| Product | Taruca Rogue Ensuite Shower 2.0 |
| Price | $499 · save 10% with code OVERLANDAZ |
| Weight | 34 lbs (Taruca spec) |
| Packed size | 42″ × 8.5″ × 6.75″ |
| Footprint | 39.5″ × 39.5″ · height adjusts 75″–87″ |
| Canvas | 320 GSM blackout polyester · removable PVC floor |
| Lighting | Red, white and amber LED · dimmable · 12V |
| Warranty | 24 months |
| Tested on | Clifford (2015 JKU) · Gobi roof rack + Gobi brackets |
| Verdict | Keeper |
Full disclosure: I work with Taruca USA, and the link and code in this review support the channel. Everything here is my own take from installing and using it on Clifford.
The Rogue Ensuite Shower 2.0 is Taruca’s updated shower and changing room. It mounts to your roof rack like an awning and pops open into a fully enclosed room in about a minute. I installed it on Clifford, took it through every feature, and the short version is this: it’s easy to use, really well thought out, and exactly the kind of gear you’ll keep using long term, especially camping as a family in the desert.
The quick verdict
Pros
- Fully enclosed. Attached ceiling and floor, and you can leave both on when you pack it up.
- True blackout canvas. No silhouette with the lights on, even in a group camp.
- Built-in red, white and amber LEDs that dim, with a hardwire plug on the back.
- About a minute to set up and about a minute to pack away. Gas struts do the work.
- Thoughtful details: high vents, dry bags, a drip bag, a toilet paper holder and zippered doors on all four sides.
- Everything you need is in the box, including drill-in stakes, T-bolts and a ratcheting wrench.
Worth knowing
- It’s heavier, because it’s more shower. At 34 lbs, it’s about 10–15 lbs more than a basic ensuite. That weight is the attached ceiling and floor, the tougher build and the built-in LED lighting, the things that make it a real room instead of a curtain. If you’re running a lighter rack, check its load rating, but for me it’s an easy trade.
What’s new in the 2.0
I ran Taruca’s original ensuite before this one, and the 2.0 is a big step up. Here’s what’s new:
- A roomier bag that actually closes. The original kept its ceiling and floor attached too, but the bag was so tight that closing it was a fight. The 2.0 has just enough extra room to zip up easily without flapping on the highway.
- Lights moved to the arms. They used to be on the back wall. Now they run along both arms, exactly like the lighting on Taruca’s awnings, so the light inside is brighter and much more even.
- A red light mode. You now get red, white and amber, all dimmable.
- A rear power plug for hardwiring. I’m wiring mine, along with my awning, to one switch in the Jeep. Pull into camp, flip the switch, and both have power.
- Upgraded 320 GSM grey canvas that now matches Taruca’s tents and awnings.
- Extra D-rings so you can move the wet and dry bags wherever they work best for you.
- 360° access. Zippered doors on every side, so you can make any side your entrance.
What’s in the box
Taruca really gives you everything you need to install and use it:
- Two heavy-duty, height-adjustable brackets. I used my Gobi brackets instead because they’re made for Clifford’s tube-style Gobi rack, but the Taruca brackets are a great fit for slotted racks like Rhino-Rack.
- T-bolts for mounting the brackets straight into a T-slot or extruded aluminum rack.
- A 12V cigarette plug to barrel connector cable, to run it from your vehicle or a portable power station.
- Drill-in tent stakes plus a 13mm ¼″ socket for your drill. In the hard-packed desert ground here, these zip in and back out with a drill and hold really well. Taruca includes them with their awnings and wall kits too.
- A 13mm ratcheting wrench and all the nuts and bolts for the mount.
Install tip: the washer most people skip
The backing plate has four channels, the same plate Taruca uses on their awnings. Slide four hex bolts into each end, and then add a washer on every bolt between the backing plate and the bracket. The channels are open for the bolts to slide through, and bracket slots run the other way, so neither surface gives the bolt full contact. That washer creates a full 360° mounting surface and makes the whole mount a lot stronger.
Two more tips: stage all your hardware up on the roof before you lift the ensuite into place, and start with just one nut on each side to hold it while you finish. Snug the nylon lock nuts up well, but don’t overdo it.
Mounted up, it’s compact and sits well above the doors on Clifford. If you use the Taruca brackets, you can adjust the height to clear your doors or your garage.
Setup: about a minute
Unzip the cover, release the two Velcro straps, and the canvas pretty much unrolls itself. Pull out the two gas-strut arms, which open on their own and hold the top up, then fold the floor down. Fine-tune the height with the buckles at all four corners, which you can do one-handed.
Blackout privacy and ventilation
Taruca uses a true blackout canvas, so it’s pitch black inside with the lights off. With them on, nobody outside sees a silhouette. If you camp with a group, no one is getting a show, and I think that’s a really nice touch.
Up top, behind a skirt that runs around the enclosure, are the vents. Open them when you want some airflow, like using it as a bathroom, or close them up on a cold morning shower. Because they’re up high, you keep your privacy either way.
Red, white and amber lighting
The LEDs are the same system Taruca uses on their awnings: red, white and amber, built into the arms and dimmable by holding the button. I powered it in the video with one of the magnetic ICECO battery packs I keep in the Jeep, using the included cigarette plug cable. If you hardwire it, put a little silicone around the plug on the back before you run it to a switch.
I love the red mode. It doesn’t attract bugs, it gives you enough light to see what you’re doing, and it doesn’t kill your night vision for stargazing. The buttons also glow red in the dark, so you can find them at 2 a.m. without leaving the lights on.
Storage and access
- A drip bag for soap, sponges and washcloths. Like the dry bags, it clips to D-rings you can move around.
- A toilet paper holder with a few height options and clips on both sides.
- A small dry bag for your phone or watch, and a large dry bag where I keep a change of clothes and a towel.
- A zippered back that opens to your vehicle, plus a smaller window for reaching into a bed rack or a back window.
- Doors on every side, handy if you mount it on Taruca’s swing-out and want to enter from a different side.
Packing it away
Arm in, floor folded in, other arm in, then roll the canvas up from the bottom. Don’t roll it super tight. A lot of people try to, thinking it’ll close up easier, but it actually makes it harder because the canvas can’t conform to the bag. Roll it loosely, bring the cover over, and zip it around.
Who it’s for
If you’re happy digging a hole and using leaves for toilet paper, this probably isn’t for you. But if you camp with your family or in groups, end up at campgrounds now and then, or camp in the desert Southwest where there isn’t much cover for privacy, this is perfect. It’s also great for beach and lakeside camps where you’re changing in and out of swim clothes.
Something you’ll always hear me say: if your gear is difficult to use, you’re not going to use it. It’s worth investing in gear that’s easy to use, reliable and durable, because that’s the stuff you’ll keep using long term. This is one of those products.
Featured partner
Taruca Rogue Ensuite Shower 2.0
Save 10% on the Ensuite 2.0 and the rest of Taruca’s Rogue gear with my code.
Code OVERLANDAZ
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