| Author |
Message |
Joe (Frtnkr)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 6:19 pm: | |
I am a land locked sailor these days. My work keeps me on the road rather than the water, and my bus will be my new ship. Anyway, I really like the small and space efficient bathrooms found on larger sailboats but it seems like most people RVing or Bussing prefer to spread out there bathrooms to be more like a standard house hold bathroom. For those of you who have never spent much time on a boat let me fill you in...
The sink, toilet, shower, and usually a storage locker of some kind are all located in one small room. There is usually enough room to turn around and to sit on the tiolet but not much else, which is fine with me. I travel with a group of musicians and compared to what we are used to on the road, this "water closet" will be a luxury.
I have looked into a shower stall with a open floor, no humps or anything like that. It is about 4'x4' and I think that if I cut a hole in the floor for the toilet drain and cut holes in the wall for toilet water and sink water I will be all set. I have seen corner mounted sinks, but if I can't find one I can always just have a toilet/shower combo and we can bursh our teeth in the kitchen area.
My questions to you all with more experence than me are...
Has anyone else done a set up like this? Is there anything I am overlooking with this design, or any common pitfalls I should look out for?
It seems like clustering all the plumbing and waste water like this would be a great advantage. BTW, I am converting an 87, Flx metro 40' 102".
Thanks in advance |
Duane Kaler (Duane)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 7:16 pm: | |
Do you have a wife? |
Pete/RTS Daytona (Pete_rtsdaytona)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 7:43 pm: | |
Joe
Go look at the size / style bathroom used in Classic GMC Motor Homes - circa 1973-1978 - Olds Toronado front wheel drive M/H
small / efficient / sit on the toilet pull the curtain - take a shower - wet washdown - self contained unit (2 piece onstruction)
Some GMC M/H models (Royals/Birchavens) had "garden Tube" style showers
Pete |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 8:25 pm: | |
Many older motorhomes had this style of shower/toilet/bathroom combination.
Richard |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 8:34 pm: | |
Mobile home supply places stock standard 2'x5' shower stalls.
Mount a sink to the wall under the faucet, and either a toilet
(or porta-potti) at the other end. |
coolbus
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 8:47 pm: | |
Hi Joe
I like the idea, with a couple of changes ...
I think you could construct your own enclosure for the combo shower/comode. Just get your dimensions figured out, construct a giant shower stall with tiled floor and walls, make the floor slope towards the drain, install the comode in the normal way, and there you have it!
The obvious advantage to this design is the space saving aspect of it. And yes, there are comercial units designed this way as well.
I would leave the sink out of the shower, but add it to the hallway/rear bedroom area for the convenience of another user at the sink while the shower/comode is in use.
One dis-advantage of the design is the residual water in the bathroom left over from a shower when just the toilet is being used. But of course the toilet seat/lid can be left down when the shower is being used. A quick towel swiping after the shower and all is ready for next user.
Even a wood slat floor on top of the tile is another way to deal with the standing water.
I like the idea also because my bus is only 35 feet long... every INCH saved will be gained and used elsewhere.
I have a wife and three kids at home... hope I can get this idea materialized into my own bus before the kids are all gone...
By the way, 4'X4' seems overly large for the size. Maybe 4'X 3' would be more appropriate, leaving even more room for other things!
Mark
'coolbus' |
KC Jack
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 9:35 pm: | |
I am planning on changing my already-converted bus to a “wet bath” at some time in the future. The current round shower stall is not big enough to reach down and wash your foot without hitting your head on the faucet.
My current expectations are to convert the exiting shower area to closet and hall space. A galvanized shower pan will cover the bathroom floor and go under the toilet. The floor will be fairly flat; a squeegee will send residual water toward the drain after each shower. Walls and the door will be waterproofed with sheet metal, aluminum tread plate, Formica or corian. The existing vanity and cabinets will be waterproofed or a shower curtain will be pulled when the shower is used.
Jack |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 10:03 pm: | |
Do you really need a sink? that is what the unit in the kitchen is for. Brushing your teeth and washing your hands. LOL
Richard |
Joe (Frtnkr)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 11:22 pm: | |
I should have known I was going to get that question. To answer your question, no, I am single. I am a traveling musician and handyman and the band is all men. Any form of indoor outhouse will beat what we are used to. Just being able to rinse off a little after sweating all night on stage is going to be life changing.
Compared to some of your busses mine could be called a "hippy bus" but compared to those Burining Man festival skoolies our bus will be the "Hunnysuckle Rose". |
Joe (Frtnkr)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 11:33 pm: | |
Yea Richard, nothing like soap scum and toothpaste spit on some 3 day old dishes in the kitchen sink...Someday we'll find a band mother to take care of us, till then we'll just live with ourselves.
Thanks for the great suggestions. I will try and post some preliminary floor plans this week. The bus' new engine should go in later this week and be ready to roll by early next week, I am more excited than the week I had to wait to get my first car when I was 17.
The shower stall I was talking about its actually, 48"w x 36"d x 76"tall. And it is a nice unit from Fregason's, they want $325 for it, not exactly cheap, but I have not done much research or price checking yet.
Thanks again, Joe |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 11:36 pm: | |
Oh-oooh
"but compared to those Burining Man festival skoolies "
You is gonna' rue the day you said that! |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 11:44 pm: | |
Re:
"......48"w x 36"d x 76"tall........ they want $325..... "
The mobile home models go for about the same.
They sell nice corner sinks that can be mounted in the shower
stall. You can drain it directly into the stall, and use the shower
wand rather than a normal faucet, with an extra mount at the sink.
It's certainly a "can do". |
Joe (Frtnkr)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 12:03 am: | |
Well I guess that sounded like disrespect, but I ment none, it was simply a point of comparison. We are a bunch of longhairs and the only reason we found the flx metro was because we were looking for skoolies on a govt auction site, I hold no contempt for skoolies what so ever, in fact when I blow out an air bag for the first time I am sure I will rue the day I didn't buy one. Sorry if I came off as a snob...
I would imagine that those RV showers are lighter weight too...Any ideas on what kind of toilet would work well with this set up?
(Message edited by frtnkr on June 12, 2006) |
Joe (Frtnkr)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 12:05 am: | |
Well I guess that sounded like disrespect, but I ment none, it was simply a point of comparison. We are a bunch of longhairs and the only reason we found the flx metro was because we were looking for skoolies on a govt auction site, I hold no contempt for skoolies what so ever, in fact when I blow out an air bag for the first time I am sure I will rue the day I didn't buy one. Sorry if I came off as a snob... |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 12:21 am: | |
"We are a bunch of longhairs "
As compared to "short-hairs"?
HAR... Man, youse guys are softies!
(I expected Gary to jump in, but I guess he and his "schoolie"
are at some burning man thingo?)
The problem with "RV shower stalls", is the thinness of the
material. You'd need some support under the thing, and the
plastic.. I swear.. seems like it's made to disintegrate after
two years of use. The "mobile home" units take a bit more
abuse, but they're still thin material. That unit you mentioned,
may be the best choice for your application!
It'd sure beat washing toothpaste spit off the dinnerware! |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 5:05 am: | |
I too did not want to waste the space of a std shower stall, loads of room for 5 min a day.
The "wet" bath (shower in the bathroom) works well on really small boats , but the nucance of wiping down the area after a shower was not apealing.
I built a doubble box.
I created shower stall that has a full sized floor to overhead box (that is a hanging locker and 3 drawers ) with the hanging locker box inside the shower ,
The toilet section of the bath has a Sealand head and SS Senicruser corner sink, and the FW pump for EZ service.
While on the "throne" you face an entrance way that is blocked by the box sidewall.
To take a shower 4 latches are released and the box on 3 heavy duty glides slides into the central coach passageway.
A shower curtan is installed , so the shower temperature is adjusted at the sink , and the shower line , with telephone head is brought into the shower stall.
Another unique feature is the drain is simply a SS dish , with a small bilge pump .
It is routed thru the SS sink with the orig Senicruser faucet head.
When winterizing a bit of antifreez is splashed into the shower pan , which gets removed via the toilet sink , winterizing the sink J trap automatically.Nothing is in a bay to freeze.
It only takes a min to push the hanging locker box back in storge position, and relatch .
This is the best I could come up with , to not waste space with an empty shower stall 23.9 hours a day.
FAST FRED |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 9:08 am: | |
Didn't you guys ever hear of paper plates and plastic glasses? I think if I was in this style of living the last thing I would have is a set of china to eat off of.
Richard |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 9:34 am: | |
We always toss the paper plates, but for some reason....
end up washing the plastic forks, knives and spoons...
We have a plastic Lilly cup from the 60s, and several
McDonald forks from when they boasted "Over 500 sold".
(all presently in use in the camper, I might add).
Hey... A penny saved is uhh.. uhh.. (where is that damned thing?) |
t gojenola
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 1:34 pm: | |
"The shower stall I was talking about its actually, 48"w x 36"d x 76"tall. And it is a nice unit from Fregason's, they want $325 for it, not exactly cheap, but I have not done much research or price checking yet."
If that is a one-piece molded unit, i.e. fiberglass or plastic, you will probably not be able to get it in the coach.
tg |
Joe (Frtnkr)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 2:38 pm: | |
Well that's why they made sawzalls...
Anyway, The front door on a Flx metro is pretty huge and when I remove the folding doors it will be even bigger. I measured the dimensions and it seems like it will fit, but befor I buy it I am going to go make a cardboard and duct tape model and make sure it will.
Those RV showers are pretty thin, I think that the extra weight will be worth it.
Fast Fred, I totally agree, that it a ton of space for just 5 min a day, or every other day, or what have you...
I would love to see photos of your design, I have an idea of what you did from your description but if you have photos posted somewhere online or handy elseware I would love to see them. If not I will just use my imagenation.... |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 2:52 pm: | |
John, my built in dishwasher made a great storage compartment for all the paper and plastic utensils. LOL
Richard |