Top Picks: Best Water Tanks to Keep You Hydrated on the Road

So, you want to convert your own campervan? Having access to a constant supply of water is one of the most important parts of your build, and choosing the right van water tanks for your camper van water system will be high on your list of priorities.

You’ll want to install them before the plumbing and water system is fitted, so you can get a good idea of how much space you have available. That said, the questions will come thick and fast. What size should the water tanks for your camper van be? What material should you choose? Where should you put the van water tanks?

In this article, you’ll find all the answers, plus lots more information to help you choose the best campervan water tanks. You’ll also get some tips on how to install a water tank and where to find water out on the road.

Quick Overview: Types of Campervan Water Tanks

The Best Wheel Well Van Water Tanks (Best for Large Cargo Vans)

Wheel well water tanks for campervans are great for larger panel vans like Mercedes Sprinters, Ford Transits and Dodge Promasters. Here are some of the best wheel well van water tanks for your build.

Titan Vans Wheel Well Water Tanks have been specially designed to distribute weight evenly and increase safety while you’re bumping down dirt roads in your van. And with a 20 gallon capacity, you’ll be able to spend long stretches off-grid without having to worry!

Whether you’re spending the weekend at a campsite or going off-roading through nature, Titan Vans Wheel Well Water Tanks are great for saving space so you have more room for gear in your campervan build. They’re easy to install and also reversible — meaning you can put one on either the driver or passenger side.

You can add a huge amount of water storage to the interior of your rig with a universal 32-gallon water holding tank from Agile Off Road. This van tank has been designed to utilize wasted space around rear wheel wells and can fit on either side of the vehicle. The tank accepts 1/2″ (black plugs) and 1-1/2″ NPT fittings, while sitting snugly against the wall of the Sprinter 2500 and Transit (single rear wheel) vans.

Although the 32-gallon tank only weighs 25 pounds, it is pretty huge. If you’re looking for something a little smaller, Agile Off Road also offers a more modest 24-gallon capacity van water tank, and a compact 20-gallon tank.

NW Conversions offers a wide range of awesome wheel well water tanks. You can choose between a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from a 20-gallon tank to a 32-gallon monster. NW Conversions designed all its van water tanks to fit neatly over the wheel well, making the most out of the space while providing a lower center of gravity.

Although these camper van water tanks have been designed specifically for Sprinters and Ford Transits, they can be used with other vehicles. What’s really cool is the addition of ports on the sides and top of the tank, which gives you the freedom to experiment with your layout.

The Best Under-Chassis Van Water Tanks

If you don’t plan on spending a lot of time traveling in cold weather, you can consider mounting your van water tanks beneath your vehicle. This usually works best on larger camper vans like Mercedes Sprinters, Ford Transits and Dodge ProMasters.

You’ll most likely need to remove your spare tire and mount it on the back doors of your van to best utilize that space underneath.

If you plan on taking your van out into sub-zero temps, be aware that water in exterior tanks can freeze and cause problems with your water system. Unless you’re going to head south for the winter, you’ll need to drain your tanks and use another water source for the chillier months.

Although the hair-raising price might put you off, if money is no object then this 22- gallon auxiliary water tank from RB Components is definitely worth every penny. The RB Components Sprinter Van Water Tank has been specifically designed for Sprinter vans from 2007 and later.

The tank is intended to be mounted to the camper van’s undercarriage, behind the driver’s seat. There are four ports which means you have options for your water system design, and the water tank comes with a purpose-built mount kit. The mounting brackets are super-sturdy, meaning you won’t have to worry about losing your water tank when you’re out on the road!

A spare tire basket offering we love is from Agile Off-Road. This 28-gallon water tank is half the price of the one offered by RB Components, but you will have to deal with a smaller capacity.

This large van water tank for a Sprinter van is super easy to install given it uses the factory spare tire basket. A perfect place to store water as it keeps the center of gravity low, and in the middle of the van.

We love our spare tire basket water tank – ours is from RBComponents and has been discontinued.

If you’re looking for a small water tank that fits underneath your van’s chassis, look no further than Agile Off Road’s 11-gallon tank.

This tank is meant to fit under the slider door area of any Sprinter van. You can use it for freshwater, or it’s also a good gray water tank.

It comes with two stainless steel mounting brackets and all installation hardware required for mounting. A great option for a small van water tank!

If you don’t want to spend as much money and are more a DIYer, you can tank any regular RV water tank and mount it under your cargo van.

Class A Customs is a US-based company that specializes in producing water tanks for RVs and concession vehicles. This is one of the most affordable van water tanks on our list, and its 20-gallon capacity means you’ll be able to travel off-grid for days at a time.

Weighing just 18 pounds, this Class A Customs van water tank for outside the van is made from durable, medium-density polyethylene and features a seamless one-piece construction.

The tank is stain, corrosion, and rust-resistant, and can be mounted on any side. Although the tank comes with a basic plumbing kit, you’ll need to design your own mounting brackets.

The only downside to the Class A Customs Water Tank is that it isn’t pressurized, so it needs to be ventilated while in use.

The Best Portable Van Water Tanks

Portable water tanks for a camper van aren’t just affordable and easy to fill — they’re also super versatile. Although many van lifers choose to store portable van water tanks under a kitchen sink unit, there’s nothing to say they can’t be kept on shelves, in drawers, or anywhere you’ve got some extra room.

Portable van water tanks do hold significantly less water than wheel well or under-chassis tanks, but they’re a great backup option for cold weather travel or extended off-grid adventures.

REDCAMP produces portable camper van water tanks in a variety of sizes, and they’re among the most popular options for van life. One of the best things about the REDCAMP 4.9-gallon Portable Water Container is that it’s really easy to clean.

The hole at the top of the tank is large enough to fit your hand inside, and the tank comes with a cleaning brush, as well as a water pipe and a sealing cap. The REDCAMP is made from odorless, food-grade HDPE plastic that’s BPA- and PVC-free, so you can be sure that your campervan water will taste like water, not plastic!

If you’re looking for an affordable solution for storing potable water in your van conversion, the Aqua-Tainer Water Container could be the way to go. Made by Reliance Products, this awesome portable van water tank holds a whopping 7 gallons of water, and its space-saving design means you could easily find room for it inside the van.

This sturdy water container features a screw-on vent cover and a solid hideaway spigot. The downside is that the Aqua-Tainer isn’t as easy to clean as other portable van water tanks — the top opening isn’t large enough to fit your hand inside. Still, this tank is great value for money, and is pretty much indestructible.

WaterBrick Stackable Containers

Price: $180 for 10

Although seeing the price tag might make your heart beat a little faster, WaterBrick Stackable Containers are completely unique, and could be a valuable addition to anyone’s camper van life. Each WaterBrick holds up to 3.5 gallons of water, so a set of ten bricks equals a lot of water storage.

These intelligently designed containers cross-stack up to a height of 4 feet for maximum space-saving efficiency. They can also be used individually, and, thanks to a removable metal carry handle, each brick is very portable. WaterBrick containers can be used for food storage, too, and the large lid means you can fit your hand inside for easy cleaning.

Where Will You Put Your Van Water Tanks?

Common places for van water tanks are around the wheel well, under a bed platform, in a sink unit, or attached to the underbelly of the camper van chassis.

Where you put your water system will largely depend on the size of your van and how much interior space you’re willing to sacrifice.

Van water tanks that fit around the wheel well are ideal for larger camper vans like Sprinters and ProMasters, but you’ll have to be creative in order to integrate them into your floor plan.

Mounting a water tank outside the van is a popular space-saving solution, but isn’t great for cold weather travel — sub-zero temperatures could lead to a frozen water tank and pipes, as well as damage to your water pump.

Many van lifers opt for portable camper van water tanks that are super-affordable, easy to clean, and can be stored on shelves or under a sink unit. Using portable water tanks also means you won’t have to worry about your water system freezing during the winter. Not only that, portable tanks live up to their name: you can easily remove them and fill them just about anywhere!

Things To Consider When Choosing Van Water Tanks for a Camper Van

With so many van water tanks available, it can be really difficult to decide on which option will work best for your water system. To make things easier, there are three main factors to consider.

Size

Deciding on the appropriate size of your camper van water tank will really depend not only on the size of your van but on how much water you’ll consume and how long you’ll go between filling the tank.

As a general rule of thumb, you’ll need to allot 1 gallon of water per person per day for drinking, washing, and cooking. If you’re using water in your camper van for showers, toilets, and pets, that amount will increase, so you’ll probably need a larger tank.

Don’t forget, too, that spending time in hot, dry places means you’ll need even more water to stay well-hydrated in your camper van.

If you plan on boondocking or staying off-grid for extended periods, it’ll be important to have as large a water system as possible. You won’t necessarily have access to filling stations, especially if you’re out in the desert. It’s always a good idea to bring an emergency backup supply, too, just in case.

We recommend bringing a water filter along so you can get fresh stream water if you aren’t near a water fill station.

Weight

It’s important to know your camper van’s payload, because water is heavy! Put simply, 1 gallon of water weighs around 8 pounds, so installing a 30-gallon water tank could mean that your van is dangerous to drive when the tank is full.

Another important consideration is weight distribution for your van’s water system. You’ll want to avoid installing a water tank on the same side as the fuel tank, for example, as it could make your van lean to one side.

Material

The majority of van water tanks are made of BPA-free, food-grade plastic like polyethylene. This means chemicals won’t leach into your drinking water. A plastic water tank should be thick and sturdy enough to last the lifetime of your van without cracking.

Although plastic camper van water tanks shouldn’t impart any taste into your drinking water, the reality is that you’ll most likely taste a little something when the tank is warm. For this reason, some people prefer to use stainless steel water tanks, although these are more expensive and aren’t available in as many shapes and sizes.

Grey & Black Water Camper Van Tanks

If your van conversion includes a plumbed sink, shower, or toilet, you may want to consider installing a grey and/or black water tank.

Grey water tanks can be installed inside or outside, and are used to collect waste water from doing the dishes, washing your hands, and so on. A grey water tank won’t need to be as large as a fresh water tank, but you’ll need to empty it on a regular basis.

Another option is to do without a grey water tank, and have water drain directly from the sink to the outside. Either way, it’s important to follow the Leave No Trace guidelines. Even biodegradable soap can pollute lakes and rivers, so use as little soap as possible and always dispose of grey water at least 200 feet from a water source.

Black water tanks are used to collect human waste. They usually use chemicals, so have to be emptied at special RV dump stations. A better alternative to having a plumbed toilet and black water tank is to use a cassette-style or composting toilet in your van. That said, plenty of long-time van dwellers get along just fine without a toilet in their van!

How do you mount a water tank under a van?

Installing side-wheel water tanks or portable van water tanks inside the camper van is fairly straightforward, but mounting a water tank under the van is a more difficult proposition. Unless your under-chassis water tank comes with a custom-built frame and mounting brackets, you’ll need to get creative!

If you’re going to build a frame for your van water tank, it’ll need to be strong. Remember: twenty gallons of water weighs about 160 pounds, so your frame and mounting brackets have to be sturdy enough to handle that.

One way to build your own frame is to repurpose old metal shelving. You can measure, cut, and weld a frame for the tank to sit in and also fashion mounting brackets. Not everyone has the tools or experience for a job like this, so you may need to pay someone else to do the dirty work!

Once you have a frame and mounting brackets, choose where you want to install the water tank. On a Sprinter van, for example, there’s room under the driver’s seat, beside the drivetrain. Remember to leave enough room behind the tank to attach your water lines.

Attach the mounting brackets first, then move the water tank in the frame under your van conversion. Using a floor jack, lift the water tank and frame into place before securing it to the mounting brackets. Now you’re ready to attach the water lines!

Where can I fill my van life water tanks?

One of the facts of van life is that you’ll need to plan carefully in order to keep enough water on board. This becomes even more important if you’re going to be traveling to out-of-the-way places where getting water might be difficult, especially if you’re using a permanently installed water tank.

The good news is that there are loads of places to get water for your van conversion, and the more time you spend out on the road, the better you’ll get at locating a free fill-up.

• Campgrounds. Although you might prefer boondocking to paying for a campsite, there are times when staying at a campground or RV park is really worth it. Not only can you do laundry and take a hot shower at many campgrounds, you’ll also have access to clean, potable water. Just remember that you’ll need to have your own hose and adapter, so it’s a good idea to always carry those in your van.
• Grocery stores. This is a great option if you’re using portable van water tanks. Most grocery stores have water stations, and it won’t cost much to replenish your supply.
• Gas stations. Many gas stations, especially those in rural areas, have potable water spigots. It’s a good idea to ask whenever you stop to get fuel, and top off your water supply while you can. Again, your hose and adapter will come in very handy here.
• Public parks/rest areas. Parks and rest areas are among the best places to find free water. If you’re traveling through a heavily touristed area, you can almost guarantee the packed rest area you’re driving past has a potable water faucet. The same goes for parks — just be extra careful, and if you’re not sure whether or not the water is potable, don’t take the risk.

Conclusion on Van Water Tanks

As with all things van-related, installing a water system in your van conversion can be a simple and budget-friendly affair, a costly and sophisticated undertaking, or something in between. No matter whether you choose to install a large stainless steel van water tank, or prefer to get along with 5-gallon portable water containers, what’s most important is that you stay clean, healthy, and well-hydrated during your van life adventures!

I hope you’ve found this article on van life water tanks interesting. Feel free to leave any questions or comments below!

Also, if you need more help with your van water tanks, be sure to download the below diagram by Far out Ride: