Camp Shower Showdown

[magentawave]

4) Why a quick-release fitting for the hose on a bug sprayer? So the hose and shower head for my roof top home built "road shower" (see video below) and my black 2.5 gallon pump garden sprayer http://www.homedepot.com/p/RL-Flo-Master-2-5-Gal-Deck-Sprayer-1125D/100382513#.Ufvya-PXivI will be interchangable. I'm going to run a pipe from the roof top "road shower" through the wall of my Toyota Sunrader into the bathroom shower wall inside with a quick-release fitting there and also one on the roof top "road shower" for outdoor showers. I'll use the 2.5 gallon pump garden sprayer for portable stuff and on cloudy days I'll dump hot water from the stove into it and use it for my shower. I found this quick release fitting for a garden hose at Home Depot http://www.homedepot.com/p/Melnor-1...57129?keyword=quick+release+hose#BVRRWidgetID but I'm hoping to find something for smaller diameter hose. Somewhere on this site I saw a photo of a quick-release fitting for water very similar to the kind used for compressor hoses but now I can't find it. Does anyone know where I can find a quick-release fitting for water?

5) But isn't half full how those 1 pound disposable Coleman tanks come when you buy them new anyway?

This isn't mine but here is an example of a CHEAP home-built solar "road shower"...

4) no a quick release fitting but a hand sprayer? what is the idea for a quick disconnect ? other than a quick disconnect... I fail to see the benefits

5) I dont know but you can only fill them up half way.. You are better off getting a propane gas hose/fittings to a large propane tank.

 

[magentawave]

Has anyone seen a sink sprayer with an on/off valve so you can lock it to "on" and spray hands-free while taking showers?

Just got a zodi extreme and retrofitted a sink sprayer. Used it for the first time this weekend out camping in George Washington National Forest in VA/WV. Super easy to use in combination with a port-a-privy. The zodi was great as well for washing dishes and other camp stuff before loading back into/onto the truck.

 

[Enigma]

We have had a Coleman unit for a couple years now, works great. Like others have said the water is hot instantly, propane and battery useage is pretty good also. Biggest complaint is that it could use a longer hose (that's what she said!) but nothing a trip to the hardware store couldn't fix.
I'd like to have some kind of stop or pause valve on the shower head, but how would that affect the water heater with no flow going through it?

The unit is a little on the large side, but does come in a very nice padded carrying case, which aids in one of it's best features; the portability. Switch from vehicle to vehicle, or carry it down to the lake if you are camped too far away with your vehicle. Can't do that with a vehicle mounted unit. Water pressure is okay, nothing like at home of course, but better than some RV showers I have used.
I also would like to find an adaptor for the pump that threads onto something besides the collapsible water jug that comes with it. The thread is a different size than any other water container (reliance for example) that I have compared it to.

 

[Enigma]

As an alternative to the Coleman unit, Mr. Heater Aqua Cube now makes a similar style which addresses some of the issues I have with our Coleman, such as the on/off for the shower head. When ours packs it in, I'll probably look at getting one of these.

http://www.amazon.ca/Basecamp-Heater-Aquacube-Digital-Shower/dp/B007PAP4WM

 

[Joanne]

I have a Coleman heater but a gasket blew in the regulator so it's dead in the water. It was great while it worked....

Joanne

 

[Corey]

As an alternative to the Coleman unit, Mr. Heater Aqua Cube now makes a similar style which addresses some of the issues I have with our Coleman, such as the on/off for the shower head. When ours packs it in, I'll probably look at getting one of these.

http://www.amazon.ca/Basecamp-Heater-Aquacube-Digital-Shower/dp/B007PAP4WM

Found it on the US site too.
http://www.amazon.com/Basecamp-Heat...asecamp+by+Mr.+Heater+Aquacube+Digital+Shower
I wonder how this compares to my Zodi Extreme that I have to pump up and heat first.
Mine is modified though with the kitchen faucet sprayer for on/off.

PS, it seems to get good reviews, and if you run the charge down, you can always crawl out of your shower tent naked and plug a cord from it to your rig
Good review here out of many at Amazon.

We (wife & I) bought this to give us the ability to have hot showers at some of the local primitive campgrounds. I need my morning shower as badly as some folks need their cup of coffee.

It was everything I had hoped it would be - simple to set up and operate and performed flawlessly. The construction and quality of the unit are top notch.

AND..... On an anecdotal note, while I was having what was the 5th shower to be taken on the initial battery charge - the charge was used up and the shower abruptly ended. There I stood in the portable shower enclosure on a chilly morning covered in soap from head to toe, facing the VERY unpleasant prospect of having to rinse off with VERY cold water from the 5 gallon bucket that was feeding the unit.

Wife to the rescue! She pulled the included 12V cigarette lighter plug-in accessory from the carrying bag and plugged it into our nearby vehicle (long cord) and - Oh Happy Day! - I was once again having warm water flowing out of the shower head. No cold water rinse for me!

I was a really happy camper, literally.

Lessons learned: 1) You only get about 4 full showers per battery charge 2) Park the vehicle close to your shower site if you're going to exceed that number

I heartily recommend this water heater for whenever your camping journeys take you beyond the reach of modern plumbing. Unless, of course, a hot shower isn't all that important to you.

 

[drifter_r6]

I've had the Mr. Heater Aqua Cube for a few months now, I really like it! The only other shower I can compare it to is my homemade black PVC tube, which there is no comparison. Water pressure, heat of water, versatility... etc the Aqua Cube winds hands down. But it is kind pricy.

 

[Corey]

Just plugged it into YouTube, and there seem to be quite a few vids.
https://www.youtube.com/results?sea....2-1.1.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.BX8ZeCMITeo

Here is a good review on it.
I am leaning on trying one of these out.



OK, after watching these two vids I am sold on it.
My Zodi is nice, but I like the ease of this unit better, plus the swing out faucet.

 

[Enigma]

Some older posts from here on Expo about this unit:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-76769.html

Sounds like it's not made my Mr Heater, but they market it here with their brand name on it.

Another model is the http://www.shopfnc.com/gasheater/shower.htm

 

[Corey]

Just read the other thread and the reviews at Cabelas which are good.
Will have mine Friday.

Need to wax my Air lander this weekend, maybe I will try rinsing off the cleaner with the unit

It looks like a nice unit.

 

[magentawave]

Are those regular quick-connect/quick-release air compressor hose connectors, or are they special connectors that can be used with water? If special for water, where can I buy those please?

Yup, looks like you need to match up those fittings with a couple of male ends, one leading out to the pump and the other to the shower head. Theoretically there is a cold input and a hot output, given yours are not marked you may just have to do some experimenting. I've got the 12V shower kits loose if your interested. LMK

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Are those regular quick-connect/quick-release air compressor hose connectors, or are they special connectors that can be used with water? If special for water, where can I buy those please?[/IMG]

The ones I use are specified for water/fluids, I get them from a local hydraulics/hose outfit and they are good for high temps, fluids and corrosion resistant which pneumatic specific fittings might not be?

 

[Clutch]

I bought some shower gizmo, attempted to use it once but went back to my primal way, and that is, heating up a gallon of water in a pot, standing buck naked in a small tub (just big enough for feet!) and sudz & rinz away. Can't figure out how I could get cleaner if I was in my shower at home
http://youtu.be/MwHWbsvgQUE

I used to use the pump up bug sprayer thing for a while, too much of a hassle.

A brew kettle works great, toss it on the camp stove, then up on the roof of the truck shell with a small garden hose/sprayer attachment.

You make one pretty cheap, find decent size pots at a thrift store, and a spigot from a hardware store...done. Nice and simple. Use it as a storage bin, when in "road mode"



an ammo can will work too, if you have a two burner stove.

strip the paint off before you use it, and repaint with high temp
paint, some guys convert them into stoves...they can take the heat

 

[Corey]

Mr Heater who makes the digital shower just uploaded a promo video on Wednesday.

 

[Enigma]

Mr Heater who makes the digital shower

It's my understanding they are made by a different company, just marketed here by Mr. Heater.