It is our firm believe that the sink you ultimately decide to put in your camper plays an outsized role in determining the quality of your van life. If the sink is too small, too shallow, or even just not the right shape, it can make meal prep and cleanup inconvenient and unenjoyable.
Ever tried to clean dishes in a tiny sink? We have. It’s awful!
We did a ton of sink research for our own camper van build and settled on the Ruvati sink, specifically made for RVs. And after almost 3 years on the road, we’ve really come to appreciate all the thoughtful aspects that went into this product. We wouldn’t use any other sink if given the chance.
In this post, we’ll discuss some of the key attributes that all RV sinks should have and detail why our Ruvati sink checks all the right boxes.
So if you’re ready, let’s get started!
Not what you need? Check out our van “Plumbing” category page for more similar content.
Critical Attributes For An Ideal RV Sink
Below we list 4 of the most important attributes that sinks must have to be a good option for camper life.
1. Spacious, But Compact
Even though space inside camper vans & RVs is limited it doesn’t mean we’re obligated to choose small sinks. Look for sinks that are square (or rectangular) in shape. Since they provide the most volume per given area, they’re the most space efficient.
Stay away from ornamental sink bowls. They’re really only for hand washing, not for day-to-day dish cleaning.
2. Deep
A proper dish washing sink needs to be deep enough to hold your biggest places and cookware. Dealing with shallow sinks is a nightmare.
3. Durable & Easy To Clean
Function over form. A camper sink will experience a lot of use. Get a sink made from a material that won’t be prone to chipping or scratches.
Building a camper van? Download our free e-Books with intuitive electrical, solar, and plumbing diagrams.
What We Like About The Ruvati RV Sink
We love that our Ruvati sink was made specifically for camper vans and RVs. This includes both the overall shape and all the different accessories that come with the sink.
In the picture below, you can see all the different parts that are included in the Ruvati sink.
1. Large Interior Dimensions
The interior bowl dimensions of the Ruvati RV sink are:
- 11.5" Side-To-Side
- 11.5" Front-To-Back
- 9" Deep
And for us, these dimensions have been perfect for us to easily clean our dirty dishes, day-after-day. And it may not seem like it at first, but sink depth is an underappreciated, dimension. It’s a critical dimension to consider when you need to fit larger dish & cookware inside the sink.
We carry some fairly large dishes, frying pans, and pots in our cabinets but our camper’s sink easily takes care of them all.
2. (Very) Useful Included Accessories
Because our sink was manufactured specifically for campers in mind, the sink comes with a number of accessories that come in very handy for van life. These accessories include:
Dish Colander
One of our favorite sink accessories is the colander. When we are at a campsite with a sink station, we use this ‘dish basket’ daily to transport our dirty & clean dishes back and forth.
The colander also serves as a drying rack and nestles neatly inside the sink when we’re finished washing the dishes. This keeps all our dishes conveniently out of the way to dry.
Hardwood Cutting Board
Also included with the Ruvati sink is a beautiful cutting board made from African Mahogany.
But the best part of this cutting board is that the boards sits perfectly flush to the top of the sink. So you don’t have to worry about storing the board when you’re on the road.
Included Bottom Grid
The included grate that sits on the bottom of the Ruvati sink is a nice addition. This wire grid allows us to set our dishes inside the sink without them touching the sink’s bottom, which can get a tad wet and slimy at times.
Also, the wire grid allows the wet dishes to drip away from the colander and freely flow into the drain.
3. High Quality Stainless Steel
The Ruvati RV sink is really just a high quality product in general. The stainless steel bowl is easy to clean, doesn’t rust, doesn’t dent, and is scratch resistant.
What We Dislike About The Ruvati RV Sink
It’s no secret, the Ruvati sink is more expensive than your average sink. And we understand that this sink may be outside the budget of many van converters.
But given how often we use our sink and how convenient it is to wash dirty dishes, we think this sink is a worthwhile splurge, if you can manage it. If you’ve read any of our other posts in our van build guide, you’ll know that we’re all about making long-term van life more viable and comfortable. And we think this sink is one of the products that fits that calling.
- High Quality Stainless Steel
- Compact Design
- Nestled Dish Trey Included
- Cutting Board Included
- Easy Install Top Mount Design
Budget Alternative RV Sink
Admittedly, the Ruvati RV Sink isn’t the cheapest option on the market. If staying within a strict budget is a concern for you, we recommend the SOMRXO sink. It comes with many similar features as the Ruvati sink, but at 40% the price.
Need a faucet, too? Read why we think our camper faucet is ALSO the best for van life.
Building a camper van? Download our free e-Books with intuitive electrical, solar, and plumbing diagrams.
How To Install A Ruvati RV Sink
In order to build a complete sink system, you’ll need water tanks, plumbing tubes, a water pump, and much more.
In our other post, we teach you how to build your own sink & faucet system for your camper van. Included in our post are:
- Detailed plumbing diagrams
- Step-by-step instructions
- Individual product suggestions
Enjoyed reading? Check out our van “Plumbing” category page for more similar content.
Final Thought: Don't Make Dish Washing Even More Cumbersome
We understand, dish washing is no fun and is an inconvenient chore, especially when you’re tired from traveling after each day.
But with the right RV sink, though it might still not be exciting, dish washing can be made to become a quick and easy process.
We also believe that when dish washing is easy, it encourages us to cook in our camper van more frequently rather than eating out, which has helped us save money every time we chose to cook ourselves.
To get a more in-depth look of our kitchen and everything in it, be sure to see our camper van kitchen essentials.
Go Back: DIY Campervan Build Guide
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