OEM T6.1 rear shower system

[Johnny Rocket]

Evening all.


The (Ocean) van we rented last summer for a 3 week trip to the Outer Hebrides was equipped with the factory-option shower and its dinky little bayonet-fit hose and shower head plus power switch on the N/S rear cupboard face.

I found this really useful, and would have liked the same facility on the T6.1 van we then bought on our return, but that was a brand new cancelled order so wasn’t possible.

I have read and seen all about the myriad of other solutions people propose, and the many valid ideas about what’s acceptable or preferable in the showering department (everyone’s very clearly different ;-)!), but I don’t want a separate device or system or any other guff to have to stow elsewhere - I’d like something which is identical, or at least very closely replicates, the OE system, so using the standard fresh water tank and with the only changes being the connection to it, installation of the pump and switch, and the hose / head to connect to the bulkhead fitting or to stow when not in use.

So I was wondering, has anyone ever identified and priced up the kit of bits you need to source from VW to effect this modification? - I can imagine the costs being eye-wateringly unattractive and therefore a non-starter, in which case has anyone made for themselves an alternative decent-quality replication of the OE system, and which does exactly the same thing? (does the standard loom provide a supply for the pump and switch, e.g?)

I had a hunt for answers to this question some months ago, and found that the subject had been touched upon, although so far as I recall it hadn't really been answered in exactly the terms I have described?

So, as ever, the best search engine seems to be everyone else on the forum’s collective memory and enthusiasm to recycle good experience and hard-won technical information for the benefit of others!


Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give.


John.

 

[Wildcamper]

We don't have a Cali, our is a conversion, but we have a shower at the rear (hot water) fitted as part of the conversion. I am sure if you take your van to a "good" converter they will be able to fit what you require. Ours was Autohaus in Minehead Somerset.

 

[Johnny Rocket]

We don't have a Cali, our is a conversion, but we have a shower at the rear (hot water) fitted as part of the conversion. I am sure if you take your van to a "good" converter they will be able to fit what you require. Ours was Autohaus in Minehead Somerset.

OK, many thanks. Tho' you see I don't really want to pay someone else to do what I can do perfectly well myself, so am really after the inside line on what people have done to achieve the same result - which DOESN'T mean of course that I can't pump (hah!) the convertors for ideas, so will do that too.

 

[The Merle]

OK, many thanks. Tho' you see I don't really want to pay someone else to do what I can do perfectly well myself, so am really after the inside line on what people have done to achieve the same result - which DOESN'T mean of course that I can't pump (hah!) the convertors for ideas, so will do that too.

Carry a portable karcher, cost about £100 Halfords.
Great for washing down the dog, muddy boots and bike.
Battery lasts a long time too

 

[R_Sargeant_CH]

Evening all.


The (Ocean) van we rented last summer for a 3 week trip to the Outer Hebrides was equipped with the factory-option shower and its dinky little bayonet-fit hose and shower head plus power switch on the N/S rear cupboard face.

I found this really useful, and would have liked the same facility on the T6.1 van we then bought on our return, but that was a brand new cancelled order so wasn’t possible.

I have read and seen all about the myriad of other solutions people propose, and the many valid ideas about what’s acceptable or preferable in the showering department (everyone’s very clearly different ;-)!), but I don’t want a separate device or system or any other guff to have to stow elsewhere - I’d like something which is identical, or at least very closely replicates, the OE system, so using the standard fresh water tank and with the only changes being the connection to it, installation of the pump and switch, and the hose / head to connect to the bulkhead fitting or to stow when not in use.

So I was wondering, has anyone ever identified and priced up the kit of bits you need to source from VW to effect this modification? - I can imagine the costs being eye-wateringly unattractive and therefore a non-starter, in which case has anyone made for themselves an alternative decent-quality replication of the OE system, and which does exactly the same thing? (does the standard loom provide a supply for the pump and switch, e.g?)

I had a hunt for answers to this question some months ago, and found that the subject had been touched upon, although so far as I recall it hadn't really been answered in exactly the terms I have described?

So, as ever, the best search engine seems to be everyone else on the forum’s collective memory and enthusiasm to recycle good experience and hard-won technical information for the benefit of others!


Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give.


John.

We do have the factory fitted (cold!) shower at the back of our Ocean 6.1 and looked for a way to get warm water. We found hess-automobile.ch, a Swiss company that specialises in serious off-road campers. They build in a compact 220/12v boiler under the two gas rings.

Where this might help you is that they replace the rear coupling and switch panel with a mini mixer tap. The also swap the kitchen tap for an indentical unit - except it has blue and red markings.

It‘s expensive, but if you are already thinking of paying out for just cold water bits, maybe the incremental extra cost is worthwhile.

Hess want SFr. 1‘900 to fit this in Switzerland. Since you are in the UK maybe they would sell you the bits?

hess-autombile.ch. I speak German and we‘ll probably get this fitted, so if you are interested and want help, I‘d be happy to help. I have some pictures somewhere and it‘s very neatly engineered.

Richard

 

[subthree]

Evening all.


The (Ocean) van we rented last summer for a 3 week trip to the Outer Hebrides was equipped with the factory-option shower and its dinky little bayonet-fit hose and shower head plus power switch on the N/S rear cupboard face.

I found this really useful, and would have liked the same facility on the T6.1 van we then bought on our return, but that was a brand new cancelled order so wasn’t possible.

I have read and seen all about the myriad of other solutions people propose, and the many valid ideas about what’s acceptable or preferable in the showering department (everyone’s very clearly different ;-)!), but I don’t want a separate device or system or any other guff to have to stow elsewhere - I’d like something which is identical, or at least very closely replicates, the OE system, so using the standard fresh water tank and with the only changes being the connection to it, installation of the pump and switch, and the hose / head to connect to the bulkhead fitting or to stow when not in use.

So I was wondering, has anyone ever identified and priced up the kit of bits you need to source from VW to effect this modification? - I can imagine the costs being eye-wateringly unattractive and therefore a non-starter, in which case has anyone made for themselves an alternative decent-quality replication of the OE system, and which does exactly the same thing? (does the standard loom provide a supply for the pump and switch, e.g?)

I had a hunt for answers to this question some months ago, and found that the subject had been touched upon, although so far as I recall it hadn't really been answered in exactly the terms I have described?

So, as ever, the best search engine seems to be everyone else on the forum’s collective memory and enthusiasm to recycle good experience and hard-won technical information for the benefit of others!


Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give.


John.

Someone has done it before on here, although it requires drilling a LARGE hole in the kitchen unit!!! Have a good search and you will find.

 

[Johnny Rocket]

We do have the factory fitted (cold!) shower at the back of our Ocean 6.1 and looked for a way to get warm water. We found hess-automobile.ch, a Swiss company that specialises in serious off-road campers. They build in a compact 220/12v boiler under the two gas rings.

Where this might help you is that they replace the rear coupling and switch panel with a mini mixer tap. The also swap the kitchen tap for an indentical unit - except it has blue and red markings.

It‘s expensive, but if you are already thinking of paying out for just cold water bits, maybe the incremental extra cost is worthwhile.

Hess want SFr. 1‘900 to fit this in Switzerland. Since you are in the UK maybe they would sell you the bits?

hess-autombile.ch. I speak German and we‘ll probably get this fitted, so if you are interested and want help, I‘d be happy to help. I have some pictures somewhere and it‘s very neatly engineered.

Richard

That sounds very interesting thanks Richard - and if it involved the possibility of hot water too then my wife might even be prepared to contribute half the cost ;-) ! I'm grateful then if you would forward any more details as and when you find them. I could also potentially collect the kit in person, as we shall soon be departing for Europe to intercept my daughter who is already on her own VW Caddy camper expedition - please therefore forgive the gratuitous advertising here of her YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3IzCoIcuHdTMs3wrprvjlA/featured

 

[R_Sargeant_CH]

That sounds very interesting thanks Richard - and if it involved the possibility of hot water too then my wife might even be prepared to contribute half the cost ;-) ! I'm grateful then if you would forward any more details as and when you find them. I could also potentially also collect the kit in person, as we shall soon be departing for Europe to intercept my daughter who is already on her own VW Caddy camper expedition - please therefore forgive the gratuitous advertising here of her YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3IzCoIcuHdTMs3wrprvjlA/featured

Let me get off my iPad onto my desktop and I‘ll sort out the details for you. Tomorrow…

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

I bought this and shipped it over and absolutely love it. They have different models but this is what I got:

Portable Shower Models

Learn about RinseKit portable shower models - ranging in capacity from 1.5 - 4.5 gallons both self-pressurized and battery pressurized.

rinsekit.com

And the 12v heater for hot water:

RinseKit PRO Immersion Heater

The Immersion Heater is our electric water heater compatible with the RinseKit PRO portable shower. The stainless steel rod screws into your PRO, and is powered by a trailer hitch power cord. It can heat the water in your RinseKit up to 110°F! It boasts an LED top display panel to display any...

rinsekit.com

I also use it to fill up my fresh water tank for the van if I'm in an area where I can only use a water carrier and not a hose. The Pro Pak is like a back pack so even carrying a heavy load of water is no issue!

 

[Johnny Rocket]

Let me get off my iPad onto my desktop and I‘ll sort out the details for you. Tomorrow…

hess.ch vw calufornia hot water

Let me get off my iPad onto my desktop and I‘ll sort out the details for you. Tomorrow…

I guess this must be it?:

 

[R_Sargeant_CH]

Yes, exactly. It’s a bit short on clear pictures. I plan to visit them and get a clearer impression, but like most things Swiss, it seems well executed.

 

[Johnny Rocket]

It does look rather as if it robs a fair bit of space from (what looks to be) the bottom forward galley cupboard, but that needn’t necessarily be a showstopper I guess.

Maybe they’ll even do a discount for two ;-/ ?

 

[Nand0]

I'd be interested in hearing details about the Hess solution too. Installing hot water is high in my priority list. I plan on doing a DIY job with an Elgena boiler, but could be persuaded to have a Hess solution... just need some details.

Can't find anything in https://automobile-hess.ch/ though.

 

[The Merle]

It does look rather as if it robs a fair bit of space from (what looks to be) the bottom forward galley cupboard, but that needn’t necessarily be a showstopper I guess.

Maybe they’ll even do a discount for two ;-/ ?

Hess will deliver to uk as I enquired about there bike rack with wheel carrier.
Very quick at responding to emails.

 

[R_Sargeant_CH]

It does look rather as if it robs a fair bit of space from (what looks to be) the bottom forward galley cupboard, but that needn’t necessarily be a showstopper I guess.

Maybe they’ll even do a discount for two ;-/ ?

Busy day - sorry.

Yes, although there appears to be a space high up at the back in that cupboard. It's hard to judge, even if you step through the video. That's why I plan to visit them, they are 73km from my home. I'm sure to get complaints if too much space is lost!

Translation of their covering letter with offer:

Hello Mr Sargeant

Thank you for your enquiry and your interest.

Please find attached the offer 20572 for a hot water system from Hess Automobile Alpnach AG.

The system has a boiler with a capacity of 3 litres, which is preheated in the boiler. The boiler then functions as an instantaneous water heater.

- Installation position: horizontal - wall mounting
- Heating element: Stainless steel V4A/ Incoloy
- Voltage / Power: 230/12v - 230V/660Wand 12V/200W
- Heating time: approx. 15min(550C660W)
- Connection cable: 230 V 1 m with safety plug - 12 V 1 m cable 2 x mm2
- Water temperature: from 30c - 80c infinitely adjustable
- Frost protection: from 0c-F adjustable
- Water tank: plastic PP / suitable for drinking water
- Insulation: PU foam with skin
- Water connections: ø 10mm for hose connection

- Boiler drain: manual drain valve

Hess sent an me incredibly detailed part by part estimate with a final price of SFr. 1'990.00 including 7.7% Swiss VAT, which you will probably not have to pay if the parts are invoiced to you outside Switzerland. SFr. 1'110.00 of that is labour. I will let them build it in. The estimate is in German, so I'm not attaching it here but I could PM you a copy (and translation) if you want.

It takes 200 watts from the 12v supply. If I was wild camping, I'd switch it on together with the battery boost about 50km before arriving and let our upgraded alternator take the strain, then switch it off on arrival, and on again briefly when needed. We have twin domestic batteries. Of course, if 220v is available, I'd leave it on. We'll experiment. I hope it's insulated as well as possible.

Discount - we can only try. I will offer to publicise it heavily in the UK forums - maybe that will help.

Richard

 

[Johnny Rocket]

Hello Richard.

Thanks once more for the update, and this mine of useful information - I might well be prepared to stomach SFr 900 if they were prepared to sell me just the kit of parts along with a guide to fitment!

I took a photo this evening of our own galley locker, to compare with a screenshot from the Hess video - using the ca. 30mm round black bung in the centre(-ish) of the floor for reference, you can see from my red mark-up lines that it does appear that around half of the cupboard base level footprint is lost. But your own physical inspection and measure up will still be invaluable.

I'll continue this dialogue on a private channel, unless anyone else might care to shout (ASAP please!) because they'd like to see how the investigation progresses!?

Many thanks; John.

 

[R_Sargeant_CH]

Hi John,

I will call Hess on Tuesday morning to ensure they have a California that I can examine. I'm hoping others will find this thread interesting so will post the results here.

Richard

 

[Nand0]

I'm following the conversation with interest, so where possible, I'd appreciate keeping the information here for all to see .

Thanks once more for the update, and this mine of useful information - I might well be prepared to stomach SFr 900 if they were prepared to sell me just the kit of parts along with a guide to fitment!

They are almost certainly using an Elgena 3L boiler: https://www.elgena.de/products/kleinboiler-kb3. The rest will be some length of 10mm piping, some wires, and a mixing tap for the kitchen. Their solution for the shower is clever and would require a bit more DIY to make a suitable metal plate to install the mixing tap, hose connection and switch. I don't think such a plate is available to purchase.

If they sold a kit I might be interested as well.

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

CaliSolar.ch also sells a hot shower for 890 Chf and they are located in Sachseln which is fairly close to Alpnach (Hess location). For those that don't want a permanent installation this can be a cheaper option that allows you to use it when required and remove it when not.

Shop für VW-Produkte

Zubehör für den VW California, Solaranlage, Heckauszüge, etc.

www.calisolar.ch

 

[Ting Tong]

Apart from the polystyrene storage tray which is VW only (~£15), all of the other parts are made by Reich and are available elsewhere. Google ‘Reich external shower’ or ‘Reich shower outlet’ and also look at images tab.

 

[Johnny Rocket]

Apart from the polystyrene storage tray which is VW only (~£15), all of the other parts are made by Reich and are available elsewhere. Google ‘Reich external shower’ or ‘Reich shower outlet’ and also look at images tab.

That's really useful thanks - I will search the Reich parts bin in parallel then, and also try to find out whether the standard vehicle loom has provision for a power supply to the pump, or at least a connection from which a spur can run to it?

 

[R_Sargeant_CH]

I'm following the conversation with interest, so where possible, I'd appreciate keeping the information here for all to see .



They are almost certainly using an Elgena 3L boiler: https://www.elgena.de/products/kleinboiler-kb3. The rest will be some length of 10mm piping, some wires, and a mixing tap for the kitchen. Their solution for the shower is clever and would require a bit more DIY to make a suitable metal plate to install the mixing tap, hose connection and switch. I don't think such a plate is available to purchase.

If they sold a kit I might be interested as well.

Unfortunately the estimate I received from Hess does not name the boiler beyond "911-Boiler" at SFr 344.00. But I think Nand0 is probably right. Seems to be the 220v/12v version.

 

[R_Sargeant_CH]

Apart from the polystyrene storage tray which is VW only (~£15), all of the other parts are made by Reich and are available elsewhere. Google ‘Reich external shower’ or ‘Reich shower outlet’ and also look at images tab.

Yep. Here is the identical VW part on fleaBay Germany: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0013DU562/

 

[R_Sargeant_CH]

That's really useful thanks - I will search the Reich parts bin in parallel then, and also try to find out whether the standard vehicle loom has provision for a power supply to the pump, or at least a connection from which a spur can run to it?

But if your kitchen sink has a tap, you already have a pump? I think there's only one pump in Californias that have a built-in kitchen.

 

[R_Sargeant_CH]

CaliSolar.ch also sells a hot shower for 890 Chf and they are located in Sachseln which is fairly close to Alpnach (Hess location). For those that don't want a permanent installation this can be a cheaper option that allows you to use it when required and remove it when not.

Shop für VW-Produkte

Zubehör für den VW California, Solaranlage, Heckauszüge, etc.

www.calisolar.ch

View attachment 94087

I also quite like this because it doesn't eat precious kitchen cupboard storage space like the otherwise super Hess solution (and it's half the price). OK, no hot water at the sink, but the gas kettle is so fast I don't really need that.

Two problems for me:
- The box has a lid. Our slide out tray is so full with those grey Euroboxes that the box lid would foul the underside of the board in our 6.1. *
- I'd really like to also have a 12v/220v option for the times we are on a camping site. I will ask him directly if this is possible.

I'm still thinking.

* A separate post is in preparation about rear slide and Eurobox sizes. That took a lot of research!

Richard