In about 10-15 minutes you can have a fully functioning hot water dishwashing station at your campsite with running water, adjustable temperature, and fold-out drying racks.
Setup Time
10-15 minutes
Water Temp
Up to 130°F adjustable
Flow Rate
0.6-1.6 GPM
Water Supply
Two 5-gallon Scepter jugs
This guide is written for Outdoorithm Collective families using our pre-configured kit. If you own a Joolca Hottap system, the steps are the same.
Orientation
Clear the pad, lay out your parts, and spot the color coding so setup flows smoothly.
Set up on a sturdy table or tailgate near your campsite. You need access to your propane tank and a portable battery. Keep the hot water heater on level ground nearby.
Lay everything out before you start so nothing is missing mid-setup.
Two pump options
Our kit includes both pumps. The blue Joolca pump is the stock pump that comes with the Hottap kit. The red Seaflo pump is a higher-flow upgrade (3.0 GPM vs 1.6 GPM) that provides stronger water pressure. Both connect the same way.
Water jug setup
Fill both Scepter 20L jugs before you start. The brass valve and thread adapter should already be installed on the jug spout. If not, screw the white thread adapter onto the spout first, then attach the brass ball valve.
water jugs
Get your water supply ready to feed the pump.
Unscrew the large cap on top of each Scepter 20L jug using the cap wrench if needed. Fill all the way with clean water. Screw the cap back on snugly.
The brass ball valve on the spout controls water flow. When the handle is perpendicular to the valve body, it is closed. When the handle is parallel and in line with the valve, it is open. Leave it closed for now.
Perpendicular means closed
Think of the handle as a gate. When it crosses the flow path, the gate is shut.
On the top of each jug there is a small bleed valve with a yellow sticker showing tight/loose directions. Unscrew the cap and set it somewhere safe. This vent lets air in as water flows out. Without it open, the water will not flow properly.
Do not forget the bleed valve
If the water stops flowing or slows to a trickle, check the bleed valve first. This is the most common issue.
If water is leaking from the white cap on the spout, unscrew it and check the rubber gasket inside. The gasket can get pressed down or distorted and needs to lay flat to seal properly. Do not over-tighten the cap. Sometimes these caps need to be tightened just the right amount.
Goldilocks tightness
If it leaks when tight, try loosening slightly. The gasket seals better when it can fully seat rather than being compressed unevenly.
heater setup
Unpack the Joolca tub and position the hot water heater.
The Joolca sink is a large blue tub with a latching lid. Inside you will find the Hottap water heater unit, the pump, the faucet, a shower head, and a mesh bag full of hoses and connectors. Remove everything and set it on your table.
The gray plastic carrying case flips over to become the heater stand. Set it right-side up on level ground near your table. Place the Hottap unit into the stand. The connections on the bottom of the heater should be accessible.
pump and power
Wire up your water pump to the battery and connect the hoses.
We use EcoFlow portable batteries. Press the orange power button to turn the battery on. Plug the cigarette lighter cord from the pump into the DC cigarette lighter port on the battery. Then press the DC ON/OFF button to enable that port. You should see white indicator lights above both the power button and the DC button confirming power is flowing.
Any 12V DC source works
If you are using a different battery, you just need a 12V DC output. The pump draws 3.5-7.5 amps.
Plug the power cord into the pump. For the blue Joolca pump, the cord plugs into the end. For the red Seaflo pump, connect the red and black wires to the inline rocker switch, then to the pump terminals.
Look at the bottom of the pump for the directional arrow. Connect the hose coming from the Scepter water jug to the arrow-in side (water intake). Pull back the gray collar on the quick-disconnect fitting, push it onto the male end of the pump, and release the collar to lock it in place.
Connect the other hose from the pump outlet (arrow-out side) to the blue inlet connector on the bottom of the Hottap water heater. The blue connector is the cold water intake.
hot water and gas
Route the hot water to the sink and connect propane.
Connect the red hose to the red connector on the bottom of the Hottap. This is the hot water outlet. The other end connects to the mixing valve, which can route water to either the sink faucet or the shower head. Make sure these quick-connects are pushed on firmly. Pull back the collar fully and push until it clicks. A loose connection here will leak under pressure.
Check for firm connections
If water leaks from the red or blue connectors on the heater, turn the pump off. Make sure the male connectors on the heater are screwed tightly into the unit, and that the quick-connect collars are fully seated.
The gas line uses a quick-disconnect fitting. Pull back the collar on the gas connector and push it onto the brass gas inlet on the Hottap. You will see a Type 2 marking on the connector.
Connect the other end of the gas line to your propane tank regulator. Thread the regulator onto the tank valve and tighten it firmly. Open the propane tank valve by turning it counterclockwise.
sink assembly
Install the faucet and set up the washing basin.
Connect the end of the red hot water line (from the mixing valve) to the bottom of the sink faucet using the quick-connect fitting.
Slide the faucet into the slot in the center divider wall of the blue Joolca tub. The faucet clips into place and the spout should arc over the basin.
The two halves of the tub lid flip over and slide into the slots on either side of the tub to become dish drying racks. The ridged surface holds plates and bowls upright to air dry.
We like to place a smaller collapsible basin inside the large tub to contain the soapy dishwater. This makes it easier to manage the dirty water and keeps the outer tub cleaner for rinsing.
first run
Fire up the system and confirm hot water is flowing.
Turn the brass valve on the Scepter jug to the open position (handle parallel to the line). Make sure the mixing valve is turned toward the sink faucet, not the shower. Turn the pump on. The Hottap water heater should ignite automatically when it detects water flow. You will hear the burner light.
Faucet on/off switch
The faucet body has a small on/off button. When it is turned off, the pump will automatically shut off because back-pressure stops the flow. When you turn it on, the pump starts again. Use this to pause water between dishes instead of turning off the pump.
Use the blue temperature dial on the front of the Hottap to set your desired water temperature. The digital display shows the current output temperature. Start lower and adjust up. The water heats up within a few seconds of the burner igniting.
With the pump running, visually inspect every connection point: the pump inlet and outlet, the blue and red connectors on the heater, the gas line fitting, and the faucet connection. If anything is dripping, turn the pump off and re-seat that quick-connect.
Walk the perimeter once and confirm these items before moving in.
Your camp kitchen now has hot running water. Time to tackle those dishes and enjoy the luxury of a clean campsite.
The Hottap V2 heats water on demand with a 37,500 BTU burner. No waiting for water to boil on the stove. Adjustable temperature up to 130°F with a digital display.
The tub lid splits in half and flips over to become dish drying racks on either side of the basin. When you are done, they fold back into the lid for transport.
The mixing valve lets you switch between the sink faucet and the included shower head. Same hot water system, two uses.
Two Scepter 20L military-grade water jugs provide 10 gallons of water. They are stackable, virtually indestructible, and keep water tasting clean trip after trip.
Setup Time
10-15 minutes
Water Heater
Joolca Hottap V2 (37,500 BTU, 9.3 lbs)
Water Supply
2x Scepter 20L jugs (10 gallons total)
Pump Options
Joolca 12V pump (1.6 GPM) or Seaflo 12V pump (3.0 GPM)
Power Source
Any 12V DC battery (EcoFlow, Jackery, etc.)
Fuel
Standard propane tank (10lb or 20lb)
Flow Rate
0.6-1.6 GPM (Joolca pump) or up to 3.0 GPM (Seaflo pump)
Max Temp
~130°F / 55°C
Water is not flowing or comes out as a trickle
Check the bleed valve on top of the Scepter jug first. It must be open to let air in as water flows out. Also check that the brass ball valve on the spout is fully open (handle parallel to the line).
Water is leaking from the Scepter jug spout
Remove the white cap and check the rubber gasket inside. It may be pressed down or distorted. Flatten it and re-seat it, then tighten the cap just enough to seal. Over-tightening can actually make it worse.
Water is leaking from the heater connections
Turn off the pump. Check that the male connectors (blue inlet, red outlet) are screwed tightly into the Hottap unit itself. Then re-seat the quick-connect fittings by pulling back the collar fully and pushing until it clicks.
The heater does not ignite
Make sure the propane tank valve is open and the gas line quick-disconnect is fully seated. The heater only ignites when it detects water flow, so make sure the pump is running and the faucet switch is on.
The pump does not turn on
Check that the battery is powered on and the DC output is enabled (for EcoFlow, both the orange power button and the DC ON/OFF button need to be pressed). Verify the cigarette lighter plug is fully inserted.
Water pressure is weak
If using the blue Joolca pump, this is normal at 1.6 GPM. For stronger pressure, swap to the red Seaflo pump (3.0 GPM). Also check that the bleed valve is open and the water jug is not empty.
Which pump should I use?
The blue Joolca pump is quieter and works well for basic dishwashing. The red Seaflo pump provides nearly double the flow rate and better pressure, which is nicer for rinsing dishes. Both connect the same way via quick-disconnect fittings.