Evolver
11-17-2011, 03:49 PM
We bought two bladder type 5gal solar showers to use if we ever loose our gas or water for what ever reason.
While I was at work one day Justa broke one out of the box and give it a trial run. She first started by filling it with water on the ground, after it was full she tried to move it... (One gallon of water weighs 8.4 pounds so 5gals is 42 lbs) thats 42 lbs of dead weight. LOL She told me it was like lifting and baby Walrus :) So now they have a new name. She was able to pick it up but there is no way that she could lift it over her head high enough to hang and shower.
The wheels started a turning and this is what I came up with.
Items needed,
Two 80lb bags of concrete mix (post mix)
One post. (4"x4" pressure treated or 2'' galv pipe) 14' min,
Tubing or hose, barbed fittings, clamps, water shut off valve and shower head,
Mounting Bracket for Gambrel (heavy duty shelving bracket)
Bolts
Gambrel (500lb rated)
2-4 5 gal solar showers (Baby Walruses)
Rope tie off hook
How to,
Fasten your mounting bracket to your post with through bolts or lag bolts,
Just outside of the house by the shower Dig 12''x24''d hole, set post, fill with concrete, level post, let set up for 24hr undisturbed,
Mount rope tie off hook 4'off the ground,
From a ladder or from the roof hook the Gambrel to the bracket, lower tee bar to 4' off the ground for easy dry fitting, tie off hoisting rope,
Place empty Baby Walruses on tee bar and tie together with the tubing/hose, tees and hose clamps so you end up with one main line that runs through a window or through a small hole though the side of the house. In our case we have a double hung window so I can run the hose through the top of the window into the shower.
Hose length can be what ever and it can even droop lower than the head but the impotent thing is the shower head itself needs to be lower than the bags to work. (gravity fed) so the higher the bags are from the head the more water flow.
At the hose end install shut off valve (make this connection detachable for not in use storage and for easy line feeding into the house) then the shower head.
After the dry fitting is done hoist the tee bar and bags to the top of the post, fine tune tubing/hose length and rigging.
All done and ready for filling.
Filling,
Lower bags to 3' off the ground, tie off hoisting rope, fill with garden hose or bucket *evenly* so one side isn't heaver than the other... (If not you will end up with the barbell effect ouch :mad:) after full raise to the top of pole tie off, let the sun heat the water then shower away. ( only open water shut off valve when getting wet and then when rinsing off). *The less soap/shampoo that you use the less water need to rinse.
When there is no need for a solar shower remove valve and head, pull the line thought the window or wall, coil up line and remove bags (leave all intact less the valve and head), remove gambrel and store both out of the weather.
Last but not least... fly your Don't Tread On My flag on your new "Flag Pole" ;).
Don't mind my crude sketch but you can get an idea.
http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/ss162/xplore2c/Walrushanger-3.jpg
Here is just one of many Gambrels. I think I paid 20 for this one at IMT.
The Yukon Tracks® Game Gambrel w/ Hoist Combo can easily be used to hang Two Baby Walruses, deer, antelope, and elk with a 4:1 lift ratio. It's constructed with a 22-in wide spreader bar, a 3/8-in rod stock and a strong poly rope that securely locks into place.
Features
Model Number: AV127
4:1 lift ratio
Lift capacity of 500 lbs
22-in wide spreader bar
3/8-in rod stock
http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/ss162/xplore2c/walrushanger.jpg
I have everything for the build, I'll post pics after it's done and Justa can give a review.
*Disclaimer* Evolver is not an Engineer/Plumber or played one on TV and will not be responsible for and injury's occurring from the above statements ( Like falling Walurses), Some of the steps CAN be changed and modified to fit users needs.
While I was at work one day Justa broke one out of the box and give it a trial run. She first started by filling it with water on the ground, after it was full she tried to move it... (One gallon of water weighs 8.4 pounds so 5gals is 42 lbs) thats 42 lbs of dead weight. LOL She told me it was like lifting and baby Walrus :) So now they have a new name. She was able to pick it up but there is no way that she could lift it over her head high enough to hang and shower.
The wheels started a turning and this is what I came up with.
Items needed,
Two 80lb bags of concrete mix (post mix)
One post. (4"x4" pressure treated or 2'' galv pipe) 14' min,
Tubing or hose, barbed fittings, clamps, water shut off valve and shower head,
Mounting Bracket for Gambrel (heavy duty shelving bracket)
Bolts
Gambrel (500lb rated)
2-4 5 gal solar showers (Baby Walruses)
Rope tie off hook
How to,
Fasten your mounting bracket to your post with through bolts or lag bolts,
Just outside of the house by the shower Dig 12''x24''d hole, set post, fill with concrete, level post, let set up for 24hr undisturbed,
Mount rope tie off hook 4'off the ground,
From a ladder or from the roof hook the Gambrel to the bracket, lower tee bar to 4' off the ground for easy dry fitting, tie off hoisting rope,
Place empty Baby Walruses on tee bar and tie together with the tubing/hose, tees and hose clamps so you end up with one main line that runs through a window or through a small hole though the side of the house. In our case we have a double hung window so I can run the hose through the top of the window into the shower.
Hose length can be what ever and it can even droop lower than the head but the impotent thing is the shower head itself needs to be lower than the bags to work. (gravity fed) so the higher the bags are from the head the more water flow.
At the hose end install shut off valve (make this connection detachable for not in use storage and for easy line feeding into the house) then the shower head.
After the dry fitting is done hoist the tee bar and bags to the top of the post, fine tune tubing/hose length and rigging.
All done and ready for filling.
Filling,
Lower bags to 3' off the ground, tie off hoisting rope, fill with garden hose or bucket *evenly* so one side isn't heaver than the other... (If not you will end up with the barbell effect ouch :mad:) after full raise to the top of pole tie off, let the sun heat the water then shower away. ( only open water shut off valve when getting wet and then when rinsing off). *The less soap/shampoo that you use the less water need to rinse.
When there is no need for a solar shower remove valve and head, pull the line thought the window or wall, coil up line and remove bags (leave all intact less the valve and head), remove gambrel and store both out of the weather.
Last but not least... fly your Don't Tread On My flag on your new "Flag Pole" ;).
Don't mind my crude sketch but you can get an idea.
http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/ss162/xplore2c/Walrushanger-3.jpg
Here is just one of many Gambrels. I think I paid 20 for this one at IMT.
The Yukon Tracks® Game Gambrel w/ Hoist Combo can easily be used to hang Two Baby Walruses, deer, antelope, and elk with a 4:1 lift ratio. It's constructed with a 22-in wide spreader bar, a 3/8-in rod stock and a strong poly rope that securely locks into place.
Features
Model Number: AV127
4:1 lift ratio
Lift capacity of 500 lbs
22-in wide spreader bar
3/8-in rod stock
http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/ss162/xplore2c/walrushanger.jpg
I have everything for the build, I'll post pics after it's done and Justa can give a review.
*Disclaimer* Evolver is not an Engineer/Plumber or played one on TV and will not be responsible for and injury's occurring from the above statements ( Like falling Walurses), Some of the steps CAN be changed and modified to fit users needs.