outdoor shower head replacement options

1968Healey
1968Healey Member Posts: 64
in Modifications & Upgrades
On our yearly shakedown trip we discovered that our outdoor shower head must have had water in it over the winter and froze/cracked.  I need to replace the shower head, but I'd like something both with a longer hose and much better flow.  Anybody have suggestions that will still fit in the existing box?  Looks like replacing the whole box isn't an easy job. 
2020 T@B 400
2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road
Seattle, WA

Comments

  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,737
    edited May 2022
    Some of us have added a quick disconnect and longer extension.




    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,430
    The quick disconnect type of setup is what I plan to replace the fixed hose with in our TaB.  I think this is the best way to go.  You can even get quick disconnects that have a built in ball valve, so when the hose is disconnected, water will not come out, even if the water tap valves are on.
    Cheers 
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,737
    edited May 2022
    Denny16 said:
    ... water will not come out, even if the water tap valves are on.
    Now who would be silly enough to disconnect the hose with the water still on?   ;)

    Not only have I sprayed my self by not turning the valve off, but also discovered that if you don't release the pressure in the hose after shutting off the valve you'll get almost as wet.

    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,430
    edited May 2022
    I have discovered the same thing, by accident :o with the quick release fittings on my garden hose pipes, which do not have the built in valve on either end.  You have to be smarter than the equipment…  B)
     Cheers 
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
  • elbolillo
    elbolillo Member Posts: 560
    AnOldUR said:
    Some of us have added a quick disconnect and longer extension.




    I highly recommend installing the quick connect and getting a longer shower hose. Super simple to do and eliminates having to stuff the hose back into the Tab plus it frees up extra storage space.

    _____________________________________________________
    Ken / 2023 Tab 400 “La Bolita” (39,000+ miles) / 2024 Toyota Sequoia

  • Horigan
    Horigan Member Posts: 877
    You can increase the flow by drilling out the orifice on the current shower head.  Take it apart and you'll see what I mean.  I just replaced my stiff white hose with a more flexible metal cased RV hose, as shown above.  You need to remove the box to attach it.  Once the box is off adding a quick disconnect is pretty easy.  For us just having the longer more flexible hose has addressed our issues.  With the quick disconnect you can use a much longer coiled hose that you can store elsewhere.
    Rich
    2019 T@b 400
    2025 Toyota Highlander 2.4L Turbo
    Bellingham WA
  • Mickerly
    Mickerly Member Posts: 486
    I guess that's an advantage of the older CS. The back of the box is accessible under the sink. I replaced the stiff plastic tube with a regular shower hose. The bottom of the sprayer has a very tiny hole. I opened that to 1/4 inch. Works so much better now.
    2018 320CS-S
    "Just Enough"
  • ShelleyA
    ShelleyA Member Posts: 7
    Is there a reason you chose such a long hose for the outside shower??
  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,737
    @ShelleyA, Doing dishes at the picnic table with a collapsable sink. Setting up a shower tent away from the trailer. Lot of good uses.
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

  • Mickerly
    Mickerly Member Posts: 486
    What he said...
    2018 320CS-S
    "Just Enough"
  • ShelleyA
    ShelleyA Member Posts: 7
    edited June 2022
    Where the extended hose connects to the CPC - this looks to me like 2 female parts... do I need something in between them???  I have ordered all 4 parts but want to make sure I am not forgetting anything.... thanks!

  • ShelleyA
    ShelleyA Member Posts: 7
    I bought the exact pieces from your upper link, from Amazon... the hose does not attached to the connector - do I need another piece???
  • ShelleyA
    ShelleyA Member Posts: 7
    In the end, we just attached the hose WITHOUT the quick connect - slides in no issue because the hose is so flexible...no drilling required.... super easy upgrade.....
  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,737
    @ShelleyA sorry for the late reply. Been traveling through Canada and now Alaska with little to no service.

    Also have to apologize for the bad link. The first three items are what I purchased, but the last CPC discount link was not. I had a lot of CPC fitting from my homebrew days and used what’s shown in the pictures. The Amazon CPC link was only to show the brand and did not include both the male and female connectors or the exact versions needed. I should have been more specific. I’m glad you were able to work it out to your satisfaction, but if you’re still interested I’ll look for links to the CPC fittings that will work. 
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

  • nbrandt
    nbrandt Member Posts: 65
    We have experienced some troubles with this shower in that the hot water valve works just fine, but the cold water valve doesn't let any water into the mixer valve.  We really use this outdoor shower quite a bit and so would like to rectify this situation. 
    I saw a website on the door of the shower:  itc-us.com and visited that site to find that you can shop for and buy various parts for this shower and the whole unit.  They ship via UPS.

  • Slackers
    Slackers Member Posts: 490
    Last year, I had to replace my entire outdoor box and found the exact non-locking white ITC Fontana model on Amazon.
    2019 Tab 320 CSS, 2019 Ranger TV, OH
  • jeremyriesenburger
    jeremyriesenburger Member Posts: 2
    @AnOldUR would you mind linking the correct quick disconnect attachment? I’d like to order everything I’ll need to do your replacement/upgrade asap. Our original outdoor shower doesn’t thread correctly and is leaking into our trailer!! Thank youuuu 
  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,737
    Like I mentioned earlier, I bought an assorted used lot size batch of these disconnects on eBay. Probably 30 of them, so I had several choices to pick from when putting mine together. The links below to Zoro seem to be a good source, but I can’t be certain that they are exactly what I used. Maybe giving them a call could verify it. They might even suggest a better configuration since I was just working with what I had. The plastic pipe to barb fitting that I used inside probably came from Home Depot, but again, it was something I had in my stash of stuff from homebrewing. Hope that helps, but if it just raises more questions, let me know.

    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

  • Burgerson
    Burgerson Member Posts: 10
    edited March 2023
    I am thinking about doing this upgrade myself as the stock shower head collar has broken.  Question - what is the best/easiest way to get to the back of the outdoor shower insert to make the changes?  I have a 2020 T@B 400 and there are screws on the outside that apparently hold the unit in place but it is also "glued" in place with what looks like silicone.
    2020 T@B 400, Sammamish, WA
  • Horigan
    Horigan Member Posts: 877
    Carefully remove the sealant with a plastic scrapper so as not to mar the surface and remove the screws.  Reseal after re-installation.
    Rich
    2019 T@b 400
    2025 Toyota Highlander 2.4L Turbo
    Bellingham WA
  • Michigan_Mike
    Michigan_Mike Member Posts: 2,858
    Goo-Gone spray is my go to product that easily band naturally loosens up the sealant around both roof vents, shower boxes, etc.  Cleans up quickly too and makes these projects a ton easier.  

    Mike - Elmira, Mi / 2019 T@B 400 / 2021 Chevy Silverado LTZ
  • Burgerson
    Burgerson Member Posts: 10
    Thanks for the tips!  Is there a recommended or preferred sealant to use when I reinstall the unit?
    2020 T@B 400, Sammamish, WA
  • techietab
    techietab Member Posts: 161
    edited March 2023
    Burgerson said:
    Thanks for the tips!  Is there a recommended or preferred sealant to use when I reinstall the unit?
    Dicor non-leveling lap sealant is a popular choice. Worked well for me when installing a pass-through port on the wall to run a cable from my Starlink dish to my on-board router.
    Michigan_Mike said:
    Goo-Gone spray is my go to product that easily band naturally loosens up the sealant

    I don't understand why people seem to think anything about Goo Gone is natural. Seems to be a common opinion. It's petroleum distillate with an absurd amount of orange peel oil to hide the scent. Naptha, mineral spirits, WD-40 and other products of the same ilk are basically the same in terms of function and toxicity. Goo Gone just smells nicer.

    Northern VA
    2022 T@b 320 S / 2021 Subaru Outback
  • Burgerson
    Burgerson Member Posts: 10
    Thanks for the recommendation.
    2020 T@B 400, Sammamish, WA

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