Solar shower

[Paulro]

We're just back from the Ile de re and thought members might find the following info useful.
We enjoy wild camping and have come up with a system using a 20 litre solar shower bag that sits on the roof and heats from the sun. £5 go outdoors.
I then bought some rope and a couple of lightweight Petzl pulleys and hoist the bag to the desired height over the branch of a tree.
The water can get a bit too hot but cold water can obviously be added but all in all it is a very good system that works really well.
I do drive a very short distance, quite slowly, with the bag on top of the Cali and park in the sun to both heat the bag and to allow the sun to do its job on our new solar panel fitted on the roof that helps keep the leisure batteries topped up.
This worked well this trip, our first with the solar panel from Roger Donague. 8 days wild camping, roof up every evening and lowered each morning, fridge providing cold drinks and doing its job well and no power issues or even worries.

 

[Wojtek Boden]

Does anybody know whether the nearside awning rail on a 2006 California is sufficiently strongly fixed to the body so that it can be used to hang a 20 litre solar shower? Is the aluminium rail fixed to the body with with (hidden) screws or stuck on with adhesive. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Wojtek

 

[Paulro]

Nothing is glued on. The awning I'd bolted on and will easily take a shower.

 

[campandfly]

Our emergency lightweight shower takes up almost zero pack space can be solar heated or topped up with the kettle. It will hold 10 litres but that's not necessary 2-3litres per person is more than enough. At 2-3 litres the weight of the bag does not pull down the boot. It is also far enough away when in use not to get water in the boot. Just a piece of string required nothing else. We can stand on our rubber perforated doormat to keep feet clean and dirt free. If privacy is required we were thinking of just putting one of those cheap Toilet/shower tents underneath. In the video the bag is slightly unrolled and hangs lower. With only 2-3 litres it can be rolled up more and hang higher up.

 

[Iron Van]

Our emergency lightweight shower takes up almost zero pack space can be solar heated or topped up with the kettle. It will hold 10 litres but that's not necessary 2-3litres per person is more than enough. At 2-3 litres the weight of the bag does not pull down the boot. It is also far enough away when in use not to get water in the boot. Just a piece of string required nothing else. We can stand on our rubber perforated doormat to keep feet clean and dirt free. If privacy is required we were thinking of just putting one of those cheap Toilet/shower tents underneath. In the video the bag is slightly unrolled and hangs lower. With only 2-3 litres it can be rolled up more and hang higher up.

That’s a great bit of kit.

 

[motacyclist]

Our emergency lightweight shower takes up almost zero pack space can be solar heated or topped up with the kettle. It will hold 10 litres but that's not necessary 2-3litres per person is more than enough. At 2-3 litres the weight of the bag does not pull down the boot. It is also far enough away when in use not to get water in the boot. Just a piece of string required nothing else. We can stand on our rubber perforated doormat to keep feet clean and dirt free. If privacy is required we were thinking of just putting one of those cheap Toilet/shower tents underneath. In the video the bag is slightly unrolled and hangs lower. With only 2-3 litres it can be rolled up more and hang higher up.

Please demonstrate actually having a shower!

 

[campandfly]

Stayed at a grassy campsite the other day and tested the bottleshower gadget.

Same thing hung it from the boot. We used a 2litre coke/water bottle and had sprayed it with a bit of black paint and left it in the sun.

It worked very well although it does tend to move about a bit if its windy.
After a busy day of sport it was magic to have a shower. Will post a video update soon of the shower and tent.
But first I just have to practice my singing