Last Updated on February 16, 2024
Traveling in an RV has just become easier with the addition of bathrooms. Not only does it offer the convenience of being able to shower and clean yourself up after a day of adventure, but it also gives you unparalleled comforts unlike any other.
The thing about Small RVs is that they come with different bathroom types and sizes. Of these, one of the most popular options out there for small Class B RVs is no other than the RV wet bath. This is quite the hot topic within the RV community, particularly with some expressing love for this bathroom, while others are not so sold on the idea.
Get to know more about the RV wet bath in this article and whether or not you should go for an RV that has this particular feature.
What is an RV Wet Bath?
An RV wet bath is simply a type of bathroom that exists in usually smaller RVs, mostly in Class Bs or Pop-up trailers, small campers. This bathroom type includes all of the basic necessities that you would want while on the go – from the sink, shower, and toilet in just one compact space.
There is usually no designation or separation between the shower and toilet, especially as this is designed as a stall-type of space that corrals everything in your compact RV.
As the name implies, the idea behind the wet bath is for it to get wet when you take a bath and we mean everything in its just gets wet every time you take a shower.
How This Particular Bath Works
The RV wet bath works by having a shower head attached to your bathroom wall. Since the shower area isn’t separate from the toilet, the idea behind this is that the whole bathroom will serve as your shower and bathroom area at the same time.
When you take a bath, everything in your bathroom tends and will get wet, even the sink, mirror, and the toilet itself. However, when you are just using the toilet, you certainly won’t be making the whole bathroom wet.
After taking a bath, you can dry down the wet bath by giving it a good wipe down or simply letting it air dry. Thankfully, the bathroom floor is equipped with a drain to make it easier.
The Difference Between an RV Wet Bath and Dry Bath
To give you a better grasp of the differences between the two, we’ll be discussing what these two bathrooms are.
As mentioned, the wet bath is considered one whole shower. The toilet, sink, and shower area are just all situated in one compact space. This means that the room gets wet when you do take a shower.
In contrast to the wet bath, the dry bath, on the other hand, seems more like a typical bathroom, akin to the ones you have in your home. Here, the shower area is wholly separate from the sink and toilet, as well as the storage spaces, keeping most of the bathroom area dry.
Dry baths tend to be larger compared to wet baths since every aspect has a designated space. You can move around more in a dry bath and have ample storage as well. The main benefit that a dry bath affords you on an RV is that it keeps your things and your surroundings dry.
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Benefits of Having a Wet Bath
By now, you might be wondering if there are advantages to getting a wet bath for your RV. We’re focusing on what the wet bath has to offer, so here are some of these aspects that might just push you to go for one today.
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Save a Ton of Space
One of the best things about having a wet bath in your RV is that you have limited space and this is a real space saver. Since space is seen as a premium in small trailers, RVs, and campers, you want everything to have a purpose and to be compact. The wet bath fulfills this need.
Since the wet bath combines all of your necessities in one, such as the shower, sink, and toilet, you know it takes up less space than dry baths and other traditional types of bathrooms. This gives you more space to move around and enjoy the rest of your RV.
If you love the option of being able to sit while you shower, you can readily do this simply just by closing your toilet lid, and voila, you already have your own stool to work with. You can save or just have a more comfortable shower time.
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Room for Drying
Since the bathroom is already wet, you can turn this into a multipurpose space by using this as a drying area of sorts. You can place other wet items in it, such as swimsuits, towels, clothes, and the like, that you don’t want to see hanging in your living space
With the wet bath already being wet and being equipped for this, you no longer have to worry about getting the area wet in the first place.
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Generous Space to Shower
Since the bathroom space is essentially the whole wet room, you can freely move around in the whole bath area. With the space designed to be wet, you don’t have to walk on tiptoes to keep the room dry.
While the space itself may be compact, you have more elbow room since you can use the whole wet room to do your business.
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Easier Maintenance
One of the best things about having an RV wet bath is that it is easier to maintain. Fancier units with bigger baths may be more comfortable for some, especially during trips, but this will be more difficult to clean after the journey.
Now, imagine if you are going on a trip for a few days or a week. Your mobile bathroom will be less than pristine at the end of the drive. What you want is something that you can clean easily, and wet baths offer such an advantage.
With such an option, every part is designed to be waterproof, so you do not have to worry about anything getting wet. You can easily apply cleaning products and wash them off with no worries. In fact, aside from the product, everything you need is in the bathroom including the shower wand, which you can use to spray the suds away.
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Keep Water Damage at Bay
As mentioned, everything inside the wet bath is made of materials that can withstand extended exposure to water and moisture. Of course, it is always ideal to dry things out after use. The most important thing is that the things inside the wet space are designed to resist water damage much more effectively and successfully than other materials.
This is one of the best things for any owner of an RV with a shower and toilet. The vehicle itself costs thousands of dollars, and you don’t want to spend more just because some of the things in the wet space were damaged by water.
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Some Things You Need to Consider
The thing about RV wet baths is that they offer a lot of advantages, but there are also things you should consider that can affect your experience. Here are things some people might consider drawbacks.
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Everything Gets Wet
One of the strengths of RV wet baths is that everything is designed to get wet, and this is a good thing for many reasons. However, if you are planning to put some products on counters or install a place where you can hang them, you need to remember that these will definitely get wet when someone uses the shower.
This means that you can only use products in water-proof packaging. This can feel restricting, but the same principle applies when you travel anywhere without an RV. You need things that can resist moisture, so you can pack them up when wet with minimal worries, so this is a small adjustment.
Something to think about is the fact that your toilet seat will get wet after someone uses the shower. Some people don’t mind, but others may find it pretty unacceptable. You might need to spend some time drying the place after use to get it ready for the next user or simply to keep it neat and safe. If these are a source of concern, then you might need to look for another option.
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On the Smaller Side
Another thing to consider is the amount of space you can move in while in the wet bath. Remember that one of the main purposes of having such a space in an RV is that they are space-efficient, especially as these vehicles have limited spaces to accommodate everything.
So, you can expect your bathroom area to be pretty cramped, but with a manageable level of space. This contains the basic set, which mostly consists of a sink, toilet, and shower, covering most of your hygiene needs.
The thing is that this can prove to be limited to people who want the benefits of a full-blown bathroom such as lots of counter and storage space, as well as a dry place to place their things.
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Only One Can Use The Bathroom Area
Some people love taking some time while in the bath or toilet as it serves as their private or alone time. This may not be an option for them because others might need to use either one, and consideration of others is key to making the trip a successful one.
The layout of these spaces can also be pretty straightforward. Failing to lock the door and someone trying to enter can expose you to them, and if you are unlucky, to the other people in the RV that happens to be within the visual area.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Small Space
Now the space for the RV wet bath may be small, but it does not mean that you need to limit yourself with what you can do with it – if the space allows, that is. So, what can you do to make the most out of the place? The answer is some creativity, handiness, and management skills.
You might also want to install a floating shelf at a place higher than the shower to prevent your things from getting wet.
The Bottom Line
An RV wet bath can be one of the most space-efficient and traveler-friendly options for individuals who like going on trips but want to have a bit of a homey comfort with them. It’s always better to have a small RV with a wet-bath than not having a bathroom at all.
Now that you know what they are all about, you can easily decide whether it is a good idea to get one.
