6 Best Integrated Pet Bowls For Custom RV Builds Nomads Swear By

We’ve all been there: you make a sharp turn on a forest service road and hear the dreaded skitter-splash from the galley. Your dog’s water bowl has once again redecorated the floor, creating a slip hazard and a mess you’ll have to clean up at the next pull-off. Traveling with pets in an RV is one of life’s great joys, but managing their gear in a tiny, moving space is a constant puzzle. Integrated pet bowls aren’t just a luxury; they’re a fundamental upgrade for a safer, cleaner, and more efficient life on the road.

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Why Integrated Pet Feeders Are Essential in an RV

Loose bowls on an RV floor are a recipe for disaster. They slide, they spill during travel, and they’re a major tripping hazard, especially in the tight confines of a hallway or galley. Every square inch of floor space is precious, and dedicating a permanent spot to a set of bowls that are constantly underfoot is a poor use of real estate.

An integrated feeder solves all these problems at once. By building the bowls into a drawer or a dedicated station, you reclaim your floor space and eliminate the risk of kicking a full water bowl in the middle of the night. More importantly, it secures the food and water during transit, meaning you arrive at your destination without a soupy mess to clean up. This isn’t about aesthetics; it’s about practical, day-to-day functionality in a home that moves.

Think of it as part of your rig’s core systems. Just as you have a dedicated spot for your plumbing and electrical, your pet’s station should be a planned, permanent fixture. It simplifies your daily routine, keeps your pet’s feeding area more sanitary, and removes a significant source of clutter and frustration.

Lippert Scout Pet Dish Drawer: RV-Ready Solution

For those who prefer a ready-made solution, the Lippert Scout is one of the few off-the-shelf products designed specifically for the RV market. It’s a simple, self-contained plastic drawer unit that comes with two bowls. The main advantage here is simplicity; installation is straightforward and doesn’t require advanced cabinet-making skills.

The unit is designed to fit into common RV cabinet dimensions, often replacing an existing shallow drawer. Because it’s made of durable plastic, it’s incredibly easy to clean and won’t be damaged by water spills. This is a huge plus over unsealed wood. The Lippert Scout is the go-to for builders who want a reliable, purpose-built option without the guesswork of a full custom build.

The tradeoff is a lack of customizability. You’re locked into its specific dimensions and bowl size, which may not be ideal for very large or very small pets. It’s also a bit pricier than a simple DIY solution, but you’re paying for the convenience and the peace of mind that comes with a product engineered for the road.

Rev-A-Shelf Pull-Out Feeder: Cabinet Integration

Rev-A-Shelf is a household name in kitchen organization, and their pull-out pet feeders are a fantastic option for RVs if you plan your cabinets accordingly. These units are typically built with a wood base and heavy-duty drawer slides, offering a sturdier, more premium feel than all-plastic alternatives. They come in various widths designed to fit standard residential cabinet openings.

The key to using a Rev-A-Shelf unit successfully in an RV is to design your cabinetry around it from the start. RV cabinets are often oddly sized, so trying to retrofit one can be a challenge. However, if you’re doing a full custom build, you can easily frame a cabinet box to the exact specifications needed for a smooth installation.

These feeders often come with high-quality stainless steel bowls and are built to withstand daily use for years. They provide a clean, integrated look that feels less like an RV accessory and more like a feature of a high-end kitchen. Just be sure to get accurate measurements and confirm the slide length will work with your cabinet depth.

The Custom Toe-Kick Drawer: A Hidden Food Station

The space behind the toe-kick—that recessed area at the bottom of your cabinets—is some of the most underutilized real estate in any build. A custom toe-kick drawer feeder turns this dead space into a brilliant, hidden pet station. When closed, it’s completely invisible, sitting flush with the rest of your cabinetry.

Building one involves constructing a very short, wide drawer box that slides directly on the floor or on low-profile slides. You can use a touch-latch mechanism so a simple push with your foot opens the drawer, revealing the food and water bowls. This is the ultimate "out of sight, out of mind" solution, perfect for maintaining clean, uncluttered floor lines in a small space.

This is an advanced project that requires precise woodworking. You need to account for the height of the bowls and ensure the drawer front is perfectly aligned. It’s also crucial to use waterproof materials or seal the wood thoroughly, as this area is prone to spills. For builders comfortable with custom cabinetry, the toe-kick drawer is unmatched for its seamless integration and space-saving genius.

DIY Plywood Drawer Feeder: A Nomad-Built Classic

This is the workhorse of the custom van and RV world. The concept is simple: build a shallow drawer box out of plywood, cut holes for a pair of stainless steel bowls, and install it in any low-level cabinet or under a dinette bench. It’s affordable, infinitely customizable, and can be built with basic tools.

The beauty of the DIY approach is that you can tailor it perfectly to your needs. You choose the dimensions, the bowl size, and the type of drawer slides. For RVs, using locking drawer slides is non-negotiable. They prevent the drawer from flying open during travel, which is the whole point of an integrated system. A simple barrel bolt or a magnetic catch can also work in a pinch.

When building your own, pay close attention to materials. Use a quality plywood like Baltic birch that is stable and less prone to warping. Most importantly, seal the entire drawer, inside and out, with multiple coats of a waterproof finish like marine-grade varnish or a food-safe epoxy. This prevents water damage and makes cleaning up spills a breeze.

WeatherTech Bowls For Custom Elevated Platforms

Not every integrated solution has to be a drawer. For larger dogs or for rigs where a drawer isn’t feasible, a custom-built elevated platform is an excellent alternative. The goal is to create a fixed, stable station that won’t slide around. This can be a simple plywood box built into a corner or under a desk, designed to perfectly fit a set of high-quality bowls.

This is where a product like the WeatherTech Pet Bowl system shines. Their bowls are heavy, with a non-slip base, and they fit into a sturdy, waterproof mat. By building a platform sized to snugly hold this mat, you create a semi-permanent station that is incredibly stable and easy to clean. The entire mat and bowl assembly can be lifted out for washing.

This approach is ideal for dogs that benefit from an elevated feeder for digestive health. It’s also a great solution if you lack the cabinet space for a drawer but have an awkward corner you want to make useful. The platform itself becomes part of the RV’s structure, ensuring it stays put no matter how rough the road gets.

Fold-Down Wall Feeder: The Ultimate Space-Saver

In the smallest of builds—think micro-campers or rigs with minimal cabinetry—even a drawer can feel like a luxury. The fold-down wall feeder is a clever, space-saving solution borrowed from the tiny house movement. It consists of a small platform mounted to a wall with heavy-duty hinges, which folds up and latches flat against the wall when not in use.

The platform has cutouts for the bowls, which are removed before folding it up. This design keeps the entire floor clear when the feeding station isn’t needed, making it perfect for high-traffic areas like the entryway. It’s a minimalist solution that maximizes open floor space, a critical factor in rigs under 20 feet.

Building a fold-down feeder requires a solid mounting point. You must anchor it directly to the RV’s frame or a reinforced wall section, as the leverage from a pet eating can put significant stress on the hinges. While it’s a more niche application, for the right build, it’s an elegant solution to a very common problem.

Choosing Materials for Your Custom RV Pet Station

The materials you choose for your custom build will determine its longevity and ease of maintenance. This is not the place to cut corners. Your pet station will be exposed to water, food, and daily wear and tear, especially in a moving vehicle.

For the structure itself, Baltic birch plywood is the gold standard. It’s strong, stable, and holds screws well, which is critical for drawer slides and hardware. For a more budget-friendly option, a quality cabinet-grade plywood will suffice. Avoid MDF or particleboard, as they will swell and disintegrate at the first sign of moisture.

Sealing your project is the most critical step. Apply at least three coats of a high-quality waterproof sealant like a marine spar varnish or polyurethane. Pay extra attention to sealing the inside of the bowl cutouts and all the end grains of the wood. For bowls, always choose stainless steel. They are non-porous, easy to sanitize, and won’t harbor bacteria like plastic or ceramic bowls can.

Finally, invest in good hardware. Use heavy-duty, full-extension drawer slides, preferably with a locking feature to keep them secure during transit. A drawer that can support 75-100 pounds might seem like overkill, but the dynamic forces in a moving RV can put a lot of stress on a drawer filled with sloshing water.

Ultimately, the best integrated pet feeder is the one that fits your rig’s layout, your pet’s needs, and your building skills. Whether you choose a ready-made unit or a completely custom toe-kick drawer, the goal is the same: to create a secure, clean, and space-efficient solution that makes life on the road better for both you and your furry co-pilot. Stop cleaning up spills and start building a smarter space.