Toilet/shower installation

[DIYer]

Does anybody have any experience installing a toilet/shower in an older PU?  I'm interested in buying an older PU which doesn't have a toilet/shower.  I'm wondering how hard they are to install, cost, and where to find parts.  Thank You.

[hoppy]

This is the second costly possible mod on this forum today.

 If the PU doesn't have a water heater, it will be real costly.

  Describe just what is in the PU now, and it will make it easier to determine the cheapest route to go....... or just walk away.

  I have seen showers added to the dinette seating areas, gas fired and electrical water heaters installations, and porta-potties added also.

 In all but a few cases, the cost would rule out the mod based on the worth of a older PU.

[Johnowolf]

Does anybody have any experience installing a toilet/shower in an older PU? I'm interested in buying an older PU which doesn't have a toilet/shower. I'm wondering how hard they are to install, cost, and where to find parts. Thank You.

Why bother? To be honest, unless it's a really BIG older PU, you wouldn't want it in there anyway.
 
We have all of that outside the PU. Part of setting up is to set up the Potti/Shower tent (ours is a cheap $20 "changing room" that takes about 10 seconds to set up, and 20 minutes to fold when it's time to go LOL). Then set up the portapotti in the tent. If you want it close, set it up under the awning ... if you want a bit more "privacy" while using it, set it up a bit farther away. If you are concerned about privacy, don't bother with an inside PU Shower/Potti anyway ... there ain't no such thing inside! As for the shower, if you want hot showers, don't bother with a hot water heater in the PU (unless you already have the HWH installed). Get the Coleman Hot Water On Demand, and the optional Shower Head/sprayer attachment. Then you can have your hot water move to wherever you choose to set up your shower tent. []
 
As you might guess, I'm not real big on having the Potti/Shower inside. I know some people love 'em, but to me it's just another way to add potential dampness inside the PU. Usually I'm trying to REDUCE the dampness in there, not add more!

[diane]

I also use one of those pop-up changing rooms as a potti house. I't's the greatest accessory, just unzip the bag and presto. I really wanted a cassett-potti in my camper, but I bring other people's children and that would be quite strange basically using the toilet in in the same room :yikes: .  As for the shower I agree with whole moisture issue. Last week Kmart had a really nice shower house/tent with shelves for shampoo and soap on sale for $35, but the directions say requires 2 adults to assemble so mine went right back to the store.

[CAPEd CODger]

Seems like everyone's trying to talk you out of doing this.
I will offer suggestions on how to do what you wish. If you still wish to do it.
Firstly, you will need a hot water source. If you don't have one, I added one to the 'COD. (see pictures by pasting link in signature in a new browser window)

I would buy a shower base at the "home improvement store" and install it in the place that can accomodate the base. (most are about 30" square)

Figure how to run your drain line out the bottom and to the side of the camper box. You will use a portable gray water tank to catch the drained shower water.

On the ceiling of the camper, put in a shower curtain holder. As far as something to hold the shower head, I'd mount the faucets just below the highest allowable level available when the camper is closed, and rig up a holder on a compression style rod that you can "wedge" between the floor and ceiling.

Tie in the water lines and there you go!

A pota-potti is the easiest thing to work with. Plus you won't require a second holding tank outside the trailer.

Best of luck in your endeavor.

Bob

[tlhdoc]

I have the cassette potty/shower in my PU and love it.  I can understand why you would want to add that to your PU.  I would use a porta potty for the toilet end.  As for the shower, a fair number of people have added a shower in one of their dinette seats, using a laundry tub as the base.  Do you have hot water and an electric water pump?  If you don't you will need to add both to your PU to have a hot shower.  A Coleman Hot Water on demand would work, although it says to use outdoors only.

 
There is nothing like a shower in the privacy of your own PU.

[mike4947]

FYI if you want to the cassette/shower unit figure on around $700 plus freight. They ain't cheap. Better to do the DIY suggestions the other guys gave.

[DIYer]

I'd like to thank everybody for their input.  To answer a question I have not purchased a PU yet but I'm going to look at a 1974 starcraft for $500 after the 4th of July.  They said it was in OK shape, it may need some cables replaced and some patching.  So far that is the one that I'm basing this on.  For now the porta poti and an outside shower has been approved by my wife, thanks to your input.  If anybody has any insight on the 74 starcraft that would be good to know, I would appreciate it.