ARTICLE:Water Tank Systems for Ford Transit Vans

Tank Placement Challenges in Transit Layout

Transit interior width and length force tight tank placement. Many builds use a 20-24 gallon interior fresh tank and a 16-24 gallon undermount or rear-mounted gray tank.

Some builders use both tanks exterior (one inside the spare tire carrier, one undermount) to completely free interior cabinetry. This trades interior space for added winterization complexity and exposed plumbing.

Fresh Tank Options for Transit

Interior wheel well tanks in Transits are shallower than Sprinter wheel wells, limiting capacity. Standard wheel well tanks max out around 24 gallons. Builders often pair this with a slim center-mount tank beside or under the toilet for additional storage if frequent showers drive demand.

Interior tanks simplify plumbing by keeping all connections in heated space. Transit cabin heating protects tanks from freezing.

GoCode tanks in the 20-24 gallon range fit well in Transit cabinets when cabinet depth is designed around them from the start. Later additions usually require major cabinetry changes.

Gray Tank Integration

Transits commonly position gray tanks at the rear or undercarriage because interior space is too valuable. Many use a 16-20 gallon undermount or a 24-gallon spare tire tank for gray water.

This placement keeps gray water plumbing runs manageable. Shower and sink drain to gravity or a small pump, depending on tank position. Rear-mounted tanks use simple gravity when positioned lower than fixtures.

Tank Capacity Decisions

Solo Transit travelers use 20 gallon fresh tanks with 2-3 gallon gray (sink only). Couples add a second small tank or upgrade to 24-gallon fresh with 16-24 gallon gray for shower support.

Water hauling frequency increases with travel style. Off-grid travelers near water sources accept frequent refills. Campground-based travelers fill once weekly and extend range by rationing.

Winter Strategies for Transit Systems

Interior fresh tanks in heated Transits stay protected. Undermount gray tanks require complete draining before freezing.

Many Transit builders use external drain valves on the side wall rather than bottom drain points, making winterization faster and more reliable. The trade-off is accepting that some water stays in the tank, limiting usable capacity slightly.