A submersible aquarium water pump for a camp shower?

I intend to construct a DIY base camp shower and dish sprayer. I have been searching for an appropriate submersible water pump to plug into a small inverter to a 12-volt cigarette lighter power pack (car jump starter). I need to attach adapters for a hose with a shower head and think that approximately 1+ gallons of draw per minute is practical. I would possibly use a five to six-gallon reservoir, heating water on a car-camping propane stove. My biggest concern is amp draw.

Maxi-Jet NJ-400 Submersible Utility Pump, $21, is a powerful aquarium pump with an adjustable flow up to 1.8 gpm. Whale Standard Submersible Electric Galley Pump, 3.5 gpm, 3 amp, $48, is a bit overkill. Although I am primarily a backpacker, I did not like the looks or performance of any of the solar shower bags, Sea-to-Summit Pocket Shower, $30, or even the NEMO Helio Pressure Shower (foot powered), $100. The Coleman Hot Water On Demand, $260, seems to be catastrophic failure prone from reviews that I have researched.

Does the Maxi-Jet NJ-400 Submersible Utility Pump sound feasible?

Links:

http://www.fishtanksdirect.com/maxi-jetnj-400submersibleutilitypumps.aspx

http://www.rei.com/search?query=shower

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzulTqm1sz0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tlm0FUrTIh4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEpWBBvgGvY

http://www.pumpbiz.com/shopping_product_detail.asp?pid=72445

2014-04-18T10:47:38Z

Rusty Nail: Thank you for the experience. Shortcomings of a black back shower include lack of high flow and time required at a base camp and sunny exposure not always possible.
Who #1: A portable power pack 12-volt car jumper is the power source, so the investment already exists and the battery can be set immediately next to the pump-container-shower.

Camping World: The system you have in mind has been successfully used by multiple tent campers, myself included, w/tankless water heater.

2015-05-04T20:55:26Z

I found a Portable Wash Down Pump Kit used by boaters and recreational vehicle owners to spray-down their decks. When backpacking, I have simply heated a couple of liters of water, used a collapsible sink to pour water over my head. http://www.productsthatsave.com/ptst10070.html

who WAS #1?2014-04-17T21:30:05Z

Favorite Answer

A Coleman product failed?!! Them's fightin' words! ;)
I'm a big fan of Coleman.

Perhaps thinking outside the box will help.
All you need is a water pump which will run off 12 volts.
Have you considered simple products designed to pump fuel, like from the aux tank in the back of a pickup?
All you want is a gallon per minute, which is pretty slow for a fuel pump, but they are durable, cheap and run on 12volts. But you'd have to run a control box (electric) into the shower to turn it off and on.
Wires are the bane of the camper! How can we eliminate complex wiring and electrical systems?

Since this is DIY (does that rhyme with DUI? ;), perhaps a junkyard fuel pump from a car would do the trick? Pretty low flow and electrically driven since some darned fool lately decided the pump belongs INSIDE the gas tank. Never could see the logic of that....

You do know (of course) that extension cords lose power over distance. This is especially the case with 12v since there isn't much juice to begin with. How close will the car be to the shower? 10' is nothing but 50' will impede efficiency.

I dare not question your motives for wanting a hot shower, that's one of the best invention of mankind. But I will ask how much trouble is it worth? Something wrong with using fire to heat water, mixing it into a 5 gallon bucket to get the temp right and shower as one would in a bathroom with a tub but no shower, using the "water pitcher" method of pouring it over oneself occasionally during the "shower"?

Ya ain't got a girl in there, or under your wing, do you?
Consorting with females would be a violation of the mountain man code, unless one is rescuing damsels in distress.

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angele2016-12-14T20:42:51Z

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?2015-08-06T22:04:39Z

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
A submersible aquarium water pump for a camp shower?
I intend to construct a DIY base camp shower and dish sprayer. I have been searching for an appropriate submersible water pump to plug into a small inverter to a 12-volt cigarette lighter power pack (car jump starter). I need to attach adapters for a hose with a shower head and think that...

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Rusty Nail2014-04-17T21:58:58Z

Have been camping on daughters property in upper Michigan for a few years. No water (unless hauled in) no electric, and no gas. We use the shower bags that you fill and heat in the sun. We get two showers out of each 5 gallon bag. Sometimes the water is too hot to use. Check this out before you go spending money on something else.

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