Rear shower upgrade/modification anyone?

truckee55 · 12-17-2007, 05:35 PM

Well the $0.99 shower head on my rear shower just crumbled into pieces due to the cold. (Good thing I was just loading groceries and not standing there cold and covered with mud

).

So before I start my Internet search I thought I'd see if anyone has upgraded their rear shower with a little better setup. (This has always been one of those little things that I was really surprised SMB totally cheaped out on. Mine has leaked since day one every time I turn on the water pump!)

If anyone has come up with a better solution I would love to hear about it and see pics. Thanks!

Jeffrey · 12-17-2007, 05:59 PM

I'll bet there have been numerous types of hoses and handles used by SMB over time. Mine is nice. How about a pic so we know what you've got?

sdwindansea · 12-17-2007, 06:02 PM

I actually like our exterior shower wand / setup a lot. It leaks a couple drops when you remove the exterior shower from the "outlet", but nothing bad at all and even they even warned us it would do this.

I am planning on getting an extension for it since it does splash on the rear doors when used. We are also planning on getting a convenient, easy to setup enclosure for when we need to take real showers.

Outback Porta-Privy

Jeffrey · 12-17-2007, 08:02 PM

Let me know what extension works. I do have the external shower curtain setup, but would rather just be further from the van and stand outside naked. There's never anyone around where I go!

Greggd · 12-17-2007, 10:47 PM

Go to www.plumbingstore.com to see the Alson brand of handheld unit's , they are the first choice in most of the upscale Motorhome's and high end Marine Industry . I have sold and used their product's on several of my Boat's and RV's . In fact I specified one of their unit's on my new 2400 Bay Ranger. All of the unit's that I have seen recently installed on the Sportmobiles appear to be a medium quality unit made by Thetford Corp. This site will also show Hose's and fitting's . I tried without success to have Sportmobile include an Alson unit on my soon to be delivered Van .

Greggde

**daveb** · 12-18-2007, 04:13 PM

I wish I had some quick disconnects toward the rear even if it were under the bumper. Do they make a twin hose and a wand that has hot/cold controls on it? I pack one of those pop up shower tents. Sure would help keep the water and bugs out of the van.
DaveB

Greggd · 12-18-2007, 05:21 PM

Daveb, Not knowing how your unit is plumbed I would contact the service dept. at SportMobile to find out your brand of water heater , the hose and fitting size and the ability of your existing water pump to move water the additional distance . Their are pumps that are higher pressure than the ones that are generally used for a standard applications in RV's . You can run double lines and get quick disconnects if your system and budget permits it
a little ingenuity goes along way !

Greggde

**daveb** · 12-18-2007, 08:02 PM

They fought the idea. Maybe I should push it a little more. At first I asked to have it put in my side utility door and they said it would be too difficult. Then I asked about the back and they wern't too thrilled about it. I don't know how difficult it would be to add valves (actually they are there now) where the wand is (to drain during cold weather) and shoot 2 lines down with quick disconnects that are easy to hook up. So what if it leaks a bit on the ground at the quick disconnects. But I would have to find a wand that can adjust the water temp at the wand.
Dave.

Buji · 12-19-2007, 02:00 PM

I have an internal shower and a rear shower access on the panel of the driver's side dinette that's available via the rear doors.

Maybe their reluctance was a result of your layout? My rear shower hookup was a result of a recommendation by John Kalmbach when we were designing my layout.

patrick51 · 12-19-2007, 04:43 PM

A bit of hand tightening on the wand keeps it leak free. we just place a small wash cloth under the disconnect/ temperature valve, shut off the pump, relieve the pressure either from the wand or sink faucet, and unhook with just a few drops on the cloth. Too much pressure if anything on the shower, so we will be looking for a in-wand limiting device, found in those "hotels" which we never see since SMBing.