On Board Hot Water for Shower

[Bob]

These units are great for Showers and also washing up water

http://www.colemanaustralia.com.au/g...on-demand.aspx

or this one

http://www.anaconda.com.au/Product/C...hower#90028204

[happygu]

I'd tell you about the marine calorifier I have fitted in our Patrol, but some smartarse would no doubt remind me that we are overweight! Drive for 20-30 minutes & have 25 litres of hot water which stays hot for up to 3 days. Takes up more space than a Glind type though.

I'd like to hear more Cuppa - sounds interesting....was it in the truck when you got it, or have you installed it?

[happygu]

Boy, very clean mob here, will follow thread with interest,
Are these really required or could you wait a bit longer
till you found a decent creek crossing[no soap] or caravan park

Threedogs, if it was up to me, I wouldn't bother ....... I am surrounded by women, and I have had to make promises to do the camping and offroad stuff that we do for extended periods.

Mic

[happygu]

Threedogs, if it was up to me, I wouldn't bother ....... I am surrounded by women, and I have had to make promises to do the camping and offroad stuff that we do for extended periods.

Mic

My only worry is that it would become a three minute wonder and then never get used again.....
Does anyone regularly use theirs?

[Dominator]

I went up Fraser last year for 10 days and it got well used then. Also when I go up teerwah beach camping it means the missus can have a hot shower. I love going surfing in winter then going up to the car park and having a steaming hot shower in front of everyone that is freezing.

[Cuppa]

I'd like to hear more Cuppa - sounds interesting....was it in the truck when you got it, or have you installed it?

For those not familiar with calorifiers they are just a heat exchanger inside an insulated tank. They are commonly used in the boating world & are becoming a bit more popular in motorhomes. Unlike the Glind & Helton type heat exchangers the motor does not need to be running when showering & the temperature of the water is more easily controllable.
Water is heated as you drive, & stays hot for a few days (dependent on ambient temps & amount of insulation). On the two I've fitted, one in our bus & one in the Patrol, I have added extra insulation & find the water is still hot enough to shower with on the third day of camp without having driven. Most calorifiers also have an electric element in them, so can be plugged into power when available. The one in our bus is made by Sigmar Marine, & is a square shape. Unfortunately the square model is no longer made, a shame because it was much easier to build in. I think the smallest model they do is 15 litres. http://www.bcaaust.com.au/Marine-Water-Heaters
The one I fitted into the Patrol was made by Surecal, a UK company well known in the European boating world. They sell direct from the factory on eBay, & total cost delivered here was close to half the cost of the Sigmar. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10-Litre-...#ht_2895wt_689
Main difference is that the Surecal tank is copper, & the Sigmar stainless steel. The Surecal also comes fitted with both pressure relief & tempering valve. With the Sigmar these are essential extras which push the price up.

Fwiw, I also found Surecal very good to deal with.

20 to 30 minutes driving gives a tankful of water plenty hot enough four showering, an hour or two's driving gives water hot enough to give significant burns. Thus the need for the tempering valve which automatically mixes cold water to the hot to give the temp you set it at. This also makes the hot water go further.

Of course an electric pressure pump is needed. I now have a tiny 4.3 litre per minute one in the Patrol, light in weight & light on power consumption.

Cuppa

[happygu]

For those not familiar with calorifiers they are just a heat exchanger inside an insulated tank. They are commonly used in the boating world & are becoming a bit more popular in motorhomes. Unlike the Glind & Helton type heat exchangers the motor does not need to be running when showering & the temperature of the water is more easily controllable.
Water is heated as you drive, & stays hot for a few days (dependent on ambient temps & amount of insulation). On the two I've fitted, one in our bus & one in the Patrol, I have added extra insulation & find the water is still hot enough to shower with on the third day of camp without having driven. Most calorifiers also have an electric element in them, so can be plugged into power when available. The one in our bus is made by Sigmar Marine, & is a square shape. Unfortunately the square model is no longer made, a shame because it was much easier to build in. I think the smallest model they do is 15 litres. http://www.bcaaust.com.au/Marine-Water-Heaters
The one I fitted into the Patrol was made by Surecal, a UK company well known in the European boating world. They sell direct from the factory on eBay, & total cost delivered here was close to half the cost of the Sigmar. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10-Litre-...#ht_2895wt_689
Main difference is that the Surecal tank is copper, & the Sigmar stainless steel. The Surecal also comes fitted with both pressure relief & tempering valve. With the Sigmar these are essential extras which push the price up.

Fwiw, I also found Surecal very good to deal with.

20 to 30 minutes driving gives a tankful of water plenty hot enough four showering, an hour or two's driving gives water hot enough to give significant burns. Thus the need for the tempering valve which automatically mixes cold water to the hot to give the temp you set it at. This also makes the hot water go further.

Of course an electric pressure pump is needed. I now have a tiny 4.3 litre per minute one in the Patrol, light in weight & light on power consumption.

Cuppa

That doesn't look too bad Cuppa....I presume it gets too hot to touch on the outside.

Mic

[happygu]

I went up Fraser last year for 10 days and it got well used then. Also when I go up teerwah beach camping it means the missus can have a hot shower. I love going surfing in winter then going up to the car park and having a steaming hot shower in front of everyone that is freezing.

Dominator,

Good to see that you are getting good use out of yours.
We have used one before, but we only used it once on a 9 day trip. Considering how many things there are to buy, I have to weigh up how many times I will actually use one myself...

Mic

[happygu]

I had one in another 4WD for ages. At the time they were really the only way to go. Problem was the 4by would be sitting at idle for ages while everyone had a shower. With diesels you normally have to increase the idle to get enough heat. I now have an instant hot water system (you can get them from any camping store). They are more flexible as to how close to the water you can get them, you don't have to squeeze a heat exchanger and a pump under the bonnet and your car is not sitting at idle for hours.

Thanks Bill,

I take it that you find the inconvenience of having to put the unit somewhere in the back of the car, more convenient than the old fixed unit you had....

Mic

[happygu]

These units are great for Showers and also washing up water

http://www.colemanaustralia.com.au/g...on-demand.aspx

or this one

http://www.anaconda.com.au/Product/C...hower#90028204

Thanks Bob,

I have seen these around, but I am still trying to weigh up the convenience factor between a Glind fixed into the car and the freestanding units.... and also make sure that with the fixed unit, that there is enough temperature variation in the 'dial' to actually make the water cold enough to use.

The fixed unit we have used before in a 3Litre Patrol was way too hot, and we found it difficult to get it cold enough for the kids

Mic