Hot Water on Prado, plus Camper

[Killswitch Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Killswitch]

Hi guys,

I have been looking into putting Hot Water on the Prado.

After lots of searching, the heat exchange is the way to go I think. Correct me if I am wrong. I have seen the Glind shower setups etc, but was hoping to do something a little cheaper and more custom.

We have just bought a 80s Jayco Camper, so I was hoping to put a heat ex-changer on the Prado, and then have the ability to run hot water to the sink in the camper, plus have the ability to have a shower on the car. That way if I leave the camper at home and take the Swag, I can have a hot water with the car.

Has anyone done something like this, or has any ideas?

Cheers,

KS

[maulbeagle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maulbeagle]

Sounds like what the Glind does. I've removed it from my previous car but haven't found anywhere to mount it on the Prado yet.

[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

We have a glind in the Prado. Mounted on custom bracket on the firewall near the oil filter. This unit has been on 3 cars and now 14 years old. If you make a 'cheap' one remember the engine is reliant on the water passing through it and if it fails the costs will be dramatic.




The pump is hidden behind the fuel filters.

Rusty.

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

They are OK. My son has one on his Patrol. The problem as I see it is that on a cold morning it takes a while to heat up, and makes quite a racket running the engine at high enough revs to keep the shower warm.

I think I will go the Coleman system if I feel the need in the future.

[paddyb Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close paddyb]

Here's what I did with a Coleman unit. Just another idea.

http://www.4wdaction.com.au/forum/vi...?f=39&t=132917

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

The problem as I see it is that on a cold morning it takes a while to heat up,

Shower in the afternoon just before the sun goes down. That's been my ritual for years out bush now.

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

They are OK. My son has one on his Patrol. The problem as I see it is that on a cold morning it takes a while to heat up, and makes quite a racket running the engine at high enough revs to keep the shower warm.

I think I will go the Coleman system if I feel the need in the future.

I've had my Coleman for five years and has served me well. When I first got my mates all laughed at me being soft, but there's nothing like a hot shower at night on Fraser after fishing all day.

Guess who are lining up to use it now...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[K & M McF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close K & M McF]

I have had a Twine (similar) in my Prado for 16 years. Best thing I ever purchased. As others have pointed out, you use it in the afternoon when the engine is still warm from driving, never in the morning. Even if you have not moved, it only takes a few minutes to heat up enough water for a shower. We recirculate the water from a 10 litre container back into the container till it is warm enough (46C the way we do it) and then turn off the engine, switch the hose from recirculate to shower and have a shower. You can make do with a bout 3 litres for a reasonable shower, 5 for a good one and 10 for a great one.

As to running it to a camper, I would think you would loose too much heat unless you had good insulation and then have problems with the connection from the car to the trailer. For washing up, we sometimes just heat up some more water, only takes a couple of minutes as you do not need much.

[snewby Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close snewby]

I have been using a Companion Aquacube for two years now. The idea and looks are great..BUT it is fussy and unreliable.
Last trip down the snowys it ran, but as it only heated the water by about 10 degs a pass, I had to recycle the water to get up to 40 for a shower.
I have promised to junk it next time it plays up... and get a Joolca unit plus 12v pump, (which I rekon is the best going).
Once I get somewhere I just set up the solar panel and don't run the car till its time to go... also I dont like the idea of cutting into the cars heater lines... just one more thing to go wrong.
Good luck which ever way you go. A shower is a necessary "luxury"

[Killswitch Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Killswitch]

Cheers guys, a few there to consider.

With the plumb back to the camper the heat loss would be an issue. I was thinking of insuration and then parking the car next to the sink side to minimise the length requirement.

[Goggo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Goggo]

I also have a Glind and I have mounted inside the passenger side wing of the bulbar it seems to work and fit there very well considering there isn't a lot of choices under the bonnet. Cheers

[Graz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Graz]

I have been using this for about a year now after using a coleman for years. So much better to use.
http://www.joolca.com.au/hottap

[GGF6T Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close GGF6T]

How did you go with mounting the joolca?

[Graz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Graz]

How did you go with mounting the joolca?

I made up a pole that slides on the rear bumper ( see photos) and put shower tent at rear of van, works a treat