Hi Everyone, There comes a time when you start to get older that you feel like having a hot shower when you are away camping. I have been using the black shower bags for years and have recently started to think about investing in one of those gas hot water heaters that camping brands like Coleman etc put out.
Has anyone tried one or currently uses one by any chance, are they good or bad and are they worth the price. Would like your views if possible.
Aussie Spirit.
Aussie Spirit
Stacer Proline 3.75
Rego: WG951Q
If you camp with a open fire there are a couple that have a storage container and coil pipe in them and you just heat em up . another uses a coil in the fire and a container that you connect up to compressor on 4wd and that gives you pressure hot water.
Heat exchanger ones off the cars cooling system are good and you can use bull bar as shower holder and a tube on roofrack as water storage ( not preferable but it works) and it saves having to move water around just start truck and open bonnet to connect shower hose and your away - That's the best I have used and means even in fire bans you get hot shower with good pressure as pump is 12v under bonnet and motor is running.
Sorry don't know brand names but others will.
have used a coleman canister ones many years ago and it was weak as piss - not a propper shower but they have probably made em better since then.
Definately wait to see one working at a campig show so you are not dissapointed
We still use the bag showers as if you wat to use the water it forces the kids to carry it and fill it so they soon learn a shorter shower is easier. That few degrees warmer makes a big difference and can get them pretty hot if left inside a vehicle under class.
PS just noticed you are in the NT - coleman one up there would feel luke warm at best in my opinion unless they got a lot better.
The coleman is a good unit for camping and is very quick according to my son
I remember seeing a thread on this subject a few months ago
Mike
We got a heat exchanger in the cruiser,but use the coleman for its convenience.I dont know about old types we had this for 3 years and its makes water hot enough to make a cuppa.4 of us takes about 25 litres to shower properly.Not to mention the convinience when washing up .Probably the best thing we bought after the gas fridge.
George
At Heaven's gate a soldier stood,
his story ready to tell,
St Peter said, 'no need my son all is understood,
Go right in cos you've already served your time in Hell'
They must have got a lot better , I'll have a look at the next show
I have a coleman water heater also and think it is great. Sure not as smick as in your bathroom at home but hey plenty hot enough, pressure ok, easily moved and so on.
Even had it set up in camp shower middle winter in back yard during bathroom renovations last year. Worked a treat. Missus was reall happygoing out there at 5:30 for shower each morning.
I bought a converter hose and run it off a 9kg gas bottle rather than the canisters. A lot more convenient as not running out of csanisters all the time and I'm not real sure but would think it to be a cheaper running option. The hose cost about $39.00.
Cheers and good luck
Pete
Yeah I've got a coleman instant hot water system and am pretty happy with it. Like anything it has it's positive and negatives, but I think it's worth the money.
Positives:
- Gets very hot very quickly
- Quite good on gas usage
- Is limited at about 80 degrees (some say this is a negative)
- A direct garden hose connector is available (can be handy)
Negatives:
- You tend to use a lot of water if you're not careful
- There isn't really a 'warm' setting. It's either cold or quite hot or really hot (that never seems to be a problem for the women though, but I prefer a cooler shower).
- The battery is pretty good, lasts a couple of hours in total, but it would be nice to be able to run it directly from 12v or 240v. You can only charge the battery from power and you can't run it at the same time.
- Some say it doesn't get hot enough for a cup of tea, but I think it does
The main difference between the coleman and the primus unit is that the primus isn't limited to a maximum heat. You can theoretically crank it as hot as the gas will make the water (well over 100 degrees I would have thought), which I think could be pretty dangerous. Even though I haven't used one, people I've spoken to say the primus unit can be more difficult to use than the coleman.
If you're going to get a coleman, I'd suggest getting a spare battery (you'll have to order one, they're not a retail item from memory). My battery has been fine for 18 months, but everything has a life span, and the unit would be effectively useless without a working battery. Having two batterys also doubles your usage time, obviously.
If you have any questions, ask.
matt
Yeah I use a normal gas bottle too. I'd only use the canisters if I was really strapped for space in the back of the car or something.Originally Posted by Raesen
matt
A mate of mine bought the Coleman unit at about the same time I bought a Battery Jumper Pack & a 12v Shower.
He says it's good, but no temp control is a bugger, as he has small kids & they go thru a lot of water quickly.
I rigged the shower to the Battery pack & used the shower bags to heat the water, then add cold for temp control.
The shower lasts as long as the water does...just don't let it run dry.
Don.
"Magpie Navy." VHF 73.
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