Hot Water Delivery System With Yakima RoadShower Components - DIY Writeup

[tmeyer3]

Thanks for linking to Rinsekit. Just bought one…primarily to wash out two English labs after they’ve gotten muddy or sandy from hiking with them.

If anyone else is interested, you can get it from Costco for $160 (vs $250-$325).

But back to the topic, the OPs setup does look awesome!

Costco is a great tip! Love my rinse kit. Just grab it, throw it in the back, done. Battery lasts ages too. If only the tank lasted that long ?

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[hemiarch]

Tempted by the Costco one. Any consideration for spending a few extra bucks on the cube version? Anyone tried both and can comment?

 

[koolio]

Costco is a great tip! Love my rinse kit. Just grab it, throw it in the back, done. Battery lasts ages too. If only the tank lasted that long ?

Glad to hear you like it and it’s been reliable. Thanks!

We’re in Acadia National Park doing a bunch of hiking with our dogs and we could’ve used the Rinsekit yesterday ?. Wished I ordered it for this trip.

 

[koolio]

Tempted by the Costco one. Any consideration for spending a few extra bucks on the cube version? Anyone tried both and can comment?

From what I saw, the main difference is
1. the cube is 4 gallons vs 3.5
2. it doesn’t have a storage section for the hose
3. It has a digital display that shows you the temp of the water

For portability ease, I liked how the hose is neatly stored in the top of the Pro.

 

[tmeyer3]

Tempted by the Costco one. Any consideration for spending a few extra bucks on the cube version? Anyone tried both and can comment?

I haven't tried the cube version, but the rinse kit is a nice little niche.

Pros: super portable, works GREAT, good pressure, etc
Cons: because it's made to be portable, the pump can go through the 2.5 gallons let quick, so don't rely on it as a primary water source or anything.

I use it ALL THE TIME for road trips with kids and dogs. It's nice to have on the side of the road, parking lots, camp sites, when you just need a quick rinse, wash, sticky hands, muddy paws, etc. Running water out of the back of your truck is unsurprisingly great even if it's only 2.5 gallons.

 

[hemiarch]

Yeah. Ordering one from Costco

 

[Bridgeboy69]

(5) When you want hot water, turn on your roof accessory 48 volt feed from your awesome truck’s touchscreen!

Great setup!

How long does it take that 200W element to heat the 4 gallons of water to 120º or 130º?

I installed two 8-gallon tanks in mine (16 gallons total) and I am thinking about rigging one up to be heatable.

 

[CT_AZ_4x4]

Great setup!

How long does it take that 200W element to heat the 4 gallons of water to 120º or 130º?

I installed two 8-gallon tanks in mine (16 gallons total) and I am thinking about rigging one up to be heatable.

That is a very clean install you did. Care to provide more detail on that soecifically?

The water heater takes about 90 minutes to get up to 118-120 degrees. I rigged an inexpensive thermostat to it.

 

[Bridgeboy69]

That is a very clean install you did. Care to provide more detail on that soecifically?

I spent about an hour a week or so ago writing up a detailed install with all my components (similar to your original post for this thread), including the shower awning I have, with about ten different pictures. It was so long I decided to “preview” it, and I never used that preview option before. When I did I noticed edits I needed to make but I couldn’t do it in preview and so I tried using the back button and my entire post disappeared. I was super frustrated and had no time to do it over again. What is the point if “preview” anyway!? I’ll never do that again…

I will make a post again with all details though as soon as I can. I am posting from my phone right now at my daughter’s sports practice.

The water heater takes about 90 minutes to get up to 118-120 degrees. I rigged an inexpensive thermostat to it.

Wow that is a long time. For 8 gallons it will take twice as long, presumably. I wonder if there is a way to heat it faster? That is a 200W element, so I wonder if a 400W could be used? I think the roof feed is rated for 400W.

Or maybe a way to use AC?

 

[CT_AZ_4x4]

I spent about an hour a week or so ago writing up a detailed install with all my components (similar to your original post for this thread), including the shower awning I have, with about ten different pictures. It was so long I decided to “preview” it, and I never used that preview option before. When I did I noticed edits I needed to make but I couldn’t do it in preview and so I tried using the back button and my entire post disappeared. I was super frustrated and had no time to do it over again. What is the point if “preview” anyway!? I’ll never do that again…

I will make a post again with all details though as soon as I can. I am posting from my phone right now at my daughter’s sports practice.



Wow that is a long time. For 8 gallons it will take twice as long, presumably. I wonder if there is a way to heat it faster? That is a 200W element, so I wonder if a 400W could be used? I think the roof feed is rated for 400W.

Or maybe a way to use AC?

Oh, man, all those details lost due to the “preview” function, ugh!

You could easily swap in a higher wattage heating element, just anything near or over 400 will trigger the digital breaker.

The length of time to heat isn’t so bad with a little pre-planning. When driving somewhere it can easily be 2-4 hours away, so toggling the water heater before use or even overnight makes is convenient, but right it isn’t instant.

The biggest benefits are simplicity and low, low energy use. Instant water heaters are in the thousands of watts, not the low hundreds. The low hundreds of watts possibly means more mileage for the truck. But for some the use of thousands of watts for the convenience is worth it.

I go off grid where planning for mileage is important. But even if I’m plugged in at an RV park the truck is going to take hours to charge anyway.

Just having hot water is such a bougie thing anyway! But after hunting for a few days it is so awesome to be able to get clean with hot water before crawling into a sleeping bag.

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