Solar shower for €30 yourself build
After two weeks on the Atlantic coast without a campsite, it was clear: I want a warm shower without paying €8 for one Campsite shower. The solution has been hanging on my tailgate ever since - and costs less than two pizzas with a sea view.
- 20 m garden hose, black (the trick!) - approx. 12 €
- Shower head with stop button — approx. 6 €
- 2 hose couplings + end plugs - approx. 5 €
- Suction cup hooks & cable ties — approx. 4 €
- Valve adapter for filling - approx. 3 €
The principle
A black hose on the roof is a solar collector: 20 meters hold a good 6 liters of water, and after two hours of sun they are between 35 and 45 degrees warm. No tank, no pump, no electricity — physics does the work.
Construction in 6 steps
- Lay the hose into a flat spiral and fix it with cable ties.
- Clamp the spiral on the roof or under the rear window - the main thing is sunshine.
- Close the lower end with a coupling + end plug.
- The upper end is fitted with the valve adapter - this is where you fill in water.
- Screw on the shower head, hang the end of the hose over the tailgate.
- Fill, wait 2 hours, shower. Done!
My learnings after a summer
First: the water is really hot at midday - test it first, then put it under The stop button on the shower head is worth its weight in gold, 6 liters are easily enough for hair + everything. Third: In Portugal, a neighbor invited me to dinner for the construction. The best test: Start small in the vehicle, work on the road for a few days and honestly observe how you feel with it plus several months of the year traveling.
See you soon and always have a good trip,
your Tussy 💛