External shower question

[anika]

Hi all, 
Hope someone can help.  Does anyone have any information regarding older caravans that had a portable shower setup from the manufacturer?   My van ( early 80s ) poptop came with an outside  shower option.  The van has an annex guide rail down the side  that I assume was for privacy for the shower tent.   There is the water pipe that runs up the side of van as well. Can anyone please advise what parts or features came with the external shower option?  eg: shower head,  annex,  any old 12v accessories ? Basically the things that needed to be setup and pulled down before moving on... 
I can't seem to find any images/guides anywhere of one setup,or if someone else had one and info on how it was used..
Thank-you. 

[Roehm3108]

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Anika,

Welcome to the forum. That’s a really interesting question you’ve asked.

It may be that the arrangement you have described is a bit “modern” for the caravans on this forum, given that we are really only dealing with vans built before 1970. I don’t recall anyone mentioning a portable shower set up for their van previously. A few of the older and more luxurious vintage caravans had internal showers, but that’s all I can think of.

I think caravanners in the vintage era who wanted a shower set up probably did use some sort of device like the one in the picture Roehm posted (although I suspect he was being humorous in posting it?).

I will be really interested to hear if anyone on the forum has a caravan with the shower set up you have told us about, and/or can show us some photos of it.

Don Ricardo

[Roehm3108]

Hi anika
I would have thought that the previous owner should have included these fittings in the sale to you. If not, why not take some photos and go to a caravan parts supplier and they will tell you what you need. Is there a hot water heater and pressure pump? If there is only a pipe that runs to a tap on the drawbar, then it sounds like it's only a mains pressure line that needs the hose attached at the campsite and is only a cold water shower for washdowns.
As Don Ricardo said, not many vintage caravanners have these sort of facilities unless they instal them themselves as some koala bears have done. Actually, ensuites on caravans go back to the fifties!!! They even had fold-down verandas in those days!!

[anika]

Hi and thank you much for your responses. Much appreciated. I know my van might be a bit of a young'un but it always good to ask the gurus. Love the cartoon. Actually very cute .
My poptop history is hard to say. I could be the 5th or more owner. It was looked after for it's age and most accessories (main annex) came with it and were in good nic for something approx 50 years old. 3 way 210 RM fridge and cooker still running like a dream...
In regards to an external shower setup, I can only assume these parts were either an optional extra when new or bits just got lost over the life of the van.
I don't believe there was any provision for hot water. The bottom of the shower pipe is behind the back wheel and has a standard hose connector for mains water. The main water tank under the van had 2 connectors. 1 to fill the tank via an inlet pipe and the other was an output running up to the kitchen sink hand pump.
I have done extensive research and not had much luck, but it's been great to hear responses from others if they have seen anything similar. Cheers