[image of plumbing system]
The plumbing system was one of the systems I was the most intimidated by. Surprisingly, I found zero off the shelf kits that could drop right in. I found that most DIY websites went in one of two extreme directions, either super budget (jerry-rigging tanks from Walmart), or super burley (40 gallons, with hot water, a shower, etc). My goal was to keep it simple, only use 100% compatible parts, and have as little to go wrong as possible. I only needed a running sink with a fresh and grey water system.
100% of these components are compatible, and it took a matter of an hour to install. Everything worked the first time I fired it up, and nothing has stopped working since.
Water Pump: FloJet (03526144) Triplex Automatic Water System Pump review
Link: Flojet Triplex Automatic Water System Pump
Review:
This Flowjet unit is fairly standard in the van build world. It is on the higher end side of the spectrum, and overall, maybe a bit of an overkill for just typical sink use. It is fairly energy efficient and only turns on when needed. There is not much to say here because it does it’s job well.
Pros:
- Easy to install, foolproof watertight connections
- Low power draw, only turns on when needed
- Solid water pressure
Cons: (none)
Overall: A+
Tanks & Hoses: Superior RV Portable Galley Fresh Water & Grey Water Holding Tank Kit review
Link 1: Superior RV Portable Galley Fresh Water Holding Tank – 7 Gallons
Link 2: Superior RV Portable Galley Grey Water Holding Tank – 7 Gallons
Link 3: AIRXCEL RV Sink Waste Water Straight Drain
Review:
The Superior RV Portable Galley kit is really what I was looking for. It is the heart of the ease of this plumbing system. It comes with all the connectors and hoses, exactly compatible with the very commonly used Flowjet pumps and the commonly used RV drain taps. Everything is plug and play, with every connector, hose, and clamp fitting perfectly. We found that they 7 gallon fresh water tank capacity is enough for quite a few days, and the grey water capacity is capacity is enough for a few weeks.
The AIRXCEL Straight Drain is a very nice addition to the Portable Galley kit, which I chose over the more often used Camco Drain Tap. I much prefer any solid debris going down the drain to go directly into the grey water holding tank than go into a catch. In a simple plumbing setup like this with no exterior drainage valves, there is no great reason to use a catch. Therefor, the straight drain is a much lower maintenance way to go. The AIRXCEL Straight Drain fits right onto a standard sink drain found at hardware stores.
Pros:
- Super easy to install
- The straight drain is maintenance free compared to a catch
Cons:
- The canister lid of the holding tanks are not fully water tight. They do not leak when driving, but when carrying them around they may drip a bit.
Overall: A
Sink: Tec Vanlife Black Nanotech Stainless Steel Sink review
Link: Black Nanotech Stainless Steel Sink (with fold down faucet and soap dispenser)
Also needed: 1/4″ brass plumbing plug, and any regular kitchen sink drain from Amazon, Home Depot, etc
Review:
The Tec Vanlife sink is super sexy; that’s really what it comes down to. It was a great find when scouring through some of the van builders in Canada. It is manufactured and sold by Tec Vanlife, and is a very nice compact system that folds away when not needed. We were a little concerned about it’s larger than typical size, so we ordered one directly to SergSupply for them to measure it out when cutting the hole. The folks at SergSupply loved this sink so much that they now have it as an available option when ordering their galley!
Pros:
- Very beautifully crafted sink
- Hide away faucet and soap dispenser included
- As easy to install as any other sink out there
Cons: (none)
Overall: A+
Installation Tip:
To seal off the hot water inlet of the faucet, just screw in a 1/4” brass plumbing plug that you would find at any hardware store. The drain hole is compatible with any standard drain that you would find at a hardware store.
To people who want their van the easy way. To the people who don’t want a project.