Three Years of Real Experience: Truck Camper Water Usage Might Not Be What You Think

Water and electricity are two resources essential for daily life, and how they're used directly affects our quality of life. Compared to electricity, water is even more critical — a lack of water directly threatens our basic survival. So how does water work on a truck camper? Can you shower on a truck camper? How do you replenish when you run low? What inconveniences come with truck camper water usage? In this article, let's talk in detail about all things water-related.

Water Tanks

A truck camper has water tanks installed — more than one, in fact. Taking my truck camper as an example, it has an 85-liter fresh water tank and a 30-liter gray water tank. The fresh water tank stores clean water for washing and showering, while the gray water tank holds the waste water after washing. The tanks are generally mounted underneath the vehicle with basic insulation, but in cold northern winters, tanks mounted underneath are prone to freezing. That's why some high-end truck campers also install insulated water tanks inside the vehicle so you can still use water normally in winter.

Most truck campers, like mine, come with a combined air heating and water heater unit. This system includes its own small tank, and the hot water on the camper is produced by heating the water in this tank. However, this tank isn't very large — typically only about 10 to 20 liters. Because it holds hot water, the insulation on this tank is usually better than that of the fresh water tank to slow down heat loss. But below freezing, there's still a risk of it freezing and cracking, so the hot water system on a truck camper is generally only used when temperatures are above freezing.

In addition to the fresh water tank, gray water tank, and insulated tank mentioned above, a truck camper also has a black water tank. Toilet waste and flush water go into the black water tank. The black water tank is generally not very large and is portable — you need to regularly find a restroom to empty it yourself. This is also why many people don't like using the toilet on a truck camper: you have to clean out the black water tank yourself.

Winterization
Coming back to the winter freezing issue mentioned above — when temperatures drop below freezing in winter, it's not just the water tanks that freeze; the entire plumbing system can be damaged. So before winter arrives, we need to drain all the water from the tanks and the entire plumbing system, or the pipes could freeze and crack. My first year using a truck camper, I wasn't familiar with this — I only drained the water tank but didn't drain the plumbing lines, which resulted in a cracked pipe. After gaining experience, I drained everything completely and got through winter without any issues.

Of course, as mentioned earlier, some high-end truck campers come with insulated water tanks, paired with insulation for the entire plumbing system, so that within a certain temperature range the whole system won't freeze, ensuring normal water usage in winter. Since my truck camper doesn't support this feature, I haven't experienced it myself — whether it's actually reliable or not, you'd need to hear from real users who have it.

Water Usage
Water usage on a truck camper is mainly divided into two categories. The first is drinking water — for cooking, making tea, and so on. The second is domestic water — for washing vegetables, showering, and the like. Our domestic water typically comes from the water tank, while for drinking water, we separately purchase purified water.

There are several reasons we don't drink water from the tank. The most important is that the tank is hard to clean — after extended use, it inevitably won't be very sanitary, especially since we don't use the truck camper every day. The camper might sit for days or even longer, and we don't drain the tank every time, which causes the water quality to deteriorate. Also, the water in the tank is usually filled with tap water or other water of uncertain quality, so drinking it directly isn't very safe or healthy.

Drinking water consumption isn't very high — based on experience, about 3 liters per day. I usually buy 5-liter or 12-liter jugs of water. A 5-liter jug costs about $2 and lasts about two days — not very expensive, and larger sizes are even cheaper. The reason I usually buy these two sizes is related to the space on the vehicle. Behind the driver's seat, there's just enough room for two 5-liter jugs, and in the corner of the shower stall, there's a perfect spot for one 12-liter jug — the sizes fit just right so they don't shift around while driving.

Daily washing water isn't much either — aside from showering, probably about 20 liters or so for washing vegetables, brushing teeth, and so on. So for convenience, I usually fill a 12-liter jug with tap water for general use. In many of the truck camper life photos I take day to day, you'll see water jugs — they're not all for drinking; washing uses them too. This is mainly because, first, jugs are easy to refill, and second, they're easy to move around — when cooking, you can just keep one next to you to rinse dishes or wash vegetables without having to draw water from the tank each time.

Water Pump
There are two faucets installed on the vehicle. One is in the shower stall in the middle of the camper — a faucet with a showerhead that can be used for washing or showering. When you need water from the tank inside the vehicle, you draw it through this faucet. There's also a faucet at the rear of the vehicle — when you need tank water outside, you use this one, so you don't have to go up and down, which is very convenient. The water tank is mounted underneath, while the faucets are at a higher position. Since water flows downward, it won't automatically flow from the tank to the faucet, so the vehicle is equipped with a small water pump. When you open the faucet, the pump kicks in automatically and draws water up from the tank — very convenient to use.

While it's convenient, the water pump is a wear part. The pump on my vehicle actually failed once — water delivery became unreliable, sometimes working and sometimes not. I replaced it and the new one has been working fine ever since.

Showering
The truck camper has a folding shower stall. Although the space isn't very large — roughly 90cm x 90cm — it's fine for a quick rinse. Showering requires not only space but also a lot of water. A normal shower for one person uses about 40 liters, so with the 85-liter fresh water tank plus the 10-something-liter hot water tank, when fully loaded, there's enough for a family of three to each take a shower. This is especially important in summer — when you sweat easily, a comfortable shower in the evening is a must.

Even though the truck camper has a shower stall, in practice it doesn't get used very often. It's not just about space and water — using it is a hassle. Truck camper space is limited, and the shower stall area normally holds other items, so before showering you have to clear everything out. Afterward, you need to wipe down all the water splashes, otherwise the interior gets damp and affects sleep comfort.

Based on our usage patterns over the past couple of years, the onboard shower gets used the most in summer — after a full day of activities, you've inevitably worked up a sweat, and not showering is genuinely uncomfortable. In other seasons, it's used less frequently, mainly because we typically just go out on weekends and holidays, and each trip isn't very long — going two or three days without a shower is manageable. If we're living in the camper for an extended period, like traveling home for the holidays, we'll just go to an RV park shower facility or a hot spring every few days for a proper, comfortable wash — no need to do it in the camper.

Waste Water Discharge
To avoid discharging water carelessly and to keep the environment clean, truck campers are designed with a gray water tank from the start. Waste water from washing goes into the gray water tank first, and then we find a convenient place with a drain to empty it. Generally, a roadside drain or any spot that won't affect the environment works fine — after all, it's just wash water and doesn't contain any harmful substances.

Water Refill
Having covered so much about water usage, let's talk about the last part — how to replenish when you run low. First, the most convenient option is the water jugs mentioned earlier. A 12-liter jug lasts us several days for just washing, and even if it runs out, refilling is easy — anywhere there's a faucet, you can fill up a jug, no problem.

If the water tank runs empty, there are two ways to refill it. The first is to use a bucket or basin to carry water and pour it in through the fill port. My truck camper is designed quite well — at the fill port there's a 12V accessory outlet, so you can use a portable transfer pump to automatically draw water from a basin or bucket into the tank, which saves effort. If you don't have one, you can just lift and pour it in manually — takes more effort but gets the job done. The second method, and the most convenient, is to run a hose from a faucet directly into the tank — fast and easy. That's why we always keep a 10-meter expandable hose on board, ready to hook up to a faucet. But you can't always drive the vehicle right up to a faucet.

Based on two years of experience, the most convenient place to drive up and fill water is a gas station. Pretty much every gas station has an outdoor faucet, and you can pull right up to it. When the tank runs dry, I usually go to a gas station to fill up fuel and just ask the attendant if I can grab some water — they always say yes, and it's free. Besides gas stations, some public restrooms also have spigots you can pull up next to. Or when we're out exploring, especially in the Pacific Northwest, rural properties with outdoor faucets along the road are great spots to refill — as long as you ask the owner or property manager for permission first. If you're really too shy to ask, car washes or truck stops along the highway that serve long-haul trucks sometimes offer paid water access. With a lightweight design like the TP06W at just 496 pounds, the water demand isn't very high to begin with, so refilling isn't too much of a hassle.
Refilling water is more of a hassle than recharging electricity. Unlike power, which can be generated by driving or solar panels, water usually involves interacting with people. Don't be too shy — as long as you're willing to ask, getting water isn't difficult.