Portable solar showers/enclosures...are they decent?

[BadAss88GT]

We're thinking of a portable shower/potty/enclosure setup for camping but are hesitant. Do they really work? Can you take a decent shower without running ot of water or standing in cold water? Any suggestions? I was looking on Cabela's website and they have a few on there but I'm leary of their actual usefullness. Thanks-Dan

[wavery]

We're thinking of a portable shower/potty/enclosure setup for camping but are hesitant. Do they really work? Can you take a decent shower without running ot of water or standing in cold water? Any suggestions? I was looking on Cabela's website and they have a few on there but I'm leary of their actual usefullness. Thanks-Dan

Here are pics of our porta-shower. We sold it with our PU but we used to use it all the time.

The solar bag........not so much. Most of them carry about 6g of water and the water will get warm in about 3 hours in the Sun. You can also augment that with water boiled on the stove, added to cold water.
The other problem is, a 6g bag of water ways about 30#. There are very few tent structures that will support a 30# bag of water.

[PattieAM]

Back in my tent camping days I had a shower enclosure, and it was fairly nice for privacy and use of the porta-potty.  My PUP has a hardwalled shower, so I no longer use those items.

As for the 6 gallon water heater or shower bag, when showering, one wets down, turns the shower head off, lathers up, turns the shower head back on and rinses off.  

Greywater collection might be a concern.

[JohnandLeann]

I've wondered about the grey water collection as well.  How well do your feet stay clean when using one of these enclosures?
Have never seen one setup so I just naturally have questions about it.  Have considered adding this to our own equipment cause sometimes we do go where there are no shower facilities.

[boncrab]

In looking at your picture and seeing the sun come through the shower enclosure.  How much can someone else see of your silouette.... again at night with a light on in the tent.  

Have you found a way to deal with that issue?

[wavery]

In looking at your picture and seeing the sun come through the shower enclosure.  How much can someone else see of your silouette.... again at night with a light on in the tent.  

Have you found a way to deal with that issue?

Ya.......I put it out next to the street and tell all the hot chicks when I'm going to shower........what a rush....:-() Just ask Dee......:sombraro:

Actually, the tent shower in the pic isn't a problem. You really can't see through it. I had another one that you could and I guess I put on quite a show one afternoon.......:p

As far as "wet feet" are concerned. I made a couple of grates out of wood (about 18"x18"x1/2") About 6 slats going one way, about 1/2" apart and 4 slats going the other way, (underneath). I put one in the tub and one on the outside. The one in the tub keeps your feet up out of the water and the other one gives you a dry/clean place to stand to dry off.

[BadAss88GT]

Any other alternatives? This is what I had my eye on:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_511004&id=0031110516873a

And the toilet:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20075-cat20087-cat20097&id=0013058518314a&navCount=7&podId=0013058&parentId=&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=&indexId=cat20097&hasJS=true

[wavery]

Any other alternatives? This is what I had my eye on:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_511004&id=0031110516873a

And the toilet:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20075-cat20087-cat20097&id=0013058518314a&navCount=7&podId=0013058&parentId=&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=&indexId=cat20097&hasJS=true

That's basically the same one. We got ours on Ebay for about $50. It was a little smaller than that one but that makes it a little more wind resistant. You can get those things in any size but the bigger they are, the more susceptible they are to being knocked down in the wind.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TEXSPORT-PRIVACY-OUTDOOR-CAMPING-SHOWER-SHELTER-TENT-A_W0QQitemZ230345466128QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a1a8e110&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

http://cgi.ebay.com/DOUBLE-SHOWER-CHANGING-ROOM-TENT-TOILET-CAMPING-NEW_W0QQitemZ220422782089QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item335238bc89&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

['tiredTeacher]

Two things: The Cabela's pop-up shower has a removeable floor, zipper access to an outside towel bar.

However, the issue of the weight of the shower bag, the height at which it must be hung and water run off are problems if you plan to use them in an established campground.  I use mine boondocking so I hang the shower in a tree then pitch the shelter under it. No way is a $50 shower tent going to support 40+ lbs. of water.  Even the ones with an aluminum frame won't hold the solar bag high enough to shower standing up.

As for hot water, I've had to be careful to not overheat the water. A half-day in the bright sun will take water temps to 120+ degrees.

I don't carry the shower if I'm camping in a state park that has showers. Rule of thumb: campgrounds with no showers usually have trees and water run off isn't an issue.

My 2cents.

[austinado16]

We bought this one from Walmart online last year and had it delivered to the local Walmart for pickup.  We're very happy with the quality. But as has been stated, there's no way it would hold a solar shower bag.  We used it for a changing room and port-a-potty room when our DD had one of her little gf's come on a camping trip w/ us.

Currently $36.88
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/allReviews.do?product_id=4726169

[Shredder]

Any other alternatives? This is what I had my eye on:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_511004&id=0031110516873a

And the toilet:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20075-cat20087-cat20097&id=0013058518314a&navCount=7&podId=0013058&parentId=&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=&indexId=cat20097&hasJS=true

Thats basically our set up and yes it does hold a shower bag. The tent is fairly sturdy and is 4X4 inside and tall, I'm 6'8" and have no problems. (although I did add a stand to raise the toilet to a more compfortable height.) I think our toilet is a theford 555.  We have used it as a shower on maybe ten occasions but my DW uses it as a toilet every time out, I usually make do with whatever. Hey I'm campin. My only complaint would be, that it adds 20 minutes to set up and take down times.....Shredder

[wavery]

Thats basically our set up and yes it does hold a shower bag. The tent is fairly sturdy and is 4X4 inside and tall, I'm 6'8" and have no problems. (although I did add a stand to raise the toilet to a more compfortable height.) I think our toilet is a theford 555.  We have used it as a shower on maybe ten occasions but my DW uses it as a toilet every time out, I usually make do with whatever. Hey I'm campin. [COLOR="Red"]My only complaint would be, that it adds 20 minutes to set up and take down times[/COLOR].....Shredder

That's exactly why we have a camper with a full size shower and holding tank now........:sombraro: i can set up our entire TrailManor in the time that it used to take to set up that shower.

On the other hand, it was better than nothing.......and heck.....we're camping....what else are we doing with our time...

[Haroki]

Some great suggestions here for shower enclosures.

Mine has an external shower - wand only - so the whole solar bag wouldn't be needed. Just use that! But i usually either dirt dog it or go jump in the lake anyways to clean up.

But what does everyone do with the grey water?

Let it run onto the ground? Do the camp hosts/rangers say anything about that? I'd think that they'd object to that, even if you were using biodegradable soap. Any issues? Or are they fine with it?

Or do these enclosures also have a waterproof floor that you can collect the water into your grey tank - by hand I supose - and dispose of it along with the cassette toilet water?

Thank in advance for any answers.

[wavery]

Some great suggestions here for shower enclosures.


But what does everyone do with the grey water?

Let it run onto the ground? Do the camp hosts/rangers say anything about that? I'd think that they'd object to that, even if you were using biodegradable soap. Any issues? Or are they fine with it?

Or do these enclosures also have a waterproof floor that you can collect the water into your grey tank - by hand I supose - and dispose of it along with the cassette toilet water?

Thank in advance for any answers.

If you look at the bottom pic in post #2, you will notice a black 20"x24" "tub" (available at HomeDepot). That's what we used to collect about 95% of the grey water from our showers. We then disposed of that properly. The other 5% splashed onto the waterproof bottom of the tent and evaporated rather quickly.

[AZCAMPPINAL]

I have the Pah-Que and I also use a small screen gazebo. With the gazebo I attach curtains use the Pah-Que shower pan or a small blow up kiddie pool to take a shower. There is ample room to shower and change. Coleman hot water on demand is excellent.