bajavanadu
Member
does the engine need to run for the duration of the shower to provide warm water?
Camp shower advice needed
- Thread starter Abran
- Start date
RacerAV
Active member
or another route? my new set up:
road shower 4l atop my trailer
https://roadshower.com/woo/product/road-shower-4-l/
nemo heliopolis
https://www.rei.com/product/111157/nemo-heliopolis-privacy-shelter
nemo helio pressure tank (as a back up or for kitchen duty!)
https://www.rei.com/product/115294/nemo-helio-lx-pressure-shower
Ill use only drinking water hose, and filters to fill the tank so in a pinch, drinkable too. Coffee anyone ? lol
Also will keep the deposits from ruining the tank.
road shower 4l atop my trailer
https://roadshower.com/woo/product/road-shower-4-l/
nemo heliopolis
https://www.rei.com/product/111157/nemo-heliopolis-privacy-shelter
nemo helio pressure tank (as a back up or for kitchen duty!)
https://www.rei.com/product/115294/nemo-helio-lx-pressure-shower
Ill use only drinking water hose, and filters to fill the tank so in a pinch, drinkable too. Coffee anyone ? lol
Also will keep the deposits from ruining the tank.
Sooo, this total setup worked great for us during our time in Acadia National Park for 3 females and 1 male...
1-Zodi Outback Gear Shower $129...https://www.walmart.com/ip/Zodi-Outback-Gear-Zip-Shower-with-Piezo-Soft-Case/26968298
1-Ozark Trail Shower Instant Shower Tent for $116 (or $65 for Non-instant)...https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-2-Room-Instant-Shower-Utility-Shelter/42391766
1-Soft Cooler for $26 similar to this...https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-C006-Soft-Collapsible-Cooler/dp/B00LGVT9EK
What we like about this setup is the Ozark Trail Shower tent has 2 rooms; 1 for dressing/undressing and 1 to shower. The rooms have a divider so the dressing/undressing room can be kept dry. Of course, the dressing/undressing room can also act as a toilet room.
In the shower room I place the Zodi and the soft cooler. I fill the soft cooler with approx. 2 gallons of water, drop the Zodi water pump into the cooler and also drop the showerhead into the water-filled cooler. I turn on the Zodi and the water pump and let the water cycle through the Zodi until the water has reached the appropriate water temperature. The shower tent has zippered windows and an air-gap near the feet so there's plenty of ventilation available.
Once the water reached the desired temp I turn off the Zodi and water pump. I also just leave the water pump and showerhead in the water and close the cooler lid to maintain temperature. For young and adult, I just tell them to not touch the Zodi, turn on the water pump, and wet themselves down using the showerhead. Each time they need both hands they can just drop the showerhead back into the water-filled cooler. I tell them to lather up then rinse off. After rinsing off they just need turn off the pump and close the cooler lid to conserve the water's heat.
The shower tent's zip up windows, when zipped, help retain heat on cool days so it's very comfortable keeping warm. It's also okay to run the Zodi heat exchanger while showering but I think that's best only for adults who understand the risks (as opposed to kids). During the summer heat retention isn't as important so we're using an empty grain bucket like this, https://www.walmart.com/ip/Augason-...Emergency-Food-Storage-26-Pound-Pail/22001478, and in either case, the Zodi fits inside both container.
If I had to change one thing it'd be the soft cooler. The bottom can get saturated so either I need to spend more money on another cooler with a water-retardent bottom material or build a platform on which the cooler will sit.
Showering is critical for me because of I have severe skin issues. We have the Helio tank but it ended up being inconsistent in temperature and pressure. I also looked at the Helio shower tent but the Ozark Trail shower tent, with 5-stars, is hard to argue against. And $500 for the 10-gallon pressurized tank was a non-starter for me because I knew I could build something close to its functionality for a fraction and it wasn't as portable. That's not to say they're not quality products but I couldn't justify paying multiple times more than my setup that's lasted several trips with kind care with no issues.
1-Zodi Outback Gear Shower $129...https://www.walmart.com/ip/Zodi-Outback-Gear-Zip-Shower-with-Piezo-Soft-Case/26968298
1-Ozark Trail Shower Instant Shower Tent for $116 (or $65 for Non-instant)...https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-2-Room-Instant-Shower-Utility-Shelter/42391766
1-Soft Cooler for $26 similar to this...https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-C006-Soft-Collapsible-Cooler/dp/B00LGVT9EK
What we like about this setup is the Ozark Trail Shower tent has 2 rooms; 1 for dressing/undressing and 1 to shower. The rooms have a divider so the dressing/undressing room can be kept dry. Of course, the dressing/undressing room can also act as a toilet room.
In the shower room I place the Zodi and the soft cooler. I fill the soft cooler with approx. 2 gallons of water, drop the Zodi water pump into the cooler and also drop the showerhead into the water-filled cooler. I turn on the Zodi and the water pump and let the water cycle through the Zodi until the water has reached the appropriate water temperature. The shower tent has zippered windows and an air-gap near the feet so there's plenty of ventilation available.
Once the water reached the desired temp I turn off the Zodi and water pump. I also just leave the water pump and showerhead in the water and close the cooler lid to maintain temperature. For young and adult, I just tell them to not touch the Zodi, turn on the water pump, and wet themselves down using the showerhead. Each time they need both hands they can just drop the showerhead back into the water-filled cooler. I tell them to lather up then rinse off. After rinsing off they just need turn off the pump and close the cooler lid to conserve the water's heat.
The shower tent's zip up windows, when zipped, help retain heat on cool days so it's very comfortable keeping warm. It's also okay to run the Zodi heat exchanger while showering but I think that's best only for adults who understand the risks (as opposed to kids). During the summer heat retention isn't as important so we're using an empty grain bucket like this, https://www.walmart.com/ip/Augason-...Emergency-Food-Storage-26-Pound-Pail/22001478, and in either case, the Zodi fits inside both container.
If I had to change one thing it'd be the soft cooler. The bottom can get saturated so either I need to spend more money on another cooler with a water-retardent bottom material or build a platform on which the cooler will sit.
Showering is critical for me because of I have severe skin issues. We have the Helio tank but it ended up being inconsistent in temperature and pressure. I also looked at the Helio shower tent but the Ozark Trail shower tent, with 5-stars, is hard to argue against. And $500 for the 10-gallon pressurized tank was a non-starter for me because I knew I could build something close to its functionality for a fraction and it wasn't as portable. That's not to say they're not quality products but I couldn't justify paying multiple times more than my setup that's lasted several trips with kind care with no issues.
tanuki.himself
Active member
very interesting - a lot of normal RV water heaters do have a circuit to allow engine coolant to circulate through and heat as you drive.
I'm wondering if you could wrap a copper pipework spiral around the exhaust toward the back of the vehicle and achieve a similar solution but with shorter pipework runs....
I'm wondering if you could wrap a copper pipework spiral around the exhaust toward the back of the vehicle and achieve a similar solution but with shorter pipework runs....
mezmochill
Is outside
Paint it or cover it in camo duct tape.
Coachgeo
Explorer
Devils advocate.... you do not need a shower!! You still bath... you just don't need a shower. Use a wash cloth and NO RINSE cleaning products works for NASA and hospitals, and Rehab centers all over the world. If you want to be warm and cozy.... you can warm the bottle you mix it up in with a little propane cooker for few minutes then squirt warm cleanser on the cloth (or adult towelette you can then burn in the fire) You do not need a shower to rinse away the soap because it uses different chemical technology. I dont like the shampoo product while others swear by it.. gallon bottle body wash will last for years (its concentrated) One bath uses only few ounces of water and concentrate. https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Life-Products-Bottle-Gallon/dp/B000SOOICO
. Gallon of hair no rinse does not as long (less concentrated) maybe 6 months.. lol https://www.amazon.com/Wright-Stuff-Shampoo-Gallon-Bottle/dp/B000SOLBU6
......both come in much smaller quantities as well.
. for super grime or oils.. start with a regular mechanics hand cleaner or actually the face cleaner mentioned below does well too.
. for super sweat... start with store bought or homemade alcohol based anti-bacterial hand cleaner on your pitts, behind neck and/or facial cleaners that also do not "need rinse" though that is usually in fine print. For sweaty grimy face the facial stuff works great. After that finish with above NO-Rinse stuff.
Now beach sand..... that is different.. might need shower for that.... hmm.... no wait.... just rinse sand off in water by the beach first or use your air compressor and facial brush to remove sand. .... problem solved. Would you belive they did a study on this
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-Beauty-Daily-Facial-Cleanser-8-Oz/109718894
PS- you can't use the excuse of showering together with your lover to save water using this stuff (cause it saves gallons and gallons and gallons of water).... but you still got the excuse of ... needing helper to get your backside good.
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Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
For the last time, I am not getting in the shower with you.
Camo duct tape is called wallpaper around these parts.
Matches any decor. Love that stuff.
mezmochill
Is outside
pluton
Adventurer
Standard caution re: compressed air on the body:
https://www.aircontrolindustries.com/dangers-of-compressed-air/
https://www.aircontrolindustries.com/dangers-of-compressed-air/
Wallygator
Adventurer
sandyvan
New member
The Geyser system on Kickstarter looks promising, thinking about pulling the trigger on this. Checks the right boxes - low water use, integrated 12v heater (9 amps), compact size. Uses a sponge instead of a standard shower nozzle.
I actually use the Nemo Helio LX and either leave it out in the sun to warm up or heat up some water on the stove and add it to the water already in the Helio. Works great! The Helio is also great for washing dishes.