well the camper trailer is almost done,,,gear is stowed and a few bits and peices still to get(maybe at the adelaide caravan and camping show) then a bit of a short shake down trip maybe to a beach somewhere,,I have installed a generator, for when we are away from the parks, a solar panel will come along soon and have put in a small gas/electric fridge from a caravan, and a water tank from same, hot water is the next issue to tackle,,, not sure what to do about that, maybe some black painted pvc pipe on top of the box, or something any ideas folks, keeping in mind that at the moment about 3 weeks at any one time is all we can manage at the moment and during that time away every few days would be spent on a van park, it's just the bride likes to have a warm wash of a night, (must keep her happy)

Beachball, go to search, enter ----  hot water on tap-

still going & works great, also use it for outdoor shower.

As a stop gap, what's wrong with heating some water in a pot or saucepan on your gas stove and having a basin or bucket wash? Done that a few times, using a facecloth.

Sounds good beachballs. Photos please.

Go to a hardware store , gardening department , get a hand spray , about 5 litres .

Fill it with warm water and away you go . No trouble to get the full body wash , and use the minimum water .

There are shower kits available quite cheaply at camping shops and possibly Kmart or Big W. It consists of a shower head, hose, and a pump similar to the small bilge of bait tank pumps that boaties would be familiar with. Fill a large bucket with a billy of boiling water and the rest cold, hook up to a battery and drop the pump in the bucket. Will give you a shower just like home!

If you're wanting to go "up market" check out http://www.kangarootentcity.com.au/welcome/page48.php You may get a deal at the Caravan Show.

You can buy black plastic bags with a little spout that are designed to heat shower water in the sun. Available in any camping store. The water is hottest in the late afternoon using those, if you wanted to have a morning shower you will have to boil the billy.

-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Friday 25th of February 2011 08:09:32 AM

Hi all ..

I'm fortunate now to have a self-contained unit, but I still most often take sponge baths. The occasional shower is nice, but if you enjoy free-camping and hold water as being sacred as I do, then as said before me, there are numerous methods of maintaining personal hygiene.
Prior to this MH, I had a 12 ft Jayco poptop with a rear door entry. Travelled with a foldup dunny/shower tent which was ideal and most economical. 
Standing in a large basin (with a small pump also in it) one can enjoy a lovely warm shower as the pump simply re-cycles the same water til you're satisfied you're finished. Just a bucket is needed ..
No doubt we all have our own preferences, but  I'm happy to still take sponge baths ..

Jon

(currently in Albany, WA) 

I've seen Jon's set up...............lovvvvvvvvvvvely

We have the same thing Jim suggested....and a shower/toilet tent....works for us.......



what sort of CT you got BeachBall??

-- Edited by Smokeydk on Friday 25th of February 2011 09:28:02 AM

Dave ..

thats exactly what I used to use before .. just drop the pump-head into a wide plastic basin that you're standing in .. had a few comments that preferred to just use the water once then you're nice and clean .. really, its no different to having a bath, is it ?

Jon

thanks, the campmaster shower set looks like the deal, that and a baby bath to stand in that shoud keep the bride happy, thanks bb

I have an idea... havent tried it yet. For the sake of packing things up small, how would it be to use one of those blow-up toddlers pools to stand in??

Gerty Dancer wrote:

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I have an idea... havent tried it yet. For the sake of packing things up small, how would it be to use one of those blow-up toddlers pools to stand in??

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Have used this setup with kids blow up pool , all you need is a good ground sheet.

 

When free camping we use the campmaster shower kit and stand in a plastic container that we pack our gennie in. Have a 'rubik's cube' shower tent and heat a little water on the gas to take the chill off, if needed. If no one is around we don't bother with the shower tent. Like BB we go to a c/park every few days, so the boss can wash her hair etc. I don't have that problem. Johnw

hi John and Anne ..

.. thats like putting up a 'night-light' for the animals !!  .. hehe

Jon

Hi Jandas Fun

Don't go ewww but there is enough room in those little sinks to wash your hair in Anne, no worse than all that yukkya stuff that goes down the sink when you wash your dishes, actually I bet your head is a lot cleaner.  With hubby there to help you rinse the soap off it would be a piece of cake.

Or if you are not keen on using your sink, use the container you put your genny in, and again get John to rinse it with a clean bucket of water.

Another good idea  is to go to  heated swimming pools, very early of a morning.  A lot of them have spas now, I love it, I pop in have a spa and then a shower and dry my hair into the bargain as they do have power points in the ladies dressing rooms.  This is usually around 6 am when most of the swim teams are training.  Cost very little, if you are a pensioner less than $5.

Truckie stops are good too, spend the night outside and then buy breakfast in the morning.  I have also done this many times.  A lot of the truckie stops showers are free so by buying breakfast I dont feel like I am bludging.

thats not such a bad idea the blow up pool i mean have to work on that, sad to say i have one of those in the shed somewhere i guess it's still ok mmmm
ps
i can't see the bride spemding more than a few days free camping before we hit the van park for a shower but you never know

-- Edited by beachball57 on Saturday 26th of February 2011 05:12:09 PM

Gerty, and whose going to pump it up each time you want a shower. Daughter and SinL have some of those really big soft bowls that fold up. They used them for the drinks at their wedding. They said I can have one of those to stand in and shower or wash. They have already given one to his aunty to do the same while camping. The are quite large and have handles and come in all colours. I'm sure you have seen them.

A bowl which folds up? Sorry I havent seen one. That would be great! Will go shopping.

It would stand about half a metre tall Gerty, maybe a bit more and is round, also slightly wider at the top than at the bottom. Have seen them in many different places from Bunnings to the $2 shops. I think they have like a pattern of lines around them. They are big enough to catch all the water as you shower.

Ginger wrote:

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Hi Jandas Fun


Or if you are not keen on using your sink, use the container you put your genny in, and again get John to rinse it with a clean bucket of water.

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Hi Ginger, tried that a few times, but also have the problem of limited water, only have a 60l tank which doesn't last long for two. Carry seperate drinking water but 4/5 days is our maximum. Also we use c/park for security when we want to unhook and explore the area etc.

Johnw

 

we went into bcf and bought this most amazing gas hot water system its not heavy either as we only have a small camper with the one bed that pops out its made by coleman and has a handle to pick itup with ,it runs on these small gas bottles so they arent heavy either and its instant hot water, so you can fill a big bucket up from a creek and stick the pump in this bucket to get a nice hot shower ive done the travelling with boiling the jug or billy or putting a tin drum on the fire to get showers ,but camping is amazing nowadays and it takes alotta time out of all the other things you could be doing. was the best purchase we ever made ,300 dollars and well worth every cent just dont stick the pump in a creek to expect to get water that way as it can get blocked with silt etc.