Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Another question for all you experienced builders... I'm building my first teardrop and was planning on putting in a small sink and 4-5 gallon fresh water tank underneath with a grey water tank for dirty water. Do you think that its overkill, or something that is worth doing? I've seen some with asimple roll out tray that holds a 5 gallon water tank w/spigot. Would that be a better solution? I'm just thinking of convenience verses overkill. Anyone regret NOT putting in a sink?
Patti

Patti,

As far as what others do, it goes both ways....
The sink looks really cool, but is usually too small to be efficient.
I would save the counter space and us 2 or three Rubbermaid basins, to wash up and us them for storage when not in use.

Just the way I did it, but this has been talked over many times, No best way to go, it's Your galley do it the way you want it.

Thanks, that what I was starting to think as well. I was getting a bit too ambitious.

I just had to have a a sink..... Some folks told me not too....



I did the Generic Benroy and did not have much room for a sink. It's so dang tiny, it's not very useful.

This is how I camp, with it covered up. I never did put a water inlet or tank in.


I have been thinking of pulling it out, plugging the hole and covering it with wood or formica. Then build a table with cut outs to hold dish pans.

If you are going to do it, make sure its big enough.


Mk

Either or. I have the same dilemma. It's a dilemma because of my limited space. I can make due with a salad bowl as a wash basin but I can not do with out some of the things i will use more often. A 6 gallon water tank with spigot is what I decided on...... But I'm not done thinking yet.


Greg.

Any good tips on where to get a good water tank/jug with a tap? I think I'm leaning towards that instead of a sink since it will take up a lot of room.

Too Ambitious, Not at all

This is what, this stage of the build is all about
Think about what you want, but how you are going to go about it
Just like all the new slide out galley's some of our master builders are doing, Make the Best use of the Available space, For what you want in your Tear, you may come up with a different way of doing it yourself.

Patti
I have built 2 Teardrops with sinks and water tanks.



As anyone who owns an RV with a water tank will tell you; no matter how well you take care of a water tank after a while it will get real Funky.

I also found the sinks to be to small, which meant I never used them and it took up all my counter space.

Even with a cover over the sink the faucet got in the way of things.

I now use, and get along just fine with a Rubbermaid wash basin I put on the picnic table.

My suggestion would be, build the tear so it can accommodate a sink/tank. But don't put it in. Use the tear then decide if its a must have item.

Happy Trails

Len

1940sHousewife wrote:Any good tips on where to get a good water tank/jug with a tap? I think I'm leaning towards that instead of a sink since it will take up a lot of room.

Wal- mart .

Ok, I'm convinced: it'll be a water jug and buckets for me! I was worried about cutting into counter space, too, so that solves that problem as well. Thanks!!

Patti,

I have built two teardrops with sinks...also.

The first one had a 5-6 gallon portable container under the counter, that fed the sink with a counter mounted hand pump.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/1948rob/teardrop%20and%20roadster%20wiki/Foldupcountersandpulloutcooler.jpg?t=1164393956">

The sink was fairly small.
Good for hand washing, brushing your teeth, and some cooking.
Kind of small to do dishes in though.
All in all, not bad, not great, but better than having to go find a jug of water, open it up, pour some out, and then put it back away.
The "KISS." method is good, but there are a lot of different levels, depending on your idea of "easy" or "simple".

The second tear has a sink that is a bit larger.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/1948rob/Cabin%20car%20project/galleyopen.jpg?t=1221173520">

I don't recall the dimensions, but it is very deep, and I can wash a frying pan in it.
Much easier in this one since besides more room, there is hot water delivered by an electric pump.
The hand pump was a pain...

The latest version isn't nearly as simple as the first, but it is much more user friendly, and enjoyable.

Water tanks can get icky, but are also very easy to sanitize (something one should do each year anyway...takes just 15 minutes).
They can hurt gas mileage if you haul water 400 miles...but they can easily be filled once you get to the campground.

The sink verses no sink debate is really very much like the "what color do you think looks best" debate.

Everyone has very valid and practical reasons for making their own choice.
None are "wrong" none are "the best".

I like hot water available at the turn of a faucet lever.
Others prefer a recycled gallon milk jug.
Both work.

Rob

when i get around to building mine i will have a drawer front that will conceal a swing out section and have a slot to store a folding table so no sink for me.

That second one is awesome! Hot water on demand would be lovely.

Another benefit to the water jug w/ spigot method is that it's easy to fill up at the campground faucet. I just went with the jug and a couple plastic dishpans, but I've been car/tent camping with that setup for years and I was comfortable with it. The gray water (with biodegradable suds) just gets tossed into the bushes if there's nowhere else to put it.