Bidets For RVs: 4 Options To Install In Your Motorhome

If, like me, you can’t live without a bidet, you might be wondering if it’s possible to have a bidet installed in your RV.

I have some good news for you.

Can I install a bidet in my RV? Yes, you can install a bidet in your RV, but first, you’ll need to make some modifications to your RV plumbing and make sure your chosen bidet will fit your toilet. Another idea is to get a portable bidet that feeds off its own water reservoir.

In this article, I’ve laid out 4 different options for using a bidet in your RV. These include:

  • Portable bidets (by far the easiest option as no installation needed)
  • Battery-powered handheld bidet sprayer (best of both worlds)
  • Installing a bidet attachment or hand-held bidet (a permanent option)
  • Using a dedicated RV toilet with a bidet sprayer built-in

Some RVers have also managed to use their toilet’s hand sprayer as a makeshift bidet. The feasibility of this method will depend on your specific toilet and lever setup, as well as if you’re physically able to operate the lever at the same time as cleaning with the spray gun.

That said, I know from experience that most folks are after either a built-in bidet or bidet attachment that sits between the seat and the toilet unit.

Portable Bidets – The Easiest Option

Sometimes you just don’t want to mess with what you already have. No using power tools, no potential damages or complications to your prized RV. After all, if you’re thinking about the resale value, there’s a good chance the next buyer may not like the modifications you’ve made. 

If this sounds like you, a portable bidet could be the ideal solution for keeping clean down below when you’re on the road in your motorhome. 

Portable bidets come in two distinct types, electric and manual. Electric models are usually powered by batteries, whereas manual models are essentially bottles with a spray nozzle (some offer pressurization features for a better spray).

Toto Travel Washlet – Best Portable RV Bidet

I’ve had my Toto washlet (Amazon link) for quite some time now, and I must say I don’t think any other portable bidet can come close to the quality of it. 

It has a capacity of 180ml which is the largest capacity of any electronic handheld bidet, and also very importantly it offers a strong and accurate spray ensuring it stays clean when in use.

If you’re interested, I’ve written an extensive guide on the best portable bidets where I look at 18 different options. 

No Installation Rechargeable Bidet – Best Of Both Worlds

The MyPortaWash battery-powered bidet sprayer (Amazon link) is another great solution if you don’t want to make any permanent changes to your RV.

This piece of kit looks and works like a traditional handheld bidet sprayer, but instead of feeding from a mains water supply, it draws it water from either a bucket or a sink.

The unit comes with a suction holder so you can hang the bidet on the wall. And it’s powered by a rechargeable battery (USB power cable included). 

Water conservation is crucial when you’re on the road in your RV. This unit makes it easy to measure and control how much water you use as it has to feed off a pre-filled bucket or sink. If your RV toilet is quite compact and you cannot use your sink to feed the device, another great option that doesn’t need a lot of space is a collapsible bucket

The manufacturer states the unit has a water flow efficiency rate of 2.5 liters a minute and a hose length of 6ft. Most RV sinks will be in very close reach of the toilet but its worth checking if the length of the hose is suitable if you plan on using it in a slightly different way.

Of course, if you spend a whole lot of time on the road, the extra small steps needed to set up and use this device each time may make a more permanent solution a better option.

Install a bidet attachment onto your RV toilet – Best DIY RV Bidet

If you don’t mind getting your hands a little dirty, there are a few DIY solutions for installing a permanent bidet into your RV. You can choose to install either a bidet seat, a bidet attachment, or a handheld bidet. There are pros and cons to each type.

Skip to 7:00 to see how this RVer installs a bidet attachment onto his Dometic RV toilet

Bidet seats are the most luxurious option as they can offer features such as heated seats and multiple different spray modes. But they’re also the hardest to install and you might have trouble finding one that will fit your toilet.

Handheld bidets sit outside your toilet so are the easiest to install and you don’t have to worry about if they fit your toilet or not. However, they don’t offer the same user experience as an integrated bidet.

Bidet attachments fit underneath your toilet seat. An attachment offers a good compromise between being easy to install and easy to use. It’s the Goldilocks porridge of RV bidets.

The method I explain below isn’t the only way to go about installing a bidet. But I think it’s the easiest. It doesn’t require many tools and should only take around half an hour.

Equipment Required

Method

Step 1: Mark your PEX pipe where you want to cut it

Measure and make a mark on the PEX where you’d like to install the tee-connector.

Picture of bidet pipe being lined up with a pex pipe
Line up your bidet pipe with your PEX pipe and mark the PEX where they meet

I would sit the bidet on the toilet and see where the bidet pipe reaches on your PEX pipe. This is where you should make your mark. Don’t worry if the bidet pipe doesn’t make it all the way to the PEX pipe, you can fix this later (step 4).

Step 2: Cut the PEX tubing

Cut the PEX as cleanly as possible.

Pex pipe being cut
Cut the PEX pipe

Take care not to create too big of a gap, the pipes can be very brittle so go gently. Take a look at this wikiHow guide on how to cut PEX tubing for more information.

Step 3: Attach the PEX 1/2″ tee-connector

Attach the straight edge of the push-to-connect tee-connecter to both ends of the cut PEX pipe.

Attaching a cut PEX pipe to a push-to-connect tee-connecter
Attach the PEX pipe to the push-to-connect tee-connecter

The PEX pipe should now be back intact.

Step 4: Attach the extra piece of PEX to the third connection on the tee-connecter

Attach your extra piece of PEX tubing to the loose end of the push-to-connect tee-connecter.

Attach your extra bit pf PEX to the tee-connecter

Make sure that the extra piece of PEX tubing is long enough that the bidet pipe can reach it. This bit of tubing is what you will eventually connect the bidet pipe to.

Step 5: Attach the 1/2″ PEX to 1/2″ male tee-adapter

Attach the loose end of the extra piece of PEX to the push-to-connect end of the 1/2″ PEX to 1/2″ male tee-adapter

This will leave you with a makeshift tee-adapter that you can now install the bidet or bidet attachment.

Step 5: Attach the bidet pipe to the t-adapter

You’ll now be able to connect the bidet pipe to the 1/2″ male tee-adapter.

Attaching bidet hose to t-adapter

Finally, test the bidet and check for any leaks. You should be all set.

Special Considerations

  • Make sure to check that your RV toilet uses PEX piping, most do
  • Cutting too much PEX will involve a lot more remediation work than cutting too little, bear this in mind when cutting
  • Always check that your chosen bidet will fit on your toilet before buying it. Lots of bidet manufactures don’t accept returns due to hygiene reasons. If you can’t find an attachment that fits then consider installing a hand-held bidet sprayer instead
  • If your toilet has a ‘hump’ that stops the bidet fitting, but you still want to install one, you can either cut the bidet or modify the hump (I haven’t personally done this but have seen it mentioned on a few forums)
  • If you’re installing an electric seat then you’ll need an outlet near the toilet.

An alternative method

If you consider yourself an avid DIY-er you can replace the push-to-connect T-connecter with this 1/2″ PEX, 1/2″ PEX, 1/2″ Male Thread Tee Adapter from Home Depot.

You’ll also need some crimp rings as well as a crimp tool to attach them. Since this connector already has a tee-adapter connection you can skip steps 4 and 5 of the above method and attach the bidet hose directly without the need for any extra PEX / adapters.

If you have the problem of your bidet hose not being long enough to reach your PEX tubing then this alternative method won’t be suitable for you.

Best bidet attachment for an RV

An attachment is your best bet if you want to install a bidet onto your RV toilet. The reason is simple – it’s much more likely to fit your toilet than a bidet seat and it’s easier to use than a bidet hose.

The attachment I recommend is the Brondell Bidet Thinline SimpleSpa. The whole bidet is only 15.4 inches wide which is perfect for the limited space in an RV.

The bidet has dual self-cleaning nozzles, one for rear cleaning, and another one for feminine cleansing. You can also adjust the water pressure using the side panel knob. The pressure adjusts on a sliding scale rather than in steps as with other bidets.

If you can do without the feminine wash nozzle, you can opt for the single nozzle option.

Dometic MasterFlush 8500 RV Toilet & Bidet – A Ready Made Option

The moment many bidet and RV fanatics have been waiting for: a pre-built, no-stress, no DIY, luxury toilet and bidet combo. This premium unit from Dometic has an in-built bidet sprayer and is ready to fit into most RVs out of the box.

The main downside to this unit is the price, especially if you’re already happy with your current toilet setup and just want to add the bidet functionality without shelling out a load of cash.

If, however, you are in the market for a completely new toilet, the Dometic MasterFlush 8500 With Bidet could be the perfect option for you.

If you can’t find this product using the Amazon link above, it may be worth getting in touch with Dometic directly to enquire about the most convenient distributor for you. Unfortunately, Dometic does not sell its products directly to the public. You can check out the manufacturer’s product page here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions I’ve received that relate to installing and purchasing RV bidets.

If your question isn’t answered below, don’t hesitate to get in touch and I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction.

Can you use an RV toilet hand sprayer as a bidet?

You can technically use your RV toilet’s hand sprayer as a bidet. However, the feasibility will depend on if you’re comfortable using the bidet whilst operating the foot pedal to dispense the water. A number of RV bidet enthusiasts have reported success with this makeshift method.

Do RV bidets use hot water?

Portable and electronic bidets feed off their own dedicated water source so you can chose the temperature. Bidet attachements that feel off the RV water supply will only have cold water. If you have an electric seat plugged into an outlet then this can supply hot and cold water.

Can you install an electronic bidet in an RV?

You can install an electronic bidet into an RV, but it won’t be easy. You need to have an outlet near the toilet, and you need to find a seat that will fit your toilet. If your toilet has a hump, as many RV toilets do, you will need to remove part of the hump for a bidet to fit.