I want to thank you for something you did near the beginning of this video that almost no one ever does, but really should; you told us your height. This gives the viewer a valuable context while watching a build, and if it is feasible or practical for them to try. I've watched a LOT of build videos- for vans, trailers, shuttles, buses, etc., and 99.9% of them give no spatial relationship between the vehicle and the person(s) seen onscreen. So, thank you from all of us plus-sized and/or very tall viewers. It's important.
Alexander Sandoval LeDonne Except for a non-van vanlife build. I live in a box truck, which has plenty of room if you’ve ever been in one. Mine is a 17 footer with almost ten feet of height inside.
For the shower curtain you could use a circle template rather than a square (for example a hula hoop) , attach it to the ceiling of the van with one magnet or one hook rather than 4. The shower head would be at the centre of your curtain in that way.
Your man did a nice job of fabricating the pan. For those who can not find a reasonably priced fabricator, you could make the pan out of plywood and then fiberglass the inside of the plywood. I did that 20 years ago for a 24" 30: shower pan that I made for a semi trailer to home conversion. there should be a picture on my page. It will be title "kitchen shower video" 4 years ago. I doesn't show much detail, but it may give you an idea.
Seven, it's great to watch your "thought processes." There's a word for it... when learning "one" particular thing leads to the ability for future problem solving. Thanks for a perfect shower for a van. Max
Long time RV shop guy here. First of all great job on the shower arrangement. The best idea I've seen. I have to say when you made those blocks l was saying, gotta line up the wall base. As for the curtain rod. The simplest, least expensive and most stowable will be a couple of hooks to secure the rod on the side of the van at the top. Then you will just need two knee braces, which rest against the side of the van, to support the square curtain rod frame. You can make the knee connections swivel on the rod to collapse inside the square when stowed. It could all be PVC or you might look around for materials that would suit your look better. I have to say as a 69 year old contractor l really enjoy you young guys proving American ingenuity and self sufficiency is still alive and well. Good job. Oh this is the first time l've seen your channel and l subscribed.
I forgot the title of the vid, but before this vid, I just watched another guy get interviewed for adding a unique toilet and quicky wet shower, with drain to the ground outside, on the back section of his minivan, that was a doable project also. Not as elaborate as this one though.
Very much like a magnet based mounting. I’m also glad you added that rubber edging on the pan ...beautiful design for the collapsible pan and I appreciate how you are conscious about protecting your vehicle from rust.
I love a guy who can build things and figure out problems! And so young too. You are going to be very successful in your life. I would be so proud of you if you were my grandson! (yes,I am that old)
Caulking the floors to seal them is a GENIUS idea! I will definitely have to copy you on that, so thanks! :) Great job and it's so nice to see you working through issues and problem solving rather than everything just going perfect. Awesome job!
I love your attitude toward your fails and explaining the critical thinking process, pipe fittings for water, air, and hydraulics are crazy! I do a lot of plumbing and the straight pipe threads (NPS) may be an equivalent to the British Standard Pipe (BSP) as opposed to USA's National Standard Pipe (NPT). The popping of the shower bottom it due to heat stresses from welding. You can get a sheet of one side adhesive rubber backing that you find on the bottoms of kitchen sinks that will dampen the sound. Great job on the idea for drilling the hole!
Looks awesome. Great design. Usually local Community Colleges who teach welding will take on projects like your shower pan. Possible idea for the next van.....on sailboats, it is common to build a plywood enclosed, then fiberglass it, and finish it with gel Coat. Your projects and teaching and sharing is a cherished gift. I am inspired to do my own build thanks to you. Hugs and light...keep these videos coming.
I’m going to do a similar shower idea in my conversion and I’m planning on mounting 4 round 2 inch anchor point tie downs to my ceiling and use them to hold my shower curtain. I’ve seen this done before in a Van and it’s nice, simple and clean approach. To me much better than the pvc pipe route.
I'm enjoying watching the build and your process. I'm 6'4" and was going to do approximately the same build but I wanted more headroom and square walls. So I special ordered a E350 cutaway van with a 6'10 ceiling with a 14' box that is 80" wide. A thumbs up video 👍
I have done a bunch of home plumbing but I wasn’t aware of the problem you ran into glad it all worked out you will figure out how to set your curtain I like your idea so just go with it
Still watching .... I love TAP plastic My dad also showed there and made many projects... I’ve been to all their Portland locations for the last 40 years. Excellent store for the creative mind of acrylics and such. Even the professionals run into a wall to think through problem solving.... then there’s me... the non professional that sometimes because the way I think creatively- I can think outside the “Profesional” box. I amaze myself all the time when I see a different use.
Very Nice Bro.. Im a GC in Cali, with a stealth enclosed 8.5x16 cargo trailer I built with tons of solar power, but anyway, I wanna say.. I dont impress easily because I am super meticulous and perfectionist in all I do, but you get props.. for your process, ideas, all of it. No corner cutting, well thought out, built to last.. Impressive man! Nice job! I would build a trailer with you for sure! You might be the only one I'd build one with too, haha, I'm too picky about everything being done right. Bravo! 👏
Putting the pan on stilts mostly worked out. I was shouting at you to just make a cardboard template of the pan and transfer it to the floor. I really like all the thought you're putting into each step. I'll be watching more of your build.
Great videos as always I just got back from a cross country trip living out of a Volkswagen Jetta for a month. Make sure you have some pitch on your drain pipes. If you plan on doing any winter traveling you don’t want it to freeze under the truck.
Amazing video with clear =, well sometimes clear but shows your mindset of thinking of how to work out a problem without getting too angry with the issue. Thanks for sharing, I have made notes of this idea and will slight tweak it to fit my van fit out.
😘 thank you, thank you. I've been racking my brain trying to figure out where to put a shower in my rig. Never thought under the bed, mine is movable too, and there's the bottom part of a closet right behind the bed to store all the stuff, even a hole all ready handy for a drain. Just measured the space and I can get 32"sq. Shwr pan in there.🎉🌟🤸
Wow! thanks for this pumbing 101 crash course! For the shower floor, I'll position the aluminium floor atop of a 10 deg. slanted 1.5 in rubber mat. then a teak cleat with the reverse inclined base will complete the floor to prevent remaining water requiring a squeegee pass after use. I also plan to keep a leaf blower charged in my garage to dry it off (and blow off snow on the solar ;-)
Amazing design!!! for a small van, you have more complete van built than most others. A home without a shower is just not a complete home. And you did it in a small van. Great job. Now if you add a couple filters and a tiny hot water heater to make it an endless shower, instead of the quick 2 min 3 gal water shower, that would be perfect. i particularly like the long bench you sit to work, it makes your van look much bigger.
If you have not had it made yet, I would have that wheel well pitch inward toward the shower so that the water will not sit on top of that flat area. Otherwise, you may have to dry it off each time. ( just heard that it took 3 months...) My comment still stands for anyone reading the comments and thinking of doing this. Some sort of soundproofing on the outside of the pan so when traveling, you will not hear it and it will dampen the sound during the shower. They put soundproofing on the high end stainless steel kitchen sinks to dampen the sound of the water. I would make it simple for the shower curtain and just support it 4 ways on the ceiling (magnets) and add a metal coupler or something in 4 places on the plastic pipes and then secure that way. You know the rare earth magnets are very strong and should hold that up. (just countersink in the ceiling like you did when you installed the ceiling) only you would see them for this application. You could probably get a colored sharpie and color them so not so obvious. The shower head needs to be low flow or aerated or you will use all your water quickly. People like the Oyxgenics brand because it saves on water and has great pressure. You could just fashion a hanging bracket for it.
I enjoy your discussion of he design process involved in creating the shower. I feel too many RUclips creators skip over that part and simply waive their hands and like magic the shower appears. U will be subscribing.
A fabric shower curtain liner can be used alone and will dry much better than the vinyl and easily washable. Less likely to get mold and mildew. The entire system will need to be completely dry before you stow it all back in there. But I am sure you already knew that. Love your problem solving skills. You have a very analytical mind. I am taking notes from your videos to help me do my build.
I really really admire your patience and persistence. Problem-solving is one of my passions as well, except with way more obscenities. Your doing a great job
Great project! You could build a strong square frame and mount it vertically on the wall above the shower with 2 lockable shelf hinges. (Amazon example: Sumnacon Sturdy Folding Shelf Brackets). Fold out the frame horizontally when attaching the shower curtain. Unlock and fold the frame vertically when not in use. Camouflage the frame with a picture mounted to the frame or attached to the wall within the frame. The frame and picture would look like a work of art.
Glad you figured it out. Been there. I was lucky tho. I was so hesitant that I saw the difference in fittings while trying to explore how it would be done. Option 3 on the curtain.
I really appreciate the care you have taken with this video, and for sharing all the steps. I think, snap in brackets like those that a broom snaps into for the curtain rod. And a hinged fold down bracket with a snap in bracket for the shower head. Use some of the ceiling material to frame and form the ceiling mount, you have done such a beautiful job, I know you want it to look as good as it works. Wish I could send you a sketch, but think top down, not bottom up. The framed box could have an led light tape all round to give a nice lite look when in the shower. Good luck, and thanks for giving me some ideas for my shower build. 🇨🇦👏🏽🙏🏼🚌🙏🏼👏🏽🇨🇦, safe travels.
Wish we'd known of your fabricator buddy before.... we were looking for someone to fabricate a galvanized steel shower surround for our van build. Nobody was interested because the job was too small. Oh well, maybe next time. Great videos! Thanks!
Great video👍👍. Like the saying goes the scary is the fly in the ointment. Here’s The fly.1) don’t trip and fall because that corner or top of that pan can do you some real flesh damage.2)The humidity that you’re going to add taking a hot shower to the van capsule in a year.How much rust and potential black mold practically under your mattress will result. Having dry heat should help the problem but better get yourself an turbo exhaust fan. Since you have the plumbing you might consider having an external shower capability Under under the vehicle. Besides plugging in an external shower you can use it to wash the van, surfboard,etc. make a simple with just cold water.
All you need for the shower curtain are 4 “D”rings or hooks screwed to the ceiling. You can use 4 caribeaners or shower curtain hooks to attach the square rod to the 4 hooks. For the shower head find a goose neck that can be mounted on the wall or ceiling with the shower head mount on it. Since the shower head is not really heavy you may be able to mount the shower head bracket by magnets then the only thing that is permanently affixed is the magnet.
@@davidlundy5007 Four closed eye hooks on the ceiling. Four carribeaners that stay on the PVC frame (down hidden dwell). Lift the PVC frame, click 1234. Shower. Shake. Dry. Drop curtain. Easy sleasy.
My biggest concern with storing the shower curtain in that pan is that it won't dry, and will lead to mold and mildew. If you do store it in the pan, be sure you lay out in the sun/wind before you store it (which implies earlier showers rather than later ones).
Im surprised that it was that difficult to find a fabrication shop that would build the shower pan. I used to work in a machine shop and we built all kinds of enteresting things. Some complicated, some easy. The shower pan just doesnt seem like a complicated build. To me it would have been fun to do
VHB tape would have been a good use between shower pan bottom and ABS shim. Further, perhaps under the ABS as well. Your ingenuity throughout your entire build reveals many great best practices to follow!
Great shower system you've created there; thanks for taking us with you on the journey of your van build out! Your fabricator did an excellent job on the shower pan. This is a well done video; and, I'm sure viewers will find many excellent tips and ideas here! Really nice van there!
It can be replaced rather cheaply and conveniently. The curtain can be hung with rings to a PVC rod system and hooked into brackets in the ceiling. The curtain rid can then be kept inside the pan for storage.
@@pamm2230 Yeah, fabric fries quickly. Bunch it up wet and you get chance of icky 😷 buildup. 🚿 shower. Step out, dress 👗, wait 10mins to vent & dry then fold down. It's not like you're using that space immediately. Bed can stay flipped up.
For your shower curtain. Use the same aluminum profile you used for your bed and create a system that slides up with quick lock/unlock points. And make a simple square from the same material and use the channels in the profile to hold the shower curtain. This could also house the holding bracket for the shower head.
Great project! You could make a strong square frame with a decorative picture mounted on the inside of it. Mount the frame to the wall above the shower with 2 lockable table hinges. When needed for the shower, swing the frame horizontally up to the ceiling engaging the locks on the hinges. When done, release the hinge locks and swing the frame down to the wall where it will then be a decorative picture.
Alternately, you could attach the picture to the movable frame or permanently attach the picture to the wall within the movable frame. Here is an Amazon example of a lockable hinge: Ogrmar 2pcs 10-inch Length 90 Degree Spring Loaded Folding Support Shelf Bracket with 8 Screws (10 inch)
I had a friend do a conversion. And what he did for his floating shower curtain was identical pan setup as your design, but instead of pvc piping for the shower curtain holder he used Alder Metal piping I believe is what it is called. from Lowe’s. It’s by the water heaters and plumbing section. And he Made a square identical as your pvc pipe one. .. and to fix it to the ceiling he had placed some strong magnets inside his ceiling behind the wood panels. So it just snaps to the wood for shower time strong enough to hold its own weight and not cause damage to the wood but also easy installed and removed, alzo during the day time the magnets in the ceiling were strong enough to hold a small hanging tv mount.. or a hanging flower pot was really cool setup he usually rocked . And he fixed the shower head mount to the meal square that pops to the ceiling on the center of one of the 4 sides. But that one side at a metal T that was threaded in both sides. So from the T was I believe a 6” rod that would swivel down and on the end of the T rod had the shower head bracket fixed to it... and for storage the T rod would fold flat.. I mean he later realized the Swiveling T was unnecessary and he could of just fixed it solid and it would of still fit in the pan perfectly. So he later made it a solid design. Becuase he made double use of the metal square. On the side Of his van he had made or fabricated or found a mount that the 6” rod from the T of the shower hanger would fit into. So he would take the assembly outside during camping events and it had Velcro tabs attached to it. And just like you use that Black sheet of plastic to make a level tool shelf. He had used a piece of wood. And he would transfer the assembly outside and the piece of wood would Velcro down and it would make a small outside table that he used for cooking, for board games, for his tv, for everything pretty much. And actually believe recently. He made some modifications to his van. And the bracket he uses outside as a table mount. He made made another mount higher rite on the other side of his inside shower setup about 7’feet from the ground. And added a Outside Rv shower access panel to the side of van since the plumbing was already there on the other side of the van panel he just Tied into it . So he can take beach showers outside or wash his gear before storage... very easy stuff to do and it may sound complicated but it’s all clever and Timless setup
Research "hour shower" on RUclips. You probably did this work weeks ago but this looks like the perfect application for that concept of reusing your shower water with a filter. Just thought I'd mention it in case you want to check it out.
I have seen alot of van and motorhomes video the last 2 years. And I can safely say that, that shower system is exactly the same one all motorhomes or van lifers junk out in the end!
For your curtain rods use the same diameter PVC as a standard broom handle. then just buy some broom storage clips. The kind that clamps your broom to the wall. I've seen others do this for collapsible showers in campers.
I have a tub that is held up with thin pvc tubes the rim inflates, I dry it out and put it away in its bag. 1 gallon Bug sprayer I’ve replaced the spray with a sink sprayer. Everything I’ve mentioned $50.00. I take my hat off to you for the buildout.
A magnet for metal shavings, what a good idea! Very smart. Remember that Harbor Freight has these small metal dishes that are magnetized for holding nuts and bolts, so that would work too. Good to know your height too, so we have context. The stainless steel tub pan looks very sexy. What a work of art. Plus nut vs Rivnet - I did not know Plus Nuts existed or were better than Rivnuts. Nice to know you used quality hardware. I learned something new.
I would also make a stand-in wooden draining platform for underneath (instead of the ABS cover) that way you can use the pan as a wet storage area, and leave it in there for less cold contact with your feet on the floor ;)
Great idea. A shower takes up so much space in a van. While watching the video I was thinking a portable container similar to what you got that could pull out of storage and half the size of a normal shower floor area and it opens out like a draw and then the curtain lifts to attach to the ceiling. Then it packs away. Maybe not an idea suitable for what’s being built in this video and the question. Just thinking out allowed for my Coaster build and adding some input.
I'm planning a similar idea in my next build - it will be a "squat shower" - I got the idea from the Exploration Brothers (here on RUclips). Why do you need to stand up in your shower, particularly since you still need to "army shower" to save precious water? Thinking practically, if you adopt a squatting position it actually allows easy access to all the most important bits that need cleaning, right ;-)? So, for your setup (brilliantly done btw), you just need a fixed rail on the two sides and the back, and a hinged or clip-on front rail. Fortuitously, you have 8020 and the side panel of the adjacent cabinet to make it really easy! Less shower curtain to dry off, too.
I really like the control panel solution, where you kept things relatively equal stick-out, by building little spacer blocks. It's tidy, for people who care, while still being accessible, for people who care. As for the shower you've got set up for this though, you're never more than a couple hours away from the nearest truck stop, and you'd likely be better off taking the top parts of your shower and devising a soft magnetic mount for using it outside, stuck to the exterior. This will avoid tracking filth through an already cramped space if you prep your components before you set out to get especially dirty. You can even pre-fill one of those roof-top soft solar water heaters when you top off your potable water. That will give a few extra gallons on top of the allure of solar heating. If you're squeamish about someone seeing you in a towel or whatever, then you're close enough to civilization that a publicly accessible shower will be nearby.
Ok, this is not directly related to your question, but I see an issue similar to one that I cured in my old RV shower. Cramped quarters! Your curtains will be so close that it will make it a very sticky situation. My answer was to use a flexible dome tent support pole, formed into like a hula hoop shape, almost double the diameter of your hanging shower curtain. Insert this inside your shower curtain, at shoulder height, to expand your curtain's middle hanging diameter without lifting it up out of your shower pan. Mine was attached to the wall and swung up into place inside of the curtain and would drop back down flush with the wall when the curtain was returned. Just a thought. This could make your shower so much more comfortable.
Hi from England. Just an idea. Firstly, fit waterproof panel to van wall, this would cover your plumbing and give you an option to fit shower head bracket at high level. Secondly, fit three sided shower rail to roof, ideally same shape as shower tray. The shower curtain could have Velcro which would connect to permanently fixed Velcro on wall panel. Benefits are, shower curtain would dry better as opposed to sitting in a damp shower tray. Also remove to wash. Congratulations on the design, Cheers.
MJ I think he’s shown his design on his new van but seems to have not shown his final instal video. He’s gone for a recirculating system. I know he offers consultancy work too.
Keep really good track of all those plumbing connections. Shark bites are known to start leaking after some time. Also, the vibration and shock of the van driving down the road will certainly cause some issues later down the road.
Thanks you. You're right. There video it's for us to learn when we are able to ask some knowledgeable person. This is that video you search for that has exactly what you needed to know and additional information or ideas.
One thing you could consider are collapsible legs. If you were to do that you could use a fully enclosed curtain to prevent splashing and mounting your shower head to the frame would be no problem at all. An additional advantage is that it'd involve no extra mounts or even drilling into the van at all depending how you do it. That way if it turns out you don't care for it you can easily enough scrap it and try a different design.
Here’s an idea for your shower system. Step 1. mount the pvc shower rod to the underside of the handy dandy lid. Step 2. Mount a 1/2" x 1-1/2" Forged Steel Machine Bolt to the center of the lid. Make sure it’s balanced. Step 3. Secure a pulley to your ceiling and another pulley to the van wall. Step 4. Tie braided nylon rope to the machine bolt then thread the rope through the ceiling pulley and then the wall pulley. Step 5. Attach a pulley anchor so that when the shower curtain is up you can secure the rope in place to take your shower. Can’t wait to see what you come up with!!!
The popping effect when you step in the shower is called "tin canning." It's caused by the welding process. Metal distorts with the high heat of welding. If rubber was too smelly for you, perhaps a yoga mat.
![Digital Circus Episode 4 [TRAILER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/abZtsmMUbJo/mqdefault.jpg)
I want to thank you for something you did near the beginning of this video that almost no one ever does, but really should; you told us your height. This gives the viewer a valuable context while watching a build, and if it is feasible or practical for them to try. I've watched a LOT of build videos- for vans, trailers, shuttles, buses, etc., and 99.9% of them give no spatial relationship between the vehicle and the person(s) seen onscreen. So, thank you from all of us plus-sized and/or very tall viewers. It's important.
@jerry powell HERE HERE!!! Dude, I am 6'3" 260lbs and II never fit in anything lol. Thanks for saying this and thanks Seven O for dropping knowledge
Alexander Sandoval LeDonne Except for a non-van vanlife build. I live in a box truck, which has plenty of room if you’ve ever been in one. Mine is a 17 footer with almost ten feet of height inside.
For the shower curtain you could use a circle template rather than a square (for example a hula hoop) , attach it to the ceiling of the van with one magnet or one hook rather than 4.
The shower head would be at the centre of your curtain in that way.
I breathed a sigh of relief when you added the rubber edging 😂
No kidding! :)
You're the first van lifer I've found in my area. You talk about places I know. Also I really like you talking out your train of thought.
Mock up is very cleaver. I will now do this with cupboards I want to add across the back of my small motor home. Neat and clean manufacturing
Your man did a nice job of fabricating the pan. For those who can not find a reasonably priced fabricator, you could make the pan out of plywood and then fiberglass the inside of the plywood. I did that 20 years ago for a 24" 30: shower pan that I made for a semi trailer to home conversion. there should be a picture on my page. It will be title "kitchen shower video" 4 years ago. I doesn't show much detail, but it may give you an idea.
Seven, it's great to watch your "thought processes." There's a word for it... when learning "one" particular thing leads to the ability for future problem solving. Thanks for a perfect shower for a van. Max
Long time RV shop guy here. First of all great job on the shower arrangement. The best idea I've seen. I have to say when you made those blocks l was saying, gotta line up the wall base. As for the curtain rod. The simplest, least expensive and most stowable will be a couple of hooks to secure the rod on the side of the van at the top. Then you will just need two knee braces, which rest against the side of the van, to support the square curtain rod frame. You can make the knee connections swivel on the rod to collapse inside the square when stowed. It could all be PVC or you might look around for materials that would suit your look better. I have to say as a 69 year old contractor l really enjoy you young guys proving American ingenuity and self sufficiency is still alive and well. Good job. Oh this is the first time l've seen your channel and l subscribed.
I love this shower video. You are the only person I have found that is doing indoor shower in the van.
I forgot the title of the vid, but before this vid, I just watched another guy get interviewed for adding a unique toilet and quicky wet shower, with drain to the ground outside, on the back section of his minivan, that was a doable project also. Not as elaborate as this one though.
Very much like a magnet based mounting. I’m also glad you added that rubber edging on the pan ...beautiful design for the collapsible pan and I appreciate how you are conscious about protecting your vehicle from rust.
I love a guy who can build things and figure out problems! And so young too. You are going to be very successful in your life. I would be so proud of you if you were my grandson! (yes,I am that old)
Really cute comment
Peggy's a moron
Nothing like experiential learning to help one really gain knowledge pragmatically!👍
You are a genius. Very admirable your clever work in your van palace. Have fun.
Caulking the floors to seal them is a GENIUS idea! I will definitely have to copy you on that, so thanks! :) Great job and it's so nice to see you working through issues and problem solving rather than everything just going perfect. Awesome job!
I love your attitude toward your fails and explaining the critical thinking process, pipe fittings for water, air, and hydraulics are crazy! I do a lot of plumbing and the straight pipe threads (NPS) may be an equivalent to the British Standard Pipe (BSP) as opposed to USA's National Standard Pipe (NPT). The popping of the shower bottom it due to heat stresses from welding. You can get a sheet of one side adhesive rubber backing that you find on the bottoms of kitchen sinks that will dampen the sound. Great job on the idea for drilling the hole!
Talented, creative, patient, organized .....You got them all. 👍
You got one of the nicest ocean in front of your door. The image of paradise to me compared to where Im living. Never needs a shower in a camper.
Looks awesome. Great design.
Usually local Community Colleges who teach welding will take on projects like your shower pan.
Possible idea for the next van.....on sailboats, it is common to build a plywood enclosed, then fiberglass it, and finish it with gel Coat.
Your projects and teaching and sharing is a cherished gift. I am inspired to do my own build thanks to you. Hugs and light...keep these videos coming.
I’m going to do a similar shower idea in my conversion and I’m planning on mounting 4 round 2 inch anchor point tie downs to my ceiling and use them to hold my shower curtain. I’ve seen this done before in a Van and it’s nice, simple and clean approach. To me much better than the pvc pipe route.
A buddy did this with parachute cord, to hold the shower curtain taught. Great idea!
I'm enjoying watching the build and your process. I'm 6'4" and was going to do approximately the same build but I wanted more headroom and square walls. So I special ordered a E350 cutaway van with a 6'10 ceiling with a 14' box that is 80" wide. A thumbs up video 👍
A pull up wall coming out from the bottom is a heck of an idea!
I have done a bunch of home plumbing but I wasn’t aware of the problem you ran into glad it all worked out you will figure out how to set your curtain I like your idea so just go with it
Wow! 😍 nice. Just be safe once the metal gets wet it becomes extremely sleeper with the soap. Maybe some teak wool mat will work. God Bless from SF 😎
Thanks for sharing! You are awesome for taking the time to share your failures and accomplishments!!!!
Still watching
.... I love TAP plastic
My dad also showed there and made many projects... I’ve been to all their Portland locations for the last 40 years.
Excellent store for the creative mind of acrylics and such.
Even the professionals run into a wall to think through problem solving.... then there’s me... the non professional that sometimes because the way I think creatively- I can think outside the “Profesional” box.
I amaze myself all the time when I see a different use.
Being an RVer for probably 20 years I would hang 4 clips from ceiling that you can pop you shower frame into.
I really like your idea to create a cardboard mock up. I will definitely do that for my future van build designs
Very Nice Bro.. Im a GC in Cali, with a stealth enclosed 8.5x16 cargo trailer I built with tons of solar power, but anyway, I wanna say.. I dont impress easily because I am super meticulous and perfectionist in all I do, but you get props.. for your process, ideas, all of it. No corner cutting, well thought out, built to last.. Impressive man! Nice job! I would build a trailer with you for sure! You might be the only one I'd build one with too, haha, I'm too picky about everything being done right. Bravo! 👏
Putting the pan on stilts mostly worked out. I was shouting at you to just make a cardboard template of the pan and transfer it to the floor. I really like all the thought you're putting into each step. I'll be watching more of your build.
Great videos as always I just got back from a cross country trip living out of a Volkswagen Jetta for a month.
Make sure you have some pitch on your drain pipes. If you plan on doing any winter traveling you don’t want it to freeze under the truck.
Good call on the one way valve, yes the sink could drain into the bathtub
Amazing video with clear =, well sometimes clear but shows your mindset of thinking of how to work out a problem without getting too angry with the issue. Thanks for sharing, I have made notes of this idea and will slight tweak it to fit my van fit out.
😘 thank you, thank you. I've been racking my brain trying to figure out where to put a shower in my rig. Never thought under the bed, mine is movable too, and there's the bottom part of a closet right behind the bed to store all the stuff, even a hole all ready handy for a drain. Just measured the space and I can get 32"sq. Shwr pan in there.🎉🌟🤸
Awesome! It saves sooo much space and is great for something like a shower that you can usually find but sometimes cannot
That's right it's going to take as many times as it takes. Quite an undertaking but another interesting idea for doing more things in a smaller area.
Wow! thanks for this pumbing 101 crash course! For the shower floor, I'll position the aluminium floor atop of a 10 deg. slanted 1.5 in rubber mat. then a teak cleat with the reverse inclined base will complete the floor to prevent remaining water requiring a squeegee pass after use. I also plan to keep a leaf blower charged in my garage to dry it off (and blow off snow on the solar ;-)
Amazing design!!! for a small van, you have more complete van built than most others. A home without a shower is just not a complete home. And you did it in a small van. Great job. Now if you add a couple filters and a tiny hot water heater to make it an endless shower, instead of the quick 2 min 3 gal water shower, that would be perfect. i particularly like the long bench you sit to work, it makes your van look much bigger.
If you have not had it made yet, I would have that wheel well pitch inward toward the shower so that the water will not sit on top of that flat area. Otherwise, you may have to dry it off each time. ( just heard that it took 3 months...) My comment still stands for anyone reading the comments and thinking of doing this. Some sort of soundproofing on the outside of the pan so when traveling, you will not hear it and it will dampen the sound during the shower. They put soundproofing on the high end stainless steel kitchen sinks to dampen the sound of the water. I would make it simple for the shower curtain and just support it 4 ways on the ceiling (magnets) and add a metal coupler or something in 4 places on the plastic pipes and then secure that way. You know the rare earth magnets are very strong and should hold that up. (just countersink in the ceiling like you did when you installed the ceiling) only you would see them for this application. You could probably get a colored sharpie and color them so not so obvious. The shower head needs to be low flow or aerated or you will use all your water quickly. People like the Oyxgenics brand because it saves on water and has great pressure. You could just fashion a hanging bracket for it.
I enjoy your discussion of he design process involved in creating the shower. I feel too many RUclips creators skip over that part and simply waive their hands and like magic the shower appears. U will be subscribing.
The cardboard mock-up is such a good idea!
Thank you for sharing your positive outlook on struggling with remodeling. You are inspiring to me.😌
A fabric shower curtain liner can be used alone and will dry much better than the vinyl and easily washable. Less likely to get mold and mildew. The entire system will need to be completely dry before you stow it all back in there. But I am sure you already knew that. Love your problem solving skills. You have a very analytical mind. I am taking notes from your videos to help me do my build.
DONT DRILL for your shower curtain. Place decreative metal plates on the wall & ceiling and use the welders magnets
I really really admire your patience and persistence. Problem-solving is one of my passions as well, except with way more obscenities. Your doing a great job
Great project! You could build a strong square frame and mount it vertically on the wall above the shower with 2 lockable shelf hinges. (Amazon example: Sumnacon Sturdy Folding Shelf Brackets). Fold out the frame horizontally when attaching the shower curtain. Unlock and fold the frame vertically when not in use. Camouflage the frame with a picture mounted to the frame or attached to the wall within the frame. The frame and picture would look like a work of art.
Glad you figured it out. Been there. I was lucky tho. I was so hesitant that I saw the difference in fittings while trying to explore how it would be done. Option 3 on the curtain.
Thanks for teaching us what not to do! I love your style and brutal honesty! I have learned a lot! Great van build!
I don’t care thank you very much for the people that put this together for him
creative thinking, active doing, is all element of the DIY spirit.
So true on install issues! I think my plumbing issues for my sink was more work than electrical. Subbed and will watch grey water tank.
I really appreciate the care you have taken with this video, and for sharing all the steps. I think, snap in brackets like those that a broom snaps into for the curtain rod. And a hinged fold down bracket with a snap in bracket for the shower head. Use some of the ceiling material to frame and form the ceiling mount, you have done such a beautiful job, I know you want it to look as good as it works. Wish I could send you a sketch, but think top down, not bottom up. The framed box could have an led light tape all round to give a nice lite look when in the shower. Good luck, and thanks for giving me some ideas for my shower build. 🇨🇦👏🏽🙏🏼🚌🙏🏼👏🏽🇨🇦, safe travels.
Wish we'd known of your fabricator buddy before.... we were looking for someone to fabricate a galvanized steel shower surround for our van build. Nobody was interested because the job was too small. Oh well, maybe next time. Great videos! Thanks!
You are a great teacher. I learned a lot. You go into details and mention every item name and where you got it and why. Fantastic
Great video👍👍. Like the saying goes the scary is the fly in the ointment. Here’s The fly.1) don’t trip and fall because that corner or top of that pan can do you some real flesh damage.2)The humidity that you’re going to add taking a hot shower to the van capsule in a year.How much rust and potential black mold practically under your mattress will result. Having dry heat should help the problem but better get yourself an turbo exhaust fan. Since you have the plumbing you might consider having an external shower capability Under under the vehicle. Besides plugging in an external shower you can use it to wash the van, surfboard,etc. make a simple with just cold water.
Love just watching you put it all together and saying ,"Please, please,please," really works 😂😂😂😂😂
Cool shower idea!!! Looking forward to seeing final results.🌍🚍
All you need for the shower curtain are 4 “D”rings or hooks screwed to the ceiling. You can use 4 caribeaners or shower curtain hooks to attach the square rod to the 4 hooks.
For the shower head find a goose neck that can be mounted on the wall or ceiling with the shower head mount on it. Since the shower head is not really heavy you may be able to mount the shower head bracket by magnets then the only thing that is permanently affixed is the magnet.
yeah, hang from the ceiling, make it wider at the top than bottom
I’m sure he is trying to keep everything about the shower hidden. That’s why he wants to use the magnets so he can remove them after showering.
@@elementgypsy
That's the same shape I like my women!! 🤣
@@davidlundy5007
Four closed eye hooks on the ceiling.
Four carribeaners that stay on the PVC frame (down hidden dwell).
Lift the PVC frame, click 1234.
Shower.
Shake.
Dry.
Drop curtain.
Easy sleasy.
My biggest concern with storing the shower curtain in that pan is that it won't dry, and will lead to mold and mildew. If you do store it in the pan, be sure you lay out in the sun/wind before you store it (which implies earlier showers rather than later ones).
I would just put an exhaust fan directly above it so the whole van doesnt fill with humidity and the water would evap and be sucked out
Sit down showers in a small bathtub underneath a couch works great....but your build is great as well.....
Good going! Thanks for sharing the process with us, it makes a big difference to see how you overcome the challenges.
Good job hard worker excellent installation you can learn from this
Because you never know if you’re going to install the shower in the van.
So glad I found your channel! Peace.
Im surprised that it was that difficult to find a fabrication shop that would build the shower pan. I used to work in a machine shop and we built all kinds of enteresting things. Some complicated, some easy. The shower pan just doesnt seem like a complicated build. To me it would have been fun to do
Wow...great design! There will be many copying this for their owns van. Very impressive!
VHB tape would have been a good use between shower pan bottom and ABS shim. Further, perhaps under the ABS as well. Your ingenuity throughout your entire build reveals many great best practices to follow!
Great shower system you've created there; thanks for taking us with you on the journey of your van build out! Your fabricator did an excellent job on the shower pan. This is a well done video; and, I'm sure viewers will find many excellent tips and ideas here! Really nice van there!
Wow this is awesome 👏🏽 the d ring guys idea sounds simple enough. I really wanted to see a van with a better shower system than the rest, you did it!
I really appreciate you being detailed oriented and showing each step. 🙂🙏
You might want to consider a nylon shower curtain, It can be thrown in a washing machine and dries very well.
It can be replaced rather cheaply and conveniently. The curtain can be hung with rings to a PVC rod system and hooked into brackets in the ceiling. The curtain rid can then be kept inside the pan for storage.
Fabric shower curtain!
Switch it out each week/10days with your laundry.
@@EvilTwin123
Ah didn't think of those. Maybe even a combination of both would be good to keep everything dry and clean.
@@pamm2230
Yeah, fabric fries quickly.
Bunch it up wet and you get chance of icky 😷 buildup.
🚿 shower.
Step out, dress 👗, wait 10mins to vent & dry then fold down.
It's not like you're using that space immediately.
Bed can stay flipped up.
@@EvilTwin123
Dries
Very nice. You have incredible skills and you're so damn young! Can't wait to see Part II.
For your shower curtain. Use the same aluminum profile you used for your bed and create a system that slides up with quick lock/unlock points. And make a simple square from the same material and use the channels in the profile to hold the shower curtain. This could also house the holding bracket for the shower head.
Great project! You could make a strong square frame with a decorative picture mounted on the inside of it. Mount the frame to the wall above the shower with 2 lockable table hinges. When needed for the shower, swing the frame horizontally up to the ceiling engaging the locks on the hinges. When done, release the hinge locks and swing the frame down to the wall where it will then be a decorative picture.
Alternately, you could attach the picture to the movable frame or permanently attach the picture to the wall within the movable frame. Here is an Amazon example of a lockable hinge: Ogrmar 2pcs 10-inch Length 90 Degree Spring Loaded Folding Support Shelf Bracket with 8 Screws (10 inch)
Thanks for this truly comprehensive presentation of your design and experience. Invaluable for all of us. Keep up the great work, and good luck!
I had a friend do a conversion. And what he did for his floating shower curtain was identical pan setup as your design, but instead of pvc piping for the shower curtain holder he used Alder Metal piping I believe is what it is called. from Lowe’s. It’s by the water heaters and plumbing section. And he Made a square identical as your pvc pipe one. .. and to fix it to the ceiling he had placed some strong magnets inside his ceiling behind the wood panels. So it just snaps to the wood for shower time strong enough to hold its own weight and not cause damage to the wood but also easy installed and removed, alzo during the day time the magnets in the ceiling were strong enough to hold a small hanging tv mount.. or a hanging flower pot was really cool setup he usually rocked . And he fixed the shower head mount to the meal square that pops to the ceiling on the center of one of the 4 sides. But that one side at a metal T that was threaded in both sides. So from the T was I believe a 6” rod that would swivel down and on the end of the T rod had the shower head bracket fixed to it... and for storage the T rod would fold flat.. I mean he later realized the Swiveling T was unnecessary and he could of just fixed it solid and it would of still fit in the pan perfectly. So he later made it a solid design. Becuase he made double use of the metal square. On the side Of his van he had made or fabricated or found a mount that the 6” rod from the T of the shower hanger would fit into. So he would take the assembly outside during camping events and it had Velcro tabs attached to it. And just like you use that Black sheet of plastic to make a level tool shelf. He had used a piece of wood. And he would transfer the assembly outside and the piece of wood would Velcro down and it would make a small outside table that he used for cooking, for board games, for his tv, for everything pretty much. And actually believe recently. He made some modifications to his van. And the bracket he uses outside as a table mount. He made made another mount higher rite on the other side of his inside shower setup about 7’feet from the ground. And added a Outside Rv shower access panel to the side of van since the plumbing was already there on the other side of the van panel he just Tied into it . So he can take beach showers outside or wash his gear before storage... very easy stuff to do and it may sound complicated but it’s all clever and Timless setup
Disciple 4Jesus would love to see some photos of this! Sounds genius
Love your problem / solution style in your videos.
Wow you are sooooo inspiring and patient, you have given me so much info & confidence to tackle my van shower :)
I would wrap the side of the shower pan with foam to avoid toe crunches. Great job.
pool noodles cut on one side :D
Research "hour shower" on RUclips. You probably did this work weeks ago but this looks like the perfect application for that concept of reusing your shower water with a filter. Just thought I'd mention it in case you want to check it out.
Never mind last question, found the links! Great channel, looking forward to your next build. $92K for your van is a deal with all that quality work.
I have seen alot of van and motorhomes video the last 2 years. And I can safely say that, that shower system is exactly the same one all motorhomes or van lifers junk out in the end!
For your curtain rods use the same diameter PVC as a standard broom handle. then just buy some broom storage clips. The kind that clamps your broom to the wall. I've seen others do this for collapsible showers in campers.
I really appreciate your attention to detail and innovations thank you for sharing. Great videos!
I like the last idea that you have clapsble shower rods
I have a tub that is held up with thin pvc tubes the rim inflates, I dry it out and put it away in its bag. 1 gallon Bug sprayer I’ve replaced the spray with a sink sprayer. Everything I’ve mentioned $50.00. I take my hat off to you for the buildout.
A magnet for metal shavings, what a good idea! Very smart. Remember that Harbor Freight has these small metal dishes that are magnetized for holding nuts and bolts, so that would work too. Good to know your height too, so we have context.
The stainless steel tub pan looks very sexy. What a work of art.
Plus nut vs Rivnet - I did not know Plus Nuts existed or were better than Rivnuts. Nice to know you used quality hardware. I learned something new.
I would also make a stand-in wooden draining platform for underneath (instead of the ABS cover) that way you can use the pan as a wet storage area, and leave it in there for less cold contact with your feet on the floor ;)
Great idea. A shower takes up so much space in a van. While watching the video I was thinking a portable container similar to what you got that could pull out of storage and half the size of a normal shower floor area and it opens out like a draw and then the curtain lifts to attach to the ceiling. Then it packs away.
Maybe not an idea suitable for what’s being built in this video and the question. Just thinking out allowed for my Coaster build and adding some input.
I'm planning a similar idea in my next build - it will be a "squat shower" - I got the idea from the Exploration Brothers (here on RUclips). Why do you need to stand up in your shower, particularly since you still need to "army shower" to save precious water? Thinking practically, if you adopt a squatting position it actually allows easy access to all the most important bits that need cleaning, right ;-)? So, for your setup (brilliantly done btw), you just need a fixed rail on the two sides and the back, and a hinged or clip-on front rail. Fortuitously, you have 8020 and the side panel of the adjacent cabinet to make it really easy! Less shower curtain to dry off, too.
I really like the control panel solution, where you kept things relatively equal stick-out, by building little spacer blocks. It's tidy, for people who care, while still being accessible, for people who care.
As for the shower you've got set up for this though, you're never more than a couple hours away from the nearest truck stop, and you'd likely be better off taking the top parts of your shower and devising a soft magnetic mount for using it outside, stuck to the exterior. This will avoid tracking filth through an already cramped space if you prep your components before you set out to get especially dirty. You can even pre-fill one of those roof-top soft solar water heaters when you top off your potable water. That will give a few extra gallons on top of the allure of solar heating. If you're squeamish about someone seeing you in a towel or whatever, then you're close enough to civilization that a publicly accessible shower will be nearby.
Nice to have you back, another impressive vlog..
Ok, this is not directly related to your question, but I see an issue similar to one that I cured in my old RV shower. Cramped quarters!
Your curtains will be so close that it will make it a very sticky situation.
My answer was to use a flexible dome tent support pole, formed into like a hula hoop shape, almost double the diameter of your hanging shower curtain. Insert this inside your shower curtain, at shoulder height, to expand your curtain's middle hanging diameter without lifting it up out of your shower pan. Mine was attached to the wall and swung up into place inside of the curtain and would drop back down flush with the wall when the curtain was returned. Just a thought.
This could make your shower so much more comfortable.
Hi from England.
Just an idea. Firstly, fit waterproof panel to van wall, this would cover your plumbing and give you an option to fit shower head bracket at high level.
Secondly, fit three sided shower rail to roof, ideally same shape as shower tray. The shower curtain could have Velcro which would connect to permanently fixed Velcro on wall panel.
Benefits are, shower curtain would dry better as opposed to sitting in a damp shower tray. Also remove to wash.
Congratulations on the design, Cheers.
Jarrod Tocci has a good design, he uses a cupboard that’s cut away and folds out allowing for the shower frame to sit inside the cubbyhole.
Does he have a video for this?
MJ I think he’s shown his design on his new van but seems to have not shown his final instal video. He’s gone for a recirculating system. I know he offers consultancy work too.
@@edwardcarney7569 Thank you!
Keep really good track of all those plumbing connections. Shark bites are known to start leaking after some time. Also, the vibration and shock of the van driving down the road will certainly cause some issues later down the road.
Magnets and hula hoop shower curtain will be awesome and it can turn away back into the box
Thanks you. You're right. There video it's for us to learn when we are able to ask some knowledgeable person. This is that video you search for that has exactly what you needed to know and additional information or ideas.
Excellent job, dude!
One thing you could consider are collapsible legs. If you were to do that you could use a fully enclosed curtain to prevent splashing and mounting your shower head to the frame would be no problem at all. An additional advantage is that it'd involve no extra mounts or even drilling into the van at all depending how you do it. That way if it turns out you don't care for it you can easily enough scrap it and try a different design.
Here’s an idea for your shower system.
Step 1. mount the pvc shower rod to the underside of the handy dandy lid.
Step 2. Mount a 1/2" x 1-1/2" Forged Steel Machine Bolt to the center of the lid. Make sure it’s balanced.
Step 3. Secure a pulley to your ceiling and another pulley to the van wall.
Step 4. Tie braided nylon rope to the machine bolt then thread the rope through the ceiling pulley and then the wall pulley.
Step 5. Attach a pulley anchor so that when the shower curtain is up you can secure the rope in place to take your shower.
Can’t wait to see what you come up with!!!
Nice job! I know how to fiberglass so I would have knocked it out in a day or two by building it with plywood and epoxy.
The popping effect when you step in the shower is called "tin canning." It's caused by the welding process. Metal distorts with the high heat of welding. If rubber was too smelly for you, perhaps a yoga mat.