How to improve your outside shower - The new ones WILL leak

ZZSPIRAL

Advanced Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2011
Posts
38
This mess started with one of those bisque shower hoses with cheap plastic fittings in a 2011 210UDS. These snap under any pressure and leak, so if the connection to the shower unit is on the interior of the trailer (like mine), then you can have problems. Don't ever buy these hoses.

The "professional" supposedly fixed this with an upgraded hose, but he put it on backwards. There was not enough thread, so he figured snug was good enough. Oh yeah, that hose came with a shower head, of which the threads were broken. Don't buy these either. They're bisque and have a lever that locks in place.

Anyway, I bought another hose, but I still needed a shower head (not readily available). So I purchased a spray gun on a hose, like what you see at the kitchen sink. I tried using brass fittings to reduce from 1/2" (shower Unit) down to 1/4" (new sprayer). The sprayer worked great, but it leaked at the connection to the shower unit. So I took the unit off (again), tightened it down, hooked it up and guess what? No leaks and NO WATER. Now I'm frustrated. I took the unit off (again), cleaned the valve, hooked it up and still...... NO WATER. Long story short, you cannot use brass fittings on the shower unit. The threads are the same, but tightening it down must plug up the valve. So, I cut the lines of the new shower hose and the new sprayer hose, added a 1/8" coupler, and presto.

It works FAR BETTER than any outdoor shower I've used. There's more spray, and the lever is much easier to use. Plus if I ever need a new shower head, they're $8 at any hardware store.

I don't understand why the manufacturers aren't using these.
 
Junk RV shower hose with junk connection = $11
Junk RV shower head with junk connection = $20 (unbelievable)
Good shower hose with metal connections at local hardware store = $10
Kitchen sink sprayer on a hose at local hardware store = $15

Note: The shower hose I used is on the left (white, see link below). These hoses may crimp in tight quarters, so cut them to leave about 2-3" of hose. The fittings are good quality.

http://www.plumbingsupply.com/images/delta-shower-hose-ultraflex-u490-494-series-lg.jpg
 
I haven't figured out a use for the outside shower yet.

I like showering inside out of public view. :wink:
 

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