Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2023 10:55:43 +0000
Reply-To: "ddbjorkman@verizon.net" <ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "ddbjorkman@verizon.net" <ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Vanagon Hot Shower on Demand
In-Reply-To: <7B57688F-9165-4F1D-A7F1-2EA8D12886A9@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I find having it somewhere not close to my vehicle makes less of a mess to step into.
Dave B.the Boston oneThis is fun when one's replies go through.
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Mon, Feb 6, 2023 11:59 am
Subject: Re: [VANAGON] Vanagon Hot Shower on Demand
Hi Pete and others,
On this topic,
I recently purchased a Kickass shower stall for my van. It mounts on the rain gutter and is sort of a tiny ARB awning looking thing.
When opened it provides a shower stall or changing space or place for a portable toilet. It has no floor.
I never thought beyond using correct soap. I wear flip flops and that works in all situations so far. But, a small plastic tarp might not be a bad addition.
As for the shower, friends use many options.
I use a solar bag but am considering a simple rechargable USB pump that drops in a bucket. The bucket shower can be filled with warmed water from stove or a solar shower Friends have several nice solar options that sit on the ground and heat from sun. Then are pumped up by a foot pump for pressure. They work well and are actually large and could provide many showers in one tank.
I usually use less then 2 gallons so a small bag works well for me most of the season. I often just leave it full in the luggage rack and use it later in the day.
Best,
Eric Caron
> On Feb 6, 2023, at 11:46 AM, Pete Sicilia <pete@COFFEEPOT.ORG> wrote:
>
> To clarify my question a bit... I was both looking at preventing a big mud
> pit and looking for a solution that works at a state campground. I carry
> biodegradable soaps :)
>
> I'd also love to know if folks have preferred "camping al fresco" spots in
> Northern California that are reachable w/o syncro capabilities.
>
> On Mon, Feb 6, 2023, 6:20 AM ddbjorkman@verizon.net <ddbjorkman@verizon.net>
> wrote:
>
>> Grey water, with an environmentally friendly soap does no harm. I just
>> pick a somewhat sloped ground, put down a ground cloth so we are not
>> standing in a mudpuddle and let it run off. Many of the places we use it
>> could use a bit more water in the ground.
>>
>> Dave B,
>> the Boston one
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Pete Sicilia <pete@COFFEEPOT.ORG>
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Sent: Sun, Feb 5, 2023 9:29 pm
>> Subject: Re: [VANAGON] Vanagon Hot Shower on Demand
>>
>> What do you all do with the grey water? Do you catch it and do something
>> with it... or just let it drain into the ground/mud?
>>
>> On Sun, Feb 5, 2023 at 5:47 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> For me, it was an evolution. It all started with me and my cousin doing
>>> Mountain Bike riding in the western Sierras in the early 90's. Sure, we
>>> got all sweaty. No fun getting into sleeping bag after all that. I
>>> figured....there has got to be a better way. I thought...all you need
>> is a
>>> metal vessel....fill it with water...heat up on Coleman stove; and, add
>>> some kind of propulsion unit to aggressively force hot water through some
>>> plastic tubing and into a shower nozzle. And I exactly did that! It
>>> worked perfectly. Except, I chose a steel 5 gallon gas tank, which of
>>> course rusted like crazy. Also, I chose a 12VDC submersible pump from
>>> Grainger; problem with that....it was intended for intermittent use; it
>>> rusted and froze. I rethunk. So next attempt was an aluminum 20 quart
>>> stock pot from Costco, and a 12VDC Marine Bilge pump, I started with 800
>>> GPH unit, but have moved up to 1100 GPH pump. Oh my! All systems are go
>>> now! Then I got the crazy idea of using Vanagon to source hot water. I
>>> deleted Rear Heater long ago; I used the plumbing and fittings,
>> including a
>>> 20 foot piece of 1/4" copper tubing, wrapped around a paint spray can to
>>> form a heat exchanger device inside of Aluminum stock pot. I used a
>> simple
>>> Ball Valve to turn on/off flow to copper tubing; this involved a
>> companion
>>> to run back and turn it off and on. I used a standard BBQ grill
>>> thermometer from Walmart to monitor temperature; I used old wiring from
>>> rear heater to make this happen. Readout on dash. Next, I lost my
>>> companion to run back and turn Ball Valve off and on. So, via Amazon, I
>>> got one of those motorized valves, and I found a switch (old Rear Window
>>> defogger switch) which fit the 3rd unused position on dashboard; yes,
>> with
>>> a tip of switch, hot engine coolant goes into copper tubing, heating up
>>> water in Stock Pot, all monitored by BBQ Thermometer. Oh...you want to
>> get
>>> even more crazy?!! Using 3D Solidworks, I came up with a delightful
>> design
>>> of a Shower Curtain, like a giant funnel into a RubberMaid plastic bin.
>> I
>>> know at this point, all you guys are collapsing in fatigue! I hear ya.
>>> If I were reading this thing, I would have given up by Sentence #2. Yes,
>>> it was a 30 year process. It was filled with errors. But now....I
>>> wouldn't leave home without it. Absolutely...there are easier solutions
>> to
>>> the Hot Water Shower issue. But mine is the finest.
>>> And of course, I can do it the old school way...pot of water on Coleman
>>> stove...in the middle of nowhere....it's so fun to see your breath in the
>>> cold morning air....and you are as clean as a whistle!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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