tony's
hot bush shower

Here’s a hot water shower I’ve built. No power needed just gas for heating. The lower heating section is a 10 or 15 litre stainless steel tub (can’t remember which) I bought from one of the cheap shops. Inside I’ve attached a burner ring I constructed along with an igniter, the switch for which is mounted near one of the tub’s handles. LPG is heavier than air so gas will sink to the bottom of the tub, a vent can be inserted at the bottom of the tub for safety but will affect operation in windy conditions.

The hose is a standard BBQ hose with regulator attached to one end, the other end has a female BSP thread fitting which screws onto a tap I had lying around (not necessary) and on to that is screwed a short steel tube with a couple of holes drilled either side for air input.

The pump up shower unit is available through most camping stores for around $110, there are other brands fetching up to $400, but really there is no difference other than price. The shower unit is located inside the heating tub via a steel ring I welded to the burner ring and keeps the bottom of the shower unit central and about 30mm clear of the burner ring.

To operate, connect the regulator to the gas bottle, the other end of the hose slots into the burner ring extension on the outside of the stainless steel tub, turn the gas on and press the igniter, once under way place the shower unit on top minus the hand pump unit. It takes around 2-3 minutes to heat, more or less, depending on requirements. Once hot remove the shower unit to your pop up shower enclosure, fit the shower hose and rose, fit the pump and pressurize the shower tank by hand.

Alternatively the shower unit can be heated on you camper/caravan stove, it just takes longer.

This unit is a variation of another DIY Bush Shower unit I posted on the www.campertrailers.org tech tips a few years ago that used an electric pump. This unit is superior as it doesn’t require power and doesn’t use all the water in two minutes flat.

This unit will work in high winds and rain and will not set the surrounding bush on fire.

WARNINGS

1. THE SHOWER UNIT IS MEANT TO BE USED CLEAR OF THE HEATER UNIT – NOT WHILST HEATING.

2. NEVER USE THE SHOWER UNIT WHILST IT IS BEING HEATED.

3. NEVER HEAT THE SHOWER UNIT WHEN SEALED OR PRESSURISED.

4. ALWAYS REMOVE THE HAND PUMP BEFORE HEATING THE SHOWER UNIT.

5. LPG IS HEAVIER THAN AIR SO GAS WILL SINK TO THE BOTTOM OF HEATER TUB.

6. HEATER UNIT MUST BE IGNITED BEFORE SHOWER UNIT IS PLACED ON BURNER RING.

COMMON SENSE!

thanks to Tony Hothersall for sharing his ideas

january 2016