You would think that choosing an RV sewer hose would be as easy as looking at a picture in an online store and clicking the “buy” button. However, there are multiple things you should think about when deciding which one to purchase.
In this article, we’ll go over what to consider before buying your next RV sewer hose so you can get the one that best fits your needs.
Let’s get started!
What is an RV Sewer Hose?
Almost every RV is equipped with holding tanks for storing gray water (used kitchen, bathroom sink, and shower water) and black water (wastewater from the RV toilet). When these tanks get full, they need to be emptied into an approved RV dump station or sewer hookup in an RV park or campground. (Never empty your wastewater onto the ground!)
An RV sewer hose is what you attach to the valve openings of these tanks. It is just that, a hose with a fitting on one end to attach to your RV’s wastewater pipe and a lug fitting on the other end to put into the opening at the dump station or RV park sewer hookup.
When connected correctly and securely, the sewer hose keeps the wastewater from contacting the ground as it flows from your RV to the septic/sewer system you are dumping into.
Are There Different Types of RV Sewer Hoses?
Yes, believe it or not, there are different types of RV sewer hoses, and some are much easier to use and more durable than others.
Dumping your black and gray wastewater tanks is the least desirable RV chore there is. Dealing with human waste and smelly water is not only undesirable, but it’s also unsanitary. This is why you need to have a strong, flexible, and well-sealed RV sewer hose.
These questions should get you started toward your decision on which type of RV sewer hose you should get.
- Would a thicker RV sewer hose best meet your needs?
- Do you want a sewer hose with beads (the metal coils) only on the outside, creating a smooth interior for ease of flow?
- How long of a sewer hose do you think you will need?
- How many RV sewer hoses do you think you need? You can connect them together for more length.
- What type of sewer hose storage do you have, or will you need to create a storage space?
- Do you want an RV sewer hose that is more able to use universal adapters and fittings or do you want one that has fittings only that brand of sewer hose can use?
- Do you want a sewer hose that will stay compressed for easy storage?
All these questions you should be able to answer as you work toward your final decision.
Don’t Skimp on Your Sewer Hose – Quality Makes All The Difference
We know the price for some RV sewer hoses will determine which kind you will buy. However, think about how often you may have to replace a cheaper hose because it springs a leak when you could just pay a bit more and get a higher-quality RV sewer hose that will last longer.
Quality RV sewer hoses have many appealing features.
They will often:
- Be crush-proof and abrasion-resistant,
- Be protected from UV deterioration,
- Have attachments that fit well, and
- Have a smooth interior for easy flow of wastewater and for cleaning.
A thicker sewer hose is also considered a higher-quality hose. However, consider your storage space when deciding on the thickness. A thicker hose will last longer but may take up more space.
Think about how often you’ll be taking your hose in and out of where it’s stored (inside of the rear bumper or in a storage bay) and on what surfaces you think it will be used. Frequent use and surfaces such as gravel will degrade a lower-quality RV sewer hose much faster.
RV Sewer Hose Buyers Guide: What to Consider
The variation in many RV dump stations and campground hookups requires you to be prepared for any scenario. The height of the receptacle to the sewer system you’re dumping into, how far away it is from your RV, the angle from your RV, and the often-dreaded pipe size difference will determine your RV sewer hose type and any extra accessories you will need.
Length
RV sewer hoses come in lengths from 10 feet up to 25 feet when fully extended. Thankfully, there are adapters that you can use to connect shorter sewer hoses together to create one long one when necessary.
There are also some sewer hoses that will stay compressed for easy storage when not in use, making them easier to store.
Flexibility and Rigidity
Most RV sewer hoses are flexible. They are made with a coil of wire called a bead that is wrapped around and covered with the hose material- usually a heavy-duty vinyl or plastic sheeting that comes in multiple thicknesses. This coil allows you to position the sewer hose at varying angles and to stretch it to its fullest length. Some sewer hoses will even stay compressed due to how tight the coil can become. Storage for these hoses becomes much easier, and you can often store more than one within the same space.
The hose material will cause your hose to be either more or less rigid, depending on the thickness of the heavy-duty plastic or vinyl. The thicker hoses will make your hose stronger and more puncture resistant and thinner hoses can be more prone to punctures or slices when drug across tougher surfaces like gravel. However, thinner RV sewer hoses are easier to store in a tight space while the thicker hoses usually need more.
Storage
Thicker and longer RV sewer hoses will take up more space so you’ll want to create a space in a storage bay, use a dedicated sewer hose tube mounted under the RV, or in the hollow four-inch bumper of your RV.
No matter where you store your RV sewer hose, it should have its own dedicated container and space. You do not want any part to touch your freshwater hoses or anything else that may become contaminated by raw sewage remnants.
Attachments
RV sewer hose kits often come with attachments for connecting to your RV’s wastewater outlet as well as to the dump station or RV park inlet. However, not all dump stations, RV parks, and campgrounds have consistently sized inlet pipes, so you’ll need to collect a few attachments to help with this.
The first attachment is a four-in-one adapter that allows you to attach your sewer hose to four different sizes of septic inlets. It will fit 3”, 3 ½”, and 4” septic pipes at dump stations and RV parks.
Link to RV Sewer Inlet Adapter on Amazon
Next, you should purchase a sewer elbow to attach to the four-in-one adapter at one end and your RV sewer hose at the other. Sewer elbows are made from hard plastic and can be see-through to help you determine when no more wastewater is coming out of the sewer hose. It also helps your sewer hose from having to make an awkward angle when attached to the four-in-one adapter, keeping wastewater flowing smoothly.
Link to Clear RV Sewer Hose Elbow on Amazon
Accessories
Another helpful accessory is a reverse flush adapter for backflushing your RV’s black water tank. When attached to your RV’s wastewater outlet, you can connect a garden hose to spray water back up into your black tank to loosen any extra debris that may have gotten stuck. The water and debris come out of your RV sewer hose that’s attached to the other end of the reverse flush adapter.
Link to Reverse Flush Adapter on Amazon
When you want to connect two or more RV sewer hoses together, you’ll need to have a sewer hose adapter. These come in clear plastic with one bayonet end and one lug end to connect to the male and female ends of your RV sewer hoses you plan to use together. You never know when you’re going to need extra length of RV sewer hose to get from your RV to the dump station or RV park septic inlet.
3 Best RV Sewer Hose Options
Here are a few sewer hoses we recommend for quality and durability.
1. RhinoFlex Sewer Hose Kit
This sewer hose kit features two sewer hoses with bayonet and lug fittings already attached, a transparent sewer hose elbow attachment, and a four-in-one adapter. Each sewer hose section compresses to 39” for easy storage. It is made of durable polyolefin (strong, flexible plastic) and reinforced with steel wire.
Link to RhinoFlex Sewer Hose on Amazon
2. Rhino EXTREME Sewer Hose Kit
The Rhino Extreme RV sewer hose is made from Thermoplastic Elastomer (another durable, flexible, and vinyl-like plastic), making the hose resistant to pinholes. It is also crush-proof, dent-proof, and rust-proof. Included in the kit are two RV sewer hoses, pre-attached lug and bayonet fittings, a clear elbow attachment, and a four-in-one adapter for different sizes of septic inlets at dump stations and RV parks.
Link to Rhino EXTREME Sewer Hose on Amazon
3. Valterra Silverback RV Sewer Hose Kit
This extremely durable, polypropylene RV sewer hose is extra thick around the outer beads (wires) making it puncture and crush resistant. The polypropylene is treated to provide extra UV protection as well. The kit includes two 10’ hoses with lug and bayonet fittings already attached, and a clear elbow and universal adapter combination. This sewer hose is also unique in that it has a smooth interior. Because the beads have been placed on the exterior, debris will not get caught when flowing through this sewer hose.
Link to Valterra Silverback RV Sewer Hose on Amazon
Wrapping Up
We cannot stress enough how important a high-quality RV sewer hose is for ease of dumping your wastewater tanks.
Take into consideration all the factors listed above, such as storage, flexibility, attachments, length, and thickness, and we’re sure you’ll find the best sewer hose for your RVing experience.
5 Responses
Apparently you’ve forgotten the most important part of any sewer hose; the connectors. I’ve been using a Drainmaster/Wastemaster hose for many years now. It features cam lock fittings, which are much more secure, leakproof and easier to use. https://drainmaster.com/rv/waste-master-videos
Our Valterra sewer hose didn’t connect securely to the Rhino sewer hose. Fitting not universal fitting. Had slow leak.
A valuable accessory is the inexpensive wrench used to connect and disconnect the sewer hose. At age 79, I didn’t have the hand strength to disconnect, or securely connect, the sewer hose to the black water fitting on our motorhome. I bought a Camco Rhinoflex RV Sewer Fitting Wrench Set (2 wrenches, one to hold the fitting on the motorhome while the other is tightening or loosening), cost $10.61 at Amazon.
Henry, thanks for the heads-up. Great info for sure.
I was disappointed in this article because you never mention the WasteMaster system from Lippert. It is an excellent choice and has many advantages over a bayonet fittings.