Would you ever consider buying a new RV without a bathroom? While many people’s knee-jerk reaction to that question would be a hard “no,” there are actually many benefits of buying a camper without one.
From space-saving to money-saving, there are plenty of reasons to say “no” to an onboard RV bathroom. Let’s get into the details here.
Do All RVs Have Bathrooms?
Not all RVs have bathrooms, and that’s not actually a bad thing. While many larger RVs come with full or wet baths on board, many smaller RVs don’t.
There are many benefits to choosing an RV without a bathroom. While it can be nice to have one in your RV, it saves a lot of space and hassle when you don’t have one.
Can You Get an RV Without a Bathroom?
Many RVs come without bathrooms right off the dealer’s or manufacturer’s lot. Examples of RV types without bathrooms include Class B RVs, small travel trailers, pop-up campers, and teardrop campers.
It might seem like having an RV without a bathroom would be a downside, but sometimes it’s the best option. Here are some of the best benefits of having an RV without a bathroom.
The Benefits of an RV Without a Bathroom
Three words: no black tank. One of the top benefits of having an RV without a bathroom is eliminating the need to empty or clean a black tank.
If you’re unfamiliar, a black tank on an RV that holds waste from the toilet. In other words, raw sewage. When you have an RV without a bathroom, you don’t ever have to worry about that chore.
Also, RVs that don’t have bathrooms have much more room to incorporate other things into the floorplan. Bathrooms take up a considerable amount of space in an RV, even if it’s a small wet bath.
The lack of a bathroom also makes the camper more lightweight. Additionally, there’s less to worry about winterizing in an RV without a bathroom.
The Disadvantages of an RV Without a Bathroom
The main disadvantage of an RV without a bathroom is that you have to find somewhere else to relieve yourself. Whether in the great outdoors or at a campground with a restroom, it’s up to you.
Having your own bathroom right in your RV is a major convenience, and for some, it’s an absolute necessity. If you’re in the “absolute necessity” camp, you might not want to consider any of these RVs without bathrooms.
Top RVs Without Bathrooms
Here are some of the best RVs without bathrooms on the market today. Let’s take a look.
Happier Camper HC1 Travel Trailer
About: The Happier Camper HC1 Travel Trailer is a small, sleek, and stylish modular camper without a bathroom. This tiny camper has a modular interior, which means it’s customizable to fit your needs.
Standard features on this camper include a large rear hatch door, off-the-grid and solar-ready components, and the ability to sleep five people comfortably. Most standard cars can tow this camper, as it has a dry weight of just 1,100 lbs.
Price: Starts around $30,000
MeerKat Trailer
About: The MeerKat travel trailer is an excellent small camper that you can tow with most standard cars. The dry weight of this camper is just 900 pounds.
Although it doesn’t come with a bathroom, it does come with a small portable camping toilet that stows away in a storage cabinet when not in use. This versatile camper features a pop-up on top so you can stand up and has everything you need to camp in comfort, including a sink, cooktop, and convertible dinette.
Price: Starts around $23,000
Escape Trailer 17A
About: Escape Travel Trailers are molded fiberglass campers that are in a league of their own. These tiny campers will last for many years and have everything you need to camp in comfort, even though the 17A doesn’t have a bathroom.
Inside, you’ll find a kitchen, plenty of counter and cabinet space, a refrigerator, and a convertible dinette and bed. This brand makes a 17B option that comes with a bathroom, or you could add a portable camping toilet and be good to go.
Price: Starts around $25,000
Can You Add a Bathroom to an RV?
You have a few options for adding a bathroom to an RV that doesn’t have one. First, you could consider just adding a portable camping toilet. Most portable camping toilets are small and don’t require any hookups at all.
You can conceal these small toilets in a cabinet or under a bed and have them come out as needed. They don’t require any construction on your camper and are very low-priced. You dump these toilets into a regular RV dump station.
Another option is to remodel your camper and add in a small room for a bathroom. This is a labor-intensive project, but it’s possible. To avoid adding plumbing, you could try using a garden-sprayer shower and a portable camping toilet or composting toilet to make the job easier.
Is It Worth Buying an RV Without a Bathroom?
If you’re looking for a smaller, cheaper camper you can tow with a standard car, it’s worth buying an RV without a bathroom. RVs without bathrooms will save you money, weight, and so much space. The campers on this list hover around $20,000, but you can find many campers without bathrooms at or below $15,000.
If you’re the type of person who absolutely needs a bathroom in your camper, why not consider adding a portable camping toilet? If you can save a few thousand dollars and a few hundred pounds, a portable camping toilet becomes a very attractive solution for a camper without a bathroom.
Does an RV without a bathroom sound like it’s worth it to you?
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