On Board Hot Water Shower System

[TheJosh]

Very nice work. How long of a shower will you get with what's in the tank? Also did you find a different shower head or are you still using the one in the video. If anyone knows where to get a .5gpm head please share. The best I've found is a 1gpm.

I switched out The shower head to a small "pet shower" head I got from a pet shower kit at home depot. It works pretty well, full bore on my tank I can get about 10.5 minutes from the tank. I want to increase it but it's hard to find sub 1gpm shower heads. A company called Bricor makes one that is .55gpm I really want it but the head alone is a staggering $79!!!

There is also another head by Niagara that is selectable from .5 , 1 , 1.5 it runs about $20 so I'm gonna buy it from amazon and see how it works. I leave Thursday morning for Mojave so I gotta get it figured out before then.

 

[HillbillyfromAL]

Yeah I didn't have much luck with Google, but I'll look again. I did find one that is no longer made. I'll have to check out that one by Niagara too. Thanks

 

[YotaPilot]

Very nice. I will definitely be referencing this for my shower build.

 

[theksmith]

i tried a couple shower heads, including a 1.5 GPM head with my setup, but in the end i went with a simple kitchen sink sprayer.

if you really think you want a sub 1.0 GPM unit, then for the price you might consider this even though it's not a traditional "handheld" unit: http://www.amazon.com/TriMax-by-Niagara-N3615CH-Tri-Max/dp/B004IAKAAS

the biggest thing that helps save water is being able to get wet, turn it off easily, soap up, then turn it back on, with something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Danco-89171-Shut-Off-Shower-Chrome/dp/B000JFNPJE/ref=acc_glance_hi_ai_ps_t_2

 

[HillbillyfromAL]

I got a cheap 1gpm handheld at Wal-Mart but if I'm thinking about trying the adjustable one from Amazon. I wish I could find someone with Bricor B100 UltraMax, or the Aqua-helix in stock. When I get some time I'm going to check out a couple of RV shops.

 

[southpier]

isn't the temperature dangerously scalding hot? even on the video it seemed you couldn't hold your hsnd in the stream.

not sure i would send someone into that situation.

 

[TheJosh]

Yeah I didn't have much luck with Google, but I'll look again. I did find one that is no longer made. I'll have to check out that one by Niagara too. Thanks

the niagara trimax worked out great, i decided to bring along two shower heads to try out depending on what i need to do with the water. i used the niagara trimax and the home depot pet shower head, the latter is the one we used the most, it used up more water but it was much easier since it didn't pulsate as much and was easy for doing dishes and washing hands

Very nice. I will definitely be referencing this for my shower build.

good to hear, i hope i provided something useful for you

i tried a couple shower heads, including a 1.5 GPM head with my setup, but in the end i went with a simple kitchen sink sprayer.

if you really think you want a sub 1.0 GPM unit, then for the price you might consider this even though it's not a traditional "handheld" unit: http://www.amazon.com/TriMax-by-Niagara-N3615CH-Tri-Max/dp/B004IAKAAS

the biggest thing that helps save water is being able to get wet, turn it off easily, soap up, then turn it back on, with something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Danco-89171-Shut-Off-Shower-Chrome/dp/B000JFNPJE/ref=acc_glance_hi_ai_ps_t_2

i agree with your latter statement, water usage all comes down to turning it off when you really don't need it like lathering uo

I got a cheap 1gpm handheld at Wal-Mart but if I'm thinking about trying the adjustable one from Amazon. I wish I could find someone with Bricor B100 UltraMax, or the Aqua-helix in stock. When I get some time I'm going to check out a couple of RV shops.

from my limited experience in the desert last weekend and 4 days using the setup i don't think the bricor or the aqua helix will work well with the power of the rv pumps, i believe it pulsate too much and it won't be a enjoyable experience

isn't the temperature dangerously scalding hot? even on the video it seemed you couldn't hold your hsnd in the stream.

not sure i would send someone into that situation.

it depends on what you need the water for, i heated the water up to 130-140 last weekend in the mojave for cooking and doing dishes. later i had the temperature up to 113.5 F which i found was the ideal temp for a hot shower. the video was posted when i first completed the system, i didn't have a chance to use it out on the trail at that point. besides i wouldn't be sending anyone in "that situation" since it is my truck and i controlled everything for all my friends showers.

thank you for your concern though

 

[mebe4running]

Great Thread!

the niagara trimax worked out great, i decided to bring along two shower heads to try out depending on what i need to do with the water. i used the niagara trimax and the home depot pet shower head, the latter is the one we used the most, it used up more water but it was much easier since it didn't pulsate as much and was easy for doing dishes and washing hands



good to hear, i hope i provided something useful for you



i agree with your latter statement, water usage all comes down to turning it off when you really don't need it like lathering uo



from my limited experience in the desert last weekend and 4 days using the setup i don't think the bricor or the aqua helix will work well with the power of the rv pumps, i believe it pulsate too much and it won't be a enjoyable experience



it depends on what you need the water for, i heated the water up to 130-140 last weekend in the mojave for cooking and doing dishes. later i had the temperature up to 113.5 F which i found was the ideal temp for a hot shower. the video was posted when i first completed the system, i didn't have a chance to use it out on the trail at that point. besides i wouldn't be sending anyone in "that situation" since it is my truck and i controlled everything for all my friends showers.

thank you for your concern though

Thank you for putting this thread together. I love your set up and close to installing a shower system in my 4runner not to dissimilar. My one question to you is, is there anything you would change or have changed since the installation?

Many thank's in advance

 

[G35Vortec454]

Nice work, clean install. How are the plastic hoses doing in sub-250F engine compartment temps? In my motorhome, they used 3/4 " ID rubber hoses (like coolant hoses) for the lines to the exchanger.

 

[soonenough]

Wow, you put a lot of thought and effort into this system, and it shows. Nice work!

By the way, did anyone else notice the face staring at them in this pic? Or was that just me...

 

[Ridge Runner]

Wow, you put a lot of thought and effort into this system, and it shows. Nice work!

By the way, did anyone else notice the face staring at them in this pic? Or was that just me...

Yeah, it creeped me out a little when I saw it. lol

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

Wow, you put a lot of thought and effort into this system, and it shows. Nice work!

By the way, did anyone else notice the face staring at them in this pic? Or was that just me...

Sweet!!

 

[Borrego60]

Very nice job, I was also thinking about doing a holding tank for hot water. Very nice idea and just a small needed to do the water back and forth to the exchanger and tank, I like it.

 

[brian90744]

freezing weather.

Keep the tank & lines empty in freezing weather=problem. Great idea for 3 season use. very good You Tube video.
thanks=brian

 

[antarctican]

thanks for posting, will keep an eye on this thread