A shower somewhere in the middle of nowhere? No campsite, but please make it hot? Even in winter?
No problem!
The Hot Shower Kit 2.0 is an easy-to-install solution that gives your camper or motorhome heating and hot water at the same time.
Whether in a proper shower cubicle inside the vehicle or as a hot outdoor shower: being able to enjoy a comfortable shower while traveling is a luxury that makes a day full of adventure end perfectly – or start fresh.
Hot Shower Kit 2.0 – How It Works
The Hot Shower Kit consists of two independent components: an Autoterm diesel auxiliary heater and a combiBOIL hot water boiler.
With this system you can produce hot water in three different ways – always whichever is most practical at the moment. What really matters, though, is the connection between the two components, which means you always automatically have hot water whenever the auxiliary heater is running.
Since the warm air from the auxiliary heater is first simply routed through the boiler on its way into your living space, heating the water as it goes, the hot shower in the camper is essentially a by-product with no additional energy use. No extra power consumption, no complicated technology, nothing you have to actively take care of.
And you can rest easy. The components are perfectly matched and can even be controlled via a shared control panel. The heater itself prevents the boiler from overheating. Dangerous steam bubble formation, which can occur in non-integrated systems, is ruled out with the Hot Shower Kit 2.0.
Additional safety features on the boiler and top build quality (developed and produced in Italy) make your camper shower an unrestricted pleasure.
Heater, water boiler and control panel – the main components of the Hot Shower Kit 2.0
Why Not Combine Heater and Boiler in One Unit
There are various combination units on the market that heat and have a built-in boiler at the same time. The problem:
- Combination units are significantly more expensive.
- In combination units, the heater and boiler affect each other. If, for example, the boiler develops a fault, it is very likely that the heater will also shut down for safety reasons alone. Depending on where you are and in which climate zone, that can become an enormous problem. Not being able to take a hot shower is one thing – a failed heater in biting cold is another.
Further Advantages of the Hot Shower Kit
- The system is simple and can be installed by laypeople. A specialist workshop or TÜV inspection is not necessary, and the warranty remains fully valid when installed according to the instructions, even for DIY installation.
- The Hot Shower Kit 2.0 is ultra versatile and can be tailored to a wide range of needs.
Whether your heating demand is small or large, whether you shower solo or need hot water for four people, whether you want to use 12, 24, 110 or 230V as your power supply – just put your kit together the way you need it. - The kit conserves your energy reserves through the optional use of different sources and gives you additional comfort features.
- Despite separate components: full control via a shared control panel for heater and boiler – this makes the system safe in operation and extremely convenient to use.
Hot Showers in the Camper – How You Can Produce Hot Water
With a Hot Shower Kit 2.0, hot water for your camper shower can be produced in no fewer than three different ways. You can always choose the method that is most practical for you at the moment – with two of them, hot water is a waste product and you do not even need to spend additional energy.
We already met the first way of heating water further up:
Via the auxiliary heater – The warm air from the auxiliary heater is simply routed through the boiler first on its way into the living space. This way, hot water is automatically available whenever the heater is running, with no additional effort, no failure-prone technology and no additional energy demand.
Via an electric heating element built into the boiler. If you have enough reserves in the battery, are plugged into shore power or the sun is shining on your solar system, you can produce hot water for your camper shower using electricity.
This is especially handy, because when the solar system is producing plenty of power, you may not want to run the heater, since the sun provides not only energy for your batteries but also warmth.
Via the engine coolant circuit. The boiler included in the Hot Shower Kit 2.0 has additional connections for a second water loop and can be integrated into the vehicle’s cooling circuit.
This way, hot water is produced automatically on every drive – here too, the hot shower is a waste product, created from the engine’s waste heat. Conversely, it is also possible to use the boiler to preheat the vehicle’s engine.
The additional water loop on the combiBOIL offers further possibilities as well: for example, you can run a small underfloor heating system for pleasantly warm feet in the seating area, or a heated towel rail in the bathroom.
As you can see: a system can hardly be more versatile.
How Much Hot Water Do I Get with My Camping Shower?
The combiBOIL hot water boiler is available in three sizes, and you can choose a volume of 7, 9 or 12 liters. For showering, however, you have more hot water available than the volume that fits in the boiler.
The water in the boiler gets very hot and has to be mixed with cold water – this already happens before your mixer tap in the shower, through a thermostatic mixer downstream of the boiler, which acts as scald protection.
Depending on the temperatures you set on the boiler and in the shower, you can on average expect twice the amount of ready-to-use shower water compared to the boiler volume.
So the 12 liter boiler is easily enough for showering in the camper for four people. We recommend 7 l for two people, 9 l for two adults plus a child or dog, and the 12 l boiler for anything above that.
What Is Included in the Hot Shower Kit 2.0
As already described, the Hot Shower Kit 2.0 of course consists of its main components, the auxiliary heater and the hot water boiler. Here we want to go into a few more details about these components and give you an overview of which other parts are included and which optional ones we recommend.
The Auxiliary Heater
The Hot Shower Kit 2.0 includes a diesel auxiliary heater from Autoterm.
The heaters formerly known as “Planar” have built an extremely good reputation and live up to it to this day. Campers, vanlifers and motorhome travelers are convinced by their robustness – Autoterm heaters just run. At the same time, they are quiet and economical in operation.
If something should go wrong anyway, they are so simple in design that repairs can be done on your own even on a trip at the end of the world (you can of course get all spare parts and repair instructions from us).
Autoterm heaters are also ideally suited for DIY builders – child’s play to install and, thanks to the E-approval mark, exempt from registration.
The manufacturer Autoterm gives a full warranty, even if the unit was installed by a layperson. All you have to do is follow the installation instructions.
Thanks to their integrated altitude kit, they also run on diesel at high altitudes, so even in the Andes or Nepal you do not have to worry about malfunctions.
You can find more on all the features of (Autoterm) diesel auxiliary heaters, their installation and operation in this detailed article:
The Hot Water Boiler
The combiBOIL hot water boiler is a product of unrivaled quality – developed and produced in Italy.
It stands out from comparable products with a wide range of comfort and safety features and additionally enables entirely new ways of using it. As the only hot water boiler on the market, combiBOIL is so flow-optimized that it can be operated with a 4 kW auxiliary heater without overheating problems. It also has an integrated or external (230/120V or 12/24V) thermostat module that guarantees safe use.
A highlight is the integration of the boiler into the heater system. Through communication between the devices, the Hot Shower Kit 2.0 not only further increases safety, it even makes features such as automatic frost protection possible.
combiBOIL has an integrated safety and drain valve, which also makes it easier, for example, to prepare the vehicle for winter storage.
A robust outer shell, the saltwater-resistant stainless steel tank, connections for a second water loop, ultra-flexible mounting and more make combiBOIL a well-thought-out, high-quality solution for your hot water supply in the camper – each unit individually tested for leaks.
combiBOIL is available in 7, 9 and 12 l volumes.
Important to know:
The water in the boiler gets very hot and has to be mixed with cold water for showering, which roughly doubles the volume of comfortably tempered shower water (depending on the temperature set on the boiler and shower faucet). A thermostatic mixer for scald protection is included in the scope of delivery.
Learn everything about the combiBOIL here and watch our short introduction in the video:
Other Components
The Hot Shower Kit 2.0 contains everything that is absolutely necessary to install the heater and boiler and connect them to each other. This includes:
- One heater (or two, see Twin Kit) depending on the variant chosen, with 2 kW, 4 kW or 2×2 kW heating output for 12 or 24V on-board voltage,
- plug-and-play wiring harness with AMP SuperSeal connectors,
- stainless steel exhaust silencer,
- fuel pump,
- intake silencer for the heater burner,
- fuel line
- extensive assortment of small parts for installation.
- Control panel Autoterm Comfort Boiler Control, with which the system can be monitored and regulated.
- adjustable thermostatic mixing valve / scald protection
- 3 brass hose barbs
- 1 screw-on hose barb
- 1 T-piece for water line
- 1 straight connector for water line
- Special silicone hoses (rated up to 150° C) and matching clamps for a heat-resistant and permanently tight integration
- Thread sealing tape for the metal threads
And don’t worry, you get precise instructions on what goes where.
Accessories Available Separately
Here you will find components that are necessary or recommended for building your system but, because of differing needs, are not a fixed part of the kit.
Water Hoses
We do not include water hoses with the kit because we do not know your vehicle and the installation situation. The requirement differs enormously from build to build, so it makes sense for you to determine the length you need yourself and order it separately.
Of course you can get drinking-water-certified hoses in our range. If the system is used only for showering, a non-certified hose could theoretically be laid – but in many respects (e.g. keeping bacterial colonization as low as possible), a suitable water hose quality is definitely recommended.
Heater Mounting Flange
To install the heater, several holes have to be drilled through the vehicle floor. It is considerably easier if only one larger hole has to be made. Further advantages of the mounting flange are:
- the heater sits free of tension, because the spacing of the individual openings matches exactly,
- the flange thermally decouples the heater from the mounting surface
- the resulting cutout is neatly covered by the stainless steel and the edges can easily be sealed with a sealant.
We strongly recommend using a mounting flange, but because of the differing requirements we do not include it with the kit either. The flanges are available for different floor thicknesses and for one or two heaters (and in further variants that are uncommon for use with the Hot Shower Kit).
Pressure Reducer
Are you running the Hot Shower Kit in a pressurized water system or a system with a submersible pump but with a built-in or separate check valve?
In this case, a pressure reducer set to 1 to 1.5bar should definitely be used upstream of the boiler.
Here you will find suitable pressure reducers with pressure gauge and without gauge.
By the way, you do not need to buy a safety valve for releasing excessive pressure with the Hot Shower Kit 2.0. combiBOIL has this installed at the factory.
Water Pump
A good pressure water pump does more than keep the system circulating. With the right choice, it is strong enough to ensure a good, even flow even with water filtration and at the same time allow quiet operation of the water system.
You can get a suitable pump with a matching accumulator tank (to make the operation of the pressure water system even smoother and quieter) here as a bundle at a special price. For systems without filtration, you can also use our smaller water pump with less pressure – likewise as a bundle at a special price.
By the way, you can find out why you should pay particular attention to the pump’s performance when you plan drinking water filtration here: Water Filters in a Motorhome – It Doesn’t Work Without Pressure
Schlafgut Silencer
The Schlafgut silencer reduces the operating noise of the auxiliary heater, which is caused mainly by the flow of air. Noise-sensitive people can feel disturbed by it when falling asleep.
The Schlafgut silencer reduces the noise considerably. In this short video you can get an impression of it.
Important note:
The silencer shown here is sharply bent. With longer operation of the auxiliary heater, this can lead to malfunctions. So be sure to plan the space for the silencer so that it can stay as straight as possible.
Shower Faucet
A shower faucet is of course not included in the set either, because everyone has their own taste here.
Besides the many water faucets on offer made of plastic, which often does not last long or at least does not look good for long, we are proud to have really beautiful, high-quality stainless steel faucets in our range. The sink and shower faucets from Queensize Camper make for a very elegant and long-lasting camper build at the water outlets.
You can find the camper shower from Queensize Camper, as well as sinks and faucets, here in the shop
Installing a Hot Shower in the Camper
Installing the Hot Shower Kit 2.0 is quite doable even for those with less hands-on experience. What you need is a basic set of workshop tools and a place where you can work in peace, ideally also from underneath the vehicle, to install the heater.
Installing the Hot Shower Kit 2.0 – The Most Important Points First
Measure your vehicle and plan the arrangement of the components carefully.
For smooth operation, the heater and boiler should be installed in a line that is as straight as possible. Specifically, that means:
Both components are connected with a piece of air duct (50–100 cm). The resulting row of heater, air duct and boiler should be bent as little as possible along its entire length.
For the smallest Hot Shower Kit – consisting of a 2 kW heater and a 7 liter boiler – you therefore need at least 108 cm of space before the individual air ducting and distribution can begin.
So plan the installation well. Anyone who integrates the Hot Shower Kit 2.0 into their build from the start has a clear advantage here.
Video – Our Technicians Show the Setup
In this video, our tech tigers Lars and Nico show you everything that is included in the Hot Shower Kit 2.0 and how the individual components are connected to each other. They also give you plenty of tips and a few tricks for easily installing the Hot Shower Kit in your motorhome yourself.
The Installation in Detail
Everything you need to know to equip your camper or motorhome with heating and a pressurized water system including hot water through the Hot Shower Kit 2.0 can be found in detailed articles here in our online magazine:
All the important installation tips and notes. Plus everything about the heaters themselves and their operation, including energy-saving tips and more.
Pressurized Water System for Campers – Components, Setup, Installation
Which components you need to build a pressurized water system in a camper, how they are selected and arranged in the system.
Installation Instructions Hot Shower Kit 2.0
This is how you install the tigerexped Hot Shower Kit 2.0 with Autoterm auxiliary heater and combiBOIL hot water boiler as an integrated system.
Installation Example
If you would like to see what the whole thing can look like in practice, take a look at the video from Tobi and Imke, who installed a Hot Shower Kit in their Fiat Ducato L4. They did everything right technically, and you can use their approach as a good example.
Conclusion – Clever, Flexible and Reliable: The Hot Shower Kit 2.0
The tigerexped Hot Shower Kit 2.0 offers a well-thought-out solution for safe comfort on the road – without unnecessary complexity.
It combines auxiliary heater and hot water boiler in an integrated concept without merging the devices into one. That not only increases flexibility but also minimizes possible failure risks.
Top advantages at a glance:
- Easy installation: Doable even for those with less hands-on experience – entirely without a specialist workshop or TÜV inspection and without losing the warranty on DIY installation.
- Maximum flexibility: Three independent ways to produce hot water – via the auxiliary heater as a “waste product” (at no extra cost), via the electric heating element, or via the vehicle’s engine heat.
- Safety & control: High-quality build with stainless steel tank, frost and overheating protection and integrated control in the Autoterm system.
- Smartly sized: Boiler volume (7, 9 or 12 l) to choose from – ideal for two to four or more people. By mixing with cold water, about twice the volume of comfortably tempered water is available.
- Everything included: Besides the main components, all the necessary small parts are included – from wiring harnesses and safety devices to connectors. Of course, you can also get all other components for building an individual pressurized water system in the tigerexped shop, as you wish.
In short: the Hot Shower Kit 2.0 is the compact, powerful solution for self-sufficient camping – ideal for DIY builders and comfort seekers who value simplicity, safety and flexibility.
And if a question should still remain open, our support team is happy to advise you!
You can find the Hot Shower Kit 2.0 for different requirements and vehicles in the tigerexped shop – take a look now and configure your personal kit:
Like the Hot Shower Kit? Show it to friends and acquaintances who are building out their camper, too:
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