DIY Shower Water Basin Write-up

catronro

New member
We have a Turtleback Expedition Trailer with a heated shower, which is awesome! The issues we run into with using it are:

  1. Using the shower accumulates water around the camper and soon you are sleeping in a swamp
  2. The mesh floor of our privacy tent starts splashing mud onto your feet and lower legs while taking a shower (defeating the purpose of getting all zest fully clean)
  3. On the rare occasion we camp at an organized campground, they frown on you letting water run all over as if you own the place (cough, cough...on public lands I kind of do...cough, cough)
So based on researching other threads in this forum I started designing a basin that would address these three problems.

Parts list:

Dryer/Water Heater Water Basin: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014GZCIHW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Can be purchased at any home improvement store. There are cheaper options than this. I went with the below for three reasons:
1. 26x26 dimensions give me good water catching capability without being huge
2. I like the short lip to keep storage space in turtleback to a minimum (a lot of basins in this size have a 3 - 4" lip)
3. Side draining hole with pvc drain adapter

3/4" PEX to 3/4" Male Adapter
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Apollo-...-Male-Pipe-Thread-Adapter-APXMA3434/301541030

3/4" x 3/4" PEX Ball Valve
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Apollo-3-4-in-Brass-PEX-Barb-Ball-Valve-APXV3434/301541060

3/4" PVC Female to 3/4" Female Thread Adapter
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DURA-3-4-in-Schedule-40-PVC-Female-Adapter-C435-007/100345266

3/4"ID Vinyl Pipe 10'
https://www.homedepot.com/p/UDP-3-4-in-I-D-x-1-in-O-D-x-10-ft-Clear-Vinyl-Tubing-T10006014/304185177

PVC 3/4" Male Plug (Optional)
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Charlotte-Pipe-3-4-in-PVC-Sch-40-Plug-PVC-02113-0800HD/203850342

Other parts that you need
1. 1.75" piece of 3/4" PVC
2. PVC glue (not required but I used it)
3. 1" hose clamps x3

Picture of Parts:
515169

Build Steps:

Glue the [3/4" PVC Female to 3/4" Female Thread Adapter] to the [Drain Adapter that came with basin] using the [1.75" 3/4 PVC]
515170

Build the Hose:

  • Cut the 10' Vinyl hose in Half
  • Connect the 3/4" PEX to 3/4" Male Adapter to one end
  • Connect the 3/4" x 3/4" PEX Ball Valve
  • Screw the PVC Piece you glued earlier to the 3/4" PEX to 3/4" Male Adapter
  • Notice I used hose clamps
Should look like this when done:
515178

Now you are done. Connect the hose to the drain hole with supplied rubber grommet and washer nut and boom...bobs your uncle

515171

I also had some rubber mat sitting around the shop that I cut to fit. This should give you some nice padding, as well as, keep your feet out of the pool of water. This mat can be purchased at home depot.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Buffalo...-Industrial-Rubber-Floor-Mat-800531/205461761

515172

So you are probably asking...What about the plug man!?! Why do we need it? Answer: You don't...but I got it for two reasons:
  1. If you don't want to hook up the hose but still want to catch water, PLUG
  2. It gives you something to connect the basin's rubber grommet and washer to while transporting the hose and basin separately...so you don't lose it
Pretty freaking smart huh! Yes, yes it is!

Can you do this cheaper, yes. Do you need all the complexity I built into the hose with the ball valve, no, but see requirement 3 at beginning of post. Did I have to create this detailed of a write up for something pretty simple, probably not. But hey, You do you!

PSA: When washing your nasty body in the wilderness please use eco-friendly soaps. Not trying to hug a bunch of trees or get in your business, but chemicals suck.
 

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Dozer Dan

Observer
Nice one! I like it!

I use old fashion bar soap. I've never thought about whether or not that's eco friendly or not. I always simply assumed it was...
 

digitalnomad

New member
Nice one! I like it!

I use old fashion bar soap. I've never thought about whether or not that's eco friendly or not. I always simply assumed it was...

If you use eco friendly soap, it makes a slight offset to the carbon footprint left getting into and out of the forest. But it won't offset the impact to the salmon runs from all the brake dust. Might as well use whatever soap you want.
 

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