Travel Hacks: Getting a Hot Shower in Your Travel Van(5 Practical Options)

In a campervan, there are several options for getting hot water. However, each heat source can be used in a variety of ways. The room available, your budget, and how much convenience you require to ensure your well-being should all factor into your choice.

We all have different priorities when it involves readiness for a life on the road. Some people are content to travel with nothing more than a hammock and a camp stove, while others will spend years creating the ideal tiny house on wheels. There is always a method to get enough hot water to bathe in, no matter your budget!

This article will give you the best, most practical options to conveniently get a hot shower in your travel van. Explore the options!

1. Solar Water Heater

Solar camping showers in a travel van are the best and most affordable option. They suit a limited budget and are quite convenient for small spaces. If your van is small, the last thing you want is to rationalize putting anything in that would take up more space. It's also good to fit it with a zany rapid shutdown to protect it from damage, especially when charging it during the day.

When not in use, the solar camping shower van, along with its hand pump and shower head, can be put in a bag that can be collapsed. This makes everything convenient.

For the colder months, have a pull-out shower tray that can be emptied by hand after showering. Cold months can be quite tough, especially if you are spending them in a van, so be sure to have proper clothing for yourself. You can also ensure that the soaps you use while bathing can be disposed of without harming plants and animals.

2. Diesel Water Heater

Diesel heaters, originally designed for the houseboat community, are a fantastic water heating technology to consider as a van life person. These are available in complete kits, however, because of safety considerations, many models can only be fitted by a professional fitter. With a silencer, they may now be made quite unobtrusive, but be aware that diesel water heaters are typically pricey.

Diesel water heaters can be used for heating and cooling, with the latter having a water tank. Technology has advanced significantly, and you can now have added features such as a sim card that you can use to text when you want the water to start heating - ideal for returning from a day on the slopes!

3.Electric Hot Water Heater(With No Tank)

An electric tankless water heater eliminates the need for a storage tank by quickly producing hot water. It only needs a cold water input and to be connected to the power. The fact that you don't have to store hot water and that the system may be immediately connected to your cold water tank makes it ideal for small-space van living.

Having an effective tankless heater will save you money since you're only heating the water you need. However, you'll still get hot water on demand. By putting this full-time in your shower, you can get instant hot water at the touch of a button.

Alternatively, you may acquire a more portable showers arrangement that you connect to your kitchen's cold water tap and plug into the electrics when not in use. This allows you to rapidly create a hot shower outside, which is a better alternative for those who have very small vans.

4. Use Your Camping Stove to Boil Water

Sometimes, the simplest solution is the most effective. For thousands of years, people have heated their water on a stovetop, and it has been good enough for them, so why not for you?
When you boil your water on the camping stove, you don't have to spend time or money on a more intricate water heating method. It doesn't take up any extra room, and you can boil the exact amount of water you need in only a couple of minutes.

The disadvantage is that you may want to avoid boiling water in your little living space, especially if you have young kids or van pets running around. Also, pouring it into a camping shower without scorching your hands or squandering water down the sink can be challenging.

5. Propane Water Heater

Bringing a fully portable propane water heater with you on the road is one of the most straightforward and convenient methods to obtain a hot shower. They are incredibly safe to use and transport and can offer quick hot water via the gas tank to which they are connected.

They have their own faucets and a 12-volt electric pump, so you won't have to bother about plumbing. Although they can be used all year, they should not be used inside a closed vehicle due to the risk of fumes building up. Otherwise, you're good with this addition for a hot shower.

The Bottom Line

Whatever you choose to use as your hot water power option in your van life, be sure to check your budget and the requirements to fit it in your van. Just as essential as good lighting is, being comfortable taking your shower, especially if hot, is simply unexplainable. Enjoy your exploration, and good luck!