Camper Van Conversion, Part 4: How to Install RV -- Camper Van Plumbing

[@SethHoldren]

The most effective video on campervan plumbing on the internet by at least a factor of 10, maybe 100. Every second is useful. Fantastic information, Ron. Thank you.

[@norasteel5353]

I'm SO happy there isn't a test right after viewing this! lol.Thank goodness I can hit the replay button if needed! Thanks for the video, Teacher!

[@arocbuild]

Sir, you are a gentlemen and a scholar. You explained this beautifully. Thanks a ton!

[@heyyall9378]

Thank you for this video. There's so many videos about the fun and cute things about building a camper, but this is one of the very practical and important things which I've needed to know, and had a hard time finding good info on.

[@matthewmcleod7064]

This video should win the Oscar for best documentary short. Incredibly helpful

[@tannertoys]

Thanks, Matt!

[@wyliefoster2481]

That was one of the best instructional videos I've ever seen. Very informative. You Rock Ron!

[@tannertoys]

Thanks, Wylie!

[@2phalanges]

i love your diagram. your explanation of amps and stuff awsome stuff!!!!

[@tobeamiss1]

I was feeling a bit overwhelmed before I saw your video. Thank you for keeping it simple without all the extras when making an informative video. I'm converting a school bus and you've helped me out tremendously and took alot of the stress out.

[@tannertoys]

Thanks, Margery. Good luck with your project!

[@adictiveadictive]

Margery P did you start tge bus conversion? I've been trying to find one on eBay for some time. looking to do the same thing

[@mikedempsey7987]

You do very good work. I have done several conversion vans in the past 40 years. Hauling around 1,000lbs of greywater and freshwater never appealed to me. Affects gas mileage considerably. Inasmuch as it is rare not to be near a bathroom at some point in the day a porta potty served me well and I never needed more than 5 gal of fresh water which stored easily in simple jugs above the sink. Again, you do GREAT work, but alot of this is way more than the average homeowner is capable of IMO.

[@tannertoys]

Thanks, Mike. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts!

[@johnalveus]

great video! not exactly relevant to my life, right now, but this was still a fun watch! 👍🏼

[@georgecraft007]

Saw dust toilets don't require any water and they are pretty good at keeping down the smell. Also, easier to dispose of the waste.

[@bademoxy]

speaking as a welder who works in a water treatment plant, i suggest caution in selecting aluminum for waste water holding tanks. most grades (particularly if uncoated internally) will rot to hell . a custom molded PVC or ABS or tig welded 316 ss sheet ($$$) may offer better service , the 316 being heavier but more resistant to mechanical damage and won't become brittle in subfreezing weather. if it must be aluminum, then go marine grade and look into galvanic protection options like what is applied to outboard motors and/or an internal protective coating . i've seen aluminum components so corroded that the walls were literally porous, which cannot be weld repaired properly.

[@tannertoys]

Yes, good advice. My aluminum water tank is coated inside but the coating has left the water tasting funny, so i don't use my water tank for drinking, only for washing and flushing.

[@johnpower2311]

A holding tank is not a septic tank the tanks it will be emptied long before you get any benefit from bacteria breaking down the sewage. The vents are to equalize the air pressure as the tank fills and drains.

[@B33SON1]

always good to get plumbing info from the Breaking Bad guy's brother

[@justinevirtue1755]

Thanks. Hoping to avoid black water all together. But knowledge is power.

[@BoBurson]

Great videos, Ron!

[@squalobike]

This is the best informative and practical oriented video on plumbing i ever saw on youtube! Thank you very much for sharing this informations, i think that many diy converters would find it really useful. I have a question for you about dumping: Did you ever thought to use the grey water to flush the black water tank and the flex pipe when dumping? I saw that's really common in big american Rvs but never saw it here on the other side of the Atlantic. I've been using the smelly flexible connection pipe enouth in my life that i want to find a better way to get it done. Which brand is that toilet? Never saw one like that before. Indeed, great job with your van, Matt from Uk

[@gregoryromano2228]

thanks, a little hard to follow but i think i got it. can u do one for a shower/toilet single unit ?

[@redmk5]

very informative videos. Thanks for sharing!

[@martinkor29]

Hi Ron,u did an excellent job here,this is something im after...so there is direct line between toilet and waste water tank?no trap at all?Martin

[@tannertoys]

Matt: the toilet is a Dometic 310 Series, standard height, bone china. Too much of a hassle to divert the gray water back to the black water tank. Thanks!

[@charterbus3274]

hey Ron i have a extended compartment like a luggage area, can mount the tanks in that area, also instead of having the pipe extend to the roof can i push it through the side

[@tannertoys]

That is correct, Martin: it's a straight drop.

[@1NATURELOVERJ]

Very helpful videos!! What size water pump do you recommend, having a faucet, shower, and toilet connected?

[@rjs11189]

Super informative, thanks for posting

[@tannertoys]

Thanks. I'm so glad it was helpful!

[@joyteachem]

Have you thought about just mounting a tiny sink inside the shower (if there is room where it's not in the way so much? Just something to wash hands in or whatever? If that could work then nothing really even lost?

[@denasewell]

I have a small camper trailer and I am wheelchair bound the bathroom has a wall mounted sink that prevents my wheel chair access but the sink faucet has a shower hose which screws on and want to keep the shower faucet/shower hose and remove the sink ..can i do this and just cap the grey sink water pipe ? Thanks so much I love your videos /channel !

[@tannertoys]

Yes, that is correct: just turn off (cap) the line that goes to the sink, then use the sprayer line for your washing needs.

[@denasewell]

Ron Tanner Great thanks for the valuable advise !

[@tannertoys]

Clean the toilet this way just before you empty it, then dump everything, and rinse it out well (while it's still connected to the dump hose). When you're driving and using the toilet, you want it to take care of itself -- which it will, if you let the natural bacteria do its job. In short: no bleach when you're using the toilet, only when you're dumping it and cleaning it out.

[@bradkw4295]

Great video Ron, thanks! Amazing how many links I had to sort through before finding one that actually addressed the basics of small RV plumbing. Those holding tanks appear very large and substantial, and I'm wondering if there are other options, and what type duration one might expect between emptying based on xx gal. tank? thanks again!

[@tannertoys]

+Brad Bleakley Thanks, Brad. My water tank is about 22 gallons; the black water tank is about 15. There are many options. You can get a portable tank, a chemical toilet, even a composting toilet. Typically, I empty my tank once a week or so. Obviously it depends on how much business you do on the pot.

[@jimfranklin8892]

+Ron Tanner Great instructional video Ron.I have been wanting to install a toilet in my Ford E250 work van,better than going to McDonalds,ect .This shows how to install.My question is how did you wire the 12v pump and do I need an extra battery to run the pump or just wire into the vans hot wire with a on/off flip switch?Thanks

[@tannertoys]

+jim franklin Hi, Jim: sorry for the delay in answering. No, you do not need an extra battery to run your pump. You can connect the pump directly to your starter battery -- with an on/off switch between the them. You turn on your pump only when you use the toilet. Then turn it off; otherwise, you'll run down your battery.

[@rickyrogerzz]

do you have a drain valve on the bottom of your fresh water tank so that you could clean it with bleach or something of that sort and then drain it? thank you, very helpful video

[@tannertoys]

I have a drain on the bottom. And I can pour bleach/cleanser into the fill tube. Thanks for watching!

[@anthonymarino4260]

thanks for the info

[@tannertoys]

Yes: grey water gets really foul smelling. Best to vent it.

[@beetlefull]

do you need to vent even if you only have grey water tank?

[@jimfranklin8892]

Hi Ron I have watched your video many times and it has helped me plan my install.Question,when drilling the holes for the black tank what size hole is needed for the toilet and vent pipe and what are the correct size/type of grommet for the holes?Do the toilet pipe to the tank and the vent pipe just slip into the grommet forming a tight seal?Also is a grommet needed for the cleanout area where you empty the tank?Thanks

[@tannertoys]

Jim: installing the toilet to the tank is pretty simple. The toilet outlet fits into a 3" PVC pipe and that pipe fits into the tank opening (3"). You can use a rubber sleeve (Fernco brand) to attach the PVC to the toilet; then use a 3" gasket to insert the PVC pipe into the tank. Go to an RV supply store and you'll see these things.

[@neonhorizon6705]

Thanks so much for the video so good! Just a quick question, can you mount the vent line out of the side or bottom of the van?

[@tannertoys]

Good question. If we talk about housing/building codes, then sewer gas would have to be evacuated from the roof. Under the van would be dangerous because sewer gas (methane) can be flammable. Exhausting out the side would be difficult because the pipe would get int he way of obstacles, even other vehicles. Good luck with your campervan build!

[@patricktibbetts7376]

Thank you!

[@Gallogladh]

Hi Ron. Thanks for posting this. I am in the design process right now and looking to start building in about 3 months. I had a couple of questions that I hope you could help out with: First, did you apply the cold weather heating pads before or after the Lizard Skin Ceramic? I need a similar setup for below 0 temps and was wondering about best practices on winterizing with similar pads. Second: I am using a tankless water heater and putting in a shower as well as a sink, toilet, and outside shower (for the dog). Any advice on placement of the heater and lines that I should consider? I am worried about weight distribution but could conceivably put most of the water-dependent systems on one side. Any insights? Thanks a lot!! Sean

[@tannertoys]

Hi, Sean: heating pads go on before the ceramic coating. I don't think you'll have enough onboard power (batteries) to operate a tankless water heater. They draw way too much power. Tankless was my first choice but I ended up going with a point-of-use heater. And then I NEVER used it, so I took it out -- because I never plug in at night (at an RV park). If you plug in every night, then it's no problem to go with either water heater. Water tank placement is really important for weight displacement, as you indicate. I placed my black water tank beside my fresh water tank in the far back. Battery placement comes next because they are very heavy. Good luck with your project!

[@Gallogladh]

Thanks Ron. I appreciate the info.

[@Gallogladh]

BTW, Ron, have you seen or heard anything about this unit: www.adventurerv.net/girard-tankless-propane-water-heater-p-27164.html I'm putting a pretty robust electrical system in so I can have a few special amenities but looking at something like the unit above, I am hoping to use only propane for water heat. Your thoughts?

[@tannertoys]

Hi, Sean: thanks for this link. A propane-powered water heater is the way to go because you're not relying on your batteries. The only complication is that you have to put the propane tank in a safe place. And you have to vent the CO produced by the water heater.

[@Ian-hx7tl]

Do you have any more info on the heat pad to keep it from freezing? This is my main concern with mounting tanks on the underside. Curious how much power the pads use and what kind of temperature lows they can withstand to keep water from freezing.

[@tannertoys]

Just do an internet search for "rv heating pads for holding tanks"

[@chambliziOfficialChannel]

ron i have a old winne indian from 73 there is 0 plumbing orgininally laid. doe a water heater just require a cold water sorce running to it and the hot water source on its own circuit?

[@tannertoys]

Correct. The Cold water line splits into two lines, one for hot, one for cold. The water heater itself is AC powered, so it gets its own circuit.

[@tannertoys]

Thanks!

[@logicalground]

Thanks

[@rmfaiver]

Ron, where did you purchase the grey water tank?

[@tannertoys]

I had the water tanks custom made to fit under the van. `Contact a "fabricator" (welder) and see what's possible.

[@commercialelectrician133]

on the bathroom you dont put the blue liquid in it you just leave the straight wast is this correct

[@tannertoys]

Correct: let the waste take care of itself.

[@stevemasterson7776]

you're like Walter whites non evil brother. great vid, did you use engine block heaters for your tanks or do they make rv heaters?

[@tannertoys]

I have heating pads attached to the tank; these pads are AC and DC powered.

[@stevemasterson7776]

cool. thanks for the response

[@xivious]

Tom Hanks ?

[@chambliziOfficialChannel]

1 person is disrespectful, not cool te tank thing can happen to anyone.