TheSamba.com :: View topic - How many of you westy owners actually use your sink?

Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:30 pm

OG Velvet wrote: phoneguy wrote: Thought about filling (or halfway filling) the tank with rum and using it as my bar. I'm sure someones done this. :wink:

That's the innovative thinking I was looking for!

Good lord. I've owned a westy since the Earth cooled. How is it that this has never occurred to me?

Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:59 pm

lonewolfe wrote: Hey Klaussinator, do you have some pictures you can post of your setup? Sounds practical.

Here are some pics . . . Everything was handbuilt except the faucet (well, it was re-plumbed to work with a pump)

Fresh & Grey tanks below

Washer pump from a school bus

Pump switch flips up when not in use

Or down to contact metal plate on inside of cabinet door

So you can push it with your knee and have both hands free

-Klauss

Tue Jun 28, 2011 9:06 pm

That is really nice work you did there with your bus interior. I really like that setup for the cabinet/sink.

Tue Jun 28, 2011 10:42 pm

Those look like some pretty comfortable seats you have in your Westy. What kind of seats are they and how difficult to get them installed?

Wed Jun 29, 2011 5:32 am

Thanks Lonewolfe, the front seats were found in a pawn shop and the owner gave them to me, saying they were taking up too much space. They were originally the center "captains" seats from a late `90's minivan and had the tall metal bases wrapped in plastic trim. I cut the bases off and welded up some custom mounts to work for the bus. Not too hard, but not exactly plug-n-play either. The armrests are great!

-Klauss

Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:28 am

Klauss, between your let's shop at Walmart and see what will cross over to bus use.....to your creative inginuity, I stay amazed. Awesome idea on the hands free concept.

And onto the original question. I love the Deluxe or Full Westies and may use some of the features, but (a) have never really needed to use the sink feature and (b) I'll be damned if I'm going to fry up some grease spattering bacon on the stove. :lol: Not happening in my ride.

Fri Jul 01, 2011 4:41 pm

After the bed, the sink is my wife's favorite feature. Lots of face washing and tooth scrubbing goes on there! Plus it's pretty easy to close the curtains, get naked and wash whatever needs washing, even in a busy campground. I'll keep mine, thanks.

Sun Jul 03, 2011 7:48 pm

i'd rather have the space, than the kitchenette...

Mon Jul 04, 2011 4:07 am

ZENVWDRIVER wrote: i'd rather have the space, than the kitchenette...

That is exactly the set up I have in mine,Color is even the same,only difference is my floor is different.

We took ours out because we needed the extra room for the dog but might put it back in when we go traveling out of state.

Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:10 pm

sneakyjack wrote: Its good for Candles too- reflective and keeps the wax safe. But keep the top up! heat rises.
A bunch of tea candles in there looks cool and provides twinkly light - Cover the drain with Aluminum foil.

I used to do this on cold nights. Light a dozen tea candles and let them burn for 30 minutes or so, takes the bite out of the air.

Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:25 pm

First time I took the bus camping I made myself a nice meal and was getting ready to scurry down to the freezing cold river (Feb in Canada) to wash the dishes. Then I stopped and thought, "Wait a minute! I have a sink!" Not a major thing for the RV crowd but for a backpacker that was pretty cool.

I use mine for:

- washing dishes
- doing laundry
- put candles in it to warm the bus
- fill it with water for a bird bath

Best use, filled with ice and beer.

I would never pee in it. I can't even begin to imagine the smell. Like another poster said, step outside. Sheesh, do people crap under the seat too?

Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:51 pm

wanderglobe wrote: I would never pee in it. I can't even begin to imagine the smell. Like another poster said, step outside. Sheesh, do people crap under the seat too?

LOL :lol: I have heard they crap in a bucket. And those OG buckets are big bucks!!! :shock:

Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:20 am

BusterBrown wrote: wanderglobe wrote: I would never pee in it. I can't even begin to imagine the smell. Like another poster said, step outside. Sheesh, do people crap under the seat too?

LOL :lol: I have heard they crap in a bucket. And those OG buckets are big bucks!!! :shock:

Your avatar kills me. Veedub pwning the borg. Give'r.

Sat Aug 09, 2025 12:50 pm

Reviving this old thread because I’m trying to fix my pump switch (late bay style).

I just had a random thought…. Why is there a trap under the sink? It’s not like there is a sewer connection to prevent the sewer gas smell coming back…

Sat Aug 09, 2025 1:41 pm

OG Velvet wrote: Reviving this old thread because I’m trying to fix my pump switch (late bay style).

I just had a random thought…. Why is there a trap under the sink? It’s not like there is a sewer connection to prevent the sewer gas smell coming back…
Same reason why the plumbing is vented, some UL/CSA requirement in the event the camper was connected to a park sewer system.
It could also be some sort of attempt at making it difficult for the foreign import to compete with domestic stuff, all that plumbing is made in the USA as well as the windows and electrics, European market campers have completely different equipment.

Sun Aug 10, 2025 9:49 am

why a trap... so when your wife drops her diamond ring down the drain it gives you something to take apart instead of just going to the grey water container beneath your bus.

HUTMO

Sun Aug 10, 2025 10:00 am

helps keep the bugs out also,

Sun Aug 10, 2025 1:21 pm

The “p trap” is there for the same reason your home has them. And yes to US standards. It’s also part of the reason on later interiors the sink was moved to the drivers side. Because the drain was required to also be on the driver side. He drain on my ‘71 still has it’s drain crossover pipe slung underneath. I think those were required on westies starting in’71 because I don’t recall seeing them on 68 to 70 campers. Many got broken off.

But hey! To answer that original question, Yes! I still have and use my sink / icebox cabinet in my bus. My wife insists on it. She uses the sink every morning on our trips when she’s getting dressed.