I used the Yakima RoadShower to stay clean while traveling across Colorado all summer
A roof-mounted water tank for campers who want pressurized hot water without a propane heater
September 9th, 2026
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Our verdict
The Yakima RoadShower is a roof- or Yakima EXO rack-mounted water tank that uses sunlight to heat the water it holds. This is our favorite rooftop shower system for van life, RV road tripping, and mounting to a truck.
This passive-solar heated water tank can be pressurized with any pump that connects to a Schrader valve—the same type of valve found on car tires (and some bike tires). The RoadShower delivers a seriously high pressure spray of water. It can mount to any rooftop crossbars, and you can also mount the 4 and 7 gallon sizes to the Yakima EXO SwingBase if you purchase the EXO RoadShower Kit.
The RoadShower comes in 4, 7, and 10 gallon sizes. I tested the 7-gallon RoadShower while living full-time in my converted campervan. I mounted the RoadShower to the EXO SwingBase, and drove about 1,000 miles over two months with it mounted there. During that time I showered almost daily. I used it to powerwash my bike occasionally, which I also carried on the EXO rack using the Yakima DoubleUp bike rack.
I showered at every time of day, from the late morning to after sunset, to see how long it takes for the water to warm up and how long it stays warm. I tested this shower in temperatures ranging from 60 to 100 degrees, from 6,000 to 10,000 feet in elevation. Most of my testing was in the summer, during a very hot summer.
Yakima RoadShower
4 gallon
7 gallon
10 gallon
The RoadShower excels in providing high-pressure water. The tank states you should not pressurize above 65 PSI, and I found that anything higher than 20 psi created a stream of water that was uncomfortable to shower with. However, these higher pressures are ideal for spraying sticky mud off of outdoor gear. It also heats water in the sun quickly in summer conditions. I often went on a run first thing in the morning, then showered after. Some mornings, this was as early as 10:30 am, and the water was already hot at this time.
The biggest limitation of the RoadShower is that it relies on sunlight to heat the water. This means that in colder or cloudier climates, the water in this tank won’t get hot. If you mainly plan to use this in the summertime out west, where the sun is usually shining, having hot water shouldn’t be an issue most days. Also, you shouldn’t plan on the water tank having hot water first thing in the morning, so plan your showers accordingly. I found that the water was hot enough to comfortably shower after about two hours in direct sun, with overnight lows in the 40s and daily highs in the 80s.
If you want a pressurizable water tank to mount on your vehicle’s roof rack or the Yakima EXO SwingBase, the RoadShower is a great option.
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Yakima RoadShower Specifications
All sizes
Construction: Welded aluminum, powder coated finish
Max pressure: 55 psi (auto-regulated via built-in pressure relief valve)
Pressurization method: Schrader air valve (hand or electric pump) or garden hose (fills and pressurizes simultaneously)
Outlet ports: 2 (one on each end)
Thermometer: Stick-on strip included
Mounting: Stainless steel universal mounting hardware, fits Yakima crossbars and most other roof racks, as well as Yakima EXO SwingBase
Crossbar spread: 24–50 in.
Locking: SKS locks included
Warranty: 2-year limited (per Yakima product page)
Comparison table
| Camping Shower | Power Source | Heat Source | Max Flow | Temp Gauge? | Capacity | Weight | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima RoadShower - 4 gallon | Hand, electric, or air pump | Sunlight | Not stated | ❌ | 4.0 Gal | 20.3 lbs | $499 |
| Yakima RoadShower - 7 gallon | Hand, electric, or air pump | Sunlight | Not stated | ❌ | 7.0 Gal | 26.6 lbs | $599 |
| Yakima RoadShower - 10 gallon | Hand, electric, or air pump | Sunlight | Not stated | ❌ | 10.0 Gal | 37.8 lbs | $699 |
| NEMO Helio LX Portable Pressure Shower | Foot pump | Sunlight | 1.0 GPM | ❌ | 5.8 Gal | 2.0 lbs | $200 |
| BougeRV Portable Propane Outdoor Water Heater | Rechargeable | Propane | 0.79 GPM | ✅ | Tankless | 13.2 lbs | $360 |
Best for
Overlanders, vanlifers, and others who want pressurized hot water anywhere they can drive to
Mountain bikers, surfers, and others who want to wash their gear before loading it onto their vehicles
Anyone who wants to shower while camping
What we liked
Heats water quickly
Easy to pressurize and holds pressure well
Removable hose with adjustable sprayer makes cleaning yourself or gear in the backcountry simple
What could be better
Water doesn’t get hot on cloudy days
Mounting it to your crossbars requires mechanical aptitude and could loosen on rough roads
How we tested
I tested the Yakima RoadShower in the 7-gallon size during Colorado in the summertime. I mounted the EXO SwingBase to my towing rated 2-inch hitch receiver, and mounted the RoadShower to the SwingBase with the EXO RoadShower Kit.
I drove across Colorado multiple times during the testing period, driving approximately 1,000 miles on highways, dirt roads, and city streets. I tested the RoadShower during June, July, and August, during a hot, dry, summer. During that time, I experienced temperatures ranging from the upper 30s at night to over 100 during the day.
I mostly used the RoadShower to shower, and also had several friends use it to get second, third, and fourth opinions on how it performed compared to their home showers. I also used it to wash my bike after riding it through sticky mud. I filled it with water from a hose spigot, and also used a second, smaller water tank to fill the RoadShower with river water.
I also tested the RoadShower alongside other camp showers in Treeline’s Best Camp Showers guide.
Performance in the field
Water heating (passive solar)
The RoadShower uses passive solar heating to warm the water. From sun exposure alone, this water gets hot enough to comfortably shower on a warm day.
On hot, sunny 100-degree days, I found the water got almost too hot by late afternoon. So yes, the water actually gets quite hot from sun exposure alone. Usually by 11 a.m., after the tank had been in direct sun for 2-3 hours, the water was hot enough to shower with. One friend who runs particularly cold found the water was warm enough to comfortably shower around 10:30 a.m. This was on a hot day, after the tank was in the sun since approximately 8 a.m.
Pressure and flow
You can pressurize the RoadShower with any pump that attaches to a Schrader valve. I found that by pressurizing up to about 20 PSI, the tank maintained adequate pressure for two 5–7-minute showers in a row.
This tank can get to extremely high pressures. It’s rated to 65 PSI, which would be high enough to blast every last bit of mud off your bike (plus all the grease in every bearing, so be careful). There is also a pressure relief valve that releases pressure above 55 PSI, though.
55 PSI is much too high of pressure for washing yourself. Even for washing my bike, I never pressurized the tank higher than 25 PSI, because that felt like enough for me. If you find you’ve overpressurized the tank, you can use release pressure with the Schrader valve to dial it down.
Fill and pressurize process
There is an opening at the top of the tank with a threaded cap you can use to fill the tank with water. We mostly filled the tank this way, because we were refilling it in the field and don’t have a home garden hose. If you refill the tank through the top cap, you need to pressurize it with a bike pump or car pump. You pressurize it this way through a Schrader valve on top of the tank.
You can also fill and pressurize the tank at the same time using a garden hose. To do this, remove the spray nozzle and connected hose from the tank. Then, connect your garden hose to the water valve on the side and open the water valve. Open the valve, turn on your home hose’s spigot, and wait until the tank is full and the pressure relief valve opens. Close the valve, and you’re done.
Mounting and road stability
During two months of constant use, the RoadShower tank didn’t move at all on the EXO RoadShower mounting kit. All the hardware is high-quality stainless steel, so I was able to comfortably torque every bolt higher than the recommended torque spec. I drove for miles on washboard dirt roads regularly, and the tank never shifted on the mounting brackets.
To install the RoadShower on your vehicle’s crossbars, ensure the tank won’t hang more than 30 inches beyond either bar. Installation on the crossbars is as simple as sliding carriage bolts into a slot, then fitting a bracket underneath your crossbar with the tank and two carriage bolts fitting around each crossbar, into the bracket. You secure the bracket with a pair of locking nuts and washers. Yakima recommends torquing these nuts to 2 Nm.
Fittings and hose reliability
Over two months of constant use, sitting in direct sunlight most of every day, I didn’t notice any leaking from anywhere on the RoadShower. The hose spigot comes with Teflon tape preinstalled on the threads. If you remove it for some reason, be sure to use more Teflon tape when you reinstall the spigot.
When I got the RoadShower, I usually drove with the hose detached from the tank, because it seemed obvious to me that constant, direct sunlight would degrade the plastic hose. When I started actually writing this review, I noticed several users have stated they’ve had issues with UV exposure degrading the hose. There is no way around this issue, but it is very easy to detach the hose when you aren’t using the tank. The hose also uses a standard garden hose fitting, so if you do leave the hose attached and it degrades, you can replace it at any hardware store. Yes, this is an expensive product, but that doesn’t mean the only plastic piece used won’t degrade in the sun.
Durability
After two months of use, driving approximately 1,000 miles across Colorado and New Mexico, everything on the RoadShower looks as it did when new (except for a healthy coat of dust, of course). I expect this tank to last for years.
None of the welds have failed. The powder coat finish, which is textured so it doesn’t show scratches, has no large nicks. And all the stainless steel hardware doesn’t look like it will fail anytime soon, without any rusting or cracking.
Features
Schrader valve
The Yakima Roadshower has a Schrader valve that you use to pressurize the tank with any pump that connects to this common type of valve. A Schrader valve is the type of valve used on most car tires and many bicycles, so you can use a bike pump or a car pump.
Pressure relief valve
The RoadShower has a pressure relief valve that releases pressure above 55 PSI.
Garden hose adapter
The RoadShower has a garden hose adaptor with an on/off valve that you can attach a garden hose to in order to fill and pressurize the tank. This adapter, called the On-Off Elbow, is also what the hose and sprayer you use with the tank attaches to.
Outlet ports
It has an outlet port on either end of the tank. So depending on where it’s more convenient for the hose to attach, you can install the garden hose adapter to that end.
Thermometer strip
The Roadshower has a thermometer strip, which sticks on to anywhere on the tank you want.
SKS locks
The Roadshower comes with SKS locks, which you can install on top of the mounting hardware to prevent someone from stealing it.
Sustainability
Yakima’s Climate Action Roadmap includes plans to reduce emissions is to reduce reliance on air freight, increase use of renewable energy (their headquarters in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is now 100% powered by wind), increase use of sustainable materials, reduce waste and increase recycling in headquarters and manufacturing facilities, develop products that last a lifetime, and reduce corporate travel/commuting.
What's new
Previous versions of the Yakima RoadShower had a brass garden hose adapter. The newest version, which we tested is a steel alloy.
Should you buy the Yakima RoadShower?
Buy if:
You regularly want to shower or clean outdoor gear while camping
You’re a full-time vanlifer or overlander who wants solar-heated hot water
You want to store your water outside your vehicle
You have the Yakima EXO Swing Base and want to mount a RoadShower to it along with the DoubleUp Bike Rack, OpenRange, or EXO GearLocker
Skip if:
You don’t have a roof rack and don’t want to get one or purchase the EXO SwingBase
You want a propane-heated shower system
You don’t want to spend this much money because you won’t use it enough
Where to buy
The Yakima RoadShower is a popular gear item, so you have options when it comes to retailers. Here are some of the pros of the retailers.
REI
Pros: 100% satisfaction policy for 1 year; 10% dividend for members.
Backcountry
Pros: Frequent sales for Expedition Perks members (free to join), fast shipping, Gearhead chat customer service is excellent
Yakima
You can sometimes find more options when purchasing directly from the manufacturer. Sometimes, purchasing directly from the retailer can make it easier if you need to make a warranty return due to a defect.
Advice on where to buy
In general for gear, we recommend purchasing from a place with easy or free returns, like REI.
FAQ
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The water in the Yakima Roadshower can reach temperatures above 100°F in hot, sunny conditions. On cloudy days, the water can get 5-10° warmer than the ambient air temperature.
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Yes, the RoadShower works with non-Yakima roof racks. It uses a simple clamp system to clamp onto the front and rear crossbar of any roof rack.
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That depends on how many showers you want to take before needing to refill it. A typical shower uses 1-2 gallons of water, depending on how effective you are at conserving water. The 4-gallon Roadshower is good for solo or weekend trips. The 7-gallon size is a good balance point for a couple or small family. The 10-gallon size is ideal for extended trips or large groups. The 10-gallon size weighs about 120 pounds when full, so there is a trade-off between number of showers and hauling all that weight.
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Yes, the RoadShower works with the EXO hitch system. You’ll need to buy the EXO RoadShower kit to fit it onto the EXO SwingBase, though.
Similar portable showers
Yakima RoadShower vs NEMO Helio LX
Price: $200
Capacity: 5.8 gallons
Max pressure: 1.0 gallons/ minute
Weight: 2 lb
The NEMO Helio LX is the updated version of our favorite pressure shower from our camping showers guide. This model uses sunlight to heat water in a soft-sided but durable bag. It has a foot pump to pressurize the water and a spray nozzle to dispense it. We used one of these showers for 6 months last year, and it works well as long as the sun is shining and you don’t need super high pressure.
Compared to the RoadShower, the NEMO Helix has a 5-gallon capacity, and is a soft-sided bag with a foot pump to pressurize. The NEMO costs $120, whereas the RoadShower starts at $400 for the 4-gallon version. The RoadShower reaches much higher pressures than the Helix, and seems to get hotter, too. When we were relying on the Helix to shower regularly, we hated the soft-sided bag design because it was difficult to regularly transport when full. There is never a good place to store a soft-sided 5-gallon bag of water with a spray nozzle that doesn’t lock. If you’re going to be using a passive solar heated shower a lot, we think the RoadShower is worth the extra money.
NEMO Helio LX
Yakima RoadShower vs BougeRV Portable Propane Water Heater
Price: $360
Capacity: N/A, tankless
Max pressure: 0.79 gallons/ minute
Construction: 13.2 lb
The BougeRV Portable Propane Water Heater is a battery-powered water pump and propane water heater combined into a portable unit about the size of a 24-case of cans. The BougeRV provides hot water in any conditions, but you have to use propane to get it. The BougeRV also doesn’t hold water, like the Yakima RoadShower does, so you’ll need your own water container as well.
The battery-powered pump in the BougeRV doesn’t create as high of pressure spray as the RoadShower, either. If you want the highest pressure, and control of that water pressure, we think the RoadShower is a better option. If you want year-around hot water in any conditions, and are willing to carry a propane tank, the BougeRV is worth considering. The BougeRV’s MSRP is $400, but it’s often discounted to about $300. Again, the RoadShower starts at $400 for the 4-gallon size.
Learn more in our in-depth review of the BougeRV Portable Water Heater.
BougeRV Portable Propane Water Heater
Yakima RoadShower vs FLEXTAILGEAR Max Shower
Price: $65
Capacity: N/A, tankless
Max pressure: 0.79 gallons/ minute
Construction: 10.7 oz
The FLEXTAIL GEAR Max Shower is a small battery-powered pump with a hose and showerhead. Like the BougeRV, you drop the pump into any water container, and the pump pushes water out through the showerhead. The Flextail Gear could be used in conjunction with a passive solar heated water container, or you can simply heat water, then drop the pump into that pot full of hot water. But, the Flextail Gear Max Shower doesn’t have any way to heat water built in.
This model won’t create nearly as high of pressure as the Yakima RoadShower, and also doesn’t hold water on its own. The FLEXTAIL Max is significantly less expensive than the RoadShower, though.
FLEXTAILGEAR Max Shower
Why you should trust us / About the author
Sam Schild lives full-time in a DIY converted 1999 GMC Savana campervan, which he uses as a mobile basecamp across the American West. He has reviewed portable showers, backpacking bidets, and portable toilets for Treeline Review, along with loads of running, biking, and backpacking gear. Over three years of full-time van-life, he has experimented with all types of methods for taking a hot shower while camping, from roof-mounted water tanks like the RoadShower and DIY water pumps painted black for solar-heated showers, to JetBoil-based sponge baths, unwanted drives to Planet Fitness after a long day on a trail, and more. For this review, he used the RoadShower for an entire summer in Colorado, and never once used his Planet Fitness membership just to take a shower.
You can find more of Sam’s work on his Treeline Review author page, website, or Instagram.
