Club 80-90 Forums

So now the vans almost ready for an interior to go back in, I was pondering the sink and tap. It occurred to me that I simply don't use the tap. It worked before, but I tend to use bottles of water and the kettle. The whole uncertainly of the tank being clean and heavy when full means I use 5l bottles.

I am pondering just not putting a 12v tap back in and leaving it as a sink with drainer only. I could always add one later.

Thoughts? Do you use yours?

For months, I've been pondering the building of a removable kitchen unit. I even bought a hob/grill/sink unit to fit into it. But recently, I've been thinking much along the same lines as you ie. Do I really need a sink? Do I really want water sloshing around inside the van? I'll be interested to see the response to this survey.

Got a sink and a tap but always use 10l water carrier and a plastic bowl. Very occasionally
use it for washing teeth.

I'm a sink and tap man it has to be said. Use it for tea, cooking and washing.

im a bottle man...

It's one of the great pleasures of van ownership to turn on the tap and fill the kettle. Wouldn't be without it.

Regarding cleanliness, well we use a milton tablet every now and then and empty the tank when it's unlikely to be used or flush it through. You're right about the weight though.

I must admit if I were building one from new I might do away with running water and even make the cooker removable so that I could cook outside in warmer months or change the configeration of the layout to suit different needs - load carrying/people carrying/camping.

For me, it was the fridge that I decided used too much space for the level of benefit (i'm a bitter drinker rather than larger). So with shelving in it's place I can store more cans and bottles of wine

Never bother using the tap or water tank as I don't wild camp. I used to. Now I just fill up from campsite taps and keep about 5 litres of water in a plastic can as a fall back. Water is heavy stuff. Why carry all that extra weight around when it's freely available wherever you go? In the end it's up to you.

I'm currently doing a self build. I have contemplated the idea of putting in a combination unit but after thinking about it, a kettle full of water and a basin (which could be used for other purposes) is just as good if not better than a sink. I am just going sticking in a SMEV hob and that will do me.

CovKid wrote a good article and this topic is touched on. Nice read, Here is the link
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=125831" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ralf85 wrote:Water is heavy stuff.

Not in the grand scheme of things. 20 litres of water is about 1% of the weight of the van. It's a third of the weight of a full tank of fuel.

AdrianC wrote:

Ralf85 wrote:Water is heavy stuff.

Not in the grand scheme of things. 20 litres of water is about 1% of the weight of the van. It's a third of the weight of a full tank of fuel.

That's a small water tank!

Is bottled water lighter then or cheaper then
I have a 2 Gallon container to supply the tap. Easy to refill lasts a day or two.

Ralf85 wrote:

AdrianC wrote:

Ralf85 wrote:Water is heavy stuff.

Not in the grand scheme of things. 20 litres of water is about 1% of the weight of the van. It's a third of the weight of a full tank of fuel.

That's a small water tank!

You don't HAVE to fill it to the brim every time, y'know... But even if you do, 55 litres isn't much of a difference, either. Then, of course, there's 10kg of gas... and what's in the cupboards? Will you need the spare wheel for this trip? You can take weight saving to whatever extreme you want.

We used the water tank all the time when we were living in the van. Never noticed any difference in the way the van drove whether it was full or empty or half way. Did we drink it, unboiled? No. We always had a couple of mineral water bottles in the van for cold drinks or teeth-brushing. But we quite happily rinsed food with it, washed up with it, cooked with it and used it for tea. And survived.

I dont miss the tap as we always camp in full equipped campsites. But I am thinking that one foldable bucket or sink would be great.
By the way on the continent it is wery difficult to wildcamp.

Yep I use the tap, but when I do, I use a massive amount of water! Basically if I use it rinse plates, pans etc. I seem to get through about 30 litres a day! In hot weather I wash up outside and use hardly any water. I do like to be able fill the kettle from the tap though

I can't believe people don't drink from the tap in the van, using it will keep the tank clean. Me and the wife,kids have drunk the water from all our vans and lived to tell the tale! I tend to keep mine full all the time, leaving them empty or with only a little bit of water in for long times is where you can get taste issues.