Jenn
Ranger
Perfect idea!
Thank you!
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New Water Heater Option for Camp-Inn
- Thread starter Cary Winch
- Start date
Thank you!
I don't want to get anybody in trouble, but I do have a question for you campsite shower people. Is it legal where you shower, for your run off to just go straight to the ground? I mostly camp in national parks. My understanding is that gray water is not allowed to be dumped anywhere except an official dump station. And their definition of gray water includes shower water, dish water and just about any thing other than pure water.
Jenn
Ranger
JohnC, good catch on the issue. I hadn't thought about that but now that you bring it up, you are correct. Im looking at this water heater for use other than camping in random camp grounds. I've been researching how it operates , what the components are, what makes them work and what are the alternatives?
Campground showers are wildly varied and some efficient, some nasty, some lovely. Truckstops are pricy but wonderful and then there is always just a bin of water and a washcloth. Gets the job done! That"s my POV, not sure about others.
Steve Sanford
Junior Ranger
I have been thinking of buying a Joolca Shower Base. I want to add a shower enclosure to a rack on my truck and I was hoping I can get enough slope for the shower water to drain into a jug to dispose of later. The shower enclosure will mostly be used for my wife's night trips to the bathroom but if we camp in areas without showers I am thinking of some way to legally use it as a shower and not be standing in water at the end. I use warm water in a collapsible bucket and a battery powered hand sprayer for my shower. Heating water in a pot takes up less room than a hot water heater.
ENSUITE Shower Base
Hot showers are nice. Involuntary footbaths and slowly turning your campground into a muddy bog, not so. Not to mention running out of water. But you don’t have to accept that state of affairs. Time to put your foot down! On the ENSUITE Shower Base.
www.joolca.com
TheSongDogHouse
Ranger
Fair question.
If I'm going to camp in a National Park, it will be in a campground, with toilets. Maybe a bear box and Rangers who fine me if I forget and leave to toothbrush in the galley...
Or the other side of the spectrum - I'm so far out on USFS or BLM land that no one can see my hiney if I get up to pee in the bushes after dark...or parked in a pullout on state reserve if the state park is full...
So many variables, I think the case can be made that hot water runoff with some biodegradeable camping soap is not gonna destroy the environment, once...
Anyone recall washing up in leftover cookpot freeze dry boil water and tossing the dirty soapy water in the bushes ...hiking and backpacking?
but if it goes on for weeks...thats a problem.
Did y'all really bag your poop for a week and pack it out, or dig a cat hole 200' above the nearest creek, as was the best practices back then.
I did read a year ago that a couple FL state parks wont allow you to rent a dry camp if you have a black or even gray tank...I guess the answer is check Whats Ok where you go...?
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Last I heard, the rules definitely vary by where you are camping. Usually if I wander away from a national park I end up in a campground with shore power which always includes showers.
For the record I always travel with baby wipes. When in the national park I will usually use the pay showers every 2-3 days but always use the wipes every morning when not showering. The idea of a portable shower definitely sounds nice I just don't know how often I would be able to use it based on where I go.
I use Love's truck stops to overnight when my destination is more than a day away. I do love using them but you are right, their showers are quite pricey. But the do have great 24 hour bathrooms and a lot of food options (including franchise fast food), hot or cold. Their convenience and cheap gas are a winner in my book. Fortunately, I haven't been more than two nights from my ultimate destination.