How to Build a Shower in a Camper Van? | A Practical Build Path

Camper van showers follow one of three designs: an enclosed wet bath, an in-floor pan, or an exterior shower box tied into the van’s water system.

For the full breakdown, see our best Camper Shower guide.

Building a shower in a camper van comes down to one decision first: where the water will drain. A shower that can’t drain properly will leak, rot the subfloor, and ruin the build. Once that path is planned, the rest is a straightforward sequence of mounting a shower pan or box, connecting supply lines, and sealing every penetration. Here’s the build path that works whether you’re converting a cargo van or upgrading an existing RV.

Choose Your Camper Van Shower Setup

Your floor plan and budget decide which of the three main camper van shower setups fits. Each trades space against convenience, and each has different installation demands.

• Interior wet bath: an enclosed space where the shower shares the room with the toilet and sink. Most waterproof to build, but it eats the most floor space.
• In-floor shower pan: a recessed, drain-integrated pan you stand inside, often paired with a magnetic shower curtain. Saves wall space but needs a carefully cut drain opening in the floor.
• Exterior shower box: a sprayer mounted on the van’s exterior wall for rinsing off outside. Simplest install, but only useful in warm weather or at campsites with privacy.

Regardless of setup, every shower needs the same core components: a pan or box, a faucet or mixer, a sprayer hose and head, supply lines, a drain fitting, sealant, and a water source — either tied into the van’s freshwater and gray-water tanks or fed by a portable pump.

Interior In-Floor Shower Pan Installation Steps

An in-floor shower pan is the most common choice for van conversions because it hides the drain in the floor and lets the shower curtain wrap around it.

Shut off the main water supply and cover the drain opening before you start so small parts can’t fall through. Then follow this sequence:

1. Drill the drain hole in the van floor at the pan’s drain location, sized to fit the 1-1/2 in drain fitting.
2. Spread adhesive across the floor area, set the pan in place, and secure it with countersunk fasteners so screw heads sit flush with the pan surface.
3. Connect the drain fitting into the van’s floor system and route the outlet into the gray-water tank or an approved exterior discharge point.
4. Seal the pan’s edges and every fastener penetration thoroughly with marine-grade sealant, then check the underside of the van for gaps before reinstalling any underbody panels.

Shower pans require rear clearance beneath the floor for the drain connection to route properly, so plan the tank location before cutting anything.

How to Install an Exterior Shower Box

An exterior shower box is the fastest way to add rinsing capability to a van, and the install process is well-documented.

Before cutting, shut off the van’s water supply completely and remove the old shower box if one is present. Cut the opening to the specified dimensions, then insert the faucet inlet tubes through the hole and secure them with the mounting nuts. Connect the supply lines with hot on the left and cold on the right, mount the box to the wall with sealant around its edge, attach the sprayer, and turn the water back on. The most common mistake here is overtightening: the manual explicitly warns to tighten the plumbing nuts by hand first, then add only a 1/4 turn with a wrench. Overtightened nuts crack fittings and cause exactly the leaks you’re trying to prevent.

DIY Sink-Style Showers and Wet Baths

Some van builders skip commercial shower pans entirely and build a waterproof base from a sealed sink basin or custom enclosure. For this approach, build a fully waterproof base, make sure the drain routes to a gray-water tank or outside the van, and seal every seam. If the shower draws from a portable or internal water tank rather than a pressurized system, a 12V submersible pump delivers the flow — this works within a van electrical system that has suitable battery capacity for the pump and any hot-water heater.

Whatever design you choose, the final step is the same: a full leak test after every connection, plus a check behind walls and beneath the floor for moisture before you button up the build. Local plumbing codes may apply, and the workmanship — especially sealing — determines whether your shower lasts or becomes a moisture problem in the walls. If you’re still deciding between shower products for your build, our tested roundup of camper shower options covers the current market.