Water, Bath, & Plumbing
Hit The Tap! We’re all used to our household plumbing on city water or a well, and your Off-Grid Setup doesn’t need to be all that different. - You can go with the ultra-simplistic, by just mounting a jug above a sink that drains into another jug, or put together a Full Skoolie / Van / RV Plumbing setup that includes a Water Tank, Water Pump, Water Heater, and more.
We’re going to show you options for both as well as ideas for your Shower, Kitchen Sink, Toilet, Washer/Dryer, Drain, and Grey Water Storage. Click the images to compare prices and sizes, and check out the Water Setup Blog on the Tutorials Page if you’d like some thoughts on putting it all together.
*Scroll to the bottom for Laundry Options, Connectors, Tools, Pipe, and Parts. Visit the HVAC Page for more Connectors, Hoses, and Fittings.
But First, Let’s Head To The Loo! (Skoolie, Van, and RV Toilet Options)
If you’ve been watching videos, you know that the Nature’s Head and Separett are great Compost Toilets! Sure, they’re expensive, but they’re worth it… For a DIY-Style Compost option with a slightly smaller sticker price, check out the Kentucky Rustic Crapper, Compost Toilet (Click the image).
If you’re not ready to take the plunge on a high-end Compost Toilet, the VivoHome and Thetford units below are great options. Both minimal on smell and easy to dump, they will absolutely get the job done.
From the Driver’s Seat: We haven’t included any “Black Water” toilets, 1. for environmental reasons, and 2. Composters are just so much better on so many levels. If you are looking for a B/W RV Toilet replacement, click here for a good one.
With any Compost Toilet you will need Medium. Here are links to Coco Coir (our choice), and Peat Moss. (Sawdust works too.)
Fresh Water Tanks (Can Also Be Used For Grey Water)
If you’re Full-Time on The Road, you’ll spend a great deal of time looking for water so size matters! Of course, how much room you have to mount it in your Rig might matter even more.- It varies greatly on one’s personal water consumption, but a bigger Skoolie, Van, or RV Water Tank means fewer trips to refill. - They come in all shapes and sizes, so click the images to compare prices and see what fits best into your Build. - Additional options, including Under-mount Tanks are shown in the Grey Water section near the bottom of this page.
Tech Tip: A gallon of water weighs 8.34 lbs. 100 gallons would be 834 lbs. Keep this in mind when thinking about where to mount it. - With conservative showering, water consumption can be as little as 2.5 gallons per day per person. Sponge bathe or “skip a day” and you’ll cut that in half.
Please note: It is very important to use a Certified Fresh (“Potable”) Water Tank to avoid contaminants.
Worried about your tanks freezing? Click the image to check out a 12v Tank Heater in various sizes.
Water Pumps (12 Volt)
The 12v Pumps featured are all pretty easy on Power, inexpensive, quiet running, and self-priming.
We’ve also included some Manual Foot Pumps, and decorative hand pumps (Shown Below) for those with a more simplistic Build or a flair for unique design.
Tech Tip: 3 gallons per minute is typically perfect for marine and RV Water Pump applications, but you may find that you can get away with less. Do your research and feel free to click the links to shop around on Amazon.
Accumulators
An Accumulator stabilizes the water pressure and can reduce the number of times the Water Pump cycles, thus increasing pump life and reducing power use.
All of the Pumps we feature above will work just fine without one, but if you find that your system is “pulsing” or your pump continually turns on and off, an Accumulator will likely resolve the issue.
If you choose to err on the side of caution, it doesn’t hurt to install one from the start.
Manual Water Pumps
Some of these are designed for garden use, but can be creatively adapted for a unique look in your Skoolie or Vanlife Kitchen. - The manual foot pumps below run directly from your Water Tank (or Jug) to the sink, and can act as a direct tap.
Water Filters & Testers
You will be refilling your water tank regularly from many different sources. Since you can’t be sure of the quality, you can’t be too safe with drinking and cooking water. You’ll either want to buy or refill drinking water from the store,or check out options for Water Filters. They range in price from The Berkey Countertop Filter (featured in many Bus Build videos) to the old skool charcoal filter pitcher that you keep in the fridge.
It’s a good idea to keep some water test kits on hand as well. click the images to check them out. - Please note: Inline hard mounted water filter canisters are shown with the plumbing supplies, near the bottom of this page.
Skoolie, Van, & RV Water Heaters
Our “Propane Free” Recommendation would be the Bosch Mini Tank Electric. We use and Love this unit!
Propane Tankless Water Heaters are a popular way to go for Skoolies and Vanlife. Just be sure you vent the exhaust to the outside, and remember that many units lose efficiency at higher altitudes. Our suggestions are below but you can see more by clicking the links and comparing.
Tech Tip: You can heat water on the stove or campfire for a few minutes to do dishes and use a Solar Foot Pump unit (like the Nemo Helio below) or a recirculating system for showering.
Showers
A good RV Shower may be the most complicated “comfort of home” to design for Nomadic Living. You will likely have to get creative, depending on Space, Water Capacity, and Energy.
Just like you hard core VanLifers, we can’t say enough good things about showering outside! Solar Showers and Faucets that reach outside are great options. - Here are some shower options. Click the images to get your creativity flowing.
Alternative Showers
Recirculating Showers are becoming more and more popular, and are a great way to save water! It amounts to a bucket and a Portable Shower Basin that allows you to re-use the water after it is filtered. (Your body heat even helps it stay warm.) Couple this with a Solar Shower and you’re using as little as 1-2 Gallons for a luxuriously long shower with minimal Power Drain!
Look for a Blog on how to put one together on the Tutorials Page, or get one of the Portable Camping Showers below and try it out at home!
From The Driver’s Seat: The reality is that you will often skip the shower all together. Many Vanlifers and Skoolie Dwellers use cleansing wipes to do a water-free sponge bath. A lot of people swear by regular old baby wipes, but this Scrubzz product is designed specifically for this purpose, and with us Nomads in mind! Click the image to check it out.
Shower Basins
Your Bus or Van Conversion Shower will be specific to your situation. - Go with a full Shower Enclosure, or build your own using a Pre-Fab Basin and Waterproof Membrane. (Tile and HardieBacker / Cement Board should be purchased locally.) Get creative with a Stock Tank, Mop Basin, Drip Pan, or even a full size tub if you have the space. (Click the images for alternative sizes.)
From The Driver’s Seat: Want that Tile Look without worrying about the weight or cracking grout (to say nothing of the perpetual cleaning)? Here is a durable, interlocking, DIY, grout-free, waterproof tile solution great for a backsplash or a full shower! Multiple colors and styles available. Click the image to have a look.
The Tap
From the simple to the sublime, choosing a faucet for your Skoolie, Van, or RV Kitchen Sink comes down to taste as much as function. When you make this choice, consider that you might be filling a lot of jugs, and maybe even occasionally using the sink for an RV Shower.
Here are a few, hand picked by Mrs. Skoolie.
We’ve even included a decorative unit that will switch a submersible Pump on and off.
Tech Tip: Don’t forget to install shutoff valves to each inlet line of your sink! Scroll down for these, and many other plumbing parts, tools, and lines.
Everything and the Skoolie / Van / RV Kitchen sink (bathroom too)
Another area that is highly subject to your personal taste and space constraints are kitchen and bathroom sinks. Our advice: Think small, light, deep, and versatile. Apron and vessel sinks are also popular, space allowing. Click the images to explore options on Amazon.
RV Washer Dryer - Laundry
Combo RV Washer Dryers are all the rage in the Nomad World, and with good reason. Though a little heavy on electricity, there’s a lot to be said for the convenience, if your budget allows.
The twin tub spinners are a great option, and some use standard washer in conjunction with a large salad spinner to get the job done.
Save space with the Folding Portable, or check out the manual Alternative Wonderwash to limit Power usage.
RV Connections and Filters
See the Water Setup Tutorial for what you need and ideas on putting it all together.
Tools, Pipe, Fittings, and Parts
Grey Water Accessories
While you can use ABS pipe and fittings (click the link above for more options), Felxible Spa Tubing or PVC Tubing tend to be a good fit for Skoolie / Vanlife / RV Plumbing. Additional fittings and sizes are available through the links above.
Need some thoughts on how it all goes together? Check The Water Setup Blog on the Tutorials Page.
Please Support Skoolie Supply by shopping through our Amazon Links. (Even if you don’t buy what we’re advertising, we still get a little bump.) - Watch for new Merch coming soon. Click the images below or have a look at the Swag Page.
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