I bought this gravity-fill hatch among my van plumbing parts. Locating openings before fitting interior panels is a clear priority in my Interior Preparation planning notes.
I bought RecPro Black Gravity-Fill Hatch as part of my camper van equipment.
I bought this gravity-fill hatch among my van plumbing parts. Locating openings before fitting interior panels is a clear priority in my Interior Preparation planning notes.
A Gravity-Fill Opening in the Exterior Layout
I used SketchUp to plan the interior and put body openings ahead of the framing, floor and wall panels.
My Interior Preparation notes included the shower drain and openings for three water tanks in that preparation sequence.
I removed cargo tie-down hardware for later framing mounts and door trim for the later insulation and paneling.
Removing stuck-on residue during the floor cleanup.The cargo floor during my preparation session before sound deadening.
My Takeaway for the Build
I wanted the body openings completed before the interior layers went in. The RecPro gravity-fill hatch purchase is a clear example of why that sequence matters to the layout. Valterra provides another individual inlet, while the combined JR Products enclosure groups gravity fill and city water into a different exterior opening.
Product Details And Van-Build Uses
Specification
Product Detail
Style
Round gravity-fill hatch
Overall Diameter
4¾ inches
Recessed Mounting Hole
3½ inches
Fill Hose
1¼-inch or 1½-inch
RecPro’s round gravity-fill hatch provides a capped opening for a non-pressurized tank-fill route. The manufacturer lists the outside flange diameter separately from the recessed mounting hole, along with the fill-hose and vent-hose connections. Those measurements help connect the visible exterior part with the plumbing space behind the panel. For a van water-system layout, the fill hose needs a route to the tank, while the vent connection has its own path. This is a different arrangement from the threaded city-water inlet already linked elsewhere in the materials collection.
No. RecPro lists a 4¾-inch overall diameter and a separate 3½-inch recessed mounting hole.
Alternative products
Two Alternatives to Compare
Valterra offers another individual black gravity-fill inlet. The JR Products hatch combines gravity fill and city water in a single enclosure, which calls for a different exterior opening and layout.
