Tent showers - Covid times

[tom geiger]

Hey guys, thought I’d check to see if anyone knew of any restrictions on using tent showers in state parks or national parks. I have a group of
friends we go camping with regularly and a few are concerned of the campsite bathrooms and shower usage. Was wondering if a tent shower could be a
answer for them.

Thanks,
Tom
76 Eleganza 2
Kansas City Mo

 

[powwerjon]

Tom,
It is unlikely that any state park or national park would allow grey waste water to be drained on the ground.

JR Wright

>
> Hey guys, thought I’d check to see if anyone knew of any restrictions on using tent showers in state parks or national parks. I have a group of
> friends we go camping with regularly and a few are concerned of the campsite bathrooms and shower usage. Was wondering if a tent shower could be a
> answer for them.
>
> Thanks,
> Tom
> 76 Eleganza 2
> Kansas City Mo
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

 

[tom geiger]

I was wondering JR. I searched all of my State Park web site and nothing mentions them. Only item I ran across was restrictions in Yellow Stone
because of the florals in soaps and shampoo’s attract bears.

TG

 

[powwerjon]

Tom,
I suggest that you contact one of the state parks that you want to visit and ask the ranger if it is permissible to discharge grey water on the ground, shower water is consider grey water. The old trick that was use by some was to let the gray water slowly drain on the ground under the RV. State of Michigan you get fined and ask to leave the park if they catch you doing that. I respect the environment enough to not contaminate the ground.

JR

>
> I was wondering JR. I searched all of my State Park web site and nothing mentions them. Only item I ran across was restrictions in Yellow Stone
> because of the florals in soaps and shampoo’s attract bears.
>
> TG
>
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> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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[tom geiger]

Completely agree with that JR. My friends are definitely about the environment. I believe they were planning on using biodegradable in there
showering if they were allowed.

TG

 

[Carl Stouffer]

It may not really be that much of a concern. Back a couple of months ago, when the quarantine order first went into affect, The GMCSJ had a rally at
one of the state parks, which were still open in AZ. The camp hosts were meticulous about cleaning the restroom/shower units and did a really
thorough job of it every morning, at least.

We stuck with our own facilities, like we usually do, but I wouldn't have hesitated to use the park restrooms.
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

 

[Richard RV]

Carl,

Sounds like you found a nice state park with very clean facilities, unfortunately that's not always the case. The stuff I've seen... 8o

As far as taking an outdoor shower, I think everyone, park rangers included, wouldn't be bothered by someone rinsing themselves down outside. Dumping
a grey water tank on the sly is another question entirely and sure to piss off the management and others.

I'd go ahead and take the shower with environmentally friendly soap. If the management had a problem with it they would give a warning first...then
it'd be on to Plan B.

Richard
--
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach with 18,477 verified miles;
‘76 Edgemonte

 

[Ken B]

Have you ever been to an outdoor shower at the beach. Most of them just drain on the ground. I have seen drinking fountains the same way.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

 

[timthenomad]

If you are camping with nice dry air they might try draining to a kiddy pool and rigging up an Evapotron....

https://www.google.com/search?source=univ&tbm=isch&q=evapotrons

Designs can be found online ranging from the simple to Rube Goldbergian. Can be fun for the types that prefer an engineering project to
hiking/birdwatching etc.
--
Tim Taylor
Austin TX
Philadelphia PA
76 Birchaven (SB)
76 Triumph TR6

 

[Jim Hupy]

Judy and I have made 2 coast to coast trips in our coach. Both were 6 weeks
or longer in duration. One, crossing Canada in desolate country. The other,
retracing Route 66 from east to west. We saw some scary public showers, and
some pristine ones. Some co-ed ones were very interesting. But, not during
a pandemic. I would shower inside my coach, if I were you.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Tue, May 26, 2020, 9:20 AM Tim Taylor via Gmclist <

> If you are camping with nice dry air they might try draining to a kiddy
> pool and rigging up an Evapotron....
>
> https://www.google.com/search?source=univ&tbm=isch&q=evapotrons
>
> Designs can be found online ranging from the simple to Rube Goldbergian.
> Can be fun for the types that prefer an engineering project to
> hiking/birdwatching etc.
> --
> Tim Taylor
> Austin TX
> Philadelphia PA
> 76 Birchaven (SB)
> 76 Triumph TR6
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

 

[tom geiger]

Yep Jim, we’re planning on showering in our GMC. I will offer it to the others that have pop-up’s and do have showers in them its just their tank
capacities are pretty small. Will get it figured out.

TG

 

[powwerjon]

Having a small holding is not an excuse. I have a blue portable waste holding tank that I take along when we go to rallies that have water and power, but no sewer at the campsite. Mine holds 30 gallons and allows me to dump my black and grey waste without moving the GMC. I would suggest this or similar units that are available.

https://www.campingworld.com/camco-rhino-portable-waste-holding-tanks-112493.html

This is the one like I have.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Barker-31342-Tote-Along-Portable-Holding-Tank-30-Gal/400943058893?_trkparms=aid%3D1110004%26algo%3DSPLICE.COMP%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225074%26meid%3D9591bb1193544032973c984b70630bfd%26pid%3D100008%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D133386594266%26itm%3D400943058893%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3Ddefault&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219

There are also many in the 10 & 15 gallon size.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Barker-Mfg-10893-TOTE-ALONG-Portable-Waste-Holding-Tank-HOLDING-TANKS-RV/133386594266?epid=4023505333&hash=item1f0e75e7da:g:HTMAAOSwzOlelVZB

Do the right thing!

J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMC Eastern States Charter Member
GMCMI
78 GMC Buskirk 29.5’ Stretch
75 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan

>
> Yep Jim, we’re planning on showering in our GMC. I will offer it to the others that have pop-up’s and do have showers in them its just their tank
> capacities are pretty small. Will get it figured out.
>
> TG
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

 

[Richard RV]

JR,

I share your concern for the natural environment, and clearly the overriding factor is whether Park management and/or the neighbors would take issue
with someone showering outside their RV.

Showering outside is not doing the "wrong thing" if someone takes the most modest (pun intended) of care.

For instance, Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soap is essentially food:
INGREDIENTS
Water, Organic Coconut Oil*, Potassium Hydroxide**, Organic Palm Kernel Oil*, Organic Olive Oil*, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Natural Almond
Fragrance, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
*CERTIFIED FAIR TRADE INGREDIENTS
**None remains after saponifying oils into soap & glycerin.
and
"Only the purest organic and fair trade ingredients—most products vegan and certified to the same organic standards as food! No synthetic
preservatives, no foaming agents."

Now compare 1/2 ounce(?) of that soap versus the various dead dinosaur fluids that drip from the bottom of an RV while parked at that pristine camp
site. They really don't seem to me to be comparable.

Again, management would have the final say, but I consider showering outside with eco-friendly products to be benign and I've never been shut down
taking one.

Richard

--
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach with 18,477 verified miles;
‘76 Edgemonte