having a sponge bath with "baby wipes" can be quite effective. The fifth wheel has a shower and we rarely use it, unless we're having a cleanup day at a commercial campground. Again, because we're usually in the bush for a week or so, so use water sparingly.

Because we're usually in the bush without services, we're also usually without access to dump stations or fresh water. So conserving water and not having to dump tanks is important for our type of camping.

Adventurer doesn't make the 80W any more, but maybe take a look at their 80RB, new for 2014. Their webpage says, "This Adventurer 8' Truck Camper fits super short, short and long-bed trucks." Dryweight 1,720 lbs.

[work2fish]

I took a shower in my new to me camper for the first time last night. As mentioned, the benefits of going to sleep clean after a couple days of camping cannot be overstated. I am by no means an expert on this (my first camper was purchased last month), but I would say it was great to take the shower last night then get up this morning when it is the 50s outside, turn on the furnace and use the bathroom without walking outside... 🙂

Good luck,
Mike

[spacedoutbob]

My first camper did not have a toilet or shower. My next 3 have all been Self-contained, I would never purchase a camper that didn't have a shower and toilet again. It's just too convenient to have.

Bob in Calif.