Pros and Cons of the RV Wet Bath

We’ve owned six RVs over the years and our Wolf Creek 850 truck camper is the first RV with a wet bath. Honestly, we weren’t sure we’d like having a wet bath, but it’s really proven to be a non-issue for us. In fact, we really like it now and no longer give it a second thought. Sure, they’re small, but they’re very functional and easy to care for. With the smaller size of short-bed truck campers, having a full bathroom where we can do our business and where we can get cleaned up was just icing on the cake for us when we bought it. In this article we’ll take a look at the Pros and Cons of the RV Wet Bath and provide a few tips on how to care for it.

The Pros

So what are the pros of having a wet bath? For one, the shower space is larger because you’re using the entire bathroom rather than just a small portion. Not only that, but you have a place to sit while you shower and that’s always a nice option. Wet baths also have a smaller footprint compared to dry baths and free up valuable space in the rest of your camper for things like more kitchen counter space and storage cabinets. Lastly, but most importantly, since you’re showering in the bathroom on a frequent basis cleaning and dusting it really isn’t necessary. That’s pretty significant when you really think about it.

The Cons

What are the cons? Well, as I mentioned, wet baths are generally smaller and can be a little tight, but it really depends on the RV, some wet baths can be quite roomy. Wet baths also have less storage space compared to dry baths. Yes, this is a significant negative, but we offset this by installing an overhead storage unit above the dinette, which is where we keep most of our toiletries. The toilet paper in a wet bath must also be kept beneath a shroud or “umbrella,” but this hasn’t been too much of an issue for us either. The shroud in our wet bath is in a very inconspicuous and out-of-the-way location.

A Few Tips

If you’re new to the wet bath world, here are a few tips. First, get a small squeegee and keep it in your bathroom. Make sure you get a smaller one that can get into all the nooks and crannies. After showering, use your squeegee and either a paper towel or a microfiber towel to finish drying off the bathroom. Dry baths do need a little time to completely dry after use, so the best time to shower is either at the end of the day or the beginning if you have activities scheduled throughout the day. Your wet bath should also have a 12 volt power fan to help air out and dry the bathroom.

Here are a few more tips. Ditch the cheap, plastic shower curtain that came with your RV and buy a nice, water-resistant fabric one. Sure plastic shower curtains are cheap, but they are also rigid, hold water, and are difficult to dry out. You’ll also want to mount several hooks in the dry bath where you can hang towels, wash cloths, soap-on-a-ropes, and other bathroom items. I prefer plastic adhesive hooks, but metal screw-in hooks can be used as well. My only recommendation if you go this route is to mount the hooks up high where little water can intrude in the screw holes. Finally, buy a small carpet to place in your wet bath when the shower is not in use. Having a carpet in the bathroom will protect the shower pan from getting scratched and dirty from shoes.

Conclusion

That concludes this article on the Pros and Cons of the RV Wet Bath. If you’re apprehensive about getting an RV with a wet bath, don’t be. Sure they’re small, but having a full bathroom to do your business is something not to be taken too lightly, especially for those of us who like to get far off the beaten path in a small RV. Moreover, the cleanliness of public facilities is often in question and to have a clean bathroom that you’re familiar with and that you can call your own is priceless.