Shower Shelter
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whitethaiger
Adventurer
kcowyo said:
To some extend I was pushed to do it. My favorite travel companion was really excited about the idea
Tank holds 2 gallons.
Chuck, Mlachica
Good idea on that thermometer!
I picked my tank up at Home Depot. The local Ace and Lowe's didn't have any stainless steel tanks.
Heating the tank: I'll have to run some stove experiments, maybe after I get a thermometer. I'm may even do a field test next weekend.
For a little test right now I filled the tank with 59F water and left it in the sun (ambient temp upper 70's ) for 2h from 10 to 12. The water temp rose to 79F. This is for a shiny tank, a black tank would certainly do even better.
Clutch
<---Pass
Someone beat me to the aquarium thermometer.
I boiled it just for a test, or you could make two gallons of tea, if you really wanted to...
I used my tap water which measured at 65F, which reached 102F in exactly 10 minutes at 2500' above sea level, heated in the sprayer can with two gallons of water. (results may vary) If you have one of those jet stoves it would be even faster. I always go by touch than by a thermometer, that's the way I do it at home, anyway. And remember kids water's boiling point is lower the higher the elevation.
You could always paint the can black, of course you would loose the "pretty" shiney stainless.
My shower head leak slightly too, that's why I put the extra ball valve on there. No leaks now. I put the metal siphon tube in mine, just so you know.
I boiled it just for a test, or you could make two gallons of tea, if you really wanted to...
I used my tap water which measured at 65F, which reached 102F in exactly 10 minutes at 2500' above sea level, heated in the sprayer can with two gallons of water. (results may vary) If you have one of those jet stoves it would be even faster. I always go by touch than by a thermometer, that's the way I do it at home, anyway.
And remember kids water's boiling point is lower the higher the elevation.
You could always paint the can black, of course you would loose the "pretty" shiney stainless.
My shower head leak slightly too, that's why I put the extra ball valve on there. No leaks now. I put the metal siphon tube in mine, just so you know.
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Clutch
<---Pass
I figured I would bump this thread up.
I finally got to use my shower I made out of bug sprayer and some garden hose parts for roughly $50.
It work beautifully. I learned if I just crack open the main valve, it really conserves water. Enough to get 2-3 showers out of one filling.
I had to work a dirt bike race this past weekend, so I was quite filthy at the end of the day, from trail marking and being a sweep rider. I can't begin to tell you good a hot shower feels after those days.
I finally got to use my shower I made out of bug sprayer and some garden hose parts for roughly $50.
It work beautifully. I learned if I just crack open the main valve, it really conserves water. Enough to get 2-3 showers out of one filling.
I had to work a dirt bike race this past weekend, so I was quite filthy at the end of the day, from trail marking and being a sweep rider. I can't begin to tell you good a hot shower feels after those days.
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Colorado Ron
Explorer
Thought Id throw this setup on just for a change. Super simple. Basic shower setup, plugged into cig lighter. Heated water into collapsable bucket. Flip the switch and walla, hot shower. Setup in about 30sec.
DaktariEd
2005, 2006 Tech Course Champion: Expedition Trophy
This is actually a photo from elcoyote, but I did the same thing: swapped the supplied el cheapo shower head on the Zodi unit for a shower head from Lowe's. Cost: about $15. One good pumping usually suffices for a shower....two is a bit nicer.
:sombrero:
:sombrero:
Me too
Thanks to this site for the bug sprayer shower idea.
I've also built my own. Seems the commercial version is too expensive for the value. I obtained the bug sprayer from Northern Tool
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200314138_200314138
It's a 2.5 gallon stainless sprayer. Unfortunately it was $54. I found some a little less costly but I've had good experience with Northern Tool.
Pic 1: The sprayer had a plastic internal tube that reached from the outlet to the bottom. Someone mentioned a concern with this and heating. If you look at the Northern Tool picture you'll see that the sprayer wand is brass. I was able to pull out the plastic, cut the brass tube from the wand, insert this brass tube into the sprayer replacing the plastic, and solder into place. On top I soldered a normal brass hose fitting obtained from the local hardware store. A fitting at this point is nice as will be explained subsequently. Replacement of the plastic tube leaves a quite strong point for the fitting.
Pic 2: I often have to supply 4 showers. It is really nice to do this quickly to get out of camp in the morning. I tried to minimize heating time with the stove shown. This also obtained from Northern Tool.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_15490_15490
This stove puts out a huge amount of heat and the burner diameter matches the bug sprayer diameter very well. Unfortunately it is something of a trick to get it to work from the small 1 LB propane bottles but that's another story. Stove is somewhat heavy but packs nicely into my rig. My only complaint is that it is quite wind sensitive. I used my water bottles as a block but I'll have to bring some light metal panels next trip. I fill sprayer with roughly 1.5 gal which gives a complete shower to a female. I can shower on much less. Heat up time is a few minutes.
If a cap is carried for the connection then the bug sprayer can be completely sealed and can be filled with water and used as additional water storage until the first shower is supplied.
Pic 3: A Paha Que shower tent purchased directly from them (best price - they had a sale)
http://www.pahaque.com/products-tepee.shtml
Overall this is a really good tent and good value for the $. I got the aluminum poles. There's a setup that is about as involved as setting up a normal tent. Don't be fooled by their site video! I was impressed by this tent overall since it seems they've actually used their own product! There are a lot of subtile good things about the design. All I changed is to add external bungees around the stuff sack (they left it big so the tent is easily placed inside but once zipped it is too flooppy) and to add caribieners (SP?) at the points where their design intends that you insert the poles thru loops (a pain). You can see this in pic 4 at the point where the open zipper vents come together in the corner.
Pic 4: The shower head is made from a bent piece of stainless tubing and is clipped to a top loop with caribieners. The plastic tube is just too flexable for this operation and it is really nice to have the shower head hang above and away from the tube. Also clipping allows easy disconnection. The drill is to wet down quickly, soap and scrub with water off, then use the remaining water as a rinse. During rinse it is efficient to unclip the head and apply water directly to soapy areas. A series of several clips allow adjustment of the shower head height for various height persons. All this is about saving water and the propane it takes to heat it. I can carry only a total of 14 gal.
Pic 5: Here's a close up of the head. All constructed with local hardware store parts. Notice I've applied epoxy over most of the sprinkler holes. This spreads out a very small flow rate for better rinsing. I'm tempted to epoxy in every other hole in the perimeter shown. There's a valve located at the head which is in a convenient location to meter and shut off flow.
Pic 6: This is the lower part of the head assy, shown with the sprayer removed. It is necessary to disconnect the head assy tube from the sprayer when heating to prevent melting the plastic tube. This connection allows the head to remain hooked in the shower while only the tank is removed for refilling and heating for next shower. Picture also shows a dirt floor. The shower tent is supplied with a floor but it gets wet and muddy so I don't use it. I have a pair of cheap 'flip-flop' shoes that I pack with the shower. We just wear these when showering.
All in all, the shower is probably a little more complex than I'd like. The sprayer and head are OK but the tent is a little over the top. I like Kermit's idea for it's simplicity. Without some sort of enclosure outdoor showering just isn't pleasant if there is the slightest breeze so I have to do something. Kermit's design makes me think of those window shades that people sometimes put up inside their front car window. These have a flexible ring that can be squished. Maybe a completely cylinderical shroud terminated by one of these flexible rods at the top and then suspended from my canopy. It could all roll up for storage and could simply be shaken out into shape for use...
Thanks to this site for the bug sprayer shower idea.
I've also built my own. Seems the commercial version is too expensive for the value. I obtained the bug sprayer from Northern Tool
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200314138_200314138
It's a 2.5 gallon stainless sprayer. Unfortunately it was $54. I found some a little less costly but I've had good experience with Northern Tool.
Pic 1: The sprayer had a plastic internal tube that reached from the outlet to the bottom. Someone mentioned a concern with this and heating. If you look at the Northern Tool picture you'll see that the sprayer wand is brass. I was able to pull out the plastic, cut the brass tube from the wand, insert this brass tube into the sprayer replacing the plastic, and solder into place. On top I soldered a normal brass hose fitting obtained from the local hardware store. A fitting at this point is nice as will be explained subsequently. Replacement of the plastic tube leaves a quite strong point for the fitting.
Pic 2: I often have to supply 4 showers. It is really nice to do this quickly to get out of camp in the morning. I tried to minimize heating time with the stove shown. This also obtained from Northern Tool.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_15490_15490
This stove puts out a huge amount of heat and the burner diameter matches the bug sprayer diameter very well. Unfortunately it is something of a trick to get it to work from the small 1 LB propane bottles but that's another story. Stove is somewhat heavy but packs nicely into my rig. My only complaint is that it is quite wind sensitive. I used my water bottles as a block but I'll have to bring some light metal panels next trip. I fill sprayer with roughly 1.5 gal which gives a complete shower to a female. I can shower on much less. Heat up time is a few minutes.
If a cap is carried for the connection then the bug sprayer can be completely sealed and can be filled with water and used as additional water storage until the first shower is supplied.
Pic 3: A Paha Que shower tent purchased directly from them (best price - they had a sale)
http://www.pahaque.com/products-tepee.shtml
Overall this is a really good tent and good value for the $. I got the aluminum poles. There's a setup that is about as involved as setting up a normal tent. Don't be fooled by their site video! I was impressed by this tent overall since it seems they've actually used their own product! There are a lot of subtile good things about the design. All I changed is to add external bungees around the stuff sack (they left it big so the tent is easily placed inside but once zipped it is too flooppy) and to add caribieners (SP?) at the points where their design intends that you insert the poles thru loops (a pain). You can see this in pic 4 at the point where the open zipper vents come together in the corner.
Pic 4: The shower head is made from a bent piece of stainless tubing and is clipped to a top loop with caribieners. The plastic tube is just too flexable for this operation and it is really nice to have the shower head hang above and away from the tube. Also clipping allows easy disconnection. The drill is to wet down quickly, soap and scrub with water off, then use the remaining water as a rinse. During rinse it is efficient to unclip the head and apply water directly to soapy areas. A series of several clips allow adjustment of the shower head height for various height persons. All this is about saving water and the propane it takes to heat it. I can carry only a total of 14 gal.
Pic 5: Here's a close up of the head. All constructed with local hardware store parts. Notice I've applied epoxy over most of the sprinkler holes. This spreads out a very small flow rate for better rinsing. I'm tempted to epoxy in every other hole in the perimeter shown. There's a valve located at the head which is in a convenient location to meter and shut off flow.
Pic 6: This is the lower part of the head assy, shown with the sprayer removed. It is necessary to disconnect the head assy tube from the sprayer when heating to prevent melting the plastic tube. This connection allows the head to remain hooked in the shower while only the tank is removed for refilling and heating for next shower. Picture also shows a dirt floor. The shower tent is supplied with a floor but it gets wet and muddy so I don't use it. I have a pair of cheap 'flip-flop' shoes that I pack with the shower. We just wear these when showering.
All in all, the shower is probably a little more complex than I'd like. The sprayer and head are OK but the tent is a little over the top. I like Kermit's idea for it's simplicity. Without some sort of enclosure outdoor showering just isn't pleasant if there is the slightest breeze so I have to do something. Kermit's design makes me think of those window shades that people sometimes put up inside their front car window. These have a flexible ring that can be squished. Maybe a completely cylinderical shroud terminated by one of these flexible rods at the top and then suspended from my canopy. It could all roll up for storage and could simply be shaken out into shape for use...
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Clutch
<---Pass
MHead said:
Even with the enclosure...it was a wee bit brisk when the outside temperature was 50 degrees.
I did take one shower in the Wildernest with the enclosure so everything wouldn't get wet, stood the lid of my chuck box, so the floor of the truck wouldn't get wet either. I was kind of a hassle, but, a little warmer.
Cabellas had a neat enclosure, not unlike those 5 second tents. Just throw it up in the air, and wha-la...it is open.
I lost my enclosure holder in the Thule rack trick. Since with the Wildernest, I lost the proper height, when the lid is open.
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Bella PSD
Explorer
Trying to get the list of parts together. Having a hard time finding a 2 gal SS tank local. Tried Home Depot, Lowes, Tractor Supply and Ace with no luck. Just for fun I did try the 2.5 gal plastic tank I had at home and it worked great as long as I do not heat the water with the plastic tank.
Was that Stainless Pump sprayer for $30 a 1 gal or 2 gal??
Louie
Was that Stainless Pump sprayer for $30 a 1 gal or 2 gal??
Louie
Kermit said:You can buy everything at a hardware store. I already had a camp stove. I can get 3-4 minutes with the current shower head, I may be able to up the time, with a lower flow one.
Stainless Pump sprayer: $30
What is below is what I did to replace the broken Zodi showerhead.
High pressure 3/8" I.D. hose: 8' @ $0.60 a foot
Ball valve: $2.50
Brass garden hose adapter to 3/8" hose: $1.49
Shower head (of your choice) mine was: $3.99
Hose clamps: $3-4.00 (I bought a box of them)
Total $46.78
AZ Tax $3.78
Grand total $50.56
Click for bigger picture
If you look at the Zodi and mine, they are awfully close.
Steve Curren
Explorer
Try ACE.. :sunny:
adventureduo
Dave Druck [KI6LBB]
So here's something that i've wondered about after reading about shower setups. How do you guys address tromping around in the mud/water/dirt while taking a shower? Do you guys put a matt down or something? Where shoes? Im kind of confused about that part.
adventureduo
Dave Druck [KI6LBB]
Colorado Ron said:Thought Id throw this setup on just for a change. Super simple. Basic shower setup, plugged into cig lighter. Heated water into collapsable bucket. Flip the switch and walla, hot shower. Setup in about 30sec.
Where can you get these shower cigarette plug heads? That is perfect!
EDIT: Is that the turbo shower? I can only find them on australian websites..?
adventureduo
Dave Druck [KI6LBB]
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Steve Curren
Explorer
As for keeping feet out of the mud, I have a neighbor who made me what amounts to wooden door mats. Pieces of redwood strips 1x3 that are 30" long x 15" wide, I have two of them and they are easy to store and keep you off the ground. I prefer that over the standard plastic tarp that comes with the shower shelter.