Things You\’ll Need
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For freestanding shower:
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Four 6’ sections of ½” PVC pipe
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Eight 3’ sections of ½” PVC pipe
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PVC pipe cutter
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Eight ½” PVC corner pieces
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Two 6’x8’ vinyl tarps
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Cable zip ties
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Bricks or sand bags
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For hanging shower:
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Four 3' sections of 1/2" PVC pipe
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Four ½” PVC elbow pieces
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Eye-hook screws
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String
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Metal washer
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Two 6’x8’ vinyl tarp
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Cable zip ties
Camp shower Image Credit: Jonathan Fong
Camping may mean getting back to nature, but it doesn't mean you want to be au naturel in front of your fellow campers. This portable camp shower partition provides welcome privacy when you're out in the woods. It sets up in minutes, and can be free standing or hung from a tree branch, depending on your shower setup. It can also be used as a clothes changing area. This gives you the privacy… but for the water part, don't forget to bring a portable sun shower found at any camping store.
Video of the Day
How to Make a Freestanding Camp Shower
Step 1
Cut the PVC pipe to desired lengths Image Credit: Jonathan Fong
PVC pipe comes in standard 10' lengths, so you will need to cut them to size using a PVC pipe cutter so you have four 6' sections and eight 3' sections.
Step 2
Connect the base pieces Image Credit: Jonathan Fong
Start with the base of the shower enclosure. Connect four 3' pipe sections with four PVC corner pieces. These corners are also called 90-degree side outlet elbows.
Step 3
Attach the vertical pipes Image Credit: Jonathan Fong
Attach the four 6' PVC pipe sections vertically to the corner pieces.
Step 4
Complete the cube Image Credit: Jonathan Fong
Attach PVC corner pieces to the top of the 6' PVC pipes and connect the 3' pipes to them to form a tall cube.
Step 5
Hang the tarp Image Credit: Jonathan Fong
The shower enclosure is 6 feet tall. Turn the 6'x8' vinyl tarp on its side so that it is 6 feet tall as well. Using the pre-drilled grommets, hang the tarp on the PVC pipes with cable zip ties. Attach the tarp to the vertical PVC pipe as well. For maximum privacy, overlap the two pieces of tarp so there are no openings.
Step 6
Support the PVC structure with bricks Image Credit: Jonathan Fong
Decide which side will be the opening of the shower enclosure. Do not connect the side grommets to the vertical post on this side so the tarp can be opened and closed. Place bricks or sand bags on the PVC pipes at the base to help keep the structure from blowing in the wind.
How to make a hanging camp shower enclosure
Step 1
Connect the PVC pipes Image Credit: Jonathan Fong
For a hanging shower enclosure, connect four 3' sections of PVC pipe using PVC elbows. They do not need to be corner pieces because you will not be connecting vertical pieces.
Step 2
Tie string to eye-hook screws Image Credit: Jonathan Fong
Attach eye-hook screws to each of the four elbow pieces, and tie string to the hooks, going diagonally from corner to corner. Without the eye-hook screws, the string can slide off from the elbows.
Step 3
Hang with a metal washer Image Credit: Jonathan Fong
At the intersection of the two strings, attach a metal washer. Tie wire around the top of the washer to hang from a tree branch.
Step 4
Hang the tarp on the PVC pipe Image Credit: Jonathan Fong
As with the free-standing shower enclosure, hang the tarp from the PVC pipe with zip cable ties. Overlap two tarps to provide extra privacy.
Tip
The ground in the shower area can get slippery when wet, so place a shower mat in the enclosure.
Use a large binder clip to close the tarp from the inside of the shower enclosure.
