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I made a shower out of a black plastic 5gal water container. It did not have enough surface area compared to volume and so did a very poor job of heating water. I think you could make a functional unit out of large diameter black PVC pipe, and it would be pretty easy to incorporate a schrader valve so that you could pressurize it before use. In any event, even the most efficient passive solar shower is going to be of limited utility when the ambient temps remain <65* or so, unless the idea of a 80* shower sounds good.

 

I eventually want a couple of cases.

1 or 2 rifle sized ones

Seahorse Heavy Duty Hard Protective Rifle Cases - TSA Approved/Mil Spec / IP67 Waterproof/USA Made for Rifles, Shotguns, Telescopes, Car Utility Rack, Guitars, Rooftop Rack

http://www.amazon.com/Seahorse-SE1530-Rifle-Case-Foam/dp/B00J9O72CC

And a couple smaller deep ones for stuff in the cab

$130 Seahorse SE-540F Waterproof Protective Hardcase with Foam (Black), Camouflage

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003A...orse+se540&dpPl=1&dpID=41AQ6wA7SiL&ref=plSrch

 

Do a search for the dual battery thread. I just installed a dual setup and used a purpose manufactured controller to keep it charged off the alternator.

 

I used a National Luna Split Charge Kit from Front Runner Outfitters. Pretty straightforward.

 

Thanks for the replies will look into both this and the dual battery thread. How many gallons do you think one will need for say 2-4 showers?

 

If you are careful you can take a decent shower with +-1gal

 

Extremely subjective. I suggest taking some warm/hot water into your back yard and try showering. Measure. Find out what you or your companions are comfortable with. My wife can get by on 1 gallon. I can make do with 1/2 gallon. Obviously, more water makes for a better experience.

 

Thanks for the responses guys. Another question, does any one have a checklist they use when they are getting ready for a trip. Did my first trip with the truck for new years and everything seemed to work good. Just forgot little things and was a little disorganized. (Sorry, i like to be organized)

 

I keep all my sleeping gear in one action packer and all my kitchen gear in another. Grab those two and my chair and cooler and I'm off.

I find that keeping all my gear in one spot helps me not forget things.

 

I have read of matress heaters like used in semis being successful but haven't bought one yet. I probably will this year.

 

I guess I'm just simple when it comes to cold weather sleeping. I have a 0* bag and a 40* bag for warm weather. If it's going to be cold I just put the 40* bag inside the 0* bag.

 

I am like you, I have 2 sleeping bags. One down mummy bag that is a 20 degree rated bag and one synthetic that is a square bag rated to ~30. In warm weather I open the down bag and sleep with it over me like a quilt. In cooler weather I sleep in it. In cold weather I use it with my down jacket on and some good warm bottoms. In extremely cold weather I stick the down bag inside of the synthetic and have never been cold. My wife however has some serious issues when we go cold weather camping, heck she wears her big down jacket to the grocery store in the evening during august.

A good heated blanket or matress pad would reduce the number of blankets/bags I have to pack for her.

 

Somewhere lost in this thread I posted a few photos and a brief write up of a solar shower I created by pressurizing two Scepter MWC (Military water cans)
Let me see if I can find it.

 

@malburg114 Here ya go.

 

When we went to Mojave last week and had nighttime temps in the teens, I used a very high tech method to help keep my 4 year old son warm. I filled a 32-ounce nalgene water bottle with boiling water, covered it with a wool sock, and placed it in the bag by his feet. Amazingly, it was still warm in the morning. Total cost: $11. No dead batteries.

 

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Been looking for a write up on how to do this one and cant thank you enough. Think it can be done with other water jugs?

 

Since we are talking showers, I have been in the works of getting mine up and going. All I need now is a pickup hose and the nozzle.

 

I guess it depends on how well they seal and hold pressure. The MWC can take quite the punishment.

 

What are you doing with it? Are you pumping from a tank, a stream, lake, etc? Do you heat the pumped water?

 

This is what I'm planning to do. It should be enough surface area to get the water decently warm on nice spring or summer day. 20 inches of 4" PVC pipe holds just over a gallon of water.