Outdoor shower doesn't work

blackc2004

Hi, I went to use my outdoor shower this weekend and it doesn't work. I turn the handles (hot and cold) and no water comes out at all. The water pump was turned on and I had pressure at the sink. Any ideas of what to check? This seems like it should be pretty straight forward. 

ScottG

Is your Alde bypassed?

I vaguely recall that the outside shower is/was plumbed into the hot and cold lines after the valves used to isolate the Alde from the rest of the system. I'm not sure if there was a particular wisdom to that configuration, or if it was just done out of convenience when the shower became standard equipment.

pthomas745

Here is one older thread about the shower output and some various ideas, mostly about clogged shower heads.  There was a separate "mixer" on the out door shower in some models that might be checked.  I also remember reading about the flex pipe on the shower itself becoming kinked and restricting the flow.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/3167/outside-shower-is-disappointing-looking-for-potential-mod-ideas

pthomas745

I was curious about this, so went out and looked at my outdoor shower in my 2017 Outback.  I unscrewed the shower head from the hose, and found this teeny hole where the water flow is "restricted."  Stopped might be a better description:

It appears to be integrated into the shower head. This must be the reason the flow is so weak, at least on this head.

dsfdogs

@pthomas745 thanks for showing what the shower head looks like! I too had such a restricted trickle, but didn't pursue nor try to use again. 

blackc2004

Nice! thanks everyone. I hope it's an easy fix. I will tear it apart tonight.

pthomas745

After more experimenting (goofing around, actually) even with the head completely unscrewed from the hose, there still wasn't much flow.  And, if the cold was off and the hot turned on, there was little flow, if any.  My Alde was not on.  If, as the earlier/older thread states, there is a separate mixing valve behind the outdoor shower, some adjustments on that valve may help the flow.

falcon1970

I don't know how long the hose is on the outdoor shower, but if the hose is not extended the entire length might it be kinked somewhere in the storage bin?  It is a bit fiddly getting it stowed completely and might have a sharp bend from the last time it was pushed back into the casing.

Sharon_is_SAM

I remember someone reporting a limited flow from the outside shower.  They discovered that fully extending the hose limited the flow.  They had better results when they gently pushed a little bit of the hose back into the casing.  I assume it was kinking when fully rxtended.

Bayliss

I am not the individual that @Sharon_is_SAM referenced above, but since I just re-read her post, I thought I would post a photo I took back in January 2020 that shows exactly what she is referencing.  And, as she and @falcon1970 suggest, I found that if I pulled the outside shower hose all the way out, it kinked at the point marked with the yellow arrow, significantly reducing the flow of water.  Pushing the hose back inside the compartment increased the water to an acceptable flow.

B0atguy

We grew tired of that hose kinking, cutting of the water flow, and getting into knots every time we tried to use it . 
I finally got rid of that hose, and added a quick disconnect connection . Works much better now ! 
Still have to get around to finding an adapter to go from the hose connection to the showerhead , but we mostly use the outside shower for a dishwashing station anyway . 

pthomas745

@B0atguy could you give us a picture and description of the quick disconnect?

B0atguy

pthomas745 said:

@B0atguy could you give us a picture and description of the quick disconnect?

I used a spray port and hose from "D&W Phoenix RV" . Just google "Phoenix spray port" , and "Phoenix spray port hose" and you should find several vendors . 
Like E-Trailer ........

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/D-and-W-Inc/PF147006.html?feed=npn&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI88-tvLCa6QIVs-y1Ch18CAeNEAQYASABEgIC-_D_BwE

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/D-and-W-Inc/PF267003.html?feed=npn&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI88-tvLCa6QIVs-y1Ch18CAeNEAQYBCABEgK_L_D_BwE

I just removed the "spray port" from the 3" flange is comes on , and installed it through the plastic shower box in the T@B . Then went to Lowes and got the very standard connection hose to couple the port to the feed water line . 

Nanstar

Is the standard connection hose 6" long?  We are doing this conversion.  Thanks for the pictures. - Nevermind - looks like 12" is the shortest they come.  After measuring - 6" is clearly too short.  

B0atguy

Nanstar said:

Is the standard connection hose 6" long?  We are doing this conversion.  Thanks for the pictures.

If I remember it was longer than 6" . More like 12" -14" . 

finding_elias

This is so helpful. I looked into my Aldi area to see what was up with those hose and had that exact same issue. I've order the Phoenix spray port to do this mod. Question is how big of a hole did you drill into he plastic frame to keep it snug? 

B0atguy

elias72 said:

This is so helpful. I looked into my Aldi area to see what was up with those hose and had that exact same issue. I've order the Phoenix spray port to do this mod. Question is how big of a hole did you drill into he plastic frame to keep it snug? 

Sorry, I do not remember exactly what size hole saw I used . Somewhere around 3/4"  - 1" , but I forget exactly . I did not use any silicone on the "hole" , but I did use some teflon tape on the threads connecting the spray port together . 

4ncar

@elias72: if you don’t have a set of hole saws, go to the home center and buy a Unibit, this will come in handy many times.  Either way, use a piece of scrap material to dry fit the quick connect port into to determine exact hole size prior to drilling into the tab.

TNOutback

@blackc2004 you didn’t mention what model camper you have.  At least in the 2020 400, there are in-line shutoff valves to the outdoor shower in the space below the large closet.  I can’t attest if shutoff valves are universal or not, but if you are not getting any water flow, you might trace back your water lines to see if there are shutoff valves.

Sharon_is_SAM

If I’m not mistaken, @blackc2004 sold both TaBs, no?  The thread started in 2018.