DIY Camp/Overlanding Shower Walk Around

This is a walk around of my camp/overlanding shower I recently built. I was considering purchasing an off-the-shelf solution from RoadShower.com, but I'd heard of other people building their own so I decided to give it a go.
Below is a detailed list of all the parts I had to purchase for the shower:
Schedule 40 PVC Parts
-------------------------------------
3/4” cross - $3.96
3/4” x 1/2” reducer bushing (3) - $1.29
1/2” x 1/4” reducer bushing (3) - $3.96
3/4” short piece of pipe to join cross - $0.00
6” x 10’ pipe - $52.50
6” x 4” tee - $67.80
4” x 2“ reducer bushing (2) - $19.28
2” clean out body - $2.16
2" clean out plug - $1.36
6” cap - $19.86
6” x 4” reducer coupling - $28.17
2” x 3/4” reducer bushing - $1.60
Hardware
----------------
1/4” pressure gauge - $8.70
1/2” boiler drain - $5.82
1/4” Schrader valve - $3.86
1/4” adjustable pressure release valve - $10.44
1" x 6' retractable rachet strap (2 pack) - $19.84
Grand total cost: $250.60
There were a few tools I had to purchase that I didn't own, like a 1/2" tap and handle, as well as thread sealant, PVC primer and glue. Since these things can be used on other projects, and are something you might already have in your shop, I'm not including them in the cost.
I also built the wooden mounts from scrap lumber I had laying around the shop.
Music: Waiting for the Thunder by Blackberry Smoke. Check them out at blackberrysmoke.com.
===========
Join the Overland Addict clan on Patreon!
/ overlandaddict
Follow me on Instagram!
/ overlandaddict
My Overland Build & Kit:
* 2016 Jeep JK Unlimited Sahara
* Darche 270 Eclipse Awning
* Sunday Campers 2+ Rooftop Tent w/ Annex
* Garvin Wilderness Expedition Rack
* AEV Premium Front Bumper
* 9" Front Spots (unknown manufacturer)
* 3" A-pillar lights (unknown manufacturer)
* AEV 17" Salta Wheels
* BF Goodrich 35" A/T KO2s
* Rough Country 3.5" Lift (amzn.to/2Hn4VrL)
* Rough Country Steering Stabilizer (amzn.to/2HnWaOi)
* JKS Front Sway Bar Quick Disconnects
* Hellwig Rear Sway Bar (amzn.to/2VFU2Ky)
* Superwinch EXP 12s 12,000 lb winch with Hawse Fairlead
* Factor 55 FlatLink E Shackle Mount (amzn.to/2W8NinH)
* AEV Rear Tire Carrier
* ARB Single Compressor (amzn.to/2EapmpM) with EVO under hood mounting bracket (amzn.to/2W9PA5W)
* Custom "Adventure Rack" above tire carrier
* Custom Rear Overlanding Cabinet ( • Custom Overlanding Cab... )
* Dometic CFX 50 Freezer/Fridge (amzn.to/2w1Lpus)
* Coleman 2-Burner Propane Camp Stove (amzn.to/2VCpsBg)
* Midland MXT275 MicroMobile 15W GMRS Two-Way Radio (amzn.to/2W79AGo)
* iPad Mini for navigation
* Gaia GPS for navigation
* Garmin InReach Explorer+ (amzn.to/2W6pJvR)
* Vector Offroad JKE Dock Full Width
* RAM Mounts
Photography/Videography Gear I use:
* Zhiyun Smooth 4 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer (amzn.to/2EdyR7F)
* GoPro Hero 5 Black (amzn.to/2s420Md)
* Sony A7 II (amzn.to/2BTIlmq)
* Sony FE 28-70 mm 3.5 - 5.6 OSS lens (amzn.to/2LNlzS9)
* Venus Laowa 15 mm f/2 FE Zero-D lens (amzn.to/2AkePq8)
* NiSi V5 Pro filter system (amzn.to/2LKRW3S)
* Manfrotto Element Traveler tripod (amzn.to/2VoNDj9)
* iPhone Xs Max (amzn.to/2Roa2xL)

[@stephtraveler7378]

Have you considered an RV/Boat 12VDC pressuring motor? They are auto sensing for pressure and only run on demand. Proven reliability for decades on boats and RV's. Merely run a flex hose to your shower head/sprayer and put the pump in-line. No more pressure in the PVC tube and eliminate the teflon tape requirement.

[@OverlandAddict]

That’s a great idea!

[@stevenmoomey2115]

Yours is the first one I’ve seen, with the all important Relief Valve. The only thing I would have done differently, is to drill and tap the PVC, on the reducer fitting, and through the pipe, and installed the relief high. So you would vent air and steam, in an over pressure event, rather than water. BTW, to drill and tap the PVC Pipe, use Hand Dishwashing Soap, strong solution diluted as a lubricant. Another thing, we had one of the H-OT-O2 shower bags to rinse sand and salt off, when we went to the beach. The first time we put it on the roof of our van. It was too hot, and would have scalded us. We learned to leave it inside the back of the van, on the floor.

[@henrycolestage7650]

To mount it to the rack, order a pair of 6" exhaust tube clamps. They will have both the U bolt and the support side. Then bolt it right onto the rack. Easy -peasy!

[@triprovoked508]

Nice job. I was also going with 6 inch. Higher pressure and over 40% more volume. You confirmed my thinking and added a bit.

[@majhmr6257]

Nice build and good video. Look forward to seeing more.

[@OverlandAddict]

MAJ HMR thank you!

[@walleyeye]

Awesome. Love the pressure gauge and valves!!!

[@OverlandAddict]

Thor Thank you!

[@Foodmeow]

I like the adapter on the boiler valve, makes it very convenient!

[@HeartlandMakesAndOutdoors]

Nicely done sir, thanks for sharing and have a blessed week. Dale

[@OverlandAddict]

Heartland Outdoor Living thanks for watching!

[@DarkBykeTwitch]

What a beast of a rig!

[@skeebles8469]

Awesome, I like how you mounted it. Makes it so you can remove it easier.

[@OverlandAddict]

Skeebles Ruedas that’s right! I’ve already removed it since this video in favor of a new Darche 270 Eclipse awning. Thanks for watching!

[@Groovyunclefunk]

Great build! A lot of good information. Thanks for the video !

[@petrmeta8862]

Nice work 👍👍👍

[@chrisgarcia7183]

When you plan the new dedicated compressor make sure the air valve is above your water level that way there is no back feed into the compressor or some sort of check valve or both.

[@daveb7999]

Nice job, thanks for the walk-around and explanations, including what you might have done differently. I can see making something similar in the future. I may increase the volume of air by having two tubes, one for pressurized air and one for water. This would allow for a larger volume of water and stay pressurized a bit longer. Thanks again!

[@agabri0]

This is awesome. One improvement Id suggest is a over size ball valve (2”) to use for filling it with water. That will eliminate the teflon

[@phillipmills9797]

Looks like a nice clean install!

[@jasoncottingham6573]

Very informative! Looks like a simple setup to make.

[@OverlandAddict]

Thank you, and thanks for watching!

[@TheFdanyi]

Very good explanation, nice build, I would make some minor adjustments on my build, but certainly thumbs up on your build! Very nice.

[@OverlandAddict]

Frank Danyi I would make some adjustments in mine, too 😁 Thanks for watching!

[@mototarka]

Lowering the pressure in half should help saving water and make showering less painful from that jet stream :)))

[@sweetbarry]

Great job! I am definitely going to build something like this. Thanks bud!

[@OverlandAddict]

Thanks! Appreciate you watching.

[@juanluissalazar9622]

Addicted! the roof tent goes inside so the wind doesn't stop you and you don't consume more gasoline.

[@lizmarsh]

Great one mate! 👍🏻👍🏻🙌🏼

[@OverlandTrax]

Good video, thanks for sharing 👍

[@pointblankokc]

3 thumbs up from me. Just for the BlackBerry Smoke in the intro ! Showers cool too

[@OverlandAddict]

mike novotny They’re awesome. Thanks for watching!

[@michaelromack3490]

Nice job on the shower. Getting ready to build one for my trailer. Liked and Subscribed.

[@OverlandAddict]

Michael Romack thanks so much! Post a video so we can see.

[@virginiaoverlander4720]

Nice... suggestion use a regulator @ the shrader valve to keep pressure from the ARB a constant in the tank. Definitely a nice build

[@OverlandAddict]

Virginia Overlander thanks! Already figured that out 😁

[@CrazyPalidin57]

If you haven't already figured out a replacement for the wood, you can use foam blocks meant for kayaks or 4 inch pipe straps that can be found in electrical supply store's.

[@aaronme02]

Great setup.

[@upthegrove300]

Super helpful my next project this week!

[@OverlandAddict]

Josh Upthegrove awesome man! Glad I could help and thanks for watching!

[@GrantEllman]

hose clamps in combination with your blocks would be a great low cost solution for mounts. they are super strong and you can get a very large diameter from any hardware store.

[@OverlandAddict]

Grant Ellman great idea! Thanks for watching!

[@MrJackchap]

Sweet setup

[@kingdomoverlanding]

Awesome video 👍👍

[@Arthur-Silva]

That's the single most perfect built on the internets! for $220? that's not bad at all!

[@OverlandAddict]

Mentes Livres thanks! I appreciate that. Hope it was helpful if you’re planning on building one yourself.

[@km4fsi827]

you did a good job on this man, im gonna build one soon and you gave me some good ideas....now all i need is a good roof rack. LOL

[@OverlandAddict]

km4fsi thanks! It was a fun project. Good luck with your build and be sure and let me know how it goes.

[@thomasbrustad5596]

Awesome build! I like it!

[@OverlandAddict]

Thomas Brustad thanks!

[@danielcdebaca7675]

Cool, that will make a camping trip last longer for sure!

[@OverlandAddict]

Daniel Cdebaca can’t hurt! Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@mikepoppjr]

Looks cool I'd flip it around

[@Ary769]

Great video thanks for sharing.

[@OverlandAddict]

Stephen Clint absolutely! Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@TheMagicmovement]

If u use a quick connector on the hose, you can fill and pressurize the tank without taking the tank cap off...waterport and rinsekit use this method to simplify refilling and pressurizing.

[@5warpotentials258]

The wooden blocks are actually perfect for that pipe because metal will over time perhaps deteriorate the pipe or perhaps even scratch it but given enough time it will fail

[@efromhb]

Very good video. I'm sure you figured out the mount but as someone else noted you can use pipe hangers to hold the pipe.

[@OverlandAddict]

D.E.R.P. Desert Exploration & Research Project yep 👍🏻 Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Wanna.Wander]

Cool to find you💜I have the tube, need to affix it to my rig Subbed you and thank you for sorting through it all for me

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

I have one like this but no pressure. I use gravity instead. Fill it all the way up and use the hose and nozzle off a hanging camping solar shower. Leave the fill cap loose while showering.

[@XjDrZ]

Awesome setup! Really dig your rig and your thought process! Gained a sub

[@OverlandAddict]

RedBeard109 thank you so much!

[@voiceofreason6607]

Hey chad....jeremy jackson, stumbled across your channel looking at overland truck ideas.. great to see your ideas.

[@OverlandAddict]

Voice of Reason hey Jeremy! Great to hear from you. Thanks for checking out the channel. Check out our Overland retail store if you haven’t yet at overlandaddict.com. We also have a brick and mortar shop in Nixa, MO.

[@Joxer-ly9ng]

Been looking at building a water tank like this for a while now. Really like your setup. I work with PVC for a living and wouldn't recommend switching the wood out for metal. Any vibration would cause any metal edge to cut into the PVC.

[@OverlandAddict]

Joxer 2018 yeah, I’m keeping the mounts as-is for now. Thanks for watching!

[@glenn9892]

Wouldn't nylon staps work as well ?

[@jimmyg4661]

Great idea. When you remount it I would move it back a few inches. I know I would bash my head on the valve at least a few times before I learned to avoid it. 😆

[@OverlandAddict]

Jimmy G yep! It happened a few times!

[@b-lopez394]

Nice build but my concern is the location of the pressure regulator and the schrader valve. I think it should be above the water tank full mark. The reason for this is when the pressure regulator happen to regulate pressure, it will by-pass air instead of water. On the schrader valve, there is a possibility for the brass to corrode if in water for extended amount of time that can lead to schrader valve leak. I like to add an idea to mount a home hot water tank pressure relief valve mounted in line with the full water level mark so that you can fill it with water where a pressured water hose is available. Just hook up the garden hose at the outlet of your tank and open the pressure relief valve. When water comes out at the relief valve the tank is full of water. This way you don't have to open the water tank cap.

[@OverlandAddict]

Blo Pez lots of great ideas. Thanks for watching!

[@ryantettenburn940]

What would be cool is having a shower head on a quick connect for the boiler drain.

[@pistolpeds]

Build a small, separate air tank (8 litres) and load it to 80 psi and put an adjustable pressure limit valve and gauge (same as you have on a bigger compressor for spray painting) between air and water tanks. Set the valve at 40 psi. Fill once and get 3 or 4 times the longivety of one air charge, remembering you have a full 40 psi pre loaded in the water tank and a backup 80 psi in the 8 ? Litre air tank. If you made a steel air tank you could charge it with 120 psi.

[@WeOutHere]

Cool build. I think the problem with the cheap Amazon air compressors is they are slow and can overheat with prolonged use.

[@Live-Life-Freely]

Great stuff man. I'm planning to build one but I'm going to install a 1/4 turn value, incase I have oily hands.

[@josegarciaatencio7274]

Great vid.

[@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793]

Zut. My 2008 JK doesn't have an on-board compressor. Yours works fine enough. I have a portable to blow up a tire. You could use the boiler valve to fill it with a garden hose. Just leave the top cap loose to know when it's full.

[@jonny_mazerati9410]

We need to see you using it

[@kungfumaster8171]

awesome job.

[@OverlandAddict]

KungFu Master thank you!

[@lhb4031]

Nice build

[@OverlandAddict]

leroy blowers thanks!

[@Robert-no9jk]

This is awesome. Been five years now since this video. Any updates? Still working fine. I’m about to make one soon and have some questions for you.

[@patandjessicasjeepadventur3227]

Nice project

[@OverlandAddict]

Pat E thanks for watching!

[@scottt4081]

Ratchet straps are notorious for failing. I would go with the suggestions made about metal bonding straps. Awesome build!

[@OverlandAddict]

Scott T thanks! Yes, that was a temporary solution for sure.

[@micahwest5347]

Thanks for the video. I’ve seen a couple of these types of DIY shower videos so I’m not picking on yours alone but it always cracks me up when people say that in addition to showering they will use it to clean off their rig and then spray a side panel like they are getting ready to roll up to a Starbucks at the mall and don’t want their rig to be unpresentable. Let’s come up with a more plausible story. How about to get the extra gunk off the windshield that the wiper blades can’t clear or a part of the undercarriage so that you can do a trail repair or replace a flat tire.

[@anthonysanchez9746]

There is a conduit carrier kit at HD that has a metal pipe cradle, to replace your wood blocks. Overall great job! Thank you

[@OverlandAddict]

Anthony Sanchez Great! I’ll take a look. Do you know if they have 6” size? Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@anthonysanchez9746]

@@OverlandAddict they do, check Amazon, get it delivered straight to your door. You might also consider unistrut and U bolts, if you wanna save a few bucks.

[@andrewfletcher2426]

This is wonderful, thanks! Where did you get the black schedule 40? I’m having a hard time finding it. Thanks again

[@romancitobarcibal9948]

Looks very professional, great job ! How many gallons does yours hold ?

[@Fei8lo]

Pipe looks to be meant for drains which is not rated for much pressure. Also, you can just get an air pressure regulator to pressurize the water tank and just leave it connected when in use instead of getting another compressor.

[@mjenner89]

Looks great! Can you do an update on this maybe at the one year mark?

[@OverlandAddict]

Matt Jenner I can probably do that. To be honest, I have only used it once as a shower for myself. I’ve used it more times to put out campfires or spray off my muddy Jeep at camp. I’ve actually have it removed at the moment in favor or an awning I just bought. I’m going to be building a trailer soon and I’ll put it back on when it’s done

[@fuertep2do]

Very good job but what can compresor you have. Maybe can get a picture o that

[@readmore863]

Set up looks aggressive compared to other shower builds, looks nice.

[@OverlandAddict]

Read more thanks!

[@stevemartinism]

Watched 4 videos, so far yours has the most flexibility we are looking for. Well thought out. Subscribed👍

[@OverlandAddict]

steve martin hey thanks! Glad it was helpful.

[@jimm2311]

Great build. You gave me some ideas. I wonder how much pressure a jerry can will take.

[@OverlandAddict]

Jim M 🤔

[@davidmoulton5422]

If you want metal brackets use 6" riser clamps

[@leonardhall7203]

A test plug works better and a lot easier then the threaded cleanout

[@jrkeyesful]

I am going to build one too, and I was looking at test plugs. However, I have seen the PSI for test plus maxes out at 15psi if I am reading correctly. Do you see if differently?

[@SKYHAWK0115]

You oughtought to add another tube to the other side of that vehicle and it would give you twice the cspacity. I like your design. Looks great and workable !

[@landrybenjamin8668]

i realize I am quite off topic but do anyone know of a good place to watch new movies online ?

[@finneganyahir6868]

@Landry Benjamin Lately I have been using FlixZone. You can find it by googling =)

[@denverfrancisco3365]

@Finnegan Yahir yea, have been using FlixZone for years myself :D

[@landrybenjamin8668]

@Finnegan Yahir thank you, I went there and it seems like a nice service =) I really appreciate it!

[@finneganyahir6868]

@Landry Benjamin Happy to help =)

[@msamour]

Hi, for those wanting to use nylon straps for long periods of time to be careful has they get weak over time as the sun weakens the material. I had some nylon straps fail after a year out in the sun.

[@unknowndirection458]

good job!!

[@OverlandAddict]

Unknown Direction thanks!

[@glenn9892]

The only drawback that I can think of is UV rays deteriorating the pipe and fittings. I am about to design a rooftop solar water heater for my rv camper. I am going to use normal water pressure from shore supply or a 12 vdc pump. I am still piecing it together in my head.

[@timbodnar6711]

Get a small air tank and pressurize it to 120 to 150 psi. Run a hose from that tank to your black shower pipe with the regulator. You won't need a second air compressor and it should stay pressurized for your entire shower without needing the air compressor to turn on at all

[@RobertBuelteman]

It's a beautiful build! Got some Darth Vader flavor. However, I count 11 connections in that beautiful X arrangement. I think I'd forego the complexity in favor of a more minimalist approach. Great ideas and execution!

[@diegocoronel210]

Awesome!

[@ArbitraryLifestyle]

I think I'd use a valve for refilling the tank as well, so I wouldn't ever have to unscrew any parts of it. Screw a hose in, open the valve, fill up the tank, close the valve and remove the hose.

[@OverlandAddict]

ArbitraryLifestyle yeah I like this idea.

[@glenn9892]

Filling it up with a hose would build up pressure. My rv fresh water tank fill has a little vent tube to allow air to escape while filling tank.

[@Acekg1911]

Subbed...Solid Work

[@OverlandAddict]

Thanks, I appreciate that!

[@gabrieldean9559]

Thanks for the content! Great Video I really appreciate it! New subscriber here!

[@bigesup]

Nobody does it but if you add another valve at the top of your rig you could just open that valve, use a female to female hose fitting and connect your fill hose to the bottom, open the top valve, when it spills out your full. That way you don't have to deal with taping your lid, or needing channel locks to get the lid off.

[@effinhaoli808]

A sports ball filler is tiny ,silent and portable , works good for me 12psi ,AA batteries 14.99 Amazon

[@cdeboer11]

I think if you had the filler near the back by the ladder it would be more convenient. Also having the spigot near the back would save you from having to go to the back of the Jeep to air up, it would be right there. overall cool design

[@OverlandAddict]

calvin deboer I’d probably do several things differently now. Thanks for watching!

[@JasonPNeal-gw7bn]

Looks like it would probably be alright just to flip the whole thing around and be just fine. Trial and error is the best answer to what is wrong with an initial design. Great video, thanks for the ideas.

[@barrybates4651]

@@JasonPNeal-gw7bn it would also eliminate a mud puddle at the driver's door

[@hauba1]

Hello! Really nice build! Id like to test having a dedicated compressor to the tank that you talked about. A compressor that automatically keeps the pressure inte the tank when showering starts. You said you found a compressor like that but i dont know what to search for. Most compressors with digital display that you can set pressure on is hard to know if it automatically will pressure up the tank as soon as you start lowering the pressure while showering. What would the keyword be when i search for the type of compressor i would need to automatically keep pressure in the tank? Is it possible to find any compressors in a reasonable price range?

[@OverlandAddict]

hauba1 I ended up using my onboard ARB compressor to pressurize. I also installed a regulator inline to make sure the compressor kicks on and off to keep the pressure constant. Works great. The regulator is just one I got at Lowe’s that’s used for spray guns.

[@hyperjcp]

Excelente!!

[@dodgygeezah4707]

Nice. Thanks for this. 1 question though, wouldn't it be better to mount the Schrader valve to the top of the filler cap? That way the air inlet will always be above the water level and you could probably double the amount of water your system holds.

[@OverlandAddict]

It wouldn’t double the amount of water. The water won’t come out the Schroeder valve because it’s pressurized. It could get knocked off by a limb if it were on top.

[@soniacortez4135]

Awesome! What if you dont pressurize it tho?? Will the water just trickle out or what? Thanks for the answer ahead of time! Happy and safe travels

[@OverlandAddict]

Sonia Cortez never tried it. I’d imagine that’d be the case, although I’m sure you would need to vent it at the top so it could get airflow.

[@JarkoniFilm]

Nice

[@mrnoodle43]

Roger that. Great idea tho. Hats off to ya. Gonna build one for my motocross trailer. Gr8 way to finish a ride. Braaaap

[@Haku69]

Great setup! Did you paint the pvc?

[@wooblebloc]

I’m more interested in how you installed the pump in the engine bay

[@gambiarrasobressalente4457]

Very Nice 🚴‍♀️🇧🇷🏁✍️

[@zivnagar8635]

Great video, thanks! Can you add a link to a recomanded compressor to keep a fixed pressure?

[@OverlandAddict]

Any compressor will work. What you need to hook in-line is a pressure regulator. You can get one at Home Depot or Lowe’s. Set for about 30psi.

[@zivnagar8635]

@@OverlandAddict thanks for the reply, i built the same setup and the only part that im missing is the preessur regulator. It would help me a lot anf i would super appreciate if you can put a link or a name for the pressure regulator including description on how to set it up. Many thanks again and a great video

[@jonathanrodriguez7519]

Could you provide a link to the independent pump on amazon your were discusing on the latter end of the video. Thank you and well done.

[@madtx00]

Did you find a compressor. ? Need a link as well

[@josephdodson3323]

Did you ever have any issues with stopping? Some are telling me that water shifting while stopping creates a lot of force. Trying to see what I have to worry about?

[@gorila1958]

Where you have that block of wood you could use an old cutting board cut to shape .

[@OverlandAddict]

Ricardo Estrada great idea! Thanks for watching.

[@edrobinson137]

Nice build. Doesn’t that outlet valve get in your way there at the drivers door? I would rather have it back over the aft most window.

[@OverlandAddict]

Ed Robinson it barely clears the door. I agree. The back would be a much better place for it. I learned a lot during the build and would do a few things differently. Thanks for watching!

[@octavio68]

did you ever find a compressor that restarts when the pressure drops? can you send brand ad model. All the ones I have do not restart