PEX Pipe for Camper Van Conversions: Why We Recommended It

You’ll likely be inundated with many ways to build a plumbing system when you’re at most hardware stores. A wide range of fittings and pipes are made from different materials, such as copper, PVC, vinyl, and PEX. It can be pretty confusing if it’s your first time in the plumbing aisle.

Most of us aren’t certified plumbers. And we don’t want to pay an accredited plumber to build our camper. We want to find a material that is easy to customize, simple to put together, and won’t leak. And that’s precisely why PEX pipes are the best choice for RVs and camper vans.

This post will discuss why PEX pipes are the best solution when building your camper’s water system. We’ll also look at which components and fittings we used, in conjunction with PEX pipes, to develop our sink and shower plumbing system.

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1. PEX Comes in a Convenient All-in-One Kit

One of the most attractive aspects of using PEX for camper vans is its purchase convenience. When you buy the PEX kit, like our recommendation below, you get everything you need to build your PEX system. This convenient all-in-one kit includes:

• Red & blue PEX pipes
• PEX pipe cutter
• 50 Cinch rings + crimp tool
• 15 brass fittings

And for most camper van builds, you likely won’t need any other PEX-related products for your plumbing project.

2. PEX Is Quick and Easy To Install

It’s hard to exaggerate just how easy it is to piece together different PEX pipes. You cut the PEX pipe to size, insert the tube over a metal fitting, and crimp a copper ring to keep the pipe in place. It really is that simple.

Compare this to having to weld copper pipes together or use messy glue to hold together PVC tubes.

We link to a helpful YouTube video at the end of this post showing how easy it is to assemble a PEX pipe plumbing system.

3. Superior PEX Material

PEX pipes are made of flexible plastic (cross-linked polyethylene), perfect for DIY van conversions. Because this material can flex and bend, the pipes are much more forgiving if your measurements aren’t 100% accurate. This is perfect for plumbing beginners like us!

Furthermore, this cross-linked polyethylene resists high temperatures, corrosion, and abuse, which is perfect for camper vans that intend to travel in a wide range of temperatures and climates.

And lastly, unlike traditional copper pipes used in homes, PEX pipes are lightweight. They’re essentially a non-factor in deciding the overall weight of your camper.

What Size PEX Do Campers Use?

You can easily find PEX pipes with an inner diameter of  ½” and ¾.” But for camper vans and RVs, the ½” pipes will be sufficient. The ¾” pipes are primarily for main water lines that enter a residential home.

Common PEX Fittings

To build a complete plumbing system, you must pair PEX tubing with several types of metal fittings. These fittings allow you to:

• Create 90-degree angles
• Split a single line into two lines
• Connect to non-PEX products

Can PEX Pipes Resist Freezing Temperatures?

PEX pipes are proven to be more flexible and durable than their PVC counterparts. This makes them more resistant to bursting when water begins to freeze in sub-zero temperatures.

However, PEX tubes are not freeze-proof. If you plan to travel in areas that expose your PEX pipes to freezing temperatures, you should still take the proper precautions to winterize your pipes to prevent permanent damage to your plumbing system.

Conclusion

We hope this post convinced you that going with PEX tubing is the best option for your camper van plumbing build. We have been using PEX pipe as our camper van plumbing solution and have been happy with how the material has helped up after 4+ years of use.

Please let us know in the comments section below if you have any specific questions about using PEX pipe in camper vans.

Happy building!