The most efficient way of warming the water quickly is going to be thinning it out as much as possible. Think, small radiator, with elements on both sides where it's crossflow, that way the amount of water in the actual radiator is VERY small..

Keep the flow down, and you'll be in business. It'll heat the water fast enough to provide sufficiently warm water, but it'll be efficient because the water wont stay in the heating zone too long.

If you can get like a toaster element or like.. a space heater element, then create a metal housing, or plastic, have the small radiator in it, then the two elements on each side, then you;ve got a SMALL water heater.

That radiator you initially posted might possibly work for this. You might even be able to utilize the area between the exhaust manifold and block. Maybe try shoe-horning your tiny radiator in that with some small metal lines coming out the same side, both passing close to the manifold, to provide some pretty efficient heat?

 

Hahah thanks Mark. Hey, any pics of that 12V heater??

Not a fan, gotta be honest.

Haha there you go!

Too much involved IMO.

You're absolutely right, by keeping the flow down and keeping it as thin as possible I will be able to heat water fastest. That's why I think utilizing the radiator is a good idea.

The element idea is way too complex for what I want to do with this build.

As for putting it under the header, it's not worth the risk of melting something.

 

Looks like no rear heater

 

I've seen a couple guys build a heat exchanger.
As mentioned before, T-ed off the rear heat (in the 4Runner), the heat exchanger is simply a tube inside another tube, one tube carrier water, the other coolant. Usually mounted inside the fender or on the inner fender.
Made of copper tubing and plumbing fittings.
I believe they have coolant constantly flowing throw it, because it really doesn't matter too much, you can't over-cool your cooling system (thermostat just closes).

The water is pump thru the system using an electric water pump, T-ed so you can have hot water and cold water from the shower head/tap.
Fire up the truck, let it warm up, flick on the water pump and adjust water temp accordingly.

 

I'd rather buy one than build one, my brazing skills are lacking.

I don't have rear heat in my 4Runner, so i'll need to tap into the heater core if I decide to go that route.

Yeah I need to figure out exactly how I want to run this.

Thanks for the advice!

 

The heater...... hmmmmmm, yes, I might have some pics. I got it at Harbor Freight for 8$, Brian. I KNOW, you're probably saying, "HF? no thanks"... But I gotta say, I'm surprised by that, often, considering everything I have from there is still working, VERY reasonable and also is under a lifetime/3 year no question exchange for another 4$ on some things like power stuff(impact, chainsaw, leafblower, etc.)... And the heater was like 18$, but with the 20% coupon and being on sale to boot, it was 8$! That thing works quick for me, and when your hands are cold, when the rigs taking a lilllll longer to warm up..........., when you want radiant heat in seconds,... can't beat it. Now, I know that Cabella makes em and so does Coleman, I believe... But forgive me if I'm missing something..... Coleman is WHOLLY made in 'CHINA', just like much/most of HF, lol. Heck, they're probably made for each by the same company, haha. I'll find the pic and post a pic... it's not that big, either, ... I just shove it under the seat, VOILA, it's hiding, lol.

Here ya go, can't find the pic in my photobucket.... (I'll take one if this wont work for ya)...

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt...fan-96144.html

 

That's awesome! Link works, and as for Harbor Freight, most of the stuff i've gotten from them has been decent quality.

Think i'm going to pick one up.

Anyway, back on topic!! I feel bad for causing that derailment lol

 

Cool, look in the mailer for whether it's on sale, then grab the Sunday paper one day from someone at work and scope the ads for a HF insert... (usually one page)... I'm tellin ya, you'll probably end up with it for 10$(granting, of course, you can walk into a store).

 

Yeah good idea. And there is one about 20 min from me I can stop in there!

 

BTW, I forgot to mention..... I KNOW this thing pulls a bit of juice, but not enough to kill the battery in a reasonable time(like time to warm up the rig,.... in which time it would be RUNNING, right? lol...) .... AND, I run mine to my aux 12v plug that's run to the battery, not the WEAKLY WIRED factory lighter plug.... Feel me? lol.

 

Good point. Noted.

Thanks Mark!

 

awesome idea...makes me miss summer time!!!!

 

Heres a good idea..
That radiator you posted up isn't like a finned crossflow radiator you use in your pickup. That copper pipe never once brances off..
See if you cant get some more copper tubes BRAZED, not SOLDERED to it.
Pretty sure your manifold isn't going to be pushing over 800*F

Then, keep the copper lines long and run them up the back of your engine and around to the passengers side (keeping close to motor for heat), and one to your source, and one to your showerhead...

 

Thanks! Makes me miss it too

That's not a bad idea... hmm gets me thinking.

Thanks for the input!

 

don't know if this has been posted, but i found this while looking for air tank bumpers
http://www.wildyoats.com/80_series_rear_bumper.htm

 

Nice post RB, that's neat!

 

Soooo, you bringing a shower to RC for the Jambo?

 

Hey, sorry to hijack, but when is the Jambo?

 

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f15/...lvania-248910/
June 22-24

 

ya thanks, I found it. Going up next weekend, but will see about getting up there for a while that Saturday.