Shower Units

Which one are you considering Brian?

There are vehicle mounted ones.
There are portable gas fired units.
There are simple $30 units whose pump is connected to a cigarette lighter plug.
There are simple $30 units with a compartment to add 4 "D' size batteries.

The last one is the one I use. (Coleman)
Simple to heat the water first and add to a bucket where the pump is submerged into. And the replacement cost is more acceptable.

have a look here www.mcs.net.au/~grungle/shower.html.

All these are a fixed unit under the bonnet. We used to own a $20 job and it worked fine as long as you could keep the hot water up to it. For us that was a problem and we now have a Twine unit which gives us endless hot water (but the motor has to be running). The exchanger is a copper unit with a shurflo Diaphragm pump. The pump seems to be the preffered unit for this type of application in either a Flojet or Shurflo brand for the Glind,Piranha, and probably more that I cannot think of. We can have our shower up and running in under 5 mins after stopping including setting up the shower tent as long as you have a water supply.

At the end of the day they all have their advantages and disadvantages, it all comes down to what suits you

We found the $10 plastic bag type worked well for us when we were at the beach and at Gunn Point in Darwin

I must have tried just about all the shower options over the years. Canvas Bag, Solar Bag, Spray, Jaycar shower etc etc.

For QUALITY shower, I dont think you will find anything better then a vehicle mounted shower with either the flojet or shurflow pumps. I think my vehicle shower probably works better then my house shower.

There are downsides though. Need the vehicle running, can chew through a LOT of water quickly , cost, and mounting it.

The $20 Jaycar showers work OK for 1 or 2 people , but suck badly when trying to shower a family.

I haven't yet tried the Colemans (or Primus) , but plenty of good reports on the Colemans , and I'm thinking of buying one to act as the HW system for my CT

G'day Brian
Can only comment on Glinds, as that is what I and a few mates have. All work well. No hassles. Easy to instal (although this may depend on vehicle). Chosen on reputation and the deal I got at the time.
Had the bucket and small portable pump before and must say the underbonnet is much easier. I have the inlet permanently connected (rolls up and sits in front of battery) and just need to attach the shower hose to the outlet (which also has a section of permanently mounted hose for convenience).
Don't get sucked into buying the larger pump (if there's a choice). I have never even looked like sucking up water from other than the bucket so the smaller pump would have sufficed (and could have saved a few dolaars).
Cheers from the Moose.

Hi Brian,

I have had my Glind for 10 years and 3 trucks, it continues to shower whenever and whereever I feel like it. They work much quicker on a pertol car when the vehicle is first started but if you shower at the end of the day any vehicle will be hot enough to give great shower.

Why Glind?? it was the only one I had heard of back in those days. Pretty happy with choice though. You can see it before you buy it if you want to catch up next week as I will be home again then if you like. I will call you next week, regardless, as I want to talk about the upcoming SA trip.

Take it easy, Trevor.

I have an in car unit by Twine that I am very happy with. Powered by a Shuflow pump and it heats up the water quickly, even though my vehicle is a diesel.

Jack

i have a glind unit and on the nissan it heats 20 litres of cold water in 5mins to a hot shower temp, or u can shower as many people as u like if u keep the water up to it running constantly. We heat the water in a canoe tub to shower temp then turn car off and then just use water as needed (as when the car is running when u stop the water flow it boils the water in the heat exchanger then when u turn the water back on u get scolded, so while the car is running u have to keep the water flow going so u need a reasonable supply of water). If u preheat water and then wet your self then soap up then rinse off u will comfortably shower 4 adults on 20 litres and enjoy the shower even in the cold of winter.
There is also a twine unit, it sounds like it is a similar unit but i do not know anyone personally that has one but i have owned a glind for 8yrs now and it has never given trouble.

MATTIE

Brian,

I also have a Twine unit. I have changed the pump to one that will push a head of 20mt and also give a good flow rate.
This is good when the water is in a creek and you are on the bank and want to get as far away as possible form the creek.

Because of the number of people that would have a shower on the trips that I run I have also set up a shower screen that is set up off the side of the vehicle.
I have had the shower running for over 2 hours at times. It does take a little time to set up, but in my case worth it.

If there is only one of two, a warm billy of water would probably do, but if you want the shower, Twine is the way to go.

Why I went for Twine, it is made of copper, unlike other brands that are plastic, the copper would be easy to fix if required.
The problem with the gas ones is that they can be hard to get to the right temp, a gas bottle has to be carried and what happens when you run out of gas, back to the billy on the fire.

Wayne