Plumbing

There are a few fundamental decisions when it comes to van plumbing:

  • interior vs. exterior tanks
  • plumbed toilet with blackwater tank vs. alternatives
  • interior shower
  • pressurized vs. gravity feed / hand pump

Some approaches:

  • For Hein’s Sprinter build, he used PVDF fittings, crimp bands instead of worm clamps with NSF braided hose from Eldon James. Allows the system to freeze solid under pressure, although probably not the pump ()
  • Winston has a variety of plumbing approaches, some more successful than others
  • Orton recommends a small centrifugal pump, since it is silent. “I use a Heliatos TS5. Pump is located in slider step at the back below the tank. Takes up about 1⁄4 the space a normal RV pump requires.”
  • Atoine - “We just upgraded the pressurized water system with a quick-access shower/bike-wash/filling-station. It’s actually really convenient to fill our hydration pack or wash our legs/feet after a muddy ride!”

We decided to start with a simple gravity-feed and hand pump system, just enough to have a usable sink. We already have a solar bag gravity shower for use outside the van, and filling that with already-heated water can speed the heating process.

Toilets

Traditional NA RVs use a plumbed toilet with a black-water tank, which in the case of a small van-based RV seems excessive to me. There are a number of other alternatives ranging from “bucket and bag” minimalism to more complex cassette and “composting” systems.

Looking at the options, we don’t want to deal with a black tank, especially since we’d like to use the van in winter, and the “bucket and bag” approach is too minimal for us. We’re OK digging holes while in the wilderness, but I can’t get past the waste of double-bagging (or even single bagging) after every use.

Comments from various Sprinter van users of composting toilets are generally positive, although [James and Steph at TheFitRV]() installed one and found it somewhat challenging. The toilets basically separate liquids and solids, and dry out the solids. The result isn’t compost in the Humanure sense, and still needs to be disposed of appropriately, but can be put in normal trash - it’s easier for the waste stream to deal with than dirty disposable diapers. Liquids are mostly sterile, although better to put in a toilet than dumping in a public space.

The two main NA manufacturers are Nature’s Head and AirHead. Both are well loved by most of their owners, with AirHead seeming to have a slightly more refined design (and being slightly more expensive).

Challenges and tips for composting toilets:

  • ensure there is a supply of make-up air so the toilet exhaust fan doesn’t end up overpowered by the roof vent or pressure differential while driving. With the AirHead, there are two connections for venting, so it may be feasible to have both air intake and outflow
  • there can be a strong urine smell when emptying the wet tank. DieselFumes solves this with a touch of bleach (in a spray bottle), and Luc with 2 oz white vinegar

  • either peat moss or coconut coir can be used as a drying medium for the solid waste

  • TODO Faroutride installed nature’s head? Others?

Showers

We picked up a TODO from Costco - it is pressurized either with a bike pump or just with water pressure from a hose, and provides quick-release hookups for a shower. We also got a Sous Vide heater for bringing it up to temperature (also because I always wanted a Sous Vide heater for cooking.) We shall see if it’s too fiddly for normal use

Manual pumps

Hand Pumps

Foot Pumps