A Guide to Choosing a Hot Tub for Caravan Decking

With summer at our doorstep and already greeting us with its hot, sunny days, everyone will be looking for ways to get outside and enjoy the (much needed) warmer weather. Well, what better way than sitting back with an ice-cold drink in your hand and bathing in the sun from the comfort of a hot tub?

Hot tubs are great for the summer, letting you enjoy the sunny evenings in style, not to mention the calming feeling of jets bubbling the water and massaging your back whilst you relax. If you own a caravan, then investing in a hot tub is a sure fire way to guarantee you some customers this summer!

But, how feasible is it to have a hot tub installed on caravan decking? In this helpful guide, we’ll tell you all you need to know about fitting a hot tub to your caravan decking and how to go about choosing the right one. Read on below to learn more!

Is it Safe to Place a Hot Tub on Caravan Decking?

It is perfectly safe to install a hot tub on a caravan deck, since most types of decking will be able to take the weight of a hot tub. However, as with most things, there are still some considerations that need to be made when fitting a hot tub to a caravan deck to ensure that it stays safe.

For one, it is important that, wherever you decide to place it, you allow easy access to the hot tub’s motor and pump – especially when being used on decking. This is so that there won’t be any issues should servicing and/or maintenance be required.

Next, though most decking will be able to support your hot tub, it is still advised that you have a professional check that your caravan’s decking has the strength to support it, since it will need to be reinforced if not.

You will also need to make sure that the hot tub will not be near any electrical items and any outdoor sockets are covered, so as to avoid electrocution risks should water from the hot tub otherwise get onto these.

What Will Affect the Hot Tub You Choose?

Decking Type

As we’ve said, most types of decking would be fine to fit a hot tub onto and would be able to withstand the weight with ease, however some are still better than others. For example, timber decking will become slippery when wet, increasing the risk of people falling over when leaving the hot tub. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to water may cause it to rot over time, since wood is not resistant to biological damage.

In contrast, uPVC decking offers just as much strength, however is made to be antislip, which is ideal when a hot tub is involved, so you can walk confidently across the decking without the risk of slipping and falling. These are also resistant to biological damage, so will not decompose nor lose their shape or colour over time, no matter the weather.

Caravan Style

The type of caravan that you have may impact the type of hot tub that you get, both in terms of style and space. Though we will discuss space more in the next point, the type of caravan that you have is likely to indicate the amount of decking space that you have.

For example, if you have a single static caravan, then you may have a larger area of decking surrounding this, whilst someone with a twin static caravan may have less decking to allow for the larger size of the caravan itself.

Moving on to style, the visual appearance of your caravan may impact the style of hot tub that you get. Whilst most hot tubs would pair well with the white, panelled appearance of a typical static caravan, if you instead have a lodge (a static caravan that has been timber clad on the exterior to look like a log cabin), then this may look out of place, so perhaps a sunken spa style would be something to consider.

Available Space

Space is one of the most important considerations that may impact where and what type of hot tub you install on the decking of your caravan.

If you have limited decking space, then this obviously has an impact on the size of the hot tub you can get. This is why it’s important to measure the area of your decking where you wish to put your hot tub and compare this to the hot tub’s dimensions, which will stop you from experiencing the disappointment of buying a six-person hot tub when you only have the space to fit a four-person one.

The height of your decking may also have an impact, depending on whether you wish to have a sunken tub installed or not. If your decking is already low to the ground, then this shouldn’t be much of an issue to install, however if your decking is built upon uneven ground then you may be limited to having a hot tub on top of your deck rather than sunken.

Location

Depending on where your caravan is located, your hot tub choice may be restricted. If you privately own a caravan, but it is located on a holiday home site, then you will likely need to consult with the site owners before you plan on installing a hot tub, since they may have the authority to give or withhold permission to do so, or they may have other conditions that you must follow if you are to go ahead with your plans.

You should also consider the proximity of any neighbouring caravans; if your caravan is located on a site where most are located relatively close together in rows, then you will perhaps wish to consider installing privacy screening at the same time.

If your caravan is located on land that is privately owned by you, then you will have much more freedom with choosing the hot tub you wish to install.

Hot Tub Styles to Consider for Your Caravan

There are a number of different hot tub styles out there to choose from, we’ve listed two of the most common types below for your consideration, as well as some guidance on their suitability for use on caravan decking.

Gazebo

A gazebo hot tub offers shelter by providing a roof over the hot tub that is supported by four posts, so that you can enjoy the comfort of the warm, bubbly water no matter the weather, whilst the open walls allow you to enjoy the views at the same time. Should you want some privacy, then these can be fitted with curtains, while others may prefer to hang up outdoor string lights to enjoy a dip in the evenings.

Despite the practicalities these offer, they aren’t best suited to most caravans due to the space they take up and the risk of excess weight on the decking. Though it is potentially feasible if you have a particularly large decking area, most caravans do not have the size that would be needed to support this.

Sunken Spa

As the name suggests, a sunken spa hot tub is one that you can step into from ground level. These are great since they appear to take up less space and are much more inconspicuous, blending in more seamlessly with your decking. Furthermore, they remove the need to have to climb in and out of the hot tub, making it much more accessible for people of varying ages and abilities.

These can be installed on caravan decking, though where your caravan is situated may affect this. If your caravan decking stands on even ground and is not too high above ground level, then this makes a sunken spa installation much easier. In contrast, if your caravan and decking is located on a hill, then this makes it much more difficult to install this type of hot tub.

Fitrite: Hot Tub Suppliers

When getting a hot tub installed, you’ll want to ensure that you’re getting it done by trustworthy suppliers who know what they’re doing. At Fitrite, our trusted team knows how to get the job done reliably to standards that exceed your expectations.

We supply a number of spa hot tubs sitting four to six people, all of which come in four different colour options. We are also expert uPVC suppliers, so if you’re looking to install a hot tub on your caravan decking, then we are more than capable of working out the logistics of doing so and assisting with any obstructions you may face.

Get in touch with us today to learn more about our hot tubs and hot tub installation service.

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