Date:         Sun, 7 Jul 1996 02:36:01 -0300 (ADT)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         smitht@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca (Tim Smith)
Subject:      Re: LHS Shower in Westie?

>design well.  We need a shower stall with curtains and plumbing.
>A one or two circuit aluminun "cold plate" pretty nearly completes my 
>non-obvious required materials list.  Some of you already know from this 

Hang a cheap shower curtain, $2.99, on a hoola-hoop, $1.99.  Hang the 
hoola-hoop from the open rear hatch using a couple of hooks made from a 
coathanger.  Step into the shower from the Westy bed, hey an ensuite, how 
about that! Bit of Astro turf completes this luxurious 'bano al fresco', or 
stand in a bucket if graywater runoff is a problem. If your travelling 
companion has a wicked sense of humour you may wish to hide the carkeys 
before entering the shower.
        A solar shower heater hung onto the roof completes the basic 
bathroom plan.

        As far as really heating the water there is a posting/pix of the 
water tank with a neat heating coil loop using engine coolant to warm the 
tank water. Splice it off your rear heater with valves to direct heat flow.  
Maybe even add a tank thermostat and solenoid valve to control temp 
automatically. Just install a rear mount hand shower + switch like in the 
new Winnebago/EV/Westy, or like the Oz Trakka conversions.  Trakka say 
idling for 20 mins. gives ample hot water 70litres.  Wouldn't want any 
coolant in my drinking water however.  
        Bonus: for winter camping get that tank of water scalding hot while 
driving, then flow it back through the rear heater with fan on low for heat 
retrieval when camped. 

Tim Smith