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Purchasing an RV is a monumental moment in your life. You are making a huge financial commitment, quite possibly the largest in your life. As a result, you need to put in a lot of time and energy to ensure that the RV you purchase is the perfect fit for you. Although you might have an idea of what you are looking for. There are several factors that might not ever cross your mind. One of those factors is your bathroom situation. You might be confused and think that a bathroom is just a bathroom, how different could one be from another? While most RV bathrooms are fairly similar, they do come in two distinct categories, dry and wet. RV dry baths and RV wet baths are two very different styles of bathrooms. You may have several questions like, is a wet bath better than a dry bath? However, which you prefer will drastically impact your lifestyle while living in your RV.
The two different types of RV bathrooms are mostly different in size and accessibility. One is larger but it can accommodate more than one person at a time. Conversely, the other is much smaller, but as a result, you can only have one person go through their bathroom routine at a time. So, whichever you prefer, you will need to be prepared to concede in some areas.
Regardless of which bathroom type you choose you should be able to find an RV that works for you. There are RVs with dry baths, and RVs with wet baths that will fit your needs. You just need to do the research and ensure that the RV fits your needs.
What Is an RV Wet Bath?
An RV wet bath is not what you would normally picture when you think of a bathroom. It is very different from what you will have in your home or apartment. What really sets these bathrooms apart is that the whole bathroom is one big shower. That is why it is called a wet bath. The entire room gets wet when you take a shower. Now, you might be confused and think that it is just a shower. That is not the case as there is a toilet and sink. However, there is nothing that divides the shower from the rest of the bathroom. As a result, the entire room gets wet when you take a shower.
This might seem like a strange bathroom type, but there are some distinct advantages. The biggest benefit of the bathroom is that it is much more compact. Since there is no divider between the shower and the rest of the bathroom, everything is more compact. This gives you more space in the rest of the RV. At the same time you have more space while you are showering. You have the entire bathroom to move around, so you will not feel constrained like you might in a regular tiny RV shower.
Finally, there is less daily maintenance needed with a wet bath. Since everything gets wet when you shower, you do not need to wash the bathroom as often. Everything stays naturally clean longer than normal. However, you do need to worry about drying the bathroom to ensure that there is no mold growth from all the wet surfaces. You also need to make sure that things you keep in the bathroom like toilet paper are covered when you shower. Otherwise they will get wet and become unusable.
What Is an RV Dry Bath?
The other major bathroom type for RVs is a dry bath. An RV dry bath is what you would normally picture when you think of a bathroom. It is what you have in your home or apartment. Almost every bathroom not in an RV is a dry bath. It is a bathroom where everything has a designated area. The shower, toilet, and sink all have a separate space. There is also more storage in dry baths for things like toilet paper and other things you need in a bathroom. This is because these bathrooms are much larger than wet baths. Since everything is separate the bathroom itself is much larger than a wet bath. As a result, there is less room to move around in the rest of your RV.
However, with the extra room in your bathroom, you can store things that you could not with a wet bath. You also do not need to worry about keeping everything dry and covering things up, so you save time there. However, since everything is separate your entire bathroom does not get wet. As a result, you will need to spend more time cleaning it than you would with a wet bath.
Finally, since the bathroom is larger and the shower is separate, there is enough space for two people to go through their morning routines at the same time. You can take a shower while your spouse brushes their teeth, washes their face, or puts in their contacts. Being able to save time in this way can be very valuable if you have a long day ahead of you.
RV Wet Bath vs Dry Bath – Which Is Better?
So, at this point you are probably wondering which bathroom option is better. Although it comes down to personal preference, most people prefer to purchase an RV with a dry bath. The primary reason for this is that they are more familiar than the other option. RV dry baths are very similar to the bathrooms that you have at home. As a result, having one in your RV will make you more comfortable as you make your way through your trip.
Additionally, having extra space to move around in your bathroom is very nice. Having enough space for two people to go through their morning routines is incredibly valuable, especially when you have busy days ahead of you. Although you are sacrificing a little bit of space in the rest of your RV, that space is far better served in your bathroom.
Additionally, not needing to dry out your bathroom every time you take a shower is very nice. You will spend far more time drying out your shower over a long period of time than you do cleaning a dry bath. So, you save time in that way. You also do not need to worry about mold as much in a dry bath because for the most part, your whole bathroom stays dry.
Can You Use a Composting Toilet in an RV Wet Bath?
Yes, if you are interested in installing a composting toilet you are able to do so. However, you need to make sure that the mounting brackets are well sealed to prevent water from entering the bilge. Additionally, you need to drill a hole in the urine tank holder to drain any water from it. Alternatively, you can cover it when you take a shower. So, it will take a little bit of work to get it installed, but it can be done. You can install it yourself if you wish and you feel comfortable with the process, or you can hire someone to do it for you.
What Is an RV Wet Bath Kit?
When you purchase an RV with a wet bath, it will include everything you need. However, it will not be quite as full as other bathrooms. It will have a shower obviously as it takes up the entire bathroom. However, it will also include a toilet and a sink. All of these aspects of your bathroom will not be separated.
However, there are some things that you will find in other bathrooms that do not exist in an RV wet bath. Most notably, you will probably not have a medicine cabinet or any form of storage in this type of bathroom. This is because storage cabinets typically will be made of wood. Since the bathroom will get wet every time you take a shower, having a wood cabinet is a bad idea. If you had one there would be a high chance that it starts to rot.
If you end up purchasing an RV with a wet bath, you might need to purchase an RV wet bath kit. A wet bath kit will include everything you need to cover up essential items and keep things dry. It will also have everything you need to properly dry out your bathroom after a shower. As we mentioned earlier, you need to be rigorous about drying your bathroom or you could get mold.
Where Can I Buy a Wet Bath Enclosure?
If you own an RV with a wet bath, you might be looking for ways to turn it into a small dry bath. You might not like the idea of your entire bathroom getting wet, but you do not want to spend the money renovating your entire bathroom or selling your RV and buying a new one. Luckily, there are ways to modify your bathroom so that you can keep things relatively dry.
You can purchase a wet bath enclosure and keep the majority of your bathroom dry while you are showering. It will not be perfect, but it will get the job done. Some wet bath enclosures are a lot like shower curtains. You just hang them from the ceiling and they should keep the water mostly contained in one area.
There are many places you can purchase a wet bath enclosure from, but one of the best places to do so is Camping World. Camping World is an excellent company that sells high quality products to RV owners, including wet bath enclosures. So, if you need to purchase a wet bath enclosure, Camping World should be one of the first companies that you check out.
Prepare for the RV Lifestyle with the Best RV Bathroom for You
After reading, we hope you have all the information you need to make a decision on which bathroom type to go with. We know there is a lot of information to absorb, but it should all be helpful as you try to make a decision that will have a big impact on your future. Your bathroom is a very important part of your RV, and having one that makes you feel comfortable will improve your quality of life dramatically.
Choosing between an RV wet bath and dry bath can be very difficult. There are pros and cons to each type, but the decision ultimately comes down to personal preference. An RV dry bath is preferred by many because of the familiarity it brings. However, purchasing an RV wet bath is not necessarily a bad decision because having one means you will have more space in the rest of your RV. It really just comes down to which you prefer more.
While you are making your decision on which RV to purchase, you have a lot to consider. However, one of the most important things to consider is your bathroom. Although you might think it is just a bathroom, it actually is very important to your quality of life. Having a bathroom that is not comfortable will result in you not being comfortable in your RV. So, take your time making this decision so that you have nothing to worry about in the future. Pretty soon you will be on the road and loving life in your brand new RV.
Are you a new or experienced RV owner? Do you prefer a dry bath or wet bath? Why do you prefer that option over the other? Let us know in the comments!
We been living in a Class A RV for 2 years now and we have a dry bathroom. We both like it cause it gives us more room to get around in the RV , my wife is disabled so it is just the right size for her to move around in .