When building, or renovating, your camper van’s kitchen area, one of the most important decisions you can make is what type of faucet to get. There are many different shapes and styles of faucets, but not all types are appropriate for camper van living.
Whether you are meal prepping, washing the dishes, or even just filling a water bottle, you will be using your faucet multiple times throughout the day. And hundreds of times during the week! So it is worth the effort to think strategically when selecting the perfect faucet for your camper van.
In this post, we’ll identify several important characteristics all van faucets should have and recommend some of our favorites.
By The Way…
Our entire van conversion guide is all about planning ahead and making smart decisions. And getting the best van faucet is no different.
So if you’re ready, let’s dive into it.
We've been using this exact faucet for over 4 years and love it. We love the two different spray modes, the pull down spray feature, and that the hole faucet swivels out of the way when not needed.
4 Attributes All Van Faucets Should Have
Whether the faucet was too small, ill-designed, or just cheaply built, no one should ever have to experience a bad faucet, especially for van life. To help you narrow down your ideal model, we list four of the most important attributes every faucet should have.
1. Sprays Water In Middle Of Sink
Have you ever tried washing dishes using a faucet that had a short neck? It’s next to impossible to wash larger plates and cookware without constantly clanging them on the edge of the sink. Instead, look for a faucet that reaches up and over the back of the sink and pours right in the middle. Dish duty becomes much less annoying!
2. Dual Spray Feature
Sometimes you just need a high-pressure spray (for cleaning). And other times a smooth, aerated stream is more useful (for everything non-cleaning). Get a faucet that has both modes!
3. Swivel Head Design
With limited space in a camper, items that can be pushed out of the way to create more space are perfect for mobile living. (That’s why the Lagun Swivel Table is so popular for RVs.) And the same idea is true for faucets. When not needed, like when brushing your teeth, camper faucets should be able to simply just get out of your way with the flick of your hand.
4. Pull-Down Neck Design
Trying to maneuver dirty plates and cookware under a locked faucet head is incredibly frustrating. That’s why getting a faucet with a head that can be detached from it’s base and moved around is so critical. It makes dish washing much easier. Not to mention that spray cleaning the sink becomes a cinch.
Download our free PDF to help build your van's plumbing & water system. From the fresh water tank to the pump and finally to the faucet and shower, this free eBook has you covered. 12+ pages of detailed diagrams and product recommendations.
Best RV Faucet? Our Recommendation
When we were researching which faucet to get for our camper van, we were dead set on getting a full-sized faucet. Not one of those gimmicky, space saving ones that are specifically made for mobile homes.
We wanted a faucet that made it easy to:
- Cook & prepare meals
- Clean dirty dishes & cookware
- Swivel out of the way to create space
So we purchased a beautiful gooseneck faucet for our camper van. And after 4 years on the road, we STILL love our choice.
We've been using this exact faucet for over 4 years and love it. We love the two different spray modes, the pull down spray feature, and that the hole faucet swivels out of the way when not needed.
Over the last few years, we’ve noticed that these style faucets are becoming increasingly popular within the camper van and RV communities. And it’s easy to see why.
What We Like About Our Camper Faucet
Beautiful in form and useful in function, these pull down faucets have everything you would want in a faucet.
1. Dispenses Water In Center Of Sink
Unlike many smaller RV faucets that we’ve seen, these gooseneck faucets stretch up and over and dispense water straight down into the middle of the sink, as opposed to just inches from the back sink wall.
This is HUGE for us.
This has made washing dishes so much quicker and easier. This is especially true when washing larger items, like our frying pan.
2. Two spray modes
We love that with a simple push of a button, we can change the nozzle’s spray mode between a smooth, aerated stream and a high pressure spray.
Having two different modes gives our faucet greater functionality and precision, based on the specific task at hand.
Specifically, we use these two different spray modes for the following purposes.
Aerated Stream
- Washing fruits & vegetables
- Filling water cups
- Brushing teeth
High Pressure Spray
- Washing dishes & cookware
- Washing the sink
- Hair washing - when desperate 🙂
3. Removable nozzle
For more control, the faucet’s nozzle can be easily removed from its holster and re-positioned to better direct the flow of water. This feature is especially useful when cleaning the sink and washing larger cookware, like frying pans and large pots.
4. 360-Degree Swivel
Sometimes we just want to move the entire faucet out of the way so that we can free up the sink space. This is especially true when we’re brushing our teeth and washing the sink.
With these gooseneck faucets, rotating the entire faucet neck completely out of your way is easy and effortless.
In this picture, you can see how the entire faucet neck rotates completely out of the way, freeing up the whole sink space.
What We Don't Like About Our Faucet
If we’re being completely honest here, there really isn’t anything we dislike about our pull down RV faucet.
While our faucet does take up more space than a smaller, traditional camper-style faucet, we feel that the benefits considerably outweigh the reduction in space efficiency.
Final Verdict? The Best Faucets For RVs & Campers
We want our faucet to achieve two objectives. To make it easier to:
- Cook meals
- Clean dirty dishes
And we think our gooseneck faucet does just that. And for the price the APPASO faucet is sold at, you get a great-quality product for a great price.
It’s great value.
Other Recommended RV Faucets
If the APPASO faucet isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, there are several other faucets that caught our eye that would be perfect for a camper van. Best of all, each of these water faucets are under $100.
Looking for a sink? Check out our “RV Sink Review” to learn why we love our sink for van life.
Download our FREE PDF to help build your van's electrical system; from batteries, to solar, to inverter, and more. 38+ pages of detailed diagrams, product recommendations, and links to additional resources.
Popular Camper Faucet Accessories
Below are the five most popular faucet accessories used in van conversions. These four parts and components are used regardless of which camper faucet you end up purchasing.
- Sink – Getting the right sink is just as critical as the right faucet. The Ruvati Sink has been perfect for us.
- Water Pump – Pumps water from the fresh water tank to the faucet. Runs on 12V.
- Pump Filter – Removes small grains and sediment before the water enters the pump.
- Silencer Kit – Water pumps can be a tad loud for some. This kit muffles the pump and reduces the vibration when the pump is working.
For more parts & installation instruction: Download our free plumbing diagrams eBook.
FAQ
Can you use a regular faucet in an RV?
Yes! With the right fittings, you can successfully install any residential faucet in an RV or camper. In fact, we recommend using a full-size residential faucet in your camper to make meal prep and dish cleaning more convenient.
Check out our faucet & sink installation guide to learn about which fittings you'll need for a successful installation.
Are RV faucets standard size?
Although RV faucets come in many different shapes and sizes, the connection points will be standardized with a 3/8" female NPT for both hot and cold water hoses.
How To Install A Faucet In A RV
When you’re ready to install your faucet in your camper/RV, be sure to check out our faucet & sink installation guide. The post includes:
- Detailed diagrams
- Step-by-step instructions
- Recommended components
Download our Water System eBook (with diagrams) to visualize which wire sizes you need.
Enjoyed reading? Check out our camper van “Plumbing” category page for more similar content.
Final Thought: Make Dishwashing A Breeze With The Proper RV Faucet
Doing the dishes after a long day isn’t anybody’s idea of fun. This is especially true in van life.
- You're tired
- In a cramped space
- Just want to clean up quickly
But with the right faucet in your camper van, you can make cleaning up quick and as least cumbersome as possible.
If you’re looking for the best RV faucet for your camper, you can’t go wrong with these beautiful and functional gooseneck faucets.
Go Back: DIY Camper Van Build Guide
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