Why we don’t include a built-in shower — and what works better for a shower on the road.
Let’s address the elephant in the room. “There’s no shower?” is one of the first questions nearly every prospective buyer asks. It’s a fair question. Before you’ve lived through vanlife, showering seems like it should be the first thing you solve for. But here’s what every experienced vanlifer will tell you: a shower on the road is one of the last things you end up worrying about.
Here’s why we don’t include one, and what actually works.
Why No Built-In Shower?
This is a deliberate design decision, not a cost-cutting measure. Why? Because a proper internal shower in a van this size would require:
• Approximately $15,000 in additional cost
• 30+ gallons of water capacity (the van carries 7 gallons of fresh water)
• A black water tank for waste water
• Significant interior space for the enclosure, plumbing, and tanks
• Ongoing maintenance for drains, seals, and ventilation
All of that for something most vanlifers discover they rarely use once they’re on the road. The interior space a shower takes up is space you’d rather have for living. The water it consumes would drain your entire fresh water supply in a single use or two. And the complexity it adds to the build means more things that can leak, break, or need maintenance.
This is part of the DM Vans philosophy: everything you need, nothing you don’t. Trust us, when you’re out there, the last thing you want to worry about is having too many things that can break.
a shower option to add-on to the van
The kitchen faucet has an extendable hose that works as a rinse-off shower. You can run it out through the sliding window for a quick outdoor rinse, which is perfect for washing off after a beach day, a hike, or just freshening up.
DM Vans also offers a portable shower option that can be used outside or inside the van. It requires setup for each use but preserves your interior space by being fully collapsible when you’re done. This is our RinseKit. We have ceiling attachments for the curtain, and a basin that the curtain sits in to rinse off. The Rinsekit hold 4 gallons of water, so we always recomend filling 3 up and then heating up the last gallon on the stove to create a warm shower. It’s perfect for an indoor rinse, and if you want to use it outside with no curtain…be our guest!
How Full-Time Van Lifers Actually Shower on the road
Once you’re on the road, you’ll find showering options are everywhere. Here’s what real DM Vans owners use:
Gym Memberships
This is the most popular solution. A nationwide gym membership runs approximately $25/month and gives you access to clean showers with hot water in virtually every city and town in the country. Many vanlifers consider this their best monthly investment.
City Rec Centers
Most cities and towns have recreation centers that offer day-use locker room access for $4–5. Sometimes even $2. No membership required. Not needing a membership is great for when you’re passing through an area and just need a quick shower.
Campground Showers
If you’re staying at a campground, showers are usually available on-site. Even if you’re not camping there, many campgrounds will let you use the shower facilities for a small fee.
Portable Shower Systems
Several companies make portable shower setups designed for vanlife. These typically include a basin, a pump, and a privacy curtain that you set up at the rear doors. Combined with the van’s hot water from the kitchen faucet, it’s a fully functional shower that packs away when you’re done. If you’re interested in this, we offer this as an add-on option for $900.
The Great Outdoors
Rivers, lakes, hot springs, and outdoor showers at beaches are all part of the vanlife experience. The extendable kitchen faucet hose gives you a convenient rinse-off option wherever you’re parked.
What Full-Timers Say
Full-time DM Vans owners consistently report that showering is one of the easiest parts of van life to solve. Most settle into a routine within the first week: gym showers a few times a week, a quick rinse with the extendable faucet on the days in between, and the occasional hot spring or campground shower as a treat.
The space, simplicity, and cost savings from not having a built-in shower far outweigh the minor inconvenience of finding one elsewhere. And that open interior space? You’ll appreciate it every single day.
Still Have Questions about a shower on the road?
If you still have questions, schedule a free consultation call. Our sales ambassadors live in and travel in DM Vans — they can share their personal shower routines and tips from the road.
| No built-in shower means more living space, simpler maintenance, and a van that does what you actually need every day. Schedule a consultation to learn more about the van life lifestyle. |