camping shower

In regard to the camping shower, do you want to spend $40.00 or $400.00?

Really depends on how much $$ you want to fork out. You could get by with a $30 shower setup and a bucket or you could do what many people do is and get a under bonnet setup.

I have a 80l water bladder behind the front seats on the floor. I connect that with a hose to my engine bay and start the car, turn the pump on and hot water come out the shower end. It's quick to setup and pack away and it keeps the wife happy

Hi.
We have an ARB (Glind ) - under bonnet shower on our Mazda.
Put it on around 4 years ago now. Cost was $360.00 back then. Not sure how much the install was.
A 3-4 minute shower uses around 5-10 litres, depending on how often you stop and start the flow.
Wouldn't go without one now.
Lynz

We use a 12v model that uses batteries or can be hooked to the van battery with supplied cig type connector and stand in bin of hot water...water recycles over you as you shower and you can shower for as long as you like or the water gets to cold...and use pop up type tent...cheers
The shower pump works better when hooked to the van battery(better pressure)

My vote is for the Heat Exchanger type, fitted to the engine. Its always with you.

Had one on the last two vehicles and they are the best there is bar none. If you are lucky enough to be near a constant water supply, run a hose to it and pump straight out to the shower. Or even fill the water tank on camper/van.

We have a Power Shower under the Troopy bonnet. Works well. Was the "other half's" idea. As we generally camp up north it has been used ONCE! Have a canvas shower bag that was dad’s, I tie it in a tree. Much better flow and as said water does not need to be heated anyway.
Moral of the story, make sure you really will use it.
Cheers Lyndon

I use a PVC tube that's mounted on the roof racks and painted black. At the back end of the tube, I fitted a snap on male airline fitting and made up a shower head with a female fitting on it and a tap to turn the water on and off. Providing there is sunlight about, it's ever reliable and cheap to make.

We use a 12v type that we drop into a bucket containing about 3l of water, unless there is a plentiful supply in which case we use more. Its amazing how good you feel after a 3l shower! Or we have a folding bucket with a shower head which also works pretty well. We heat water in various ways - on the fire, in a 10l black plastic bottle left in the sun (travels on roof racks) or as a last resort using the gas stove. Sometimes no heating is required.

None of these options cost more than about $30 and have no running costs (unless we use gas to heat water). The good thing about these systems is that you can control the amount of water that you use, very important on a desert trip.

Cheers,

Val

I use a $30 Coleman 12 volt shower.
It will provide what you need, for the cheapest cost.

I have owned mine for 5 years or so and it was still OK last time I used it:-)

I use alkaline energiser batteries (4 x D size) which last ages. Carry a spare set "just in case".

We have a 40 litre or so rectangular tub and place heated water in it. The pump is dropped in the tub and we then stand in it to shower. The operating switch is readily accessible and we find both of us gets a shower out of the one "fill" by recycling the hot water, most of which is returned to the tub.

"Herself" is offered first use:-)

I couldn't be bothered with a vehicle mounted shower. We shower without clothing and in semi public places but use a pop-up tent so as not to offend other people.

I am amused when you see the model showering under a Glind, or whatever but wearing bathers. (How can you wash your "places that need washing the most" with bathers on)

The Coleman el cheapo shower can also use a collapsible 20 litre bucket, or any other container that holds water. but you don't stand in.

It probably gets down to how much water you have available, but we find a shower utilising the principal above, every second or third day suffices for us.

Johnny


I have some comments on my profile about camp showers. These are a work in progress with me. Have made some false starts and spent too much money. If you can get water warm enough I would go with a simple pump and a bucket.

Keep it simple, light, reliable and cheap.

And then Johnny T, there is the weed sprayer in the pop-up tent! We found this the most economical re weight, power and water wise. Tried the gas Coleman--the power cuts out every time you turn the shower off-- the black solar bag which only lasts until the handle rips off, until finally using the weed sprayer which we--3 adults-- still use.
I fill one of the old solar bags during the day when we are camped--fill in the morning--leave out all day--pour into sprayer bottle when needed, voila! hot showers for three using less than 5litrs of water all up. When travelling boil one litre of water in billy, add 3-4litres cold--same as before. Ladies can wash hair more than adequately with this method, same can be used for rinsing off greasy dishes, washing dirty feet before bed, windscreen washing and, finally, you can wash the dog if he travels with you.
Sheila.

Its usually pretty dry where we travel, so our preference is to shower from a cheap 8 litre SS crockpot warmed up on the fire. Alternatively 5 minutes on the stove gets it to the perfect temp. then drop in the Jaycar electric shower.

Had a heat exchanger in the past - found it a pain to use.
And used the weed sprayer too - the spray is a bit too feeble, but you can shower with as little as 1.5 litres of water.

we used a pop up shower tent,took a little practise to work out folding up.(figure 8 setup)and a 12v pump bought at a camping store.Worked great for 4 people over three weeks.only needed a couple of ltr per person each shower.needed a handful of grass under a foam mat to keep feet clean.

When you just can't manage a shower, 5 Babywipes work wonders.