This week’s accomplishment was pumping water through the RV sink faucet for the first time. A major milestone for my homemade camper.
The undermount RV sink I purchased was bundled together with the cutting board which you can see in the picture below. This makes for a great RV sink cover. I’ve linked to the RV sink bundle I purchased here.
Under the sink I’ve installed a 120V RV water pump that’s supplied by a 5 gallon jug that serves as the fresh water tank. The 5 gallon jug is a common size and about as large as I’d care to physically move in and out of the van. It’s a simple solution for how to refill fresh water during camping. I’ve linked the water 5 gallon water jug I purchased here.
I’ve linked the RV water pump I purchased here.
The sink drains to a second 5-gallon jug which also has to be removed to be emptied.
For my shower water supply I have a larger (to be permanently mounted) 40 gallon RV water tank which I’ve linked here. What I will use for a grey water tank is yet to be determined. Most likely I will mount a similar tank underneath the van for gray water.
I wanted to keep the drinking water separate because I’d prefer to work with a smaller drinking water supply that’s easier to control, manage, and keep fresh. The larger shower water supply from the RV water tank can sit for longer periods of time (weeks as opposed to days). The residual chlorine that is found in tap water decays over time and eventually loses its ability to deactivate viruses and bacteria. This risk is less of an issue when the water isn’t being consumed.
I have, but have not yet installed, the shower water tank and the 12V pump. Before I do that I still need to square off and frame the bathroom walls in the back of the van. The SHURFLO DC water pump I purchased is linked here. I’ve seen it rated on some blogs as the best RV water pump.
Little by little things are coming along. You’ll notice in the photo above I’ve chosen 1/2” PVC sheet for the countertop. It’s my cheap waterproof solution for a countertop. The material is “meh” as far as durability is concerned, but’s its cheap ($34 for the 2’ x 4’ sheet). When I need a chopping block I’ll use the wood cutting board that covers the sink.
If you liked this post you may also enjoy my custom propane tank and heating system for my Ford Transit camper van conversion.