Van Life Shower: The 20 Best DIY Camper Van Shower Ideas – 2024

Although having a nice warm shower while traveling on the road is ideal, it can sometimes be hard to know the right way to solve the shower problem.

You will want to start off with a good idea of your overall budget and the space inside (or outside) your van you want to use exclusively for a shower. You will also want to think about how often you will have water available, how you will store it, and perhaps most importantly, how you will heat it.

Given you plan to have hot water for a shower, you may want to go a step further and make hot water available through the van with internal plumbing.

No matter where you arrive, there are many ways (and many products to help) to get squeaky clean living the van life on the road. Read on below, and we will go through the details to get you on your way.

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What to consider before you decide on a camper van shower

Tank or Tankless?

There are two approaches to water heaters best suited for a van, and it all comes down to how you use water. Those approaches are to use a tank or go tankless. Let’s break down the key differences (hint the name gives one away).

Tank

Some heaters will require a complete system setup, including plumbing, pumps, and storage tanks. The storage tank acts as a carrier for water as it is heated and then distributed, usually fed from an adjacent cold tank. The most common heaters that require a tank are diesel, gasoline, and electric. Combi calorimeters and boilers have their own built-in tanks.

Tankless

Tankless LPG (propane) water heaters provide continuous hot water on-demand and are quickly becoming more common in DIY camper vans. While tankless units still require some sort of tank to hold cold water before heating, they are more versatile in how they are installed. Additionally, they use ubiquitous propane fuel tanks to heat the water.

Portable Showers

Portable showers work really well for van life because they are small and don’t require installation of any kind in your van. As the name implies, they are also very portable, allowing you to use them for more than just taking a shower.

Gravity Showers

Gravity showers usually consist of a water bladder with a hose connected. Simply hang these up and let gravity do the work. Some gravity showers use solar power to heat the water.

Pressurized Showers

Pressurized showers operate by using air pressure to drive water flow. They usually include a hand pump or a Schrader valve to pump pressurized air into the unit. Many pressurized showers also use solar power to heat the water.

Electric Pump Showers

If a shower isn’t powered by pressurized water or gravity, they probably use a small battery-powered pump to deliver water flow. These showers usually operate on rechargeable or D-Cell batteries and come with an AC power adapter. Because water takes a lot of energy to head the electric pump showers do not heat the water with electricity. For that most use propane.

Propane Heated Shower

Due to its popularity and portability, almost all camper van showers use propane to heat water. Portable showers usually use small propane canisters, typical with camping grills and lanterns.

Solar Heated Showers

Solar energy is a popular way to heat water, and many portable showers use this method. Solar energy is a common way to heat gravity showers and pressurized showers. You will also find solar heat used in larger externally mounted showers like the Yakima Road Shower 7G. The obvious drawback to relying on solar is that it only works when the sun is out!

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Portable Shower

A portable campervan shower might be a better option if you want the convenience of a private shower with the hassle of doing the extra work for a built-in shower. Portable showers can also be a great secondary option if you already have a built-in shower. Many of them pack up small and require little space.

These showers use battery power, gravity, or a pressurized container to deliver constant water flow. To heat the water some use solar heat while others rely on portable propane gas. Others skip the heat altogether and focus on capacity and water flow.

While you do have a lot of limitations with a portable shower, it does allow more flexibility in where you shower. For example, you can take it with you on a hike or to the beach and rinse that extra grit and sand off before returning. In addition, portable showers are a great space-saving alternative and are cheaper to purchase.

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Mr. Heater BOSS-XB13 Basecamp

The Mr. Heater BaseCamp BOSS-XB13 is cordless and portable. It runs on D-Cell batteries for the water pump and a portable propane cylinder to heat the water.

The BaseCamp is an excellent option for quick hot water in your camper van. Add the D-Cell batteries to a power pack, place the pump in water, turn on the ignition switch, and adjust the temperature!

The pump can also operate using an AC adapter if you have access to a power outlet. Other features include a faucet attachment for washing your hands or shower off. The Mr. Heater BOSS-XB13 has a few safety features, including scold protection.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

Hike Crew Portable Propane Water Heater & Shower

With everything you need from parts to storage, the Hike Crew Portable Propane Water Heater is an excellent solution for getting warm water in your camper van. The Hike Crew includes a hand faucet/spigot and shower head attachment with three adjustable spray patterns and adjustable temperature control.

Like similar options, this unit runs on D-Cell batteries and portable propane. The water pump optionally runs on an AC adapter if batteries are unavailable.

Add a collapsable water bucket, and you have a complete kit. Depending on the bucket size, there is enough room to slide it into the carrying case with the unit when it collapses.

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RinseKit Plus

The RinseKit Plus is an excellent portable shower option for your camper van. It works using pressurized water, so there is no need for propane or batteries. If you do want to go with a battery pressured option RinseKit does have the RinseKit Pro available. For a smaller, compact unit you might want to consider the Rinse Kit Portable Outdoor Shower.

A stand-out feature of this option is how simple it is to use. Simply attach to your favorite spigot, and the eon pressure chamber will fill up really fast. You can use an optional sink adapter if you don’t have a hose handy.

A downside to this pressurized option is that you will have to forgo a warm shower as there isn’t a way to heat up water. Because of this, you may want to consider this as a secondary option if you like a warm shower. On the other hand, this might be a perfect solution if you just wish to clean without much comfort!

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OYOOQO Electric Pressure Outdoor Shower

The OYOOQO Portable Shower has a capacity of up to 5-gallons. Also, it doubles as a small storage container with a handle, making it the perfect addition to your camper van gear list.

With a relatively large capacity tank and battery-operated pump, you will get up to 50-minutes of continuous water flow.

The unit is well designed, given the water pressure isn’t affected as the water in the bucket drops. In addition, the pump completely drains around 99% of the water, so you can expect to get the full available capacity with each use.

The pumps come with many accessories you would expect in a portable shower system. These include a showerhead, sprinkler, water sprayer, and sprinklers.

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GoSpout 2 Gallon Portable Water Tank

The GoSpout features hold two gallons of water and can be pressurized with a built-in hand pump in a few quick pumps. You can also buy an additional valve to pressurize with a garden hose.

In addition, there is an optional soap dispenser holder you can add to have an all-in-one cleaning station. With the five high-pressure pattern nozzles, you can easily spray down dirty feet, grimy gear, or take a quick shower on the spot.

RECOMMENDED products

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Nemo Helio LX Portable Pressure Shower with Foot Pump

The NEMO Helio LX is suitable for just about anything you need a pressurized shower for. It is really a fantastic product. Its newest design improves the previous foot pump on the previous model. It is also super easy to pack away and light enough to bring along on day hikes or other adventures. The long hose makes those hard-to-reach places less hard to reach.

Using free solar power, the Helo warms up the water quickly. Simply add a little water pressure with the built-in pump and let it soak in the sun. You can then head out on your adventure rest assured that you will be greeted with a nice warm shower upon your return!

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Nemo Helio Portable Pressure Camp Shower

Just like the larger NEMO Helio LX, the Nemo Helio Portable is suitable for just about anything you need a pressurized shower for. It is really a fantastic product. It is also super easy to pack away and light enough to bring along on day hikes or other adventures. The long hose makes those hard-to-reach places less hard to reach.

Using free solar power, the Helo warms up the water quickly. Simply add a little water pressure with the built-in pump and let it soak in the sun. You can then head out on your adventure rest assured that you will be greeted with a nice warm shower upon your return!

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KIPIDA Solar Shower Bag

As a basic, no-nonsense product, the KIPIDA Sholar Shower Bag is the perfect solution if you want simplicity and are on a budget. This solar shower has all the basics covered with an adjustable show nozzle, easy-carry handle, and a decent capacity.

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Advanced Elements Summer Solar Shower

The Advanced Elements Summer shower is a solar heated and gravity-powered camping shower with a perfect mix of options for the price range. It is basic but still a very capable solar gravity shower compared to some other camping showers.

The shower is light enough to bring on a short multi-day adventure without missing out on comforts like a hot and consistent water flow with multiple sizes (2.5, 3, and 5 gallons) to suit your needs.

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KEDSUM Portable Camp Shower

The Kedsum portable outdoor shower is a simple, easy-to-use, highly portable option. This portability makes for a super attractive option if you don’t have a lot of storage space onboard.

Although there isn’t a way to heat the water with this option, it does provide a steady stream for showering and runs on rechargeable batteries. It is a very basic solution, but if you just want simplicity, just drop the pump into a bucket of clean water, and tada you have a shower!

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Simple Shower Portable Camping Shower

Although this is a handy backup option for a more robust camper van shower solution, the Simple Portable Camping Shower is as “simple” as it gets. This unique shower option converts a 1-liter or 2-liter soda bottle or even a Platypus reservoir into a portable shower!

The two components system is a sinch to set up. It uses a perforated plastic showerhead and a plastic straw, which helps to keep the flow continuous by letting air in (so the bottle doesn’t gulp).

Connect the straw to the showerhead, screw the showerhead onto a bottle, tip it over, and boom! You have a shower! Bonus tip: if you leave the water bottle in the sun for a while, you can have a warm shower.

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Custom Shower

A customer shower is a private and convenient option that appeals to many van lifers. However, it requires a separate waterproof space (like a wet bathroom), a drainage system, a dedicated water heater, and in some cases an onboard water tank.

The convenience and privacy an indoor shower provides are excellent, but there are some factors to consider before you build. Indoor showers are very desirable when it is a bit nippy and the thought of showering off outside is a little chilling.

Considerations

• Floor Space: A usable shower will require a minimum of 2.5 sqft of space.
• Height: You will need to stand up in your shower.
• Wasted Space: Other than showering, the space is unused unless you get creative.
• Waterproofing: Essential to make sure your shower does not leak or spray into other areas of your living space.
• Drains: Drains will need to be installed and require a “grey water” holding tank.
• Condensation: A shower vent is strongly recommended to limit condensation. 

Some DIY and custom van builders have developed creative ways to solve the space problem for their indoor showers. 

Temporary Rooms

Temporary indoor shower rooms utilize space for showering only when it’s in use. A retractable shower curtain or screen pulls out into the living space area, and a drain cover is removed from the floor. 

Stratiegic Room Placement

Some large campervans fit the shower cubicle at the entry door. You actually walk through the bathroom as you walk into the living quarters. This is quite a clever solution because you utilize what would otherwise be dead space anyway.

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Combi Boilers

Combi Boilers are very popular with camper vans. They combine water storage with internal heating elements to create portable, on-demand hot water. In many cases, they work as an air heater too! Combi boilers are a great in-between if you’re having trouble choosing a tank or tankless heater. They are highly compact but still hold a decent amount of water for all your washing needs.

In addition, Combi Boilers can run on either electricity or propane. Be aware that their electricity consumption is high and will drain batteries quickly. Hence, it is best to reserve the electricity option when connected to an external power source. Also remember that propane requires proper external venting.

Suburban Water Heater (52384)

To make your camper van feel like home, there is perhaps no better solution than a permanently installed hot water heater. While this solution can be more expensive and require a little elbow grease, you can likely get the job done in an afternoon.

The “go-to” option for this is the Suburban combi boiler water heater. Aside from wonderful hot water in your shower, one huge advantage is that hot water is also available to the rest of your camper van, like the kitchen sink. This option does require the necessary water system, propane source to heat the water, and electricity to run the rest of the unit.

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Tankless Showers

Tankless water heaters are a very popular option among van dwellers. They are more efficient than water heaters with a tank because they only heat water when it is needed.

Tankless heaters work by continuously heating water on-demand as it flows through the unit. The huge upside of this approach is that you could literally shower all day assuming you have a constant water supply and propane. Tankless technology was first used in home construction and is popular in warmer US climates and all around Europe.

Fortunately, they are a natural fit for DIY camper van builds. While many large vans and RVs have built-in plumbing that supports a permanently installed water heater.

Small camper vans might not have the capability to support a plumbed system. In that case, an externally mounted tankless water heater is a perfect choice.

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Camplux 5L 1.32 GPM Portable Tankless Propane Water Heater

With a virtually limitless hot water supply, self-contained design, compact size, and easy installation, the Camplux Tankless Water Heater 5L is one of the most popular camper showers for DIY camper vans.

It works using propane to head up a continuous stream of hot water supplied by an external water source. It can heat up the water in just a few seconds and reliably produces 1.32 gallons of hot water each minute of use.

Camplux has your best interest in mind with standard safety features when it comes to safety. These include flame failure detection, low oxygen safety shut-off, and anti-freezing protection.

Lastly, you optionally purchase this unit with a portability kit, including a stand and a carrying case. This allows you to increase the value of your purchase by using it while camping or other activities.

Recommended Products

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Eccotemp L10 Portable Water Heater w/ Shower Set

The Eccotemp L10 is a premium addition to your camper van. If you’re looking for a robust shower with a powerful water flow and don’t mind paying a little more, give this option a good look.

We feel Eccotemp has earned every bit of the more expensive price tag, and they bring real value with the L10. Even though it is compact and portable, it still boasts all of the benefits of an indoor shower, including 3 gallons per minute of water flow at 20psi.

In addition to raw performance, the L10 has a combination of spray and temperature settings offering the control you need to get your shower experience dialed in just right.

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Eccotemp L5 Portable Outdoor Tankless Water Heater

Like its big brother, the Eccotemp L10, the Eccotemp L5 is a more affordable premium tankless water heater and may be better suited for your camper van given it is more energy-efficient and slightly smaller.

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 GASLAND Outdoors Tankless Water Heater

Gasland outdoor tankless water heater takes safety to another level, including an overheating control, flame failure, and anti-freeze functions. In addition, it has a propane heater exchanger and burner, designed to consume less gas and produce minimal noise. Lastly, it pushes 1.58 gallons of hot water per minute at 41,000BTU/hr!

This outdoor gas-powered hot water heater also includes a digital energy-saving function, enabling you to save about 11.5% on energy bills. With this and more, Gasland takes another spot on the podium of one of the best portable water heaters for DIY camper van conversions.

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Foruee Tankless Water Heater

Fortune Tankless Water Heater is a versatile tankless water heater equipped with a CSA-certified gas regulator, high-pressure showerhead, stainless steel hose, and all your equipment for assembly and use.

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Roof Mounted Solar Showers

Sometimes, there isn’t enough space on the side of your camper van or even inside the back door to mount a water heater. If you find yourself in this situation, there are a few more options.

One of those options is a pressurized, rack-mounted water tank. A rack-mounted tank is perfect if you have a roof rack with available mounting space on the side. In addition, most of these systems save energy by using solar power to heat the water.

Yakima Road Shower 7G

The Yakima Road Shower 7g utilizes a metal, pressurized car-top tube. It works using a combination of an ordinary hose and an air pump. Add a bit of solar heat and have a pressurized hot water source!

The water tank comes with a hose and shower head attachment to shower outside. Unfortunately, some water remains in the tank even when the pressure is gone. Still, it is easily removable when you need to clean it.

While this option isn’t as ideal as the tankless water heaters or other systems, it is an excellent secondary solution if your options are limited.

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Tow Hitch Mounted Shower

The last option we have for you is to attach a pressurized water tank to the receiver hitch on your camper van. This option requires a receiver hitch (square metal box underneath your bumper). It assumes you are not already pulling a trailer.

Waterport 3.8 Gallon Pressurized Water Tank

The WaterPORT Water Tank is a hitch-mounted, pressurized water tank. It can hold a whopping 3.8 gallons of water, providing an instant washroom and shower within seconds. At 25 inches long and 9 inches high, it is one of the few hitch-mounted water tanks and is excellent if traveling with a large van or RV.

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Camper Van Shower Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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