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Do you use your outside shower?

I've had 3 campers with an outside shower and only used it once when the dog rolled in a cow plop.  Other than that I thought it was a worthless option.

We use ours for washing our hair when showers aren't avail. and it comes in handy for rinsing dishes.

We set our "dishwashing station" next to the outside shower. I also installed a 12V porch light so we can see what we are washing.
We have used it as a shower a few times especially when we are near the beach (rinse off the sand and/or salt water).

We set ours up anytime that we camp 3+ days. We'd rather use our own shower than public showers:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/wkavery/TentShower.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/wkavery/ShowerSetUp2.jpg)

We don't have an outside shower on our camper.  

DW bought a clearance priced Coleman outside shower enclosure and a solar shower bag three years ago.  Although I did a trial set-up of the shower enclosure in the garage once, we have never used them or even taken them with us on a camping trip yet.

We've only been on 2 trips, haven't had a chance to use the outdoor shower as of yet, but we do have both indoor and outdoor showers.  So I can't realistically answer on the poll because we do have one, but haven't used it yet.

Comes in real handy when you are boon-docking. from washing dishes to taking showers.
Love having the option, but it would be more useful if it was on the door side (curb) for dish washing

Yes...so far we like having it to wash out the dutch oven, and to maybe wash hands after using the dump station. I have even used it to settle the dust around the area.

Larry

I use mine once in a while.  I would use it more if I had a matt or something to stand on while using it.  Any suggestions?

I've put a chair over there before to sit on while washing the sand off my feet.  That works ok.

We have never used ours, and quite frankly if I had the option next time to have one with out I wouldn't get one. For our use I can not see ever needing it.

Having had both an inside and outside shower on both our popup and now our Hybrid, it is something I could not do without.
We do a lot of beach camping, so it is used to clean the sand off the kids, as well as rinse off the wetsuits.
The kids have washed themselves out there, including shampooing their hair, but not DW or I.
During the winter, it is not used as much.

We use ours sometimes when we camp at the beach or to wash hands.  

Jacqui

I use ours all the time.  Washing dishes, washing hands, taking showers.  It is used much more than the inside shower.:)

After I setup the only time I go to the back of the camper is to adjust the water or refrig temp. I don't think I've opened the door on the outside shower.

We have had one on our past three rigs and really haven't made much use of them.  Occasionally used them to rinse things off or do the dishes.

I can think of a few times that I would have liked to have had one when our kids were young.

Now as far as my actually using it to take a shower, I can only think that my standing outside with little or nothing on would be the fastest way for anybody to clear out a campgorund. :)

Quote from: GeneFNow as far as my actually using it to take a shower, I can only think that my standing outside with little or nothing on would be the fastest way for anybody to clear out a campgorund. :)

I don't know Gene.  You do have the nice coconut bra you could wear.:D

I like having the shower there, but we don't really use it for showering.  We have used it to rinse off boogie boards and things like that.  And I'm not real hip on showering out in the open, teepee or not.  But I could see it being useful for doing that if we had small kids.  My biggest thing about showering with it is, how do you keep the water from running everywhere?

For some reason I must wet my head in the morning to fully wake up. So yes, I use ours every morning for a quick splash on my hair & face. Much better than balancing under a water jug or (shiver) using water from the cooler.

Do you let the water run on the ground or do you have to collect and dispose of it in a septic tank?

Quote from: xjcrawlerDo you let the water run on the ground or do you have to collect and dispose of it in a septic tank?

We have a 24"x40" hard plastic pan, about 6" deep (you can see it in the pics above). It catches 95% of the water. We just take "military" showers so there isn't much water. We put it in with our grey water.

If the dump station isn't busy, we will dump our grey water there. If it's busy, I just dump it in the toilet (very carefully as not to make any spills).

Where is the best place to get them. Also what are some of the better brands?

Quote from: xjcrawlerWhere is the best place to get them. Also what are some of the better brands?

:book:  :confused:

When we had our 1st PUP (Coleman Santa Fe) we used it to wash our kids feet and even bathed them in a long Rubbermaid container.   The kids loved getting a bath outside.  Other than that, we didn't use the shower much but would rather have it than not.

Yes:

I do most of the dishwashing outside- Generally at a table set up right in front of the outside shower faucet (which is on the trailer's curb side, not streetside like most).  Hot and cold running water is great!

When "roughing it" without nice campground showers we use the outside shower to wash.  Generally we fill a solar shower water bag with hot water and then use it in our Paha Que Tepee which we set up away from the trailer.

Quote from: wavery:book:  :confused:

Sorry I was refering  to the stand alone kind, not the one that comes with the camper. Those are considered outside showers aren't they?

Quote from: xjcrawlerSorry I was refering  to the stand alone kind, not the one that comes with the camper. Those are considered outside showers aren't they?

I bought ours on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/TEXSPORT-PRIVACY-OUTDOOR-CAMPING-SHOWER-SHELTER-TENT-A_W0QQitemZ230211046637QQihZ013QQcategoryZ52484QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

We've used ours to wash hair and quickie clean up when showers are not available.  (With biodegradable shampoo of course!)

Most campgrounds have rules against grey water on the ground, so we do use it sparingly.

I really like the idea of installing a light on that side of the trailer! for the shower, AND to see the hookups and everything else on that side at night. :D

love ours! great for rinsing off 4 dirty boys, rinsing our big pans and skillets, and washing my hair... when the boys were younger and I'd camp with them alone without hubby, I would use our our utility shower tent to shower outside with it so I didn't have to worry about leaving 4 kids alone in the trailer (the pitch dark was great 4 that, no worry about anyone seeing me, I would hang a few of the kids glowsticks in there so I could see)

Quote from: A2SuperCrewI really like the idea of installing a light on that side of the trailer! for the shower, AND to see the hookups and everything else on that side at night. :D

I installed a roadside light awhile back on our Fleetwood between the refrig. door and water heater and it great for late night arrivals getting everyting lit and set up.
 
http://picasaweb.google.com/mypopupmods/StreetSideLightMOD

I used our several times this summer.  We were traveling with our 3 year old granddaughter, and it came in handy when we needed to rinse her off.  It came standard with our Flagstaff, but I wouldn't pay extra to have one.

I don't really think you'll miss one. However if you really want a shower, I think your best bet is getting an inside one. I have both.
 
I use my outside shower to wash off dirt and sand after hiking or swimming. However, the hot water is just a convenience as a regular hose would do the same.
 
What I really use it the most for is filling the hotwater heater up without needing to pop up the camper when I don't have water hookups at the campsite. I just use my city water connection at home to fill the water heater up and bleed the air out with the outside shower. That way I can take another 6 gallons of water and don't need to fill the hot water heater from the freshwater tank when we get to the campsite. I also use it after being setup instead of the inside sink because I don't get water everywhere from the air in the lines and there's no running in and out.
 
Then again, I wouldn't have hot water if it weren't for the inside shower. I never needed hot water to do the dishes tent camping so I don't need it now. If I want it, it's easily done on the campfire.
 
It's a nice convenience but after having it, I found little use for it that a water hose couldn't do. However it wasn't an expensive option since I already had the hot water heater for the inside shower and it does make it's resale better.
 
So the main use I've found it's best for is filling the hot water tank.
 
Have a good one.

Great for washing the dog, spraying off the bar-b-que grill, hair washing when one wants a little more space.  I kinda wish it were on the same side as entry to camper - would be great for rinsing feet before entry!  (I have a dishpan that gets used now).

Quote from: xjcrawlerSorry I was refering  to the stand alone kind, not the one that comes with the camper. Those are considered outside showers aren't they?

I think they are TOTALLY worth it.  Prior to having our Niagara, we had a small 8' box with no amenities.  We had an outside shower stall, a porta-potty and a battery operated pump.  We used a large coffee urn to heat water, then used the pump to shower with - using bio-degradable soap.  We never had to use the campground bathhouse.

Now as for the outside shower on the Niagara, we've only used it a couple of times to rinse sand off at the beach.  As someone else suggested, it would be much better if it was on the other side; we would use it for dishes, etc. when we set up our outdoor kitchen. . . .I never could figure out why it is on the backside of the camper.

Pam

I would think they put them on the backside to keep the water runoff away from the entrance.

If it is on the front side of the camper it would be nice for dishes, but not so good for showering.  I put a table in the back to do dishes.  I can also bring my inside shower head out to the front of the camper by unzipping the zipper where the bunkend tenting and side wall tenting meet.  :)

I have a tiny camper, but we have a porta potty and a water heater now.  the only thing missing is a shower, but how do you keep the grey water from going everywhere...have you ever been to a campground where they are strict on grey water and won't let you use an outside shower?

Quote from: spicetraderI have a tiny camper, but we have a porta potty and a water heater now.  the only thing missing is a shower, but how do you keep the grey water from going everywhere...have you ever been to a campground where they are strict on grey water and won't let you use an outside shower?

Here's what I do with the grey water:


We collect the water in that tub (it catches about 90% of the shower water) then put it in the grey water tank. Then we dump the tank as normal. I've never had a CG tell me that we couldn't use our shower tent.

Perfect solution, THANKS!

I'm really glad to read about some of yall's comments. This is the first one I've had with an outside shower. I would think it would be much roomier than the inside shower, and I love the idea of a double instead of a single little tent room to use. Also the prices you all found are much less than what I've found. I would've never thought K-Mart would have anything remotely like that.

                                             MJ
2007 Fleetwood Westlake
2008 F150

I used ours when we Dry camped at the beach for a week...I built my own.but didn't have my camera so I don't have any pics...

I'd forgotten about it - until I had to clean a nasty pan, and the shower worked great for that!  Have also used it to wash the dogs, frequent feet rinsing, and a great cool off on a hot summer day, as well as the after beach salt rinse.

Quote from: Dee4jI used ours when we Dry camped at the beach for a week...I built my own.but didn't have my camera so I don't have any pics...

It's OK Dee, we have pics of it with you inside taking a shower.....do you want me to post some of them. I also have views from up on top of your camper.....so that people can see the way it is constructed.... :sombraro:

Quote from: waveryIt's OK Dee, we have pics of it with you inside taking a shower.....do you want me to post some of them. I also have views from up on top of your camper.....so that people can see the way it is constructed.... :sombraro:

go for it..but you were the one that got all the cheering from your shower.. :p

After reading this thread, I must say that I found some good ways to use the outside shower. With just wife and I we try not to make more work for our setup/tear down operation. But it has been a long time that we have camped more than five days in  one spot. We have a lot of equipment for kitchen setup etc. I guess we are not willing to do the work. Is that a sign of old age coming on?

 
 

Quote from: PopUPTimesDo you use your outside shower?
 
I've had 3 campers with an outside shower and only used it once when the dog rolled in a cow plop. Other than that I thought it was a worthless option.

hey wavery..I thought you were going to post a picture of my "stylish" creation.. :rolleyes: it did work very well tho I might add..at least you can't see thru it ;)  :J

Quote from: Dee4jhey wavery..I thought you were going to post a picture of my "stylish" creation.. :rolleyes: it did work very well tho I might add..at least you can't see thru it ;)  :J

I just went looking for those pics and I realized that I used my cell phone camera (because Carolyn  :p  forgot our digital camera :rolleyes: ). Anyway, the pics came out lousy and I deleted them..... :( .........

I'll bet I never forget my camera again. I could have posted that stuff on YouTube...... :J

BTW.....thanks for not laughing when I was taking a shower in our "See through" shower tent.......we are going back to our other one for this weekend. :D

We use ours all the time.  It comes in handy for washing dishes and for rinsing ourselves off after swimming in the salt water.  It's also great for rinsing out scuba gear.

We use ours mainly for rinsing sand off feet when at the lake or beach.  We are looking into a shower enclosure since sometimes it is nicer to have your own shower rather than use the CG (especially when camping at the lake or beach... I've noticed these showers to be a lot messier than others.)  
It is also very convenient for washing off the kids really quickly.  
Never thought of using it for dishes since I always use the sink for that but it would make sense for larger utensils and pots that it would be really useful (we use small pots and such lol).

Quote from: waveryI just went looking for those pics and I realized that I used my cell phone camera (because Carolyn  :p  forgot our digital camera :rolleyes: ). Anyway, the pics came out lousy and I deleted them..... :( .........

I'll bet I never forget my camera again. I could have posted that stuff on YouTube...... :J

BTW.....thanks for not laughing when I was taking a shower in our "See through" shower tent.......we are going back to our other one for this weekend. :D

I wonder if cjpoppin has a pic of it

We use our shower all the time as we have never done anything else except dry camp.  It will be much nicer when I get the privacy tent.  :-()   Never fails that we go in the middle of nowhere to camp and never see anyone walk or drive by until you are in the middle of your shower.   :yikes: