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Will most likely be pumping from a container but a stream is an option if it is close enough. As of now I will not be heating maybe just use a black container to soak up solar heat, but maybe I will try to integrate a heat diffuser but that defeats the purpose of camping green and not using any fuels.

 

I played with the idea of large custom black pressurized PVC shower mounted to my rack as well.
Ultimately I decided against the idea because I realized filling up a PVC pipe mounted at my head level would be a huge pain in the ass if all you had to do it with was another water jug. If you had a hose and a pressurized water source nearby it would be easy, but that's not usually the case.
I decided that portable jugs would better suit my needs as I can carry them from any water source and I can also move them around into direct sunlight to heat them up. I usually try and park my truck in the shade if possible because I sleep in the back of my canopy.
It is a little bit of a pain in the ass to lift them up onto the rack but at least you don't have to hold them up there and try and pour it into your shower to fill it up.

 

If you do the pvc pipe make sure it is sealed very well. Tight fittings screw on and don't pressurize it too high as it can shatter.

 

Sorry, you lost me with camping green, in a truck.

lol Just kidding! I think I know what you mean. I think you were referring to using a heat exchanger to heat water, in which case you run your engine, or maybe using propane, not sure... Either way... I wouldn't worrry about it.

The Shurflo pump is a good one. I have one too, but have not integrated it into the truck yet.

If I had unlimited time at my disposal, I think I'd mount an 8-12 gallon tank in the bed of the truck and do a water project involving a heat exchanger and a thermostat controlled pump. It would be a novelty though, not something we need.

The water bottle is very effective. Something to be said for simplicity. On my last trip, usually around mid-day I'd pull over and use my 1-gallon lawn and garden sprayer to soap up and wash my face / head. Works great and feels great, very easy too!

 

HAHA absolutely. It is hard to be green while glamping. As a sustainability major, I like to try out ideas, maybe use a fire to heat a coil for a heat source haha I will be creative and complicated as shit.

 

This is great to hear. I'm a big believer in trying new ideas and not being afraid to try new things, experiment, learn, grow, flourish, etc.

Believe it or not there is a product on the market to heat water in copper? coil, tubing, on a camp fire for camp hot water. It may have been posted in here years ago, but it's around somewhere.

 

I don't know about any products on the market like this but it would be pretty simple to just to build your own. All you really need is a coil of copper tubing, some hose clamps and some garden hose. You could even solder some fittings on if you wanted.

I've always wanted to do just that and make a hottub while camping. You could just dig a big hole, lay in a tarp, pump out some lake or river water and run it through the copper coil in the fire. Once you've pumped enough into the tub then just recirculate in the tub to heat it up more and keep it hot.
I always figured you would need a generator and a 120v sump pump to move that much water. But looking at the amp draw on some 12v pumps I bet it could be done just as well with a battery and solar power.

Are those 12v pumps designed to run for long periods of time?

If you could make that work with a 12v pump then I might have something to try out this summer.

 

What about wrapping the exhaust with copper tubing and have water recirculate from a tank, through the coil, and back to the tank? Any reason this would not work?

 

I though about doing this with a galvanized horse trough and a big enough coil to put a fire in the middle of. I feel the convection currents would circulate the water enough but IDK a pump mite need to be added. Obviously not for glamping purposes, just backyard use.

The only problem with this is running the engine. If your are going to go through the trouble of coiling the exhaust mite as well plum in a heat exchanger into the cooling system.

 

While a self-heating water container is convenient, don't forget you can always heat some water on a stove/fire, dump it in your water container, and have a warm shower.

 

Itd be too inefficient for the most part. You wouldnt transfer enough heat through to get water to a decent temp.

 

It is certainly possible that my idea is a solution in search of a problem

 

zodi camp fire coil water heater, that's what it's called.
http://www.hotcampshowers.com/inc/sdetail/1915

Yeah, not to much to it, should be straightforward to replicate in a DIY project.

The Shurflo pump is pretty amazing. 3GPM, self primes up to 9 vertical feet, can run dry with no harm. No runtime limitations. Just need to use a filter on the intake. I've used one in a custom home water project and have pumped 10’s of thousands of gallons of water over two years.

 

That Zodi camp coil looks perfect. Maybe I should have that as a quick connect option.

 

Just like Sacrifice said, it would be too inefficient using hot air of exhaust in a heat transfer method. Someone actually tried it here on TW.

As far as I know, there is no faster way to heat water than a heat exchanger. Water in fluid dynamics is so efficient, that's why they use them in nuclear applications.

Splicing into the heater core output with a plate or tube/shell style changer, will get you 180+ F water in a hurry.

 

Yeah, and it doesn't empty your wallet hardly a bit. Fail.

(#lesscrapftmfw)

 

My 7 gallon bass pro jug will run for 10 minutes continuous. If you shut it off intermittently it can usually get 3 people a nice hot shower.

Heat it up! I've got the parts list. All you really need is an aftermarket OEM radiator. I did mine the hard way and learned a lot.

Stop it stop it I spent way too much time debating this myself haha just go with a heat exchanger.

Mines a 40 plate exchanger tapped in before the heater core right out of the engine. Usually gets 185 degrees, but will drop if I run more than 10 gallons continuously.
Here's mine.

https://youtu.be/6wnvuyPCYB4<br /><br />re worked my existing setup. old pump was free, but has left me halfway through a shower nekkid in the middle of camp more than once because it couldn't self prime. Now I can pull 9' of dry line and it cycles to keep pressure up rather than burning up when I shut off the nozzle.

 

In fact, I'm writing this as I lie in bed I'm gonna get up and take a shower right now haha

 

Looks great Spencer! Wish I was out there too. Be safe in your wheeling adventures, and try not to destroy any more skid plates.