Cargo Trailer Plumbing: A Walkthrough

Cargo trailer plumbing is one of the biggest challenges in a DIY cargo trailer conversion. In this video, we walk through the build process for getting your trailer plumbing up and running.
As part of our journey to turn a 7x14 foot cargo trailer into a fully customized DIY camper / tiny home, we added a full plumbing system with fresh water and gray water tanks, and a full bathroom.
We hope you enjoy this video and learn something along the way. For full details, helpful how-to’s, and in-depth build guides, check out our website and start your own DIY cargo trailer camper conversion!
🥼🩺 ABOUT US
Corey's a doctor. Cait's a therapist. In our free time, we have a thousand hobbies. Follow along and learn something new as we navigate the insane life that is balancing work and play. Subscribe for more videos on DIY, cargo trailer conversion, build videos, camping, and learning new hobbies and skills.
💻 Our website: diycargotrailer.com
📸 Follow us on Instagram: / docnmental
💡 TOPICS IN THIS VIDEO 💡
0:00 - Intro
1:20 - Sink install
2:29 - Plumbing plan & walkthrough
12:22 - Plumbing electrical
13:50 - Gray tanks
17:12 - Testing
🔎 HASHTAGS 🔎
#cargotrailer
#cargotrailerconversion
#cargocamperconversion
#tinyhome
#camper
#diycamper

[@donnypoe941]

concrete board is a good backer for the water heater; so it does not actually touch any wood. I use concrete board to weld or solder while indoors and the molten metal gets a lot hotter than any water heater.

[@KenRobinsonchannel]

Sweet setup. Where the Pex goes through the wall into the shower and 90’s upwards, you can save some coin by just gently bending/guiding the pex up rather than cutting and 90’ing up with shark bites. Pex is designed to loop around things. They even make little collars and guides to help loop it around things. Obviously the idea is the fewer connections the lower the probability of leaks.

[@Erniesworld]

Very complex, I’m in the process and this gives me great ideas and I like that your power tools are every day tools unlike some videos with top of the line expensive tools that most people don’t own. Have fun camping

[@ZPdrumer]

I’m glad you said it’s for tank was for liquid waste only. My first thought was that’s not big enough to let out … debris haha. I would be really interested in seeing how those mounts hold up. I know you have extra straps, more than you probably need but maybe add in 2 screws on each side of the strap. In case one screw fails or who knows. Cheap insurance. But pretty cool build, I’ve seen a few builds where people don’t get hot water so that’s a great addition. A very simple system, but has everything it needs.. I stumbled on your channel and have been binging your vids. Great stuff

[@diycargotrailer]

All good advice. I'm very interested to see how it holds up

[@danemmerich6775]

Great informational video. I will be doing that to my Overland camper trailer next. Thanks for the video.

[@AD-xr4bv]

Great video, very detailed. I am just starting this process and getting ideas for a bathroom, shower installation in my new trailer. Thx for sharing 👍

[@hankalistair5943]

Awesome video!

[@boondock6055]

You did this perfect thanks so much im starting from scratch and need every bit of this awesome job thanks a million

[@craftymulligar]

Yeah those metal stud framing do cut. Got a few stitches in my arm working around them. Heard someone on a job may lose a limb from such things.

[@MrCandycaddy88]

Is a cold line needed to run to the shower? The hot water heater has a knob to set the water temp.

[@seawench555]

Hi, can u give us a link to all where u got all the parts, fittings etc please as I'm struggling to get the quick connect for pex. Thanks love the project

[@craftymulligar]

Could of used brass threaded ear 90 ells with mounting holes. Well on some. Good shower diverter has mounting holes. Ones I installed long ago. Maybe copper straps guess you know. Or plastic, don't know too much about house plumbing.

[@octostudio2659]

Hi. Where did you buy your gray water tank?

[@terrybrown5883]

Question The Tanks used on your build were did you get them and any parts that you used in the changes

[@xanevlogs6867]

Whats the reservoir? I can't find anything like that

[@ericswild]

a "Silencer" hose? What am I missing?

[@wrxs1781]

I noticed on your cabinets and enclosures you used channels for the structure, we had the sort of same product at work called uni-strut, where did you purchase this material?

[@davidschlarp1606]

It's called 80/20 aluminum. Very versatile with all the different mounts you can get. Several pieces sell it online. More pricey than unistrut but lighter and more versatile

[@shawnstark8659]

How much did it cost to make

[@brandonbos6816]

Do you not have vents on your grey/black tank? If not have you had issues?

[@davidschlarp1606]

Pretty sure that's the cap he removed when the water was being up in the shower

[@grahamsherman]

I like that you're a doctor and are grossed out about saying "urine" haha anyway How's the pump holding up. I almost bought this one based on your vid but changed my purchase based on the poor reviews of the longevity of these pumps. has yours lasted?

[@mannfamilynomads7892]

what is the purpose of the water reservoir and where can i buy it?

[@jimsturwold5424]

I think he meant regulator.

[@DomT_1987]

where can I get your plumbing diagram shown at 2:55 mark?

[@LyellWalker]

I snapped a screen shot while watching on my phone 😅 but I’d like to know if he made that or was this something he found on line.

[@kk-pz8gn]

screenshot

[@alalbatross6549]

These straps look too weak to me. I own German made camper and straps that hold tank (there''s only gray water tank are much thicker and wider.

[@chucknSC]

You wasted a lot of time and money by constantly going back and forth on plumbing fittings. It would be a lot simpler to just use Pex crimp fittings and mostly pex. You should have used a temperature controlled shower valve (Amazon $40) to eliminate the swings from that water heater and save space. You used the wrong kind of shower head mount. You are going to regret that fresh tank vent that’s inside your trailer if it ever overfills into the trailer.

[@cchenoweth9131]

Wanted to see the video but couldn't stand the music

[@user-yt3cv8ys7q]

If you accidentally over fill the water tank won't water come out into the trailer thru the open ended air release hose?

[@user-id7sz9bm1j]

Read my mind. Usually there's a place to vent on the water inlet and you know you're full when water starts coming out. Some other things raised my eyebrows too. One thing is the PEX through the jagged metal. Some other stuff too.

[@diycargotrailer]

I actually fixed this later on! I ran the hose out the floor Tim. And that pex is wrapped really well. It wont get cut. There is such a small space to work there, I did what I could.