4Runner shower install

[jbs11]

Hello all,
I am installing a Helton heat exchanger and Shurflo pump on my 06 SR5 4Runner V6 so I have an onboard shower for camping. I don't have the FSM yet. Can some one with the service manual please check the heater hoses and let me know which one is the supply and which is the return (i.e. top and bottom where they enter the firewall)?

I'll post some pics when I get it installed. Thanks,

broc

[bulldog]

I will look this evening. If I don't get back to you or if nobody else posts in the mean time, just PM me.

We will require a full write up with pix afterwords though :D

[jbs11]

Thanks Andries. Deal.

[bulldog]

I looked at the FSM and it is not marked or clear at all which is which. The top inlet in the engine bay does go to the bottom of the heater radiator, which is normally the input then. Can't say for sure.

What you might want to check is to turn the cabin temp to low, start the engine and see which pipe gets hot and which doesn't. Normally works best starting with a cold engine. Teh one getting hot is obviosuly the inlet. Once you turn up the temp both should get hot.

Sorry but no clear answer as the FSM doesn't show it.

[jbs11]

No problem, thanks for looking. You are correct: The top hose in the engine compartment is the supply. Your way of checking is definitely better, but I had some poor T-fittings from Home Depot. The flow direction was obvious as I pulled out the leaking fittings and replaced them with better ones (the fluid was still (very) warm). I only had to waste about a pint of fluid to verify. :rolleyes:

I'm not quite finished with the final details, but I'll take some pics and post them. I used the heat exchanger from here (http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/helton.html) .

I used a ShurFlo pump from here (http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?skunum=20066) .

There is a great step-by-step install in an 04 Tacoma by desertdude on IH8MUD here (http://homepage.mac.com/desertdude/PhotoAlbum105.html) .
Another in a Ford Bronco here (http://classicbroncos.com/shower.shtml). I would have liked to use the heat exchanger he used (http://www.doucetteindustries.com/coaxial.html), but couldn't find a source.
Another overview (less detail) here. (http://www.exploroz.com/Vehicle/Accessories/Shower.asp)

In retrospect, I would install the heat exchanger in series with the heat radiator. That way you have to use your cabin heat to control the water temp (which could be an advantage or disadvantage). There are fewer added hose clamps that way though (fewer potential leaks).

I am waiting for my auxiliary fuse box to wire up a switch for the pump, but in a quick test, the system works great! The hoses end in quick-disconnects in the front grill (they will be mounted in my Shrockworks bumper when I get it). The shower head is a small one from Lowe's. I don't like hand-held showers, so it attaches to a walking stick which is held easily in the roof rack. The shower head height and flow rate are both better than my home shower.

I won't do a full write-up because desertdude already did a great job on that. I will post some pics of the locations I chose for the heat exchanger, pump, and quick-disconnect hose fittings.

broc

[bulldog]

SOunds great, looking forward to the pix. I was too chicken to mess wiht the heater hoses so I just got one of the COleman heaters like James has. Only thing is they are bulky to lug aorund. I like the integrated idea with quick connects.

[jbs11]

OK, here are some pics:

I mounted the heated exchanger on the passenger-side firewall:
see here (http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=48162697/PictureID=1465166881/a=59018026_59018026/t_=59018026)
and here (http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=48162697/PictureID=1465166882/a=59018026_59018026/t_=59018026)

I spliced into the heater hose between the engine and firewall (not a very good pic, but I couldn't get a wider angle because of the hood):
here (http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=48162697/PictureID=1465166883/a=59018026_59018026/t_=59018026)

I put the pump behind the passenger-side headlight next to the power steering fluid reservior:
here (http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=48162697/PictureID=1465166884/a=59018026_59018026/t_=59018026)
It is not wired up yet (waiting until I install an aux fuse box).

For now, the hose quick disconnect are wedged into the front grill (http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=48162697/PictureID=1465166880/a=59018026_59018026/t_=59018026). When I get my Shrockworks bumper, I will make a little bracket for them like desertdude did.

Once I get that done and finish the shower head mount for the roof rack, I'll post a couple more pics.

broc

[bulldog]

Cool stuff, thx for psoting. Everybody will want to go wheel with you know :P

[Joel]

Very cool.

Any plans on how you'll carry enough water for 3g/m showers?

I was considering a tank where the stock spare is, but haven't gotten anywhere with the idea yet.

[Cruiserhead]

that's funny, I saw desertdude's setup on trips. He's got everything! He's on a trip to alaska at the moment!
Yours looks nice too. Showers are the best after a long day on the trail

Jim Brantley installed a system in his 60 series Land Cruiser. It is an old pump installed to the rear tucked under the body quarter panel.
It is so powerful, he throws a garden hose in a river or lake and can suck water to a heater shower (similar to the Helton) to blast you w/ water.
Not sure of the link but you can search realcruiser.com

[jbs11]

Any plans on how you'll carry enough water for 3g/m showers?


Take really fast showers :)

Actually, for now we plan to just use it when we are within range of a water supply (e.g. a creek). Either we can run the supply hose into the creek, or use a collapsable bucket.

If we do some desert travels, I'll have to think of some way to pack extra water. I like the idea of using the spare tire location, but I actually was toying with the idea of an auxiliary fuel tank there. I can't do anything with that space until I get the spare tire out of there though (need a rear bumper with a spare tire mount!).

broc

[jbs11]

To answer some questions that came up in another thread:

thanks dude that exactly the thread i was looking for! those quick disconnects are they your standard garden variety or something else entirely? cool just ordered the helton and shur-flo ..


(quote) I also added a diverter valve on the output so I can switch easily between recirc for heating the water and shower.

Could you explain this in alittle more detail please? thank you/./



Peace

The quick-disconnects I used are just the garden variety. They work fine for the most part, but I would probably use pneumatic or hydraulic fittings if I did it again. The reason is that they could be had with hose barb fittings rather than garden hose threads. With the threads, I had to use a hose-barb to garden-hose-thread fitting to connect the hose to the quick disconnect. Since I never unscrew the hose from the quick disconnect, this is really just unnecessary extra hardware. But it was pretty cheap and readily available at Home Depot. Another problem with the garden hose fittings is that when I pass them through the bumper and screw the hose on from the back side, the hose cannot fully seat on the gasket due to the thickness of the bumper. This caused leaks. This is not a big deal on the output side (just a dribble of water), but on the intake side, a leak means the pump pulls a lot of air and the shower doesn't work well. I solved it by using pipe sealant (the kind in the tube, not the teflon tape). No leaks. Bottom line: the garden fittings work, but there is room for improvement. See page 176 of the McMaster-Carr catalog for some options.

Another consideration is the diameter of the hose on the output side of the pump. I used 1/2" here and 3/8" for the pickup/input side. This keeps the back pressure low and again helps prevent leaks.

As for the diverter valve, sometimes with very cold water (think mountain streams), it won't heat to comfortable shower temp in one pass. You can simply put the shower head into your source bucket and recirculate the water for a couple minutes until you get the desired temp. I find the inconvenient because I like to get the shower set up on my hiking pole on the bumper and leave it there. So on the output side of the pump I added a T. At the T is a diverter valve. Something like this:

http://www.plumbersurplus.com/Prod/Alsons-4923-3810-Deluxe-All-Brass-Push-Pull-3-Way-Diverter-Stainless-Steel/32236/Cat/895

The valve sends the water either to the shower head (normal operation) or through a short length of hose back to the bucket (or Scepter can) (re-circ mode). This is also very convenient because you can switch to recirc while you soap up (less wasted water). I could not find a valve with hose barb fitings, so I had to again use extra fittings (1/2" pipe to 1/2" hose barb)

Another thing to watch out for is to make sure you keep the water moving. If you have a shut-off valve on the shower head, disable it. If the water sits in the heat exchanger, you will get a sudden blast of scalding water.

I wil take some pics and post - that should make some of this clearer.

All in all, I love it. The flow is higher than my home shower (somewhat less pressure though). Despite this my wife won't let me shower in the driveway :nono:

The high flow can be good or bad depending on how limited your water supply is.

Good luck!

broc

[bulldog]

Very good info, thx.

[jbs11]

Here are some updated pictures:

http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=48162697/PictureID=3700313673/a=59018026_59018026/t_=59018026

The last one shows the input/output

broc

[JohnD]

to complement this set-up I ordered these 2 components:

the shower curtain and the rec'vr mount:
link:
http://www.bivouacbuddy.com/enclosures.htm
rec;vr mnt:
http://www.bivouacbuddy.com/accessories.htm

I canceled the shurflo, because i dont have a good mounting location for it the location used by Jbs11, is were my D/B solenoid is and distri./blk. so im going with the He1a kit.

Again great write-up and thanks for sharing..

Peace