Homemade faucet/sink setups?

[blackwood]

I'm trying to search for some DIY sink setups, haven't had any luck. I'm trying to build a sink setup in the back of my pickup truck for camping. I've been using water containers as a faucet/water source and a bucket as a sink. That is getting old real quick. If I want water, I would have to remove the container, change out the lid and hoist it up on the shelf. I need a powered system.

I would like a faucet, pump and some sort of plumbing to hold the waste water. I have a battery and solar setup so I have the power to run a pump and some space set aside for a grey water container and piping.

 

[TactilTex]

Check out RV parts.
Maybe someplace like this....http://www.dyersonline.com/

 

[IdaSHO]

Anything is possible.

How about copper pipe for faucet (plumbed to a marine foot pump), epoxy coated baltic ***** countertop, stainless "bar" undermount sink, and custom fit cutting board filler?

Home made by me :sombrero:

 

[Happy Joe]

For small sinks check out bar sinks.
For pump type faucets or pump/valve faucets check out RV places like camping world (overpriced, IMO but lots of replacement parts and accessories).
If you want an electric pump check out sure-flo products, I'm certain there are others.
Food grade water reservoirs (and I expect other parts can be found at marine suppliers (and even cabela's).
not certain about waste holding tanks, though I expect any semi sealed tank with a bottom bung would do. I consistently see a bucket under pictures of "safari" lavatory sink setups.

Since I am a tent camper I use a stainless bowl for a wash basin (plastic wash basins are available at Walmart).
I haul water in Scepter 2.5 or 5 gallon plastic cans.
I have setup a pump type RV faucet to work with Scepter cans; mount the faucet and add a food grade plastic hose (black helps prevent algae), but it was too much of a hassle to carry (not the best idea for me for tent camping).
There are many examples foot operated air pumps used for this; air pump, pressurize water can, hose, faucet..
I heat wash water, in the stainless bowl, with a Trangia alcohol stove for shaving/morning/evening wash-ups. on a table or TV tray.
..for doing dishes the coffee pot is used to heat water (fire or stove).

Enjoy!

 

[bstory]

If you have the skills to make a birch plywood countertop and coat it with epoxy, you can also make a sink that way. We are currently working on a 35 year old boat that has a wooden sink coated with epoxy in the head which we are leaving in place as it is in great condition. Same Whale foot pump, although with a store bought aluminum faucet rather than the nice copper one. Look for Whale pumps online.

Some people use stainless dog bowls for sinks too. In one boat, we had a plywood counter with a sink cutout sized to accept a rubbermaid basin. Worked great and you could just lift it out to empty dirty dishwater overboard. Okay, maybe better to have a gray water jug under the sink, but still, very cheap and easy.

 

[guidolyons]

Marine/boat parts will be more durable (and more expensive) than RV stuff. Bar sinks, salad bowls, square restaurant pans, etc can be used. Since you are probably limited on space, how about a fold down train style sink? The bowl folds up out of the way when not in use. I have no idea where you'd find one, but you could probably make one.

Footpump or a 12V Shurflo pump and two jugs (or if you have room for a hard mount tank(s)) one for clean water an one for grey water.

 

[Stumpalump]

I had a conventional sink base on the other side of the van before I moved it to this side. Thinking out of the box I mounted it hanging over a generator compartment that was already in place. It's a Home Depot bar sink (about 30 bucks). The 3" surround is just enough to suport it and lay a spoon or soap on it. The aluminum bracket that holds up the front is a trash picked wine rack that I cut to fit. The grey water is a blue 5 gallon scepter drinking water can so I can dump it without evil eyes. Thin rubber pool or pump hose fits over the drain with a hose clamp. It's thin and flat hose when you but it at Home Depot in case a hard line plumbing won't work for you. The pump is a camping world sur flow coming from a hidden 20 gallon tank. The fill takes my garden hose for easy fill ups at truck stops. The best part I used was a laundry room faucet. The aerator unscrews and the threads are the same as a standard garden hose. You won't find those threads on others. That's great for showers and washing off muddy boots and a muddy dog. 10' hoses are available from any RV place so I have a sink for dishes, hands and washing and a garden hose for everthing else including hosing down my camp fire before I leave. A sink is the next best thing to a 12v fridge just don't think you need to build a home style or RV counter to get one in your rig. As long as its not going to flop around all you need is a sink, faucet, water line and bucket to drain it in. Get the 12v pump because they are refined for this application. Camping World always has one on sale. Hand pumps and foot pumps are a hassle. I used a bucket for grey water for a while but sooner or later you will drive off and forget to dump it. I kept sealable 1 gallon jugs on board to dump the bucket in for when the ground was not suitable. Sorry if I rambled. It's late.

 

[blackwood]

A lot of good ideas here. I think I'm going to use a bar type sink and build a small cabinet for it. I'll use some water jugs as waste and source water. Using a 3gallon black bucket with a gamma seal lid as my grey water did get me some looks. People always thought I was dumping toilet water.

 

[Stumpalump]

My last cabinet build was cool in that the water tank, waste bucket, sink, pump and everthing was all in one. I could pull the whole thing out to use the vehicle by disconnecting two wires and a few bolts. A little heavy to wrestle solo but it was nice to get it out when needed.

 

[alia176]

I have this combo in the Kamparoo, pretty simple and bullet proof!

Pump http://www.shurflo.com/rv-products/rv-pumps/rv-fresh-water-pumps
faucet: http://www.shurflo.com/rv-products/...andard-faucets/77-water-faucet-without-switch

 

[pappawheely]

As a water miser, I like a foot pump. Especially when washing hands.

IdaSHO, I never thought of just using copper tubing. I'm gonna steal that one. :ylsmoke:

 

[trailscape]

A lot of good ideas here. I think I'm going to use a bar type sink and build a small cabinet for it. I'll use some water jugs as waste and source water. Using a 3gallon black bucket with a gamma seal lid as my grey water did get me some looks. People always thought I was dumping toilet water.

Stumbled across this thread today. Just started building the same idea this week to put in my truck topper. I have the cabinet mostly assembled with a 10" bar sink installed in it. Currently, I'm looking at using two 3-gallon reliant water jugs and a pump. The issue here is, it's getting cold fast and I'm going to need a system that can be used year round without requiring heating elements. So, I may just hang an MSR dromedary bag over the sink as needed for the winter.

 

[Dan Grec]

I spoke to a French couple that drove RTW in their home-built D110.

They loved having a tap and running water, but said the sink was a waste of space, because they only ever filled up water bottles or pots from the tap.

With that in mind, I've mounted a water tap on the roll bar of my Wrangler, and if I need a "sink" I can put a tupperware container underneath it, otherwise I just fill bottles, etc.

It's plumbed to a 12v pump, filtration system and 12gal tank under the body.

Pictures soon.

-Dan

 

[Herbie]

I spoke to a French couple that drove RTW in their home-built D110.

They loved having a tap and running water, but said the sink was a waste of space, because they only ever filled up water bottles or pots from the tap.

With that in mind, I've mounted a water tap on the roll bar of my Wrangler, and if I need a "sink" I can put a tupperware container underneath it, otherwise I just fill bottles, etc.

It's plumbed to a 12v pump, filtration system and 12gal tank under the body.

Pictures soon.

-Dan

I haven't gone RTW, but this matches my experience. We always cook outside under the awning, so I put our pump faucet at the slider door to the van. We use it for filling drinks or pots. Originally I thought I wanted some sort of foot pump (or remote foot switch for an electric pump) so it could be used for hand-washing, but then I realized I don't want the grey water pooling right there next to the van anyhow. Now we either use our folding basin for washing, or pour from a bottle, depending on where we're camping and what the requirements for grey water handling are.

 

[dBeau]

I suppose there's all sorts of reasons for wanting a sink. For me it's because I like to cook. But, I'm also lazy. Doing the dishes, and especially multiple pots and pans, afterwards isnt one of my favorite things. I wanted a sink -- or more precisely, running water -- to help make doing the dishes easy. Here's what I came up with.



It's just a restaurant bus pan for the basin, a pressure controlled pump, a faucet, and a handheld sprayer. The basin doenst have a drain and that's by design. The soapy gray water just accumulates during the dish washing phase. This, I feel, helps to conserve the limited water I carry. If an unlimited water supply was the norm, I'd probably consider adding a drain into a tank. But as it is, I just dump the gray water when the clean up is complete.

So... what's in the box?



The box serves as my kitchen utility center. It's contains a couple of 9ah security batteries, a FloJet 2.9 GPM pump, fuse box,



switches, some power outlets,



and plumbing.



The switches control the anderson connections on the back and are great for lighting. They also control the "cigarette lighter" outlet on the top as well as USB ports (power ony).

The plumbing fits nicely inside the box for travel.



Here's a (not so good) shot of it all in action.



The pump is surprisingly good with it's power consumption. The batteries will run it for about 60 gallons of water. Considering I'll use less than 10 for a week in the woods there plenty of juice left over for lighting and playing tunes. Of course recharging from the truck or simply running the whole set up from the truck's aux battery is also an option.

Until I came up with this idea I'd been thinking that an on board water system would do what I wanted. Now, I'm not so sure. I still might get around to doing it but the need doesnt seem as urgent.