I am looking into hooking up a portable hot water heater to use for a cowboy shower. Has anybody used the Coleman hot water on demand? It has a rechargeable battery to run the pressure pump. Some of the other brands look like the water has to be pressurized. I want to hook the water from the hay rack water tank, but I don't know if that would provide enough pressure just being gravity fed. Any thoughts?
Posted 2009-04-30 10:10 PM (#104246 - in reply to #104236) Subject: RE: portable showers
Veteran
Posts: 171 Location: Henderson, TN 38340
I've been thinking of the same type of shower. I have looked at the Zodi as well as the Coleman. Both of these units have battery powered pumps. It will be interesting to hear other comments.
Posted 2009-04-30 10:32 PM (#104249 - in reply to #104236) Subject: RE: portable showers
Member
Posts: 24
Location: blacksburg va
We have the zodi shower unit and it works well enough for what it its, namely fairly compact and affordable.It is made to heat water a certain number of degrees warmer than what goes in, meaning cold creek water wont be as warm as water kept in tank sitting in the sun.the one other thing that is irritating is that the suctionhead wont fit in the openings in any of the water containers we have tried so we usually just pour water in a 5 gallon bucket and start unit and let it run and recirculate the water till its warm as needed.overall its better than not having anything and takes up very little space(we keep ours in its own 5 gallon bucket with lid) and only requires 1lb propane tanks and D batteries that are available anywhere.
Posted 2009-04-30 11:00 PM (#104251 - in reply to #104236) Subject: RE: portable showers
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383 Location: Texas
I have a Zodi, works as it says it does. I've used it many many times but none since I got a LQ trailer. It will make icy cold water hot but you have to recirculate it a couple times before your shower for it to actually be hot. Not really a big deal to do that, you already know about how cold the water will be to start with and can plan accordingly. It is a good compact unit for traveling..... much better than a solar shower in my opinion.
BTW, you can't turn the water off while the burner is on or it'll burn you (or worse), but I think they're all like that.
Posted 2009-05-01 7:25 AM (#104258 - in reply to #104236) Subject: RE: portable showers
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Newton, NJ
I've got the Coleman... no "re-circulation" issues with it. Just turn it on and as long as everything is connected correctly the water gets very hot immediately. I did have a problem with the water hose pump connector, but the other little pump that connects to the 5 gallon container (or sits in a bucket) works well. You can charge the unit prior to using or connect directly to electric.
Posted 2009-05-01 12:35 PM (#104277 - in reply to #104236) Subject: RE: portable showers
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489 Location: CA
I have the Coleman and I'm happy with it. It's really nice on a cloudy or cold day, but I still use my solar shower on sunny days...They're so easy and don't rely on batteries, pumps, buckets, or extra space. I guess when I'm camping I'm on vacation and anything to make life easy is good by me.
portable showers
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