Galleys and kitchen systems
Sinks, counters, water tanks, hot water and cooktops, planned around how you cook and where you camp.
Cook like you are at home
A good galley is more than a counter and a sink. Where the water lives, whether it gets hot, and what you cook on all shape the layout and the power system. We build galleys with butcher block, live edge or HANEX solid surface counters, sinks and faucets, and plan the water and cooking systems with them.
Water tanks
An interior tank under the galley or a bench is the simplest and stays warm with the van, but it takes cabinet space. A wheel well tank wraps over the rear wheel well and uses space that is otherwise wasted. An underbody tank mounts outside under the van, frees up the interior and holds more, but needs insulation and a tank heater for winter.
Hot or cold water
Plenty of vans run cold water only. For hot water we usually install an Isotemp water heater, which heats water from the engine's coolant while you drive and from shore power or your inverter when parked. Diesel or gasoline hydronic heaters that heat the cabin and the water are another option. Water is pumped with a SHURflo pump.
Induction or propane
Induction is fast, easy to clean and adds no fumes or moisture to the van, but it needs a large battery bank and inverter. We do not often install propane cooktops. They need no big electrical system, but they need a sealed propane locker, ventilation and a gas line, and induction is almost always the better choice now.
A galley water system. The pump draws from the tank through a strainer, a filter cleans the cold line, and an Isotemp water heater warms the hot line from engine coolant while driving or 120V when parked.
- 1Fresh tank interior, wheel well or underbody
- 2Water pump SHURflo
- 3Filter
- 4Water heater Isotemp, engine coolant and 120V
- 5Drain valve for winterizing
- 6Faucet hot and cold
Water tank options
| Tank | Where it goes | Good for | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior tank | Under the galley or a bench | Simplest, stays warm with the van | Takes cabinet space |
| Wheel well tank | Over the rear wheel well, inside | Uses wasted space, often 20 to 30 gallons | Model specific to your van |
| Underbody tank | Outside, under the van | Frees the interior, larger capacity | Needs insulation and a tank heater for winter |
Wheel well tanks from makers such as Agile Offroad, and underbody tanks from GoCode and Tec Vanlife, are made for specific vans. We confirm fit before ordering.
Water systems
Cold only, or hot water from the engine, shore power or a hydronic heater.
Cold water only
A pump, a filter and a faucet.
- Simplest and lightest
- Nothing to winterize but the lines and tank
Best for: Most weekend and adventure vans.
Isotemp water heater
A small insulated tank heated by engine coolant while driving and by 120V when parked.
- Free hot water on travel days
- Runs on shore power or the inverter when parked
- Coolant lines to plumb
Best for: Vans that drive often or have a large lithium bank.
Hydronic heater
A diesel or gasoline heater that heats the cabin and the water.
- Hot water and heat from one unit
- Runs on the van's own fuel
- More complex install
Best for: Four-season and full-time vans.
Cooktops
Most of our galleys now cook on induction.
Induction cooktop
One or two burners running off the inverter.
- Fast, safe and easy to clean
- No fumes or moisture
- Needs a large bank and inverter
Best for: All-electric vans.
Propane cooktop
Not often. A two-burner stove with a sealed propane locker.
- No large electrical system needed
- Needs a sealed locker, ventilation and a gas line
Best for: Rarely, when a big electrical system is not an option.
Refrigerators
12V compressor fridges sip power and keep food cold in the heat. The big choice is how it opens.
Front-loading fridge
Opens like a home fridge, built into the galley cabinet.
- Easy to reach food without lifting anything
- Clean, built-in look
- Cold air spills out when opened, so slightly more power
Best for: Galleys with cabinet space. Common brands: Dometic CRX, Isotherm Cruise, Vitrifrigo and Novakool.
Top-loading fridge
A chest-style fridge in a drawer slide or under a counter.
- Most efficient, cold air stays in
- Can double as a freezer
- Needs a slide or a lid you can reach
Best for: Efficiency and freezer space. Common brands: Dometic CFX3, ARB, Engel and Truma Cooler.
How we do it
Plan the galley
Layout, counter, sink and cooktop planned around how you cook.
Water system
Tank, SHURflo pump, filter and lines sized to how long you camp between fill-ups.
Hot water and cooking
Water heater and cooktop matched to your power and heating systems.
Build and install
Cabinets, counters, sink and faucet fitted, plumbed and tested.
Winter plan
Drains and bypasses so the system is easy to winterize.
Questions about galleys
Can you install a sink and fridge?
Yes. Galleys with sinks, fridges and counters are one of our most common projects.
How big a water tank do I need?
Most vans carry 15 to 30 gallons. It depends on how long you camp between fill-ups and whether you shower in the van.
Can I cook on induction off my batteries?
Yes, with a large enough battery bank and inverter. We size both from the cooktop's draw.
Will my water freeze?
Interior and wheel well tanks stay warm with the van. Underbody tanks need insulation and a tank heater, and every system should be winterized before a hard freeze.
Front-loading or top-loading fridge?
Front-loading is easier to use day to day. Top-loading is more efficient and can work as a freezer. We build the galley around whichever you choose.
Get a galley quote
Send a few details and we will call you back with ideas, options and a ballpark.
- 6771 Emigration Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City
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