Download eBooks & Wiring Diagrams (FREE)

Install A Camper Van Sink System (With Diagrams)

Building your own camper sink & faucet system is easier than you think. Just follow our guide below.

This site contains affiliate links to products. More info in our disclaimer.

Banner image for camper van sink/faucet installation

If you’re goal is to build an camper van sink system then this installation guide is for you. In this step-by-step tutorial, we will show you how to build you’re own sink plumbing system. This will include:

In fact, by the end of this post you will have the knowledge to put together the very same sink plumbing diagram you see below.

Final Sink Plumbing Diagram

Camper Van Sink Plumbing System

So if you’re ready, let’s get to it!

Table of Contents
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

    Not what you need? Check out our van “Plumbing” category page for more similar content.

    Step 1:

    Modify The Fresh Water Tank Cap

    One of the most challenging parts of building a sink system is integrating the fresh water tank to the entire system. We like using jerry cans because they’re space efficient and easy to take out and refill. However, jerry cans were not manufactured with the intention of being connected to a camper van sink system. Therefore some creativity is needed.

    Our Specific Jerry Can: The instructions we give below is specific to the unique jerry can we used in our camper van. If you select a different fresh water tank, the products we recommend may not fit.

    So the first step is to modify the fresh water tank cap so that it can be integrated into the rest of our total system system.

    Fig 1.1 - Modifying The Fresh Water Tank Camp

    Modifying Fresh Water Tank Cap For An RV Sink System

    Required Materials

    Below is a table listing all the products you’ll need to complete Step 1.

    Product

    Purpose

    Where To Find

    Reliance 7-Gallon Water Tank

    Fresh water holding tank. IMPORTANT to use this specific tank (or other "Reliance" brand water tanks if you will be following our guide.

    1/2" PEX Pipe

    Acts as water straw in water tank. (PEX is also used in other plumbing instances)

    1/2" PEX to 3/4" Male NPT

    Connects PEX pipe to quick release.

    Quick Release

    Allows you to easily disconnect the water tank so you can fill it with water outside the van.


    Helpful Tools

    PEX Crimping Tool Set

    Critical tool set when using PEX pipe system.

    Installation Steps

    1. Cut a piece of PEX pipe the length of the water tank. Ideally, you want the PEX pipe to reach ~1″ above the bottom of the tank.
    2. Fit the top of the PEX pipe over the 1/2″ PEX to 3/4″ Male metal fitting.
    3. With the crimper tool, crimp a copper ring over the PEX pipe and metal fitting.
    4. Remove the spigot that is included in the Reliance water tank. There should be a threaded hole in the cap.
    5. Thread the 3/4″ Male NPT from the bottom to the top of the cap.
    6. Take the bottom half of the quick release (female end) and thread it onto the Male NPT on top of the cap.

    Step 2:

    Connect Fresh Water Tank To Water Pump

    The next step is to connect the water tank to the water pump. Below is the diagram that we will be focusing on.

    Fig 2.1 - Connecting Water Tank To Water Pump

    Connecting fresh water tank to water pump

    Required Materials

    Below is a table listing all the products you’ll need to complete Step 2.

    Product

    Purpose

    Where To Find

    Quick Release

    Same product as in Part 1.

    3/4" Female NPT to 1/2" PEX

    Attaches to quick release.

    1/2" PEX Pipe

    Water pipe.

    1/2" PEX to 1/2" Male NPT

    Connects water pipe to pump silencer.

    Pump Silencer

    Reduces water pump vibration to reduce sound.

    Water Pump Filter

    Filters out particulates before water enters pump.

    12v Water Pump

    Electric water pump.

    On/Off Switch

    Switches pump on & off.

    14 AWG Electric Wire

    Connects water pump to batteries.


    Helpful Tools

    PEX Crimping Tool Set

    Critical tool set when using PEX pipe system.

    Installation Steps

    1. Attach the top half of the quick release to the 3/4″ female to 1/2″ PEX fitting.
    2. Cut an appropriate length of PEX pipe and attach one end to the 3/4″ female to 1/2″ PEX fitting.
    3. Attach the other end of the PEX pipe to the 1/2″ PEX to 1/2″ Male fitting.
    4. Attach the 1/2″ PEX to 1/2″ Male fitting to the water pump silencer.
    5. Attach the water pump silencer to the water pump filter.
    6. Attach water pump filter to 12v water pump.
    7. To connect water pump to batteries, check out our camper van 12v system set up post.

    Step 3:

    Connect Water Pump To Faucet

    The next step is to connect the water pump to the faucet. Below is the diagram we will be focusing on.

    Fig 3.1 - Connecting Water Pump To Water Faucet

    Connecting water pump to faucet

    Required Materials

    Below is a table listing all the products you’ll need to complete Step 3.

    Product

    Purpose

    Where To Find

    Water Pump

    Pumps water from tank to faucet.

    Pump Silencer

    Reduces noise from water pump.

    Stop Valve

    Connects pump silencer to faucet supply hose.

    Water Faucet

    Read our APPASO faucet review.

    Sink

    Read our Ruvati sink review

    Installation Steps

    1. Attach the water pump to the pump silencer tube.
    2. Insert the 1/2″ male adapter (included with the pump silencer) into the other end of the silencer.
    3. Attach the other end of the 1/2″ male adapter into the stop valve.
    4. Affix the water faucet into the sink.
    5. Attach the stop valve to the faucet’s cold water supply hose.
    6. Whether or not you intend to use a hot water heater, you will need to attach another stop valve to the end of the hot water supple hose.

    Step 4:

    Connect Sink To Grey Water Tank

    The next step is to connect the sink to the grey water tank. Below is the diagram we will be focusing on.

    Fig 4.1 - Connecting Sink To Grey Water Tank

    Connecting sink to grey water tank for camper van sink system.

    Required Materials

    Below is a table listing all the products you’ll need to complete Step 4.

    Product

    Purpose

    Where To Find

    Sink

    Read our Ruvati sink review

    Camco Sink Drain Hose

    Attaches sink to grey water tank.

    Grey Water Tank

    Collects grey water from sink.

    Installation Steps

    1. Attach the Camco sink drain hose to the drain under the sink.
    2. Stick the other end of the drain hose into the grey water tank.
    3. Easy!

    Enjoy reading? Check out our van “Plumbing” category page for more similar content.

    Conclusion: Building A Camper Van Sink System Is Easier Than You Think

    And there you have it! We hope you found our camper van sink setup guide informational and insightful.

    If you followed our diagrams piece-by-piece, we’re sure you’ll have set up your camper sink in no time. For other useful plumbing articles, be sure to check out the links below.

    Happy plumbing!

    Thank You For Reading!

    We’re Yuko and Eric! We both grew up in Asia ( Japan & Hong Kong ), we left our jobs and homes in 2018 and started traveling full time from Canada to Argentina in our self-converted camper van since end of May 2019. “Asobo” means “Let’s play” in Japanese. We named our site “Asobolife” because the life is always uncertain and we live only once so it’s important to always keep positive, playful mind and enjoy the moment you are in the present. We also want to use this website to share our road trip and van building experiences to inspire our readers. We hope you enjoy!

    © 2022 Asobolife. Design by Asobolife

    Scroll to Top