Indoor Shower Project

[Ronanmd1]

Hey guys - so I decided to mimic Bombsight's awesome indoor shower build. Thanks for the parts list and the great idea Bombsight! I made a few minor revisions, based on trial and error while putting it together. Very happy with the end result. The fan really does a good job of getting the steam out of the camper and the collapsible nature of the PEX rail and the quick disconnect on the hoses allows for easy and quick set up and take down. I am stoked about this mod. Will be good for those cold days or situations where the outdoor shower doesn't seem like a great idea.

Basically, the set up includes:

Replacement laundry faucet that allows 1/2 inch hose to be connected directly to sink via 90 degree elbow
Quick connects through bulkhead fitting into 15 gallon tub
Extended 1/2 inch hose, on/off RV shower mounted to Ram mount bolted through ceiling cross brace
3/4 bulkhead drain with quick connect hose through turnbuckle door - hose can either drain into water jug or be extended to drain away from camper if boon docking
Shower rail made of 1/2 inch PEX with threaded ends to allow collapse into tub when it is not being used
Shower rail held up by parachute cord to rare earth magnet - adjustable to minimize spray if needed (no issues so far)
Magnets attach to fender washers bolted with 1/2 inch screws into roof struts
Two 72x72 inch shower curtains arranged with overlap to allow easy access to sink (water control) and to rear of camper (entry/exit from shower) onto bathmat
My wife is a fan of minions...

 

[Ronanmd1]

Hey guys - Put together an album with some pics.

[sharedmedia=gallery:albums:1084]



Shower Parts List

Tub – Fortex CR-850 15 gallon rubber tub http://www.fortexfortiflex.com/oldweb/rubberpans.html

Replacement faucet – Mainline 629E-CP
http://mainlinecollection.com/ProdDetail.aspx?c=Kitchen|Bar_jxz_Laundry_Faucets|Laundry_Faucet|629E|1

90 degree Camco water adaptor for faucet
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=18889196

Water hose from faucet to tub – Camco 10’ x ½ inch hose
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0006JLSNI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Quick connects through tub:
2 x ½ inch quick connect, straight through male, threaded inserts (for supply hose)
http://www.coleparmer.ca/Product/Qu...nserts_PP_1_2/RK-31303-31?SearchTerm=31303-31

2 x ½ inch quick connect, straight through male, hose barbs (for supply hose)
http://www.coleparmer.ca/Product/Qu...ose_barbs_1_2/RK-31307-16?SearchTerm=31307-16

1 x ¾ inch quick connect, straight through male, threaded insert (for drain hose)
http://www.coleparmer.ca/Product/Qu...nserts_PP_3_4/RK-31303-32?SearchTerm=31303-32

1 x ¾ inch quick connect, straight through male, hose barbs (for drain hose)
http://www.coleparmer.ca/Product/Qu..._barbs_PP_3_4/RK-31303-18?SearchTerm=31303-18

Bulkhead fittings:
½ inch for supply line
Bulkhead Fittings - Heavy Duty

¾ inch for drain line
Bulkhead Fittings - Heavy Duty

90 degree elbow – to allow flex in shower hose
Hose Street Elbows - MPT 90 Degree Elbow with Hose Barb Insert Ends

Flex Hose to quick connect on shower hose – couple feet to allow some ‘relief’ in the shower line
https://www.lowes.ca/tubing-hoses/watts-svig10-12-in-x-10-ft-pvc-clear-vinyl-tubing_g1201504.html

Extra long shower hose – Delta 96 inch ½ inch shower hose
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B000OAG63G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Shower head – Camco on/of shower head kit
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B000OAG63G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Drain hose – 25’ x ¾ inch garden hose (cut to attach to quick connect at tub) – fed through turnbuckle door with female end at rear of camper in truck box – enough slack to be able to fill into 5 gallon jug or to connect to other end of hose to allow drainage away from camper
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B000NCYPXS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ram mount for shower
1 x 1 inch Ram ball mounted to ceiling
https://www.rammount.com/part/RAM-B-202U

1 x 8 inch Ram Arm
https://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-plastic-8-inch-extended-arm-with-double-1-inch-socket.html

Ram clamp to hold shower head
http://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-to...ease-clamp-base-1-inch-b-ball-rap-b-400u.html

Shower rail ½ inch PEX tubing cut to size
Available at any hardware store

Pex threaded connection to allow shower rail to collapse
http://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBit...e-Threaded-Adapter-5-Pack-UC072LFA5/206133177
http://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBit...x-Male-Pipe-Thread-Adapter-UC120LFA/202270581

2 x 72” x 72” curtains – we found material ones better than plastic as they hung better into the tub

Zip ties to hold curtain to shower rail – we pulled the shower up tight to the rail

4 x Rare earth magnet carabiners with parachute cord to hold up shower rail (carabiner removed)
https://www.acklandsgrainger.com/en/product/HOOK-MAGNET-CARABINER-45-LB/_/R-GGS3DXY2

4 x zinc plated fender washers (minimally countersunk) to allow ½ inch stainless mounting screws to sit flush for optimum magnetization (did not use stainless as the magnets would not bond to them)

 

[cwdtmmrs]

Nicely done. I've had an indoor shower set up it my tent and camper for over 25 years and the problem with the elaborate drain systems is that it takes more water than I typically use to reach the drain height which is about 2 gallons. I plugged my drain and just pick up the tub and empty it outside. There was a post where someone used a utility sink with the legs cut off and the drain in the bottom of the tub rather than in the side. Nice as well, but not worth the effort for me to change.

cwd

 

[tree]

very nice build. I see medical grade quick disconnects like we use at the hospital. and ram mounts. love those mounts.

 

[Ronanmd1]

CWD - Totally agree. Tough to find an simple and effective way for the water to drain. With my current set up, I simply lift the tub and angle it a bit once I am out of the shower to drain out the remaining water through the bottom hose. Then the quick disconnect allows me to remove the drain hose and feed it back through the turnbuckle door into the box of the truck where it stays. I was trying to avoid carrying a heavy tub of water out the door. I had thought about a pump, but that seemed too complicated.

Tree - thanks. Yep, tried to use quality stuff where possible. Although the zip cord and parachute cord look a bit amateur, they work really well. The shower is held up tight to the rail, minimizing splatter. The metal shower curtain hangers kept sticking to the magnets and plastic ones tended to slide around too much. The parachute cord allows the rail to be adjusted up or down for now. This was important to allow the Ram arm enough clearance to come into the shower stall from the roof above the rail. Once I am set on a position, I will clean up the ends of the line a bit.

 

[Bombsight]

Epoxy mounted rare earth magnets work well for mounting shower head. Just sand chrome dead center on shower head before adhering magnet to it.

I'm still going to use my magnet mounted hooks ... but instead of the hula hoop, 3/8" shock cord will be used. This will allow for easier storage by folding up curtain.

Thanks for the props, md1.

 

[Ronanmd1]

Epoxy mounted rare earth magnets work well for mounting shower head. Just sand chrome dead center on shower head before adhering magnet to it.

I'm still going to use my magnet mounted hooks ... but instead of the hula hoop, 3/8" shock cord will be used. This will allow for easier storage by folding up curtain.

Thanks for the props, md1.

I like the idea of the cord to minimize space when stored. Think it will maintain enough tension when the shower curtain is wet to hold it out a bit and give enough space in the shower?

Props were deserved bud. I am just building from your idea.

 

[Alley-Kat]

There was a post where someone used a utility sink with the legs cut off and the drain in the bottom of the tub rather than in the side. Nice as well, but not worth the effort for me to change.

That would be me.

More details starting on page 2 of my build thread - Interior Shower & Exterior Water Heater, Scroll down to message #16.

My wife unit loves showering indoors where the air is warm, not to mention the privacy and the clean, mud free, floor... so do I.

 

[cwdtmmrs]

Alley-Kat, Does your tub flex a lot in the middle with your weight on it or is it ridged?

Ronanmd1, yeah, I did the tilt thing for awile as well. Now I just pick up the tub and empty outside. Weighs about 20 lbs with water.

My shower consists of a tankless water heater that I hang on the outside of the camper before I pop it up and plumbed back into the camper via the same disconnects as described above ( I have more $$$ in the fittings than the heater!) to a dedicated water pump.With this arrangement, I can shower inside, outside and draw water from my tank, city water, collapsible bucket of creek water. I can also pump the creek water through a ceramic filter to re-fill the camper tank if needed.

cwd

 

[Ronanmd1]

Alley-Kat, Does your tub flex a lot in the middle with your weight on it or is it ridged?

Ronanmd1, yeah, I did the tilt thing for awile as well. Now I just pick up the tub and empty outside. Weighs about 20 lbs with water.

My shower consists of a tankless water heater that I hang on the outside of the camper before I pop it up and plumbed back into the camper via the same disconnects as described above ( I have more $$$ in the fittings than the heater!) to a dedicated water pump.With this arrangement, I can shower inside, outside and draw water from my tank, city water, collapsible bucket of creek water. I can also pump the creek water through a ceramic filter to re-fill the camper tank if needed.

cwd

CWD - cool. That sounds like my setup I used when I was rooftop tenting. I had a modified Zodi set up that I wired up to my 12V truck battery with an on/off switch. It was convenient to be able to draw water from any source.

 

[cwdtmmrs]

Ronanmd, I did the Zodi as well. The pump was marginal and you had to recirculate the water too much to get to temp when using stream water. My current tankless will raise the water temp 70* and weighs about 10 lbs. Pump is rated @30 PSI and 1.3 GPM and draws less than 2 amps IIRC. I shower every night and love my system now. You have engineered a very nice set up with quality parts.

cwd

 

[Alley-Kat]

Alley-Kat, Does your tub flex a lot in the middle with your weight on it or is it ridged?

cwd

Pretty solid with just a little flex when a person is standing in it that I noticed the first couple of times I used it, however, now I don't even notice. I'm 180 lbs.
The utility sink has those reinforcing ribs/components on the under side.
It is this model at Ace hardware.
Used to be $24.99, now $34.99.
I had to wait for it to be delivered to my local store with no shipping costs, as it is not carried in the store.
The drain hose does have to climb up just a little to exit the camper, however, once it starts draining on its own, it siphons out everything.

 

[cwdtmmrs]

Alley-Kat, thank you. I was concerned about flexing and cracking with extended use. I weigh about the same. I might copy your sink/tub.

cwd

 

[Vic Harder]

Alley-Kat, Does your tub flex a lot in the middle with your weight on it or is it ridged?

Ronanmd1, yeah, I did the tilt thing for awile as well. Now I just pick up the tub and empty outside. Weighs about 20 lbs with water.

My shower consists of a tankless water heater that I hang on the outside of the camper before I pop it up and plumbed back into the camper via the same disconnects as described above ( I have more $$$ in the fittings than the heater!) to a dedicated water pump.With this arrangement, I can shower inside, outside and draw water from my tank, city water, collapsible bucket of creek water. I can also pump the creek water through a ceramic filter to re-fill the camper tank if needed.

cwd

CWD,

Can you add part numbers and pictures to this description? Sounds like really flexible option.

 

[cwdtmmrs]

Vic, I would, but I cannot post photos with my browser. I can't cut/paste, quote or even use a hosting site. I've tried.

cwd

 

[Vic Harder]

can you send them to me via email? I can post for you

 

[Lobster]

Alley cat and CWD, thanks for sharing. I'm going to build out a grandby shell soon and my wife wants an indoor shower.
I had thought of an Ecotemp propane heater plumbed to operate an indoor/outdoor shower and apparently it's a viable option.
Relatively new to camping yet have fished professionally for 45 years. Kinda like camping just at sea.
Have many ideas based on boating, not really sure how they will translate to camping.
Will continue to monitor this site for ideas and appreciate everyone's willingness to help.
Couple months until I get my shell, still time to get great ideas or really confused.

 

[cwdtmmrs]

Lobster1, Look at the EZ 101 portable from EZ Tankless. I think it is a much better unit. More settings, works with lower flows and pressures. It will raise the water temp 70*. Weighs about 10 lbs. I keep mine under the couch and hang it on the side of the camper just before I pop up.

cwd

PS. I assume you fished lobster.....just a guess.

 

[Vic Harder]

that looks like a nice unit. When you hang it from your camper, do you vent it at all? How far do you keep it from the wall of the camper?

 

[cwdtmmrs]

I do not vent the unit. It is hung on a welding blanket directly to the side of the camper. I thing a sheet metal elbow pointing away from the camper would suffice though.

cwd