What is the best RV sewer hose?
When it comes to Nice to haves Sewer hoses are not one of them. A RV sewer hose might be the most important accessories you own on your RV. So nothing but the best will work when emptying your RVs tanks.
What Is an RV Sewer Hose?
A sewer hose is a tube used to transport wastewater and septic waste from the toilet of an RV.
The hose consists of one end that attaches to the toilet outlet and a second end that attaches to a drainage point. The hoses are typically made with rubber, clear PVC or vinyl, or polyethylene material.
Are RV Sewer Hoses Universal?
No, RV sewer hoses are not universal. There are multiple types of hose fittings to deal with different plumbing fixtures. If you’re interested in more information about this, continue reading to see a pro-tip on how to tell which type of sewer hose is right for your needs.
How Long Should an RV Sewer Hose Be?
The length of the hose should be about 20 feet long. This will allow you to move the hose around and not strain yourself. Longer is better because it will give you more room to work with in a variety of circumstances.
One thing that some people do is cut their hose down as needed, depending on where/how it’s hooked up. For example, you may find out that your setup can only reach about 15 feet away from the actual hook up site, so then they have a 5 foot piece of hose at one end, which then connects to the rest of the hose (which can be 20 or 25 feet long).
Different types of RV hoses
1. Honey wagon
The most common hose is the type which slides onto your RV’s sewer connection. These are well known as a ‘honey wagon’ hose, for obvious reasons.
They’re inexpensive and readily available so they’re very popular with RV owners, and can be found at places like WalMart or Camping World. However they only come in certain sizes to fit different RVs, so you may need to buy several of them if you own multiple campers.
Also not all slide onto the sewer fitting correctly – it depends on what brand of sewer fitting your camper has. That means that one size does not necessarily fit all with these types of hoses, but since there are different brands out there it appears that someone makes one to work with every brand.
Although these hoses have the advantage of being inexpensive, they also have their disadvantages. They’re prone to developing leaks at the seam where it connects to your RV sewer fitting.
This is often because there isn’t enough give in the hose material for it to flex while you’re driving down rough roads. Since this type of hose has no fittings on either end, cleaning them out requires pouring water through them (which helps flush any solids out), or using a specialized vacuum cleaner.
Regardless of how you plan to clean them, you’ll want to get at least two so that if one develops a leak you can swap it with another while repairs are made on the other hose – otherwise you could find yourself stranded in an area where you can’t easily find another hose.
2. Sewer adapter type
Another type of sewer hose is the ‘sewer adapter’ type, sometimes called a ‘hoop style’ sewer hose. They connect to your RV’s holding tank via screw-on fittings at each end, and work like an ordinary garden hose with standard female connections on both ends so they’re easy to connect to whatever you plan to use them for.
However as I mentioned they are made with two female connectors, which means that if you need some way of connecting a water source (like a garden hose connection) to your camper while traveling – such as if there’s no water hookup at the campground – then this won’t work very well for you.
These hoses have the advantage of being resistant to leaks, and because they have separate fittings you can easily buy one to fit almost any RV’s sewer connection.
There are a few other types of hose which also have two female ends so that you can hook them up directly to your camper’s holding tank, but these aren’t as common or well known.
One is the ‘hose-in-a-hose’ type, where there’s an inner diameter hose built into another larger outer diameter hose. The inner smaller diameter hose fits snugly over your RV’s holding tank discharge pipe (the narrow end) – much like a sleeve on a garden hose – while the outer larger diameter part is slid onto the male connector at the other end of your camper (the wide end).
This type of hose has the advantage that you can take it off and put it on quickly, which makes cleaning out your holding tank easier. It’s also a bit more sturdy than the other types of hose because you don’t have as much flex in the material while you’re driving down rough roads.
And of course they work well for both sewer hookups and attaching to your fresh water supply when needed, although some people who own older campers with smaller diameter discharge pipes say these are too large to fit over their camper’s pipe.
3. Hose-in-a-fitting type
Another newer type is the ‘hose-in-a-fitting’ type, where there’s a female fitting attached directly to your RV’s sewer connection.
These fittings are similar to the kind you’d find on a garden hose, but they’re screw-on fittings that you connect a standard female garden hose connector onto so that you can spray water directly into your camper’s waste tank.
An example of this type is the TST hose fitting , which I’ve written about before. One advantage to these types of hoses is that it does away with having any extra parts (the hose and connectors) to carry around or keep track of.
However all three types have one thing in common: They don’t attach directly to your camper’s holding tank like some older campers had, where there was an attached metal sewer pipe with a small sliding door at the end that would open/shut when you wanted to pour fresh water into your camper’s waste tank.
These types of sewer hoses are generally more expensive than the ‘hose-in-a-fitting’ type, but they have the advantage of being a bit sturdier since it’s harder to pull them off if you’ve parked in an area where its hard to back up (although that is only likely if you’re not careful).
If you plan on using your hose mainly for other purposes besides dumping your holding tank there are also some other things to consider:
For instance do you want a heavy duty hose that can withstand being dragged over rough terrain by your RV or towed behind another vehicle, or will a lighter one work just as well?
Do you need one with an extra layer of rubber around the outside for extra protection?
And of course, do you want one that looks nice or is ‘generic looking’, since it might stick out a bit more if others notice your camper back up to something and then go over to see what’s going on.
One other thing that some people don’t like about these hoses is that when you’re dumping holding tank or using sewer hookups, they can get in the way because they’re dragging along the ground behind you instead of coming out of your camper’s side vent (if it has one).
Remember: A sewer hose is one accessory you definitely want to get if you’re going out into the wilds where no hookups are provided – and even more so if you don’t plan on using your camper’s holding tank often.
If this bothers you there are some solutions which will allow you to store them securely away inside your RV: One option would be to cut the hose back behind your camper’s side vent, and then put a 90-degree elbow so it can run flush against the side of your camper instead of dragging behind.
If you’re concerned about dirt and water getting into your vehicle from going around to the other side you could put a shutoff valve there.
Another option would be to store it inside your RV while it’s not in use. One way of doing this is to run the end with the male connector through an opening in one of your interior walls (a wood block that you attach on either side will give additional support).
Then you can take off the hose whenever you need it but keep it strapped down or tied up out of the way when not being used – for instance if you’re staying in a campground that doesn’t allow you to leave hoses hanging outside.
Another option is to clip the hose onto your camper’s ladder when it’s not being used, so that it won’t drag along the ground while camping.
Of course this means you have to take off the hose and hang it up whenever you need to use it (instead of just pulling over a few feet from where you parked), but then if there isn’t much space for such activities at your campsite, this may be an ideal solution.
Finally, if you want one type of fitting on both ends of your sewer hose, or are concerned about which end will work best with older/smaller holding tanks, note that some manufacturers also offer universal fittings that can be used on all types of hoses.
If you’re looking for a hose to use during your outdoor adventures and not just for dumping, besides the weight I mentioned above there are some other things you may want to consider when choosing a sewer hose:
For instance do you need one that comes with an odor-blocking additive?
Or one with extra flexibility (for easier storage)?
One final note is that if you plan on using larger/thicker rubber plumbing lines then it’s usually recommended to get a fitting made specifically for this size/type of line – although in many cases they will work fine as long as the diameter isn’t over 3/4 inch.
So What is the best RV sewer hose?
The importance of a good sewer hose cannot be overstated. The type of camper you have will dictate what type of hose you need. We’ll look at the different types, and their pros and cons.
Our TOP 5 Best RV Sewer Hoses
1. Camco RhinoFLEX 20-Foot RV Sewer Hose Kit
About this item
- Kit Includes: Two 10-inch RhinoFLEX sewer Hoses with pre-attached bayonet and lug fittings, transparent elbow with 4-in-1 adapter and four storage caps
- Fits A Variety Of Dump-Station Pipes: The transparent elbow connects to the 4-in-1 adapter, which fits 3-inch slips or 3-inch, 3-1/2-inch and 4-inch threaded dump-station pipes
- Swivel Fittings: For ease of connection
- Easy to Store: Each 10-foot section compresses to 39-inches with fittings for storage and the removable 4-in-1 adapter allows you to store the hose in 4-inch square bumpers
- Durable Construction: RhinoFLEX sewer Hose is made of 23 mils of durable polyolefin and reinforced with steel wire; Includes permanent, no leak fittings
2. Valterra Viper 20-Foot RV Sewer Hose Kit
About this item
- COMPACT STORAGE: Hose collapses from 10 feet to 50 inches for convenient storage
- LEAK-PROOF: Pre-installed rotating fittings with bayonet hooks ensure a leak-proof system and keep hose flat
- CLEAR VIEW ADAPTER: 90-degree sewer fitting is transparent, allowing you to see when draining is complete. It fits 6 different sewer types with a gas-tight steal
- DURABLE MATERIAL: 25 mil thick hose material with 135 mil protective beading for added strength
3. Titan 20 Foot Premium RV Sewer Hose Kit
About this item
- VERSATILITY]: Easy to mount on RV waste outlet with the Extended Grip universal bayonet mount
- [DESIGN]: Two rugged 10-Foot TPE hoses, easy to connect to RV outlet and to each other
- [DURABILITY]: TPE hose prevents leaks and is uncrushable – bounces back in shape even after being run over by a car
- [FUNCTIONALITY]: Puncture, abrasion, and extreme temperature resistance
- [INNOVATIVE]: Revolve 5-in-1 sewer adapter with exclusive handle, easy to connect to dump station and to maneuver
WE RECOMMEND
4. Lippert 359724 Waste Master 20
About this item
- Comes complete with a time-tested CAM lock connector that ensures a leak-proof connection to the sewer outlet
- Hose is designed with its helical coil on the outside, while the inside is much smoother, preventing waste from getting trapped inside the hose
- UV-protected hose is 5’6″ feet compressed and 20 feet extended and features technology that keeps it extended during use to the exact length required
- Permanently-connected nozzle is molded with an easy-grip handle, an integrated shut-off valve and a clear view port that allows the user to see when waste has completely evacuated
- Nozzle also features a 90 degree discharge port that is easy to fit and secure into any sewage inlet
5. Camco RhinoEXTREME 15ft RV Sewer Hose Kit
About this item
- Includes RhinoFLEX sewer hose, swivel bayonet adapter, 4 in 1 translucent elbow, 2 locking rings and 2 storage caps
- Fittings swivel for ease of use and are detachable
- RhinoFLEX sewer hose is made of 23 mils of durable polyolefin and reinforced with steel wire
- 4 in 1 translucent elbow adapter fits 3 inch slip or 3 inch, 3 1/2 inch and 4 inch threaded dump station pipes
- Kit compresses to 56 inches for storage and the removable 4 in 1 adapter allows you to store the hose in 4 inches square bumpers
Conclusion
Obviously all of these hoses will also work well for dumping your holding tank, and most can do other things besides come with an additional nozzle/fitting that allows it to be used for this purpose.
So the ones I’ve mentioned above may not necessarily be the absolute best when it comes to just dumping – but they’re some of my favorites based on quality, durability and good looks!
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