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
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