One thing you would be concerned about more than anything during your camping days is water. Obviously, your camping locations are not always going to be near to a running water source. As a result, You will be thinking about running out of water and how to be more economical with water use. A functional camper van water system can solve these problems for you.
Purpose-built campervans have built-in water systems. But when you are planning on having conversions in your existing van, understanding the entire water system becomes crucial for a successful installation of the water system. That’s what we are going to cover throughout this informative piece!
Understanding Camper Van Water System Components
Camper van water systems consist of a freshwater lake, RV water pump (typically 12V), water filter, water heater, supply pipes that connect the entire system, user points, a grey water tank, and a black water tank. All of these are highly important components for ensuring a vanlife with a sufficient water supply.
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Fresh Water Storage Tank
The size of a campervan’s freshwater tank ranges from 20 gallons to 100 gallons. A minor van typically has a smaller tank. In contrast, larger campervans tend to have a larger tank size for freshwater. These tanks are generally installed under the van. You can use a measurement gauge to know whether the tank is full or it is time to fill up your water tank.
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Water Pump for Camper Van Water System
Any Camper van water system needs a water pump to fill the water tank from a source. These pumps are often called RV water pumps. These 12V water pumps are portable and lightweight. Submersible pumps can also be used in a camper van water system.
There are three types of RV water pumps: constant speed, variable speed, and high volume. Constant-speed RV pumps are commonly used because they are cheaper and more available.
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Accumulator
An accumulator is also known as a pressurizer. It is used for a balanced and evenly pressurized water flow. Accumulators ensure smooth water flow at the user points, save battery power, and extend the life of your pump.
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Pipes for Connecting The Water System
RV plumbing systems are lightweight and compact. Therefore, the connecting pipes should be durable enough to withstand off-road traveling. PVC pipes are ideal for RV plumbing because of their flexibility.
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Points of Use
Water is pumped from accumulator pipes to the point of use, where it is filtered to ensure it is pure and drinkable. The usual user points are the tapes in the RV’s kitchen sink, cleaning basin water taps, and hand showers. Toilet flushes are an indirect user point.
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Water Heaters in Campervan
In our campervans, we typically use electric water heaters due to safety reasons, as we usually don’t have gas onboard. One of our favorite models is the ISOTEMP 4-Gallon Slim Water Heater. These electric water heaters work efficiently by heating water in a tank, providing a reliable supply of hot water. Most hot water tanks in RVs range from 6-10 gallons in size.
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Grey tank for Camper Van
Wastewater from all sources, such as the campervan kitchen and sink, except for the toilet, is stored in the grey water tank. Anything you rinse down the washbasin drain, including soapy water, toothpaste, and water with dirt from your afternoon trek, would be stored here.
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Blackwater Tank
The blackwater tank is attached to the underbelly of the RV. All of the waste from the toilet seat goes into the black tank. Black tanks vary in size anywhere from 15 gallons to 50 gallons.
What Size Water Tank Should You Install in Your Campervan?
There is no fixed capacity or standard size for the campervan’s freshwater tank. For your ease in choosing one, you may consider seeing the utility bills from previous months. It may give you clues about how much you would need per head and per day. Tank capacity usually starts from 20 gallons and can go up to 100 gallons. Discuss your needs with the Highland Vans team and get a campervan water storage tank that complements your water usage.
Step-By-Step Guide to Installing a Campervan Water System
Water system installation can be labor-intensive and time-consuming. It is better to take expert help to avoid any malfunction. However, for your knowledge, we will now explain the steps of a camper water system installation process.
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Mounting Your Water Tank
Usually, a freshwater tank has several points for circulating fresh water to the water system. At the same time, there is a filling point. All these points have valves to regulate the water inlet and circulation. Follow the steps mentioned below to mount the tank with accuracy,
- Use a drill machine to drill and install water valves in your tank.
- Once all valves are installed for filling, supplying, and draining dirty water, fit a metal plate with columns to fix the tank under the vehicle.
- You may keep the water tank inside the van, but the majority of experts suggest mounting the tank outside the chassis of your vehicle.
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Connecting the Tank With the RV Pump
After installation, connect the fresh water tank with the RV water pump. Make sure that the pump is installed properly and connected to the power supply of your van. Once assured, run the pump for a while. You should not fill the tank up to its throat; fill a little bit and check for any leakage or crack in your water tank. Remember to sanitize the tank, whether it is a new or used one, before installation.
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Connecting the Tank With Accumulator
Once the tank is installed, place the water pump in a suitable position inside your vehicle. Unplug the connection pipes with the water tanks and plug again after placement if needed. You need to make sure the water pump does not and will not move because of its own vibration or any other reason. After placing, take the accumulator and connect it to the pump.
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Connecting the Sink and the Shower to the Water System
The water system of a campervan is not as complex as the home plumbing system. Before connecting the water tank with the sink and shower, let’s see the key components and general procedure of setting up a water system,
- First of all, you need a proper drawing with comparative measurements. This drawing will forecast the plan of water circulation in the system. It will also showcase the places of components both inside and outside the van.
- Then, prepare a list of accessories according to the drawing. These could be items like water tape, showers, hand showers, toilet flush boxes, and toilets.
- Once the drawing and accessories are ready, professional camper water system installation experts will execute the drawing. Usually, this process starts with measuring and cutting the pipes into the desired-sized pieces that will fit the designated area as per the system drawing.
- After cutting the pipes, place them according to the drawing.
- Then, place components and connect them to each other.
- For example, sinks and hand showers need both hot and cold water lines. So, these user points should be connected to the pipe coming from the water heater and main supply line. The water heater is then connected to the electrical system.
- The toilet flush doesn’t need a hot water line, so it is connected to the main supply line only. On the other hand, kitchen and drinking water lines come through a water filtration process.
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Connecting the Disposal Point to Grey and Black Tank
Once you have started using the water system, there should be a disposal point. There are 2 types of disposal tanks in a camper van as we have already discussed: The grey tank and the black water tank. Connect the grey tank with the grey water disposal points like the kitchen, handwashing basin, and hand showers. The black tank would be connected with only a black water disposal point from the toilet.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the camper van water system is essential for an adventurous outdoor camping experience with peace of mind. We have discussed the basic objectives of the camper van water system and its core components. We have explained the way a water system works and how to install a full-length water system. However, expert observation is irreplaceably important to ensure perfection and avoid any type of malfunction in the water system or the overall performance of a camper van.
If you are looking for a camper van that will match your outdoor adventures, Highland Vans is here to help you achieve that dream. Our highly qualified staff work together to ensure that every project is completed with a high degree of precision. To ensure we deliver only the highest-quality vans, every product is computer-designed and manufactured using the latest computer-aided manufacturing technology. Browse our website or visit us today to learn more about how we can help you!
