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What to use to heat 5 gallon bucket of water for camping shower

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by excorcist, Dec 19, 2016.

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  1. Dec 21, 2016 at 8:58 AM
    #41
    aficianado

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    aficianado Well-Known Member

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    back to bone stock.

    as mentioned above, you dont need to heat the full five gallons. just use whatever pot your cooking pasta in and add it to the cold water in the bucket. 50/50 is very hot shower.

    i stayed in a hut in cambodia. the shower was a giant clay pot with water from the stream. and it had a ladle in it. it was surprising how you could get so clean...splashing "up" into the nooks/crannies is an artform.
     
    aficianado, Dec 21, 2016
    #41
    theredofshaw likes this.
  2. Dec 21, 2016 at 9:08 AM
    #42
    Ihatetacomas

    #42
    Ihatetacomas Because tacomas hate me

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    Also - rocks can and will explode from rapidly expanding moisture inside them - now I'm no geologist, that's my dads field - but 1) don't use rocks that may have been wet at any point in their lives and 2) pick a hard,dry,unlayered rock like granite, marble or slate. If there are none then just build your fire over a rock and wick the moisture out and you should be ok.
     
    Ihatetacomas, Dec 21, 2016
    #42
  3. Dec 22, 2016 at 4:00 AM
    #43
    B ill y

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    B ill y Well-Known Member

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    twine.jpg heatexchanger002.jpg water-to-water-Heat-Exchanger-10-Plate.jpg
     
    B ill y, Dec 22, 2016
    #43
  4. Dec 22, 2016 at 4:04 AM
    #44
    B ill y

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    B ill y Well-Known Member

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    you can use a heat exchanger never run out of heat. tap it in to the 5/8" heater line. run the engine to heat the exchanger then run water will need a mixing valve like a shower valve in your house. buy the heat exchanger needs to be stainless with a copper core or it will rot out from the inside and go bad. and can cause you to lose coolant . so if you get one get the good one .
     
    B ill y, Dec 22, 2016
    #44
  5. Dec 22, 2016 at 4:05 AM
    #45
    B ill y

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    B ill y Well-Known Member

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    Vehicle_Mounted_Hot_Water_Heat_Exchanger.jpg
     
    B ill y, Dec 22, 2016
    #45
  6. Mar 5, 2018 at 8:37 PM
    #46
    excorcist

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    excorcist [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Just wanted to bump this thread with a conclusion... I ended up doing as I had planned and used a metal 5 gallon bucket. Never really used it as a solar system, but heating it over a fire was GREAT... The portable shower I bought was amazing as well. Having a hot shower while camping is a must for us now.


    unnamed-6.jpg

    Positives of this method:
    Simple
    Fuel source is typically abundant where we camp
    Very fast (5 gallon bucket from cold to hot is about 5-10 minutes)
    5 gallon bucket is useful around camp for other tasks
    Ability to take a hot shower (as hot as you want) in a snow storm if it comes to hit
    5 gallon capacity is a convenient size- more than enough for a shower


    Downfalls of this method:
    Carrying and traveling with the bucket (just not a convenient shape)
    The bottom exterior of bucket gets very dirty and sooty
    Thats all I can think of right now

    It was an effective and simple system system which is what I was going for at the time and would highly suggest something similar for people in that situation.

    Since we have been camping A LOT I have built a more permanent water tank and working on developing a heat exchanger for our coleman stove.

    If that doesn't work out Ill end up with one of the tankless water heaters.. Looks good for 120$ if you ask me:
    $160 CAMPLUX Tankless Water Heater Outdoor, 1.32 GPM Portable Propane Camping Water Heater, 5L, AY132, White
    https://www.amazon.com/Camplux-Outd...8-1-spons&keywords=propane+water+heater&psc=1
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2018
    excorcist, Mar 5, 2018
    #46
    desertrunner24 and theredofshaw like this.
  7. Mar 5, 2018 at 11:31 PM
    #47
    DANGERMONEY

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    DANGERMONEY Well-Known Member

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    DANGERMONEY, Mar 5, 2018
    #47
  8. Mar 5, 2018 at 11:37 PM
    #48
    QMEDJoe

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    QMEDJoe Proverbs 3:5-6

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    QMEDJoe, Mar 5, 2018
    #48
  9. Mar 5, 2018 at 11:48 PM
    #49
    Jimmyh

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    Jimmyh Well-Known Member

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    Does this mean that I win for my Fire suggestion in Post # 2 of this thread?

    :)
     
    Jimmyh, Mar 5, 2018
    #49
    excorcist[QUOTED][OP] and DoorDing like this.
  10. Mar 6, 2018 at 9:48 AM
    #50
    excorcist

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    excorcist [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The one you posted says it heats 1 gallon of water 1 degree F in 1 hour... way to long for me. The beverage heaters asre also not meat to heat up very much water... I considered the fish tank heater but it was too many amps for the on board power outlet.



    I built a system very similar to this, but it still does not solve the "how to heat the water" issue unless you have direct sunlight for an extended period of time.




    This is the tank I built.... Will be mounted on the exterior wall of my camper shell. It uses a 12v air pump on a 20psi switch to pressurize the system. Can also be used as gravity feed for drinking / cooking uses.

    I still have to finish sanding and painting but its almost there.

    It will be black to absorb as much solar heat as I can get, but there will be times when I need another heat source.

    DSC_1911 (1).jpg
     
    excorcist, Mar 6, 2018
    #50
    spitdog and QMEDJoe[QUOTED] like this.
  11. Mar 6, 2018 at 9:55 AM
    #51
    Sig45

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    Sig45 Well-Known Member

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    Sig45, Mar 6, 2018
    #51
    excorcist[OP] likes this.
  12. Mar 6, 2018 at 9:57 AM
    #52
    excorcist

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    excorcist [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I like that alot. Didn't come across that when I was searching. Stainless is a huge advantage. Looks like a great kit.
     
    excorcist, Mar 6, 2018
    #52
    Sig45[QUOTED] likes this.
  13. Mar 6, 2018 at 10:07 AM
    #53
    Sig45

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    Sig45 Well-Known Member

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    If you go that route, you won't be disappointed. Buy quality and it lasts. The day I received it, I did replace the hose with a longer one...but that's it.
     
    Sig45, Mar 6, 2018
    #53
  14. Mar 6, 2018 at 10:13 AM
    #54
    Sig45

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    Sig45 Well-Known Member

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    Sig45, Mar 6, 2018
    #54
Page 3 of 3

Products Discussed in

CAMPLUX Tankless Water Heater Outdoor, 1.32 GPM Portable Propane Camping Water Heater, 5L, AY132, White
$159.99
Ivation Portable Outdoor Shower, Battery Powered - Compact Handheld Rechargeable Camping Showerhead - Pumps Water from Bucket Into Steady, Gentle Shower Stream
$39.99
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