

| Subject: | Re: Vanagon Hot Shower on Demand |
| From: | Dan N |
| Date: | Mon, 6 Feb 2023 12:16:31 -0800 |
thank you Pete... it's looking very nice... On Mon, Feb 6, 2023 at 12:10 PM Pete Sicilia <pete@coffeepot.org> wrote: > On the more affordable side of the spectrum... I've been considering one of > these > https://www.amazon.com/Bamboo-Shower-Floor-Natural-Bambusi/dp/B01DTEXFH8 > > On Mon, Feb 6, 2023 at 9:52 AM Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote: > > > This might help with the mud pit situation - albeit - you will still have > > some mud but at least you can keep from your feet or flops. Ignore the > > price and just consider the concept as this would be easy enough to build > > as a custom item. You could probably use this for a multitude of camping > > uses as well - including starting a fire if you were desperate for > > kindling. :) > > > > > > > > > https://www.amazon.ca/Waterproof-Grating-Customized-Bathroom-Accessories/dp/B09KB4NGNR > > > > Bruce > > > > On Mon, Feb 6, 2023 at 9:21 AM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> > > wrote: > > > > > Correct. Mud pit is no fun. So, down the road, I empty RubberMaid > > > container with grey water on the side of the road. That's it. Also, I > > > don't use biodegradable soap and shampoos, just the normal stuff. As > far > > > as Northern California camping spots....man, that is a tough commodity. > > > Year around. Hence, I use the Vanagon Hot Shower On Demand solution, > and > > > camp nearby at some McDonalds or Starbucks. BTW....the bathrooms in > > those > > > facilities are excellently clean. And the Wi-Fi.....equally marvelous. > > > Also, I am an excellent "stealth" camper. I have honed those skills > over > > > 40 years. > > > > > > On Monday, February 6, 2023 at 08:46:40 AM PST, 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! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
Have something to add on this topic today? Revive this thread in the forum »