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For the sake of practicality, the Eurobox has become a reliable accessory around my home, in the workshop, and in the back of the Land Rover. Let’s face it, they come in an array of “standardised” shapes and sizes, they’re strong, they stack together nicely and, most importantly, I can find stuff when I need it. Admittedly, they’re not lockable and they’re definitely not good at fending off the elements, but they are a highly practical storage system. If I do need something dust- and weatherproof, then the Front Runner Wolfpack Pro and Zarges Box are my go-to solutions. But that’s not why we’re here.
Picture this: you want to go on a short (or long) camping trip, expedition, vehicle-supported adventure, or just for a picnic. In fact, picture anything out of doors, where you might need some running water and a basin…something a little more refined than a canister emptying onto the ground—which is an absolute no-no inside a vehicle.
TYPICAL SOLUTION
A typical built-in solution could include a fresh water tank, a grey water tank, a pump, maybe a dedicated battery, some hoses, a basin, a tap, and a cabinet to put it all in. And I haven’t even touched on getting it out of the car/van to use it more remotely.
Anyway, even if we focus on just the fitted and fully equipped cabinet in the back of the vehicle, all the components quickly add up to a not insignificant dent in the wallet, and a watertight assembly will certainly consume valuable time that I’d rather spend elsewhere.
BOXIO ALTERNATIVE
Composting toilets are the first thing that spring to mind when I hear the name BOXIO. But I’ll cover that separately.
BOXIO have taken one of the most popular Eurobox sizes, namely 400 x 300 x 280 mm (including the lid), and neatly packed a five-litre fresh water tank, five-litre grey water tank, tap, basin, hand pump and hoses into its confines.
I’m talking about a product that stacks with my other Euroboxes, provides cold running water from a tank, via a tap, into a practical washbasin, and collects the dirty water in a separate tank. I can use it in the car, in the tent, or anywhere I happen to be. Another benefit of being stackable is that, if you have children, you can simply adjust the height to suit them.
Supplied as a self-assembly kit, the well-manufactured components are a breeze to put together and the required tools are included in the set. There are even stickers to distinguish the fresh water from the grey water tank. The tap folds down when not in use, and the hand pump does not need a battery. To make it even more attractive, the cost won’t break the bank either.
TEST IT
I did. Over and over again. Ok, if you really want to split hairs: it doesn’t have running hot water. But, come on, who cares. I can boil up some water and add it to the basin because there’s a plug to stop the water running away while shaving or doing light washing up. There is even a sieve insert to catch bits of food and other small items before they disappear through the drain and into the grey water tank.
To test BOXIO’s true versatility, I ordered the BOXIO SANITARY set—including the WASH PLUS set which comes with a shower head, a shaving mirror, and some stainless steel balls that make cleaning the canisters a lot easier—pour in some water, add the balls, screw on the lid, and give it all a hearty shake.
However, hygiene needs to be taken seriously and that’s not limited to the tanks alone, but includes the hose from the fresh water tank to the tap. Periodically rinse cleanse the system with a suitable agent (such as Katadyn Micropur Forte) to prevent microorganisms thriving—especially in summer and when the unit has stood idle for any period of time with water in its system.
To use the basin, first make sure there is fresh water in the tank and the pressure release valve on the hand pump is closed. Pump three to ten times until you can feel some resistance, and then open the tap. Voilà.
Tanks can be sealed using the provided caps, so that the contents do not slosh around and leak when you are driving.
It goes without saying that the contents of the grey water tanks need to be disposed of responsibly and not simply emptied on the ground or in a river.
As far as the WASH PLUS set is concerned,
- the mirror is unbreakable and sticks to the inside of the lid
- the shower head easily replaces the neck of the tap—simply pull the neck off the tap body and press home the shower head fitting. The shower head has its own remote on-and-off lever, and the spiral hose will extend to more than 1.5 metres.
VERDICT
Horses for courses. For those who need a practical solution that works in the back of a 4×4, van or boot of a car, and still has the use-me-anywhere versatility, the BOXIO WASH comes with a host of arguments that speak in its favour, including an acceptable price tag of €190 (or €160 in their online shop at the time of writing).
If you want the luxury of a fitted kitchen and bathroom in your car/van/truck, then you’re probably installing a tailored interior with all the amenities you need. But…if you still need an outdoor sink to clean hands or wash veggies before they land on the grill, then this easily stowed box just enhances the overall outdoor experience with a minimum of effort.
The materials used are durable, and the workmanship is good. Considering the overall price, the metal tap (faucet) is beautifully made and has a smooth action for an easily adjusted flow rate.
So, to answer the question I set out at the beginning: yes, this is a well-made, durable and versatile product for a fair price which can provide a useful solution in many instances.
from €160 | boxio.de
