Water & Plumbing

Continuing the theme of a small but basically self-sufficient campervan, I’ve illustrated a basic, cold water setup here.

There’s no hot water, no shower and only one tap – but it does have on-board fresh and waste water and is perfectly ample for many purposes (in my experience/opinion). That said, water/bathroom facilities are quite a personal preference. Some people don’t find having to use the kitchen sink for everything to be acceptable.

Both main and spare fresh water containers should be removable but held firmly in place for travel/use. Don’t underestimate the destructive force of an unrestrained 25-litre container of water if you have to brake suddenly or are in an accident.

The waste water container, should be similarly restrained but easier to remove as it will need to be emptied fairly often – probably every day or two, to ensure you don’t overflow…

The water pump described in this setup is the type used by most caravaners – a submersible pump (shaped a bit like a large bullet) that is simply dropped into the water container so that it sits at the bottom and sucks up water. These pumps have two connections – water and electricity and are very cheap and simple to use.

Click here for a Submersible Water Pump

In this case, the water pump could be wired up so that it comes on when the tap is turned on, as there are no other taps in the vehicle. Multi-tap setups require a little more thought and wiring complexity!

Next: Guide to all Parts used in the conversion

Back to the Conversion Guide Index

Disclaimer: All material is provided for information purposes and is my opinion only. I can take no responsibility for the accuracy, suitability, reliability or safety of the information in this guide.