external showers

Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 09:27

ThreadID: 53263 Views:3342 Replies:3 FollowUps:4

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Jodi

Can someone please explain how an external shower works on a caravan. What are the advantages and disadvantages compared to an internal setup. Are they ok for toddlers and babies ?.

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Reply By: Member - barbara M (NSW) - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 10:17

Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 10:17

Hi Jodi,
I am not sure how exactly they work but I can tell you how they appear to. You have a little compartment on the outside of your van 12 inches by 10 inches approximately by 6iches deep it has a lock and key you unlock it the door drops down and inside it is a hot and cold tap and a hose with a shower rose on the end (we chandged the hose from plastic to metal) it has a button thing on the end near the rose so that once you get the temp right you just push it to stop the water flow to conserve water we wet down turn the water off and soap up then turn the water back on to hose off. It just like a shower at home we have used it with littlies. To get the water hot about 5 minutes before your shower turn like a light switch on inside your van to turn the hot water system on. The hot water system on our van is stored under a seat.
Advantages: Doesnt take valuable space up inside your van you get to have a shower outside under the stars in pop up shower tent heaps cheaper.
Disadvantages: If it is raining it is a bugger then you just have a wash out of oa dish.
If you decide this is the way to go just check that the shower is on the side of the van the door is not as all that water will wet the area under your awning.
PS we stand on a rubber door mat so our feet wont get wet
Barb

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Follow Up By: Member - John T (NSW) - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 12:46

Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 12:46

Hi Barb,

Just cannot help myself here - that rubber mat must be very impressive cos it can stop ya feet getting wet under the shower hehehe.

Cheers

John T (Lifetime Member)
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"Argue for your limitations and sure enough they're yours" - Richard Bach in "Illusions"

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Follow Up By: Member - barbara M (NSW) - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 13:01

Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 13:01

HI John,
Good one got me there I cant help it if I am a bit slow. Obviously a blonde moment or Red in my case
Barb

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Follow Up By: Member -Dodger - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 17:44

Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 17:44

Everything Barb Has said is spot on.
We made an ensuite out of some canvas material that attaches to the van via a sail runner ( read awning runner) and have a porta potti that goes in and the enclosure acts as a loo and a shower.
As barb says we just turn on the gas hit the switch inside the van and the hot water is on tap within 20minutes or so. All is controlled by the onboard sensor which turns off when the water is at the set tenp IE fully auto. Great Idea.

I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

Cheers Dodg.

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Follow Up By: didiaust - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 18:05

Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 18:05

We use a seperate shower - small gas unit and nylon ensuite. We place it at the back on the annex - right at the back door and stand in a large plastic dish so that we don't have a mud mess. The water then is good to put out the fire- is also good to soak the feet each night as they tend to get camp grotty if you don't wear enclosed shoes

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