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!
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>