Campervan showers | Newbies Bridge Club

Following on from my post about making your own extendable shower rod, I needed to get a shower curtain to complete the job. But which one? So many to choose from…

Keeping the shower curtain inside the shower

Starting my research at Briscoes I thought about getting a shower curtain with a weighted hem to help keep the bottom of the curtain inside the shower box. This page also recommends using magnets and clip on weights – but they seemed kind of fiddly.

Shower curtain effect: aka clingy shower curtains

Then I read this on a motorhome forum;

“It’s got weights along the bottom, is almost new but bend down to get the soap or shampoo and it shrink wraps you in a second”.

I realized then that polyester shower curtains are not good in a small space. The reason is something called the ‘Bernoulli effect’ which briefly says the downward flow of water results in the curtain blowing inwards. Having a curved shower rod helps prevent this, but it’s also important to avoid lightweight curtains.

PEVA shower curtains – thick, heavy and durable

The solution is to get the heaviest shower curtain you can – preferably made from polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA). The extra weight and stiffness of the vinyl minimises the ‘shower curtain effect’. Vinyl also doesn’t stick to your wet body if you accidentally touch it.

Another benefit of PEVA shower curtains – mould resistance

The added benefit of a vinyl curtain is that they don’t hold as much moisture as other fabrics. The water condenses and drains off them nicely. The last thing you want in a camper van is a damp shower curtain going mouldy!

In the end, I got this PEVA shower curtain (from Bed, bath and beyond) and I’m very pleased with it so far.

Shower curtain, camper van

Campervan shower boxes are usually very small and there’s very little elbow room. A shower rod that extends gives you more room to move inside your shower space. Even if you already have a door on your shower box, an extendable shower rod and curtain can be a roomier alternative.

This short, step-by-step tutorial shows how you can make your own curved or U-shaped extendable shower rod.

Time: About 45 mins (1-2 hours drying time)

Skill level: Easy

Materials:

2 x Anka bracket elbow 15mm

2x PVC valve adapter

.5 metre of 15pn15 PVC pipe

2 metres of 15mm Speedfit polybutylene pipe

8 x 10gx25mm galvanized screws

Small amount of PVC glue

Tools:

Pencil

Hacksaw

File

Posi-drive screwdriver

Heavy duty snips

Instructions:

Measure the depth of your shower box. You need two pieces of PVC pipe to be 1/3 the depth e.g. if the shower is 600mm deep, use the hacksaw to cut two pieces of pipe 200mm long. File the ends smooth. The PVC pipe’s purpose is to hold the flexible speedfit pipe in place.
Using the PVC glue, join the PVC valve adapters to the end of each piece of PVC pipe. Allow them to dry 1-2 hours.
Using the hacksaw, take the Anka brackets and saw off the blue nut and fitting. You’re left with just the flange bracket which looks like this;
Line up the two flange brackets into each corner of the shower box making sure they are level. Mark the holes for the screws with a pencil.
Using the 8 screws, screw the flanges into place.
Take the two PVC pipes previously glued to adapters and screw them into the flanges.
Take the 2 metre length of Speedfit pipe, bend it into a U shape and insert each end into each of the PVC pipe ends, it should slide in snugly. This is the maximum size of the shower rod (probably too big). You can now adjust it to fit.
Work out exactly how far you want the shower rod/curtain to extend. Shorten the speedfit pipe to suit using the heavy duty snips. Make it short enough to retract back fully into the shower box.