Where do you shower (when you don't have a shower in your van)?

[Lorelei072]

I mainly shower at a gym, but when Georgia was shut down for 2 months last spring I was locked out. Thankfully my mother lives nearby and I showered at her apartment. I originally planned to build a shower/bathroom at the back of my van but unwittingly bought a short wheelbase without enough space to do everything I want. If need be I may return to Florida where the climate is milder and resort to bathing in the sea. I have psoriasis and salt water is a huge benefit.

 

[highdesertranger]

I agree don't bath/wash in a natural body of water, with any kind of soap.

Biodegradable is a scam just like organic. Industry is using those catchphrases to charge us more money. Like I said everything is biodegradable including all soap. So just because the label says biodegradable doesn't' actually mean a damn thing, of course it's biodegradable everything is.

Highdesertranger

 

[LoupGarou]

I do my boondocking then roll into a a nearby campground for a night or two. Dump tanks and trash, fill up on water, do laundry, take a long hot shower or two, then repeat.

 

[MrNoodly]

That reminds me, I've been to day use areas right next to campgrounds. For the much lower day use fee you could stroll over to the campground showers, though they don't really want you doing that.

 

[NctryBen]

I agree don't bath/wash in a natural body of water,  with any kind of soap.

Biodegradable is a scam just like organic.  Industry is using those catchphrases to charge us more money.  Like I said everything is biodegradable including all soap. So just because the label says biodegradable doesn't' actually mean a damn thing,  of course it's biodegradable 

I get a kick outta that too...

 

[JDub]

Morning all,

I've been working on a hot water solution for SUV camping for showers / laundry/ cooking/ muddy dog washing etc as well. Reading on a Euro Vanlife site I came into a couple of very interesting articles about propane fired instant water heaters:

This is an article about the water heaters:

https://vanclan.co/eccotemp-l5/

One about the amazing showers folks have put into their rigs:

https://vanclan.co/van-shower/

These types of heaters are all over Amazon and most have very high ratings (if that means anything). The primary complaint is volume of flow and temperature of the water. However, those are in a small minority. There are options for a much higher GPM flow - just costs more of course. They run on a 20 pd bottle and draw water either from a hose or using a 12v pump. Prices seem to be reasonable. Anyone ever try one of these?

Cheers!

 

[user 32179]

I agree with MoTiger regarding the DIY shower sprayer. I built mine for $35 using AdventureVanMan's directions and it's better than the $50 Pomo Shower I tried from Amazon (and subsequently returned). Yes, it takes a bit of work to create the water pressure by pumping, but the positives are no need for disposable or recharged batteries, no depleting of stored power, and you can always revert it to its intended use as a garden sprayer.

Here's what you do: Purchase the 2 gallon HDX brand sprayer at Home Depot, with the interchangeable nozzles, for $15. Unscrew/remove the provided spray wand. From Amazon, order the kitchen side sink sprayer assembly offered through the Houtingmaan Store for approximately $19. Use the appropriate nylon connector provided in the kit to attach the hose from the HDX sprayer to the sink sprayer. Use a bit of white thread tape on each connection for a tight seal. That's all there is to it!

The hose on this setup is much longer than the Pomo, so an average height person can reach most of their body without bending over. The sink sprayer provided a better stream of water, was easier to maneuver and was less bulky than the standard garden hose sprayer (which I tried). The HDX sprayer also has a pressure release valve to use when breaking down your shower. You can rig an "S" hook or similar to suspend the hose while showering. I pair it with an inexpensive popup tent for privacy or a bucket/bin at the campsite for washing my hair. You can coil up the hose into a nylon or mesh bag for easier packing. Bonus - it works great for washing dishes or rinsing off other items, too!

 

[Sen. Van Paul]

I am on the eve of the beginning of van life, so I don't actually know anything. Keep that in mind lol.

I hate the idea of showering at gyms. Public bathrooms...ugh. inevitably it will happen, I know.

I have one of those tubes on top of my van with the ability to be pressurized. Has a spicket, plus a hose extension Yada Yada. I just don't see myself actually using it to shower. Seems like more work than it's worth given my plans for van life for now (city dwelling, work full time).

For now, I will be stopping by a friend's house nightly after work to shower, and I'll be doing my laundry there on the weekends. Paying him and his wife a small amount each month for the kindness and help.

But, as I said, once I take off towards the real goal (traveling, working on and off, exploring the U.S.), the gym shower or van shower will have to become reality.

I guess I'd probably opt for the gym at that point. This apparatus on top of my van just seems like too much work and I don't think the juice is worth the squeeze. Plus, the only way I could see doing it right now would be go park off somewhere a bit Discreet and shower with gym shorts on (scrub underneath etc) so I don't get a PP slap from local fuzz.

Thoughts?

 

[bullfrog]

If you think filling up a tube and carrying a shower tent is too much work you won't like the road much in my opinion.

 

[GypsyJan]

Google shower toga. The apparatus on top of your van would be considered wonderful by most nomads. I need soap and water daily. I just don't feel baby wipes do the job. I have a 5-gal bucket and a garden sprayer so I don't depend on public showers.You will either find your solution or let the issue deter you from life on the road.

 

[nature lover]

i use the wolf 4‘ x 4‘ shower tent and one of those handy little battery powered pumps seems to work great so far. Nobody complaining too much about my stink. As for baby wipes I find them about worthless. But I ran into a product I really like. It’s called SCRUBZZ, rinse free bath sponges. They are about 3/16 inch thick an 8 x 8“. They come 25 in a pack and they weren’t that expensive I have to look up how much I paid but I’ve got to order more too. The ingredients aren’t too bad but there are some chemicals for those who are sensitive Read the list before buying. The neat thing is you add just a little bit, (as little as a couple ounces works) of water squeeze it and rub it around to make some suds and you’ve got a wonderful washcloth that works great. They are advertised as no rinse so All you do is wipe off with a towel. I don’t wanna live without them. By the way the instructions say it works for your hair too. I was pleased with it on my hair not like a real good shampoo but goodness it worked in a pinch. Very convenient very good product

 

[Sen. Van Paul]

Google shower toga.  The apparatus on top of your van would be considered wonderful by most nomads. I need soap and water daily. I just don't feel baby wipes do the job.  I have a 5-gal bucket and a garden sprayer so I don't depend on public showers.You will either find your solution or let the issue deter you from life on the road.

Yeah, I saw alot of bag hang setups with hoses etc attached. Something you fill and hang from say a tree, or even the van. Even one of those spray pumps they use to spread weed killer would work well. I much preferred that option when I "amazoned" it. Those seem a bit more user friendly. It's not that I'm lazy, it's that realistically in the city, the cumbersome, 7+ foot high tube wouldn't be as easy to fill and use, it just doesn't make alot of sense in the city.

 

[Sen. Van Paul]

If you think filling up a tube and carrying a shower tent is too much work you won't like the road much in my opinion.

Picture this:

It's 9:07pm you're just getting off a 10 hour shift in the kitchen. Average temp throughout the day is 97.4 in the kitchen. You need to shower but first you need to find a source of clean, preferably, at least slightly, warm water. Needs to have a way to reach and hold 7+ feet high. Also, you're in the middle of a city, so good luck. Everything you can think of is illegal per ordinance or outright state law. You finally figured it out, now you need to go shower somewhere. Again, in the city. Finally figured it out, only took an hour and a half. It's 10:40 now. Better get to bed, back at it bright and early!

Oh no, what about dinner!?

Yeah. No thanks. If that's lazy, then so be it.

 

[hugemoth]

Morning all,

I've been working on a hot water solution for SUV camping for showers / laundry/ cooking/ muddy dog washing etc as well. Reading on a Euro Vanlife site I came into a couple of very interesting articles about propane fired instant water heaters:

This is an article about the water heaters:

https://vanclan.co/eccotemp-l5/

One about the amazing showers folks have put into their rigs:

https://vanclan.co/van-shower/

These types of heaters are all over Amazon and most have very high ratings (if that means anything). The primary complaint is volume of flow and temperature of the water. However, those are in a small minority. There are options for a much higher GPM flow - just costs more of course. They run on a 20 pd bottle and draw water either from a hose or using a 12v pump. Prices seem to be reasonable. Anyone ever try one of these?

Cheers!

I have a little 6 liter propane on demand water heater. $60 on eBay. Works fine but... there isn't a lot of flow if the water going in is really cold. It's a bit involved hooking up the hoses, propane tank, pump, pump power wires, bucket, etc.. Overall a solar bag was less hassle but then no sunshine is required with the little heater.

 

[highdesertranger]

Please when using the quote function type your reply outside the quote box. It's very confusing where the quote ends and the reply begins if you don't. Highdesertranger

 

[nature lover]

If you’re doing the city thing the gym membership is the cheapest and best way to go. So far I’m satisfied with what I have whether the people I visit with are satisfied with how clean I am well that’s another opinion. On purpose I am never in the city overnight and don’t even like driving through during the day. I recognize some have to for work and as I said the gym membership Hass to be the simplest way.

 

[bullfrog]

Lazy has nothing to do with problem solving. Planning, researching and organization does, all of which are required to be successful on the road. If you wait till you need something to start looking you will not do well on the road. In urban settings getting a shower is easy. Sign up the day before for a free trial membership at a private gym, check out college gyms and pools for public use times or YMCA for daily memberships. Many visitor centers can direct you to shelters with shower facilities. Beach towns often have public rinse off showers. You can take a shower in swimming trunks so no need to get a ticket for public exposure and a bucket bath sitting in the van is possible as well. Some businesses have change rooms or restrooms and employers want employees to be clean. Seek out the ones that really mean it and apply for work based on facilities. Yes I have found those and worked in places that not only let me use a private parking place over night but also let me use facilities after everyone had gone home, even let me use an extension cord with grid power. On the road you need to be flexible and open to ask and use any resource that may be possible and open to you. There is almost always several solutions to any problem you just need to plan ahead as much as possible and have several backup plans, like making sure you filled up the water before going to work.

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Didn't want it to be a hassle. Planned it out well. Onboard water tank, low flow shower head, diesel powered boiler. Too much space to be wasted inside to have dedicated shower. Shower outside of course. When at friends houses and such, very easy to go inside and use a nice sticks and bricks shower every once and awhile. Too lazy to take hose out for shower, or out of water? Find a river or lake to dip in and clean up, no soap and stuff of course. People have done that for millennia.

Shower outside. Nobody around? No curtain or trunks. Populated areas with people that don't want a show, wear the trunks. Choose locations carefully, be respectful.

Boiler heats up coolant. Hot and cold water go to outdoor shower assembly.

Hot water heater from a boat. Coolant from boiler heats of 5 gallons of water for shower and such. Tried to stay simple and keep everything in one location.

 

[Cammalu]

This is exactly what I’m referring to on another thread. I don’t care if you shower outside I just want to know what the difference is between that shower and an indoor shower where they both run on the ground. Seems people get way worked up on one but not the other.

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Sweat, dirt, grime. It all came from the ground, so we're just putting it back there, just a little bit wetter! But seriously, there are better spots to shower than others. I can hold my black stuff, and the sink water, but the shower, eh, it's fine. Black tank stuff is obvious why you just can't let that out just anywhere. And I don't want my sink water right in camp either because of all the food particles and such. And as long as you're not dumping hazardous chemicals out there, and nobody can see your willy, it's all fine in my book. You should see how we used to bath in the Boy Scouts...