$30 DIY Shower

Here is how I made a dependable portable shower and bike wash with no special tools required.
Items you will need:
- pump sprayer ($15)
- Nylon hose barb ($8)
- Garden sprayer ($7)
For convenience (especially if you have Amazon Prime), I’ve linked to Amazon listings for the hose barb and garden sprayer. You can order everything online, but if you pick up the pump sprayer at Home Depot, you will likely find both the hose barb and garden sprayer at a lower price. I picked up mine at a local hardware store and my total cost was about $23 rather than $30.



Your sprayer will come with a hose and spray handle. Unscrew the cap at the base of the spray handle and pull apart the handle from the hose.
Insert your nylon hose barb (1/4 barb to 3/4 male adapter) into the hose where the spray handle was previously inserted. This is a snug fit and since you are working with low pressure, you don’t need to use a hose clamp.
Connect your hose to the 1 gallon container. Then connect your garden sprayer to the nylon male adapter.

Tada! Pretty simple right?
For showering, the hose is not long enough to reach the top of your head while the pump is sitting on the ground. Rather than spend more money lengthening the hose. I simply sit the pump on top of the van or pick up the pump when rinsing off.
Take a look at the pump in action.

The HDX sprayer comes in a larger 2-gallon version, but I opted for the 1-gallon because the van has limited storage space and most camps have potable water to fill to the sprayer as needed. I also carry a 7-gallon water jug (pictured) to fill the pump. One gallon will easily get you through a conservative shower.
Hi, I’m Spencer. I converted a Dodge Caravan into a small adventure vehicle for camping and biking. When not out in the Texas hill country, I help people lead rad careers at bestmondayever.com.

