You don’t have to buy a portable shower or camping shower bag in order to take one with you on the road. In fact, you’ll see below how to build a solar shower that you can mount right on top of your truck, van or RV…
DIY Solar Shower Step-by-Step Tutorial:
This simple, straightforward shower build project requires minimal materials. Plus, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. Check out the step-by-step instructions in the video below:
How to Build a Solar Shower: Materials You’ll Need
As shown, you’ll need to get a 4″ PVC pipe with end caps to fit. In addition, you’ll need a flush clean-out T, a hose bib, a schrader valve and a black bushing. You’ll also want waterproof sealer and black spray paint to make the water heat up faster. Lastly, you’ll need to attach a hose and nozzle.
Note: I like this DIY outdoor shower concept because the water can heat up while you drive to your destination. In other words, you don’t have to start heating your water once you arrive at your campsite. Just strap the PVC onto your roof rack.
Moreover, you can mount the pipe out-of-the-way on top of your vehicle where it doesn’t take up valuable interior cargo space. Not to mention, the elevated location means that you don’t have to find a tree to hang it from.
This video tutorial shows a similar solar shower build, plus how to attach it to the roof rack on your vehicle. You can get more information at REI.com.
Of course, you don’t need a car or van to make use of this DIY shower. For example, you could secure it to the top of shed or along a sturdy fence in your own backyard.
Or simply keep it as a portable shower and set it up where you want it when you need it. (just empty out the water first to make it easier to carry. =)
As you might have noticed, this DIY outdoor shower has a very similar shape to that of a freestanding poolside solar shower. The main difference in that it lays horizontally rather than vertically.