Posted 2012-12-26 10:59 PM (#148965) Subject: space for a shower, water tank placement
Veteran
Posts: 151 Location: Manitoba, Canada
I have an LQ to finish and I'm considering a couple of options. One of these is a shower. I don't want tanks and lines under the trailer since I travel on a lot of gravel, and I also don't want to empty them. I'm fine with a drain and a bucket.So, a couple of options - put a cowboy shower or similar in the first stall, or build something a little more permanent into the LQ. My LQ door is on the passenger side of the trailer, 43" forward of the slant wall corner. To me this sounds like sufficient space for a shower and wall, but I've never built one before. What's the minimum space required for comfort with a slant wall install or a straight wall install? I'm also considering the pros and cons of an Ecotemp L5 water heater and doing a permanent install of the propane line from it to my tank. I already had the tanks, lines and propane furnace professionally installed, but would need to add another line for this application. I have two spares right now waiting for the fridge and stove. Any downside to this?And, as long as I'm asking questions, might as well add one more...If the shower is in the right hand corner of the slant wall, and the kitchen sink is at the half way point of the short wall (left side of trailer), where is the best place for the fresh water tank and pump? Maybe I should just put the shower on the same side as the sink...hmmm. Might not be a bad floor plan.
Posted 2012-12-26 11:52 PM (#148966 - in reply to #148965) Subject: RE: space for a shower, water tank placement
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
The size and placement of your tank can be determined by the size of your LQ. If it is small (~4'), many times the tank and pump will be installed in the boot box/ bulkhead wall step. They are often of the 20 gal capacity. If your LQ contains a dinette, the underneath of one bench usually is used to locate a water tank and pump. Often they are of the 30 -50 gal capacities.
If you have sleepers installed for the flooring support, PEX plumbing can be used under the flooring, to run easy water access to various internal locations from the pump. If all the water usage is located on one wall, the plumbing can be run inside the associated cabinets.
A cowboy shower takes up almost no room, but gives up some privacy and a warm environment. Some people drain the water out the rear on the floor, others use a pan plumbed to an outside bucket to collect the waste water. Trailer and RV shower inclosures are available from several sources, and can be fitted into spaces as small as 30" wide. Custom enclosures can be fabricated with plastic panels, and various floor pans can be sourced from the internet.
Cowboy showers are better than no shower, but a shower located within a living space, is much more comfortable and inviting.
Posted 2012-12-27 12:23 AM (#148967 - in reply to #148965) Subject: RE: space for a shower, water tank placement
Veteran
Posts: 155 Location: North Salem, IN
The Eccotemp water heater is a good buy, I have one in my trailer and love it. I'm also installing a permanent gas line from the tanks to the water heater and will be using a quick disconnect fitting n the slant wall.
Posted 2012-12-27 3:41 PM (#148972 - in reply to #148965) Subject: RE: space for a shower, water tank placement
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
Ditto the ecotemp..I installed one last spring and it was terrific. I have no holding tank for either water or grey water..I use a hose for water inlet ( which means you have to have a location with water) and no grey water tank. We just drilled a hole in the floor ( through the floor mat) added a vent next to the hot water unit,and I added a curtain rod to hold up the shower curtain..presto..instant shower. The LP tank is in the first stall in horse compartment and the gas lines run through a hole we drilled. The tank is secured to the wall with heavy bungies and it can be easily removed. On the floor we added a 1x1 inch strip of wood for use as a barrier to keep the water in and added caulking around it.
Posted 2012-12-27 11:13 PM (#148980 - in reply to #148965) Subject: RE: space for a shower, water tank placement
Veteran
Posts: 151 Location: Manitoba, Canada
I think I'm pretty sold on the Ecotemp. I keep hearing good things! I'll invest in one and do a temporary cowboy shower with it until I get the more permanent setup in the front. Still can't do it all in one shot, but I've got the floor plan drawn to scale and moved scale drawing of appliances and cabinets around until i was happy. I've found an affordable next step - 3 base cabinets, counter top, 2 sheets of wallboard and wiring for two outlets and the fridge and I will have a functional "kitchen." Everything else will arrive later, one piece at a time, and in between horse functions.
I showed my husband the plans this morning. He nodded in all the right places (said I was playing Barbie), and then said I should just sell it and buy another trailer with the LQ finished. I can see his point - instant gratification - but that still doesn't get me past the pain of paying for features I don't want. I'm really concerned about the tanks and drain pipes. Every LQ owner I've spoken to in this area talks about the low clearance, the gravel roads, and even the care it takes to get past the dip in the driveway. I'm not sure it's worth it.
Posted 2012-12-28 5:17 AM (#148982 - in reply to #148965) Subject: RE: space for a shower, water tank placement
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
One reason I went with no tanks is the reasons you stated plus I didn't want maintence issues. The only thing I need to drain is the ecotemp tank and thats a matter of unscrewing the tiny valve just for the purpose.
Posted 2012-12-28 1:43 PM (#148992 - in reply to #148965) Subject: RE: space for a shower, water tank placement
Elite Veteran
Posts: 602 Location: md
I frequent a club, and have for many many years, where you are no longer allowed to discharge gray water on the ground. Even if you had say a muck bucket to stand in in a cowboy shower, where would you dump that. ?
All the people who bought LQ with cowboys showers won't be able to use them. Meanwhile the already palltry septic and over worked bathhouse will become even more so.
Posted 2012-12-28 9:17 PM (#148997 - in reply to #148965) Subject: RE: space for a shower, water tank placement
Veteran
Posts: 151 Location: Manitoba, Canada
I frequent a club, and have for many many years, where you are no longer allowed to discharge gray water on the ground. Even if you had say a muck bucket to stand in in a cowboy shower, where would you dump that. ?
Where does the water go at the washrack? There must be a drain, and it's grey water or worse.
Really a sad state of affairs. I can understand wanting to prevent a mess, or phosphate contamination if that was a concern, but it has to be understood that if an action is prohibited, another alternative solution also needs to be provided.
The places I currently travel, this is not yet an issue. If they were that "polished" I wouldn't be worried about knocking out my tanks and lines by parking in someone's field! :-)
Posted 2013-02-03 8:22 AM (#149667 - in reply to #148965) Subject: RE: space for a shower, water tank placement
Veteran
Posts: 151 Location: Manitoba, Canada
Oh, boy. I just came on here to post something and saw "my" last post. I apologize, it looks very rude. Not 100% sure which teenage to blame for hijacking my blog post, but I'm going with the one who frequently uses that phrase (accompanied by eye rolling and big sigh).So...moving on. Has anyone used one of the upright water caddies that fit in the corner of the slant wall for a permanent water installation for the sink and shower? Any downside to it?And if anyone out there is looking for a shower pan in a hard to find size, I just found what I was looking for on this site:http://www.pellandent.com/RV_Products_List.aspx?CategoryID=15Haven't ordered yet, but its bookmarked for later
Posted 2013-02-03 10:09 AM (#149669 - in reply to #148965) Subject: RE: space for a shower, water tank placement
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: high desert, CA.
We use an opright tank, and found out you need to really support it, and fasten them so they don't vibrate or rattle. This is because since they are only polyurethane, they can rub through.and leak if the straps are not firmly mounted, and no vibration. Other than that, we have had no issues and use this as our only supply in the trailer.
Posted 2013-02-03 4:04 PM (#149676 - in reply to #148965) Subject: RE: space for a shower, water tank placement
Regular
Posts: 98 Location: MD
I had a 30 gal High Country plastic tank installed right under the gooseneck at the top of the drop wall. It'll last me a whole primitive weekend, even filling 5gal horse water buckets. I don't know whether you have room, propane tanks or battery box could interfere, but the placement is perfect and out of the way for my rig.
I also installed an outside faucet, lower than the water pipes and on the inside line of the water pump so I could drain everything in the winter.
It would all easily support a Cowboy shower, did my DIY to accomodate one later.
space for a shower, water tank placement
