CAMPLUX 1.58 GPM Portable Tankless Propane Gas Water Heater - 41,000 BTU Outdoor Camping Shower with Handle for RV, Cabin, Hunting & Off-Grid Living | Instant Hot Water Solution for Bathing, Washing Dishes & Outdoor Cleaning

I’m happy to say that this water heater exceeded my expectations! There’s a lot I wanted to talk about in this review, so please be advise if you don’t want to read the full review of my setup, please skip to the end. Also, I apologize for not taking any photos of my setup at the campsite, for the purpose of this review. But here’s my story…This past Memorial Day weekend, my family and friends did a camping trip up near Swamp Lake, in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. If some of you are familiar with that area, you know as much as I do about how cold the water can be up there around this time of the year. The elevation is somewhere around 7,500 feet above sea level. My family and friends enjoy outdoor tent camping, with no trailers or anything of that sort, that would come with a hot water heater. For the longest time, we would get our hot water, for showering, by just boiling water taken from a nearby creek. But with some difficulties over the past couple years of having to carry 5 gallon buckets of water up the hill (Because I’m getting old, lol), I felt it would be in our best interest to invest in a portable water heater.My really biggest concern, after constant research of various types that are available in the market, was that I’m afraid it might not work in higher elevations. [Just an FYI, for those who haven’t read about it yet, some water heaters will not work at higher elevations due to the fact that the air will too thin and cannot fuel the flames]. Nonetheless, as the trip is nearing, I had to make a decision to purchase one soon, so that I can test it out on this trip. Some other important factors that I had to consider before making this purchase were: 1) How many gallons per minute flow rate is enough to enjoy a nice shower? 2) How much of an increase would there be in the water heating temperature, over the source that it’s coming from? 3) How far from the source of the water to our campsite, or showering station? 4) What if our campsite is at a much higher elevation than the water source, what size pump do I need to lift the weight of the water up to the shower location?After watching a few YouTube videos of the Camplus 1.58gpm, and conducting a few tests myself on the flow rate; the 1.58 gallons per minute, was adequate for our needs. Also the specification of the temperature rise of this product heating from cold water source, to providing hot water appeared to be within my satisfactory range. Next up, I had to find a pump that I can depend on, that can get us the water up to where we need it. I chose a diaphragm pump, that will automatically shut off when the waterline is pressurized enough, and it can lift water up to 100 feet, while sustaining a flow rate of 3 gallons per minute. I’ll provide the link to the pump below. I also decided to purchase a 120v ac plug type pump, as I felt these types of pump can provide more power for what they cost, versus the 12v dc pumps. As a power source, I used a 550 watt hour power station, and would switch over to a generator every time the power station would run out of battery(it came with an lcd screen to monitor power levels). I would recommend using both the automatic shut off pump, and a portable power station, in tandem with the water heater itself. With that set up, the hot water is now operated with just one on/off switch at the shower head. Another way to put it, is when you turn on the showerhead, it’ll trigger the water to flow, which then triggers the propane to light, which then triggers the pump to automatically turn on, which then draws power from the power station. And when you turn the shower head off, the propane tank automatically turns off, and the pump will automatically shutoff and going into standby mode, because it’s not sensing water flow anymore, and the power station will also go into standby mode to conserve battery life. And on a side note, the 350 watt peak/550watt hour power station I used was enough for twelve 10 minute shower session, without having to charge once. When it runs out of battery, I would switch to the generator while I put the power station on charge at the same time, and be used again later (I haven’t purchased a solar charger for it yet to make things a little easier. IMO, I chose to go with a power station because it’s just too costly on fuel and resources, and more work involved, to run a gas generator every time you need to shower). Don’t quote me on the exact numbers, but the pump I was using only draws around 35watts of energy, to 90watts max. So any generator and many power stations can handle the water pump easily. Anyways enough said about that…At the campsite, where I put that setup to the test, the temperature of our source of water, from the creek, was fluctuating somewhere around 36°F to 42°F. (Even in the day time, because there were some overcast clouds, and there were still patches of snow near our campsite). The distance to get the water from the creek, to the water heater at the shower station, was about 50 feet of travel, going up a sloped hill to roughly 20 feet higher than the creek. As expected, the water pump worked flawlessly, providing us with good pressure. With the water being that cold, I set the water heater temperature knob at 75% heat, and adjusted the water pressure down to 50% flow rate, and I was getting an Average of 104°F coming out of the shower head. I even tested the temperature knob set to max, and it got to 129°F, which was hot enough to burn and irritate the skin. So I am extremely satisfied in that category. And at 50% flow rate, it was just enough to keep the body soaked, and keeping me from feeling the surrounding cold ambient air temperature in the morning. Other people that went with me on this trip tested their preferences by adjusting the heater knob, and water pressure to their liking; and no matter how it was adjusted, we all got to shower with a minimum water temperature of 100°F. So all 21 people that went on this trip were extremely happy with this product and the setup we had. Every time we showered, the flames would burn with no issues at all, and not a single failure. So at 7,500 feet above sea level, there were zero issues with propane burning. As soon as you turn on the showerhead, the water was already warm enough to begin showering within 5 seconds. For 3days and 2nights, one 20-pound propane tank used for this setup, was enough fuel to provide hot 10 minute showers, for 21 people, showering twice a day. The 2D batteries that was required to ignite the propane also lasted on this trip without needing to be replaced.The only complaint I have about this water heater is that the fittings are cheap plastic. Rather than dealing with the possibility of it breaking, I decided to purchase brass fittings to replace them, and test them out, prior to going on this trip. Some parts I used were quick disconnect couplers for easier disconnecting of the hoses and pump for storage, and in case I needed to move things around. They’re more expensive, but well worth it!Here’s just to give you an idea of the cost of the water heater, with the pump I used, and upgrading to brass fitting (which I feel is a must IMO), and I also purchased 150 feet total of hoses. This will run you around $350-$380 dollars. Personally, I think if you camp often, and having hot showers is important to you, and if it’s within your budget, I say it’s worth it! Additionally, you can use it in other situations, or for other things, such as washing dishes.I DID NOT include the cost for a few things that were in my setup, because those items I personally feel are optional, or items that you probably plan on taking with you already to camp. Those items are showering tent, portable power station/generator, and propane. I also left out the cost for the additional sediment filter I purchased to put on the inlet hose, which is also optional for me (but I do somewhat recommend using it, even though the creek water was already clear). It was a 50micron sediment filter. So really I think the main important thing that you need for your water heater itself, is the water pump. I have the link to the water pump I used below. I hope this review help answer some questions you have. Enjoy and good luck on your purchase!* DC HOUSE 33-Series Black 115 Volt Water Pressure Pump 3.3GPM 45PSI with Power Plug Self Priming Water Pump Electric 115V AC for High-Flow Moderate-Pressure Booster Transfer Water Home Camping RV