12V vs Gas: Van Cooking and Hot Water Without Fixed Gas Certification

When most people plan their van kitchen they assume gas is the only real option for cooking. It probably is the most common setup. But the moment you plumb gas into a van you are in certification territory: a registered gasfitter has to inspect and sign off the installation, and depending on where you are that process can be expensive, slow, or both.

Full electric is the obvious alternative. The problem is a van battery system is not a house. Running a full electric oven off 12V is not realistic for most builds. You would need a very large battery bank and a powerful inverter just to boil water quickly, let alone cook a meal.

The three realistic options for van cooking and hot water, compared on the criteria that actually matter day to day.

Choosing the right cooking and hot water setup in my van was something I thought through carefully. I did not want to rely solely on battery power for everything. Running an oven off an inverter puts a significant load on your battery bank, and if something drains your batteries you lose your ability to cook and have hot water at the same time.

So I went hybrid. A 12V water heater for hot water, and a portable gas oven and stove for cooking. The gas unit is not plumbed into the van, which means it avoids becoming a fixed gas install and can also be lifted out and used outside. That outside use was a big part of why I liked the setup.

The other major reason was certification. Insurers insist on certified gas work for fixed installations. By using a portable unit that connects directly to a gas canister, I avoided having a fixed gas install in the van. That is the whole point of this setup. I would still check local rules and insurer wording before copying it, but for people who do not want fixed gas certification, this is the alternative.

Plumbing gas into a van means running copper or flexible gas line from a fixed bottle, usually in a vented external locker, through to a hob or oven. The fittings, connections, regulator, and ventilation all have to meet a specific standard, and someone licensed has to certify the whole thing before you can legally use it.

That certification is not just a piece of paper. It has implications for insurance, for renting a campsite, and in some countries for roadworthy inspections. If something goes wrong and you have uncertified gas work, you have a problem.

Beyond the paperwork, fixed gas is permanent. If the bottle is empty and you are in the wrong place, you wait. If a fitting develops a leak, you need someone qualified to fix it. The rigidity of the setup is real.

A portable gas stove and oven combination changes the setup a lot. Because it is not plumbed in, it avoids becoming a fixed gas installation, which is exactly why many builders look at this option. The canister attaches directly to the unit, you cook, and when it is empty you swap the canister. That simplicity is the point.

I use a combined portable gas stove and oven unit. It sits in the kitchen area of the van and works a lot like a regular hob and oven. Two burners on top, a full oven underneath. I cooked roasts, baked bread, and used it daily for two years of full time van life. My recommendation is still outside use when practical, with the builder deciding for themselves whether they want to go portable like this or go down the fixed certified gas route.

The portable gas oven and hob. No fixed gas plumbing, removable for outside use, and a practical alternative for builders who do not want a fixed certified gas install.

The kitchen set up for daily use. The oven sits in position secured by a clasp, and lifts out whenever I want to cook outside.

Hot water is where a lot of van builders get stuck. Propane water heaters are the traditional answer but they have the same certification issue as a fixed gas cooker. Instant electric water heaters need a lot of power. On-demand propane units that bypass certification are available but they add another gas canister to manage.

I use a 12V tank water heater. It runs directly off the van battery, heats over one to two hours, and gives you a full tank of hot water for showers and washing up. The version I use is dual voltage, which means it also switches to 240V shore power when plugged into a campsite. I turn it on during the day, and the water stays hot for hours depending on the temperature it is set to. Full wiring and plumbing details are in the electrical build guide and plumbing build guide.

The draw on 12V is around 200W, which is well within what a standard van battery setup handles. I run mine on a switch so it only heats when I need it. Turn it on in the morning and it is ready well before you need it.

For US builders, a dual-power 12V/120V unit is now available on Amazon. When I first built this setup I could not find one in US listings. That has changed.

With a portable setup the gas bottle question is simpler than with fixed gas, but you still need to think about where the canisters go when not in use.

The gas bottle for the oven, secured by a clasp that releases easily. The oven is held by the same type of clasp so the whole unit can be unclipped and taken outside to cook.

The garage area where the spare gas bottle is stored securely. The 12V water heater is mounted below.

In practice I keep one canister on the stove and a spare in the locker. A 4kg gas bottle lasts around four weeks of regular cooking. When it runs out, they can be refilled or swapped at camping stores, hardware shops, and service stations in most countries.

Two years of full time living on this setup. The portable gas has never let me down, and the 12V hot water is something I would not change. The slow heat time becomes a non-issue once you build it into your routine. Turn it on in the morning and forget about it.

If you want hot water and a working kitchen in your van without the certification process and without draining your batteries, this is the setup I would recommend.

The exact products in my hybrid setup. AU and US sourcing where available.

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