camping shower for out doors

possumyvonne · Senior Member

camping shower for out doors

DeBe · Guru

Hi Peter. What we use is a 12v shower purchased from Kmart camping for $20, just drop the pump into a bucket with warm water hang up shower head in shower tent. Works for us . Cheers Daryl

Wombat 280 · Guru

You can by a portable 12 volt shower at Big W or any camping store or Super Cheap for around $25.00. Have seen the very same rig selling in green energy and up market camping stores for up wards of $90.00

When I used one I also fitted a smaller orifice plate in the shower head to reduce water consumption not that they use that much anyway . I had an over sized plastic bowl to stand in to catch the run off water and put in back in the the 20 liter supply tank (20 lt Drum), surprising just how far you can make a small amount of water go if you use your head and think about what your doing.

jimricho · Guru

The pumps on these showers don't draw much current so battery capacity is not an issue.

jimricho · Guru

Wombat 280 wrote:
Have seen the very same rig selling in green energy and up market camping stores for up wards of $90.00

Surprise Surprise! The labels "Green" and "Eco" are nothing more than excuses to rip off an unsuspecting public.

justcruisin01 · Guru

We use a Primus instant gas hot shower unit, has a 12v pump , steaming hot water any where any time, temp & water flow controls , uses very little water.

PeterD · Guru

We like to keep things simple. We use one of the black plastic bags. You get as good a shower from one of those without having to have a 12 V supply around. We don't worry about the solar heating of the bags. This dictates having your shower mid afternoon as you can't keep them hot. - KISS

Wombat 280 · Guru

There are a number of hot water units around I spotted one in Aldi Cattle Dog at around $279 .

Couple of Lts of hot water from the kettle in a 20 lt drum of cold and that $29 unit and your done and dusted .

If bush camping and fires are allow then boiling water all day isn't going to be a problem .

The black solar bags also work well but found you need full sun to heat up the water. I do carry one as a back up

Allara · Senior Member

I go to Tamworth for the country music sometimes and I saw some young people with a shower that ran through or round the 4x4 engine. They had a bucket on the ground that they filled with cold water and a stand that attached to the front of the vehicle. Ran the engine and the water came out hot. Only had to keep putting extra water in the bucket for longer shower. They showered in their cosies as they didn't have a screen. They said they got it from a 4x4 place.

justcruisin01 · Guru

Quote >>>>>>The black solar bags also work well but found you need full sun to heat up the water. I do carry one as a back up <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

TIP!!! In the case of lack of sun or time at the end of a days drive lay the water bag on top of the motor & lower the bonnet onto it . The heat from motor will heat up the water .

Wombat 280 · Guru

Allara wrote:

I go to Tamworth for the country music sometimes and I saw some young people with a shower that ran through or round the 4x4 engine. They had a bucket on the ground that they filled with cold water and a stand that attached to the front of the vehicle. Ran the engine and the water came out hot. Only had to keep putting extra water in the bucket for longer shower. They showered in their cosies as they didn't have a screen. They said they got it from a 4x4 place.

Now that sounds the go, I also like the bag on the warm engine when there sun has disappeared .

Found my set up on display in BCF today may be of interest

Dunmowin · Guru

justcruisin01 wrote:

Quote >>>>>>The black solar bags also work well but found you need full sun to heat up the water. I do carry one as a back up <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

TIP!!! In the case of lack of sun or time at the end of a days drive lay the water bag on top of the motor & lower the bonnet onto it . The heat from motor will heat up the water .

My solar 'bladder' if I want a hot shower in morning, i heat kettle over campfire (ummmm can use gas if fire restrictions in place) and pour hot watr into bag. problem solvered

03_troopy · Guru

justcruisin01 wrote:

Quote >>>>>>The black solar bags also work well but found you need full sun to heat up the water. I do carry one as a back up <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

TIP!!! In the case of lack of sun or time at the end of a days drive lay the water bag on top of the motor & lower the bonnet onto it . The heat from motor will heat up the water .
We used to do that with fish and chips wrapped in newspaper to keep them warm on the way home on top of the radiator in the old HZ Holden.

-- Edited by 03_troopy on Tuesday 9th of November 2010 08:04:20 PM

haplo34 · Newbie

Allara wrote:
I go to Tamworth for the country music sometimes and I saw some young people with a shower that ran through or round the 4x4 engine. They had a bucket on the ground that they filled with cold water and a stand that attached to the front of the vehicle. Ran the engine and the water came out hot. Only had to keep putting extra water in the bucket for longer shower. They showered in their cosies as they didn't have a screen. They said they got it from a 4x4 place.

They were probably using the Helton Vehicle Shower Kit which is permanently mounted under the hood of the car. It basically uses the hot coolant which passes into a copper heat exchanger and transfers that heat to the water(also passing into the exchanger) used for showering or cleaning dishes. The water doesn't mix with the coolant though so it's perfectly safe. The Helton is practical because it's always available since it's permanently mounted. It just takes a bit more time to set up than your average camping shower available out there.

03_troopy · Guru

haplo34 wrote:
Allara wrote:
I go to Tamworth for the country music sometimes and I saw some young people with a shower that ran through or round the 4x4 engine. They had a bucket on the ground that they filled with cold water and a stand that attached to the front of the vehicle. Ran the engine and the water came out hot. Only had to keep putting extra water in the bucket for longer shower. They showered in their cosies as they didn't have a screen. They said they got it from a 4x4 place.

They were probably using the Helton Vehicle Shower Kit which is permanently mounted under the hood of the car. It basically uses the hot coolant which passes into a copper heat exchanger and transfers that heat to the water(also passing into the exchanger) used for showering or cleaning dishes. The water doesn't mix with the coolant though so it's perfectly safe. The Helton is practical because it's always available since it's permanently mounted. It just takes a bit more time to set up than your average camping shower available out there.

Or some others are: Glind, Bushranger, Twine, Piranah and i think there are a few others as well.