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outdoor shower - after market install
Yahoo Message Number: 118318
Does anyone have any tips on buying and installing an after market outdoor shower kit?  I've searched the archives and come up empty. Saw kits listed for sale on ebay motors.   thx.  bb
Re: outdoor shower - after market install
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118319
I looked @ ebay and I didn't see any like this: http://tiny.cc/vbjfg

Does anyone have any tips on buying and installing an after market outdoor shower kit?  I've searched the archives and come up empty. Saw kits listed for sale on ebay motors.   thx.  bb

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Re: outdoor shower - after market install
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118323
Bruce
 The reason you do not see anything is because, in most floor plans, it would require major surgery to access the water lines and to provide a place to mount the valve box.
Being beach campers, we wanted to be able to rinse the sand off our feet and legs. I bought a kitchen sink sprayer and hose and hooked it into output line of the water pump, using a tee fitting. It is located in storage bin, under the water pump.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157602104741015/> Since it is located outside the heated coach, a valve and quick-disconnect fitting were added to allow draining during freezing weather.
It's just what was needed for rinsing feet and fishing gear.

Larry
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: outdoor shower - after market install
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118324
I like this one, with all kinds of options.

http://tiny.cc/2g2yw

I think you"ll find the shower you are looking for at Nauticexpo.com.  It is made by Thetford.  Good luck, Doc 2000FL

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Re: outdoor shower - after market install
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118326
If I needed an outdoor shower and didn't already have one, I'd buy a garden sprayer like this one:

http://tinyurl.com/25xubjq
 Ten bucks. No holes to cut in your coach's outside walls. No plumbing to mess with. No potential for leaks. No need to winterize "one more thing." An easy, cheap, reliable solution. Can't beat that! :-)

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: outdoor shower - after market install
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118329
I'm going to piggyback onto Andy's concept, simplify: A double male section of garden hose, one end connected to the "city water connection" and the other end connected to this: http://tiny.cc/l1zlu I'm thinking of throwing away the base and mounting to the ladder. Less even to carry.
$11 bucks.
___

If I needed an outdoor shower and didn't already have one, I'd buy a garden sprayer like this one:

http://tinyurl.com/25xubjq
 Ten bucks. No holes to cut in your coach's outside walls. No plumbing to mess with. No potential for leaks. No need to winterize "one more thing." An easy, cheap, reliable solution. Can't beat that! :-)

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/

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Re: outdoor shower - after market install
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118332
Try th SunShower.  Solar heated and just hang it up for a nice warm outdooor shower.
Re: outdoor shower - after market install
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118342
"A double male section of garden hose, one end connected to the 'city water connection' and the other end connected to this: http://tiny.cc/l1zlu"
 Looks like a good solution. Only drawback is that you have to have city water--it wouldn't work when boondocking. The portable sprayer I suggested doesn't need any water hookup.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: outdoor shower - after market install
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118343
"I removed my batwing to make room for solar panels."

Jeez, I thought I was the only one crazy enough to do that! ;-)
 "I would like to find something that would work for OTA TV that could mount to the roof rack or the roof. Something compact that could be left mounted while traveling maybe?"
 I don't have direct experience with a roof antenna for TV, but most truckstops carry a variety of TV antennas meant to mount on side mirrors that could easily be adapted to mount on the LD's roof rack. This one, for example:
 http://www.truckingcomfort.com/product_info.php?products_id=96

...or this one:
 http://www.truckingcomfort.com/product_info.php?products_id=95

Perhaps one of these would suit your needs.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: outdoor shower - after market install
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118345
I have the larger version (DB4) of this at my house: http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-Direct-DB2-Directional-Antenna/dp/B000EHUE7I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1290129921&sr=8-2

I have no doubt that you could rig something up that attaches to the roof rack and folds down for travel.
 While marketed as multi-directional, it does work much better when pointed at the HDTV towers.  Pointing it in the general direction of the closest city/town is typically a good enough guess (or search antennaweb.org for actual tower locations).
 I still have the batwing, which is marginal for HDTV.  I've though of mounting on of these on the batwing post as an upgrade.

Rich '03 MB
As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
2003 MB
Re: outdoor shower - after market install
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118347
I second the Sunshower, used them for years on my racing sailboat which lacked a hot water heater.  A day
Re: outdoor shower - after market install
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118355
A few years I removed the batwing sntenna blade for a friend who didn't have a TV and wanted her Wilson cell antenna mounted on the crank-up mast.  Last year she got a small (7") HD TV and needed an antenna.  I found a small weather-proof antenna at Wally World - it was about the size of a book.  I mounted it on her crank-up mast and it seemed to work pretty well.  Sorry I can't recall the name of it.

Toad @ Cherry Point MCAS, Havelock, NC
Re: Batwing and HDTV
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118374
Quote
I still have the batwing, which is marginal for HDTV.  I've though of mounting on of these on the batwing post as an upgrade.
We just finished a two month tour through Oregon & Washington, and were parked in many remote places where I was surprised to get decent reception on the batwing.  When HDTV was available, it came in perfectly.  I think the batwing deserves a few kudos, at least in my experience with it.  -- Jon ('06TK "Albatross")
(Former) ‘06 TK “Albatross.” And (former) Vespa 250.   Alas, no more; both are gone.😕 Great memories remain! 😄
Re: outdoor shower - after market install
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118377
Quote
I still have the batwing, which is marginal for HDTV.  I've though of mounting on of these on the batwing post as an upgrade.

Rich '03 MB
Rich, you might try one of these snap-ons to your existing antenna.  I have one but have no way to actually measure the difference.  Whit digital it is either great or nothing.  I understand the newer Winegard antennas come with this.  Nothing to lose for the price.
http://tinyurl.com/2e2l9kp Joe Hamm-2003 MB
Re: Batwing and HDTV
Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118379
Quote
...  When HDTV was available, it came in perfectly.
One of the features of DTV is that you either get a perfect picture ... or NON AT ALL.  Unlike analog TV, there is no in between.  And, the difference between the two can be very slight, so that Winegard's Wingman can make the difference.
 Wingard's Sensar antenna (the batwing on the LD) is surprisingly sophisticated.  There is actually a directional UHF antenna buried inside the plastic case.  That plus its low noise amplifier makes it equivalent to either the CEA's definition of an excellent small directional antenna or a lower performance large directional antenna (between the CEA's light green and red as shown on the Antenna Web site http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx ).
 Since the switch over to DTV, there are very few stations on channels 2 to 6 (54 to 88 MHz).  Almost all stations are in the range from channel 7 to channel 51 (174 MHz to 702 MHz).  Most antennas list a frequency range someplace.  Don't pay extra for the channel 2-6 coverage.
 I don't have any direct RV antenna experience with anything but the Sensar antenna. A good selection of RV TV antennas can be found here: (http://www.solidsignal.com/cview.asp?mc=06&d=marine-automotive-audio-video&c=TV Antennas for RVs ) You don't have to buy it here, but this site has better than average information available. In general, big is better than small, amplified better than none, and directional is better than none.  The problem with directional is how to adjust same.  If remote, said adjustability requires an extra set of wires from the cabin into the antenna. If manual, you have to climb while someone looks at the screen.  Neither is inviting.

Linley
Re: Winegard Wingman TV Antenna
Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118380
Quote

I still have the batwing, which is marginal for HDTV.  I've though of mounting on of these on the batwing post as an upgrade.

Rich '03 MB
 " Rich, you might try one of these snap-ons to your existing antenna.  I have one but have no way to actually measure the difference.  Whit digital it is either great or nothing.  I understand the newer Winegard antennas come with this.  Nothing to lose for the price" http://tinyurl.com/2e2l9kp Joe Hamm-2003 MB
Go to Terry Tanner's Techsnoz site and read article 42 where Terry discusses installation and performance of the Wingman.

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Winegard Wingman TV Antenna
Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118387
Quote
Go to Terry Tanner's Techsnoz site and read article 42 where Terry discusses installation and performance of the Wingman.
Terry's paper is very good.  As a recap, he found it easy to install but could not see much of an improvement which is what I observed most of the time.  But sometimes it's quite useful.
 Wineguard promises "a 100% improvement" for UHF stations(channel 14 to 51).  Us old RF designers know that 100% or 2X really means a 3 dB (deciBels) improvement.  Using my "RF stuff" I determined that the Wingman did, in fact, improve the signal power by the promised 3 dB in the UHF band.
 Now, for all of you non-RF designers, doubling the signal power or a 3 dB improvement is significant.  Doubling sounds like a big change, but for radio/TV signals it's actually a fairly small deal.  To illustrate and put it in understandable terms, on a radio or TV set that has an audio volume control with a numeric readout, 3 dB is like moving the volume three numbers or so. The sound gets louder, but just a bit louder.
 Now, DTV is an all or nothing sort of thing.  Near the critical amplitude range, a 1 dB increase in signal strength can easily move you from a blue screen to an ideal picture or vice versa.  Thus Wingman improving the signal amplitude by 3 dB could well make the difference between having a picture or not having a picture.  All the rest of the time, you won't notice any difference like Terry observed. When I was experimenting with it a couple of years ago, I did a with/without test at a difficult site near Portland where there were only a couple of stations w/o Wingman and five or six with.
 It's fairly cheap and helps a little, so I recommend it.  But the value people see in Wingman after I tell this story is quite variable. So, I understand completely if that advice is ignored.
 By the way, just a little tip.  The Sensar antenna with or without the Wingman is quite directional in the UHF band.  You have to point the side of the antenna that is away from it's support arms toward the station for best results (that's the side that faces the passenger side of the coach when the antenna is stowed for travel).  Therefore, be sure to turn the antenna completely around when looking for stations.

Linley
Re: Winegard Wingman TV Antenna
Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118389
"...By the way, just a little tip.  The Sensar antenna with or without the Wingman is quite directional in the UHF band.  You have to point the side of the antenna that is away from it's support arms toward the station for best results (that's the side that faces the passenger side of the coach when the antenna is stowed for travel).  Therefore, be sure to turn the antenna completely around when looking for stations."

Linley
 Thanks for that tip, Linley - and for the rest of your interesting observations.  They are always a pleasure to read.

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Winegard Wingman TV Antenna
Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118414
On Sat, 20 Nov 2010, Linley wrote:

Quote
By the way, just a little tip.  The Sensar antenna with or without the Wingman is quite directional in the UHF band.  You have to point the side of the antenna that is away from it's support arms toward the station for best results (that's the side that faces the passenger side of the coach when the antenna is stowed for travel).  Therefore, be sure to turn the antenna completely around when looking for stations.

Linley
One of the negatives of DTV is that most (all that I have seen) TV and/or converters require a scan of available stations before they will let you tune to a particular channel. This means you will probably need to scan again after turning the antenna to pick up other stations. Some TV's won't let you add to the channels it has already "learned" and start from scratch each time you scan.  That can be a real pain if you are in a location where signals come from different directions.  I'm almost tempted to go with an omni-directional antenna which would have less gain from any one direction, but would pick up all available stations with one scan.
 Recommend that you check any TV you are interested in to be sure it has the capability to add to "learned" channels when using a very directional antenna.
 Rich - 2000 MB - Birch Bay, WA where we got a rare snowfall of about 3 inches last night.
Former 2000 MB- Now Bullet Crossfire 1800RB trailer pulled by a Chevy 2500HD
Re: Winegard Wingman TV Antenna
Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118415
Quote
... One of the negatives of DTV is that most (all that I have seen) TV and/or converters require a scan of available stations before they will let you tune to a particular channel. This means you will probably need to scan again after turning the antenna to pick up other stations. Some TV's won't let you add to the channels it has already "learned" and start from scratch each time you scan.  That can be a real pain...
How true.  I have working with Charles Rhodes for the last couple of years characterising the RF performance of DTV converters.  (For example see: http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/109342 ).  We have a wall of 24 different DTV converters that we test that occasionally need to be re-tuned so I am very familiar with how easy or difficult retuning one can be.
 Some, like the Artec T3a, the Winegard RCDT-09, the Zenith DTT900 and DTT901, the RCA STB 7766G-1, and the Insignia NX-DTA 1 have a manual scan mode that makes looking for and adding a new station a dream.  Most of the others make doing so anything from difficult to impossible.
 But, no one is buying new DTV converter boxes any more so this info probably is not very useful.  So, like Rich says, when purchasing a new DTV set, especially one to use in a RV, look closely at the set-up menu or the channel scan menu and determine if you can easily find and add a new station to the set's channel line up.  In addition, a mode that shows the DTV signal's strength is highly useful when adjusting the antenna's direction.  I would like a DTV set like an old analog TV that just allows one to grab the remote and manually key in a given channel.  I don't know why that's not available, but it's not.

Linley