CAMPER VANS WITH BATHROOMS
Find your van with a private bathroom
Private showers and real toilets, built into custom Sprinter and Transit camper vans.
Find your van with a private bathroom
Private showers and real toilets, built into custom Sprinter and Transit camper vans.
Every model, your choice of bathroom
Every Vansmith is built to order, so the bathroom is yours to design. Our Bivy, Duo, and Family builds can all be equipped with a shower and a toilet. A Vansmith bathroom pairs that shower and toilet with one sizable, multi-purpose sink basin, not two, just a single basin deep enough to handle everything from brushing your teeth to washing the dishes. Pick a model above, then choose how you want it equipped below.
Shower options for your camper van
A camper van bathroom starts with the shower. Every build is made to order, so you choose the setup that fits how you travel, from a fully enclosed interior stall to a convertible bench, a fold-away Tetravan, or an exterior rinse. Then add your choice of toilet.
Enclosed interior shower
Full privacy and hot-water comfort in a sealed, waterproof stall with lighting and ventilation built in.
Convertible bench shower
Most PopularA padded bench by day that transforms into a full shower with zip-up curtain walls, saving every inch of living space.
Exterior shower
A handheld sprayer mounted outside for rinsing off gear, pets, and sandy feet after a day of adventure. Connect to your water heater for warm rinses on demand.
Tetravan fold-away shower
A rigid metal enclosure that mounts flat against the wall and unfolds in seconds into a fully enclosed, waterproof shower stall. Zero permanent footprint.
Every shower pairs with your choice of toilet: Laveo or Modiwell dry flush, Dometic cassette, or Joolca separating, compared just below.
Compare shower options
How our four shower setups stack up on what matters most in a small space.
| Shower option | Space efficiency | Privacy | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enclosed interior shower | Fair | Excellent | Excellent |
| Convertible bench shower | Good | Good | Good |
| Tetravan fold-away shower | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| Exterior shower | Excellent | Fair | Fair |
Camper van toilet options at a glance
Every Vansmith bathroom is built around a real toilet you choose during the design phase. Here is how the options compare.
| Toilet | How it works | Emptying & upkeep | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laveo dry flush | Seals each use inside a liquid-proof film cartridge. No water, no plumbing, no odor. | Swap the cartridge. No dumping required. | Boondockers who want zero hookups. Our most-installed toilet. |
| Modiwell dry flush | Same hands-off dry-flush concept with an alternate cartridge system. | Swap the cartridge. No dumping required. | Dry-flush fans who want a second supply option. |
| Dometic cassette | Flushes into a removable holding tank you slide out from an access hatch. | Empty at a dump station, typically every 3 to 7 days. | Travelers who want lower running cost and do not mind a quick dump. |
| Joolca separating | Separates liquids from solids for compact, low-odor storage. | Empty liquids often, solids far less often. | Long-term, fully off-grid living. |
A real toilet, built for off-grid travel
Most of our builds ship with the Laveo dry flush toilet, which seals every use with no water and no plumbing. Prefer something else? Choose a Modiwell dry flush, a Dometic cassette, or a Joolca separating toilet during the design phase. Most need no hookups at all, and all are designed for life off the grid, so your van stays ready to park almost anywhere. See how the options compare in the table above.
A sealed, private shower of its own
On longer 170 inch builds there is room for a fully enclosed interior shower, its own sealed, waterproof stall with lighting and ventilation, set apart from the toilet. It keeps water off the rest of your cabin and gives you real at-home privacy. Prefer to save space? A convertible bench shower folds away when you are not using it.
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Camper vans with bathrooms, built for true independence
At The Vansmith, a bathroom is not an afterthought. It is what lets you stay out longer, park farther from the crowds, and travel on your own terms. We build private showers and real toilets into custom Mercedes Sprinter and Ford Transit vans so you never have to plan your day around the nearest gas station restroom.
Based in Boulder, Colorado, we have been hand-building custom van conversions since 2016. As skiers, bikers, hikers, and climbers ourselves, we know a warm shower and a clean, private toilet are what turn a weekend trip into full-time freedom.
Choosing your shower and toilet
A camper van bathroom comes together from two choices: the shower and the toilet. Pick the shower that fits how you travel:
- Enclosed interior shower: a sealed, waterproof stall with lighting and ventilation, for full privacy and hot-water comfort.
- Convertible bench shower: a padded bench that transforms into a curtained shower, then folds away to save every inch of living space.
- Tetravan fold-away shower: a rigid enclosure that mounts flat to the wall and unfolds into a sealed stall, with zero permanent footprint.
- Exterior shower: a rear handheld sprayer for quick warm rinses without using any interior space.
Then add your toilet: a Laveo or Modiwell dry flush, a Dometic cassette, or a Joolca separating toilet. You can place the shower and toilet together for an all-in-one space or keep them separate, whatever fits your van. We map it all out with you during the design phase.
Toilets and water systems built for off-grid life
Toilets: Choose the Laveo dry flush (our most popular, no hookups ever), the Modiwell dry flush, the Dometic cassette, or the Joolca separating toilet. Dry-flush models need no water and no dumping, which keeps you self-sufficient for weeks.
Fresh and gray water: Builds carry 20 gallons of fresh water as standard and can upgrade to 30 gallons. Shower and sink water drains to a gray water tank sized to match, with a heated, undermounted option for cold-weather travel.
Hot water on demand: Electric and Rixen hydronic water heating deliver consistent hot water for your shower without keeping a tank hot around the clock, so you save power while you stay comfortable.
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Ready to Start Your Build?
Our team in Boulder is ready to help you design the perfect van for your lifestyle.
Or call us at (303) 414-6834 · info@thevansmith.com
Frequently asked questions
Do camper vans have bathrooms?
Yes. A camper van can absolutely have a bathroom. At Vansmith we build private showers and real toilets into custom Mercedes Sprinter and Ford Transit vans every day, from a fully enclosed interior shower to space-saving bench, fold-away, and exterior showers, each paired with your choice of toilet. Because every build is made to order, you choose the setup that fits your van and how you travel.
Can a camper van have a shower and toilet?
Yes. Most of our builds combine a hot-water shower and a toilet. You can place them together in one private space or keep them separate, and on tighter builds you can pair a convertible bench or Tetravan fold-away shower with a dry-flush toilet to save room.
What is a wet bath?
Wet bath is an industry term for a single waterproof space that combines a shower and toilet, so the whole area gets wet when you shower. At Vansmith we build a sealed, fully enclosed shower stall and add your choice of toilet, so you get that same compact convenience with the flexibility to combine or separate the two.
What toilet options are available?
We install the Laveo dry flush (our most popular, no hookups ever), the Modiwell dry flush, the Dometic cassette, and the Joolca separating toilet. Dry-flush models seal each use with no water or plumbing and no dumping. A cassette empties at a dump station every few days. We help you choose based on how off grid you travel.
What is the most space-efficient camper van bathroom?
The Tetravan fold-away shower paired with a dry-flush toilet is the most space-efficient setup. The Tetravan mounts flat against the wall and unfolds into a sealed stall only when you need it, so it uses almost no permanent floor space, and a dry-flush toilet needs no tanks or plumbing. A convertible bench shower is a close second.
How much room does a camper van bathroom require?
Less than most people expect. A fold-away bench or Tetravan shower needs only a narrow wall section when stowed, while a fully enclosed interior shower fits in roughly a closet-sized footprint. Larger enclosed showers set apart from the toilet fit best on the longer Sprinter 170 platform. We size the bathroom to your layout during the design phase.
How often do you have to empty a camper van toilet?
It depends on the type. A Laveo dry flush toilet is emptied by swapping its sealed cartridge, with no dumping required. A cassette toilet typically needs emptying at a dump station every three to seven days for two people. A separating toilet stretches even longer between empties for full time off grid use.
Do you need a sewer hookup or black water tank?
No. Our most popular toilet, the Laveo dry flush, needs no hookups ever. There is no black tank and no sewer connection to deal with. Showers and sinks drain into a gray water tank mounted under the van that you empty at designated dump stations, so your van stays fully self sufficient off the grid.
How much water do you need for an onboard shower and bathroom?
Our builds carry 20 gallons of fresh water as standard, upgradeable to 30 gallons. With a low flow showerhead most people use two to three gallons per shower, so 30 gallons comfortably supports daily showers for two people for several days between fill-ups. We size your gray water tank to match so you never run out of drainage room.
Which Vansmith vans can fit a full bathroom?
Bathroom and shower configurations are available across our Bivy, Duo, and Family lines. Roomier full enclosed showers fit best on the longer Sprinter 170 platform, while compact bench and fold-away showers work well in shorter builds. Every layout is built to order, so we tailor the bathroom to your van and your priorities.
How much does it cost to add a bathroom to a camper van?
Cost depends on the configuration. A rear exterior shower with a dry flush toilet is the most affordable path, while a fully enclosed interior shower with hot water on demand, a heated gray water tank, and a premium toilet costs more. We walk you through every option and price during the design phase so there are no surprises.
