Whether you’re staying at a luxury RV resort or you’re camping in the middle of nowhere, one thing stays the same… emptying your RVs waste tanks!
In this article, we go over the 5 best RV sewer hoses on the market today (as well as what you should look for before purchasing the best RV sewer hose).
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
- What is an RV Sewer Hose?
- What to Look for in an RV Sewer Hose
- Top 5 Best RV Sewer Hoses
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is an RV Sewer Hose?
Simply put, an RV sewer hoses are what allows you to drain the RV holding tanks into a ground sewer connection while at a dump station or campsite.
The most common question most people ask themselves is “Are RV sewer hoses universal?” To that we can confidently say, for the most part yes!
The sewer hose has two ends, one side has a bayonet style fitting that connects to your rig while the other side has an “L” shaped fitting that goes into the dump station inlet. Check out the video below to how RV sewer hoses connect (and how to to properly set up your RV sewer hookup):
What to Look for in an RV Sewer Hose
There are a few things to look for when purchasing a new sewer hose:
- Length
- Thickness and durability
- Fitting type
- Flexibility
- Value
Let’s briefly talk about each of these things (and what makes them important).
Length
Having a longer hose is super important! You need to make sure that the sewer hose will be able to reach the dump pump from the sewer outlet.
Most of the time, 15 to 20 feet is more than enough length while at a campsite, but most RV dump stations require a bit longer of a hose (this is where having a 20 foot hose comes in handy).
Typically, you’d want to avoid getting a hose extension or two hoses (as you don’t want to risk your RV hose leaking).
Note: We recommend getting an RV sewer hose support to accompany your longer hose!
Thickness and Durability
Cheap sewer hoses can be prone to leaks and cracks thanks to UV damage from the sun. Having a thick, durable hose is super important while RVing so you don’t have to replace it every few weeks!
While you’ll have to shell out a bit more money for a thicker, more durable hose it’s a better investment in the long run (as those cheap, thin hoses do add up over time).
Not to mention, accidents happen. While at a dump station, your hose could be run over by a car driving by. Having durable, thicker hoses will help situations like this (as they’ll easily bounce back).
Fitting Type
Before purchasing an RV sewer hose, you’ll need to look closely at the fitting type. There are three to be on the lookout for:
- Most sewer hoses use bayonet style fittings which work well when it comes to preventing leaks, however they can be quite hard to disconnect.
- Some sewer hoses have a cam lock connector fitting which makes leaks nearly impossible. If you’re afraid of black or gray water leaking out, we recommend purchasing a CAM fitting.
- The third and final fitting type for a sewer hose is known as a slip fitting. This fitting slips over the sewer outlet and uses a clamp to lock on. However, these fittings are notorious for slipping off and leaking and are rarely used.
Flexibility
Let’s face it, not all RV sites are made the same way.
In some cases, you’ll need to bend your RV sewer hose to properly place it into the dump station inlet. A thicker, durable hose is able to bend back on itself without collapsing overtime.
Value
We’ve briefly talked about purchasing more expensive hoses as they’re more durable and are able to handle extreme temperatures longer than a thin, cheap hose. While we don’t want you to break the bank, we don’t want you to purchase a thin, flimsy hose that will leak and crack after two uses.
Which leads us into the next section…
Top 5 Best RV Sewer Hoses
Ready to discover the best RV sewer hose on the market for you? Let’s dive in!
Camco RhinoFLEX RV Sewer Hose
If you’re looking for a ready-to-use kit made with the toughest hose on the market, look no further than Camco’s RhinoFLEX 20-foot RV Sewer Hose Kit!
These RV sewer hoses are made of sturdy polyolefin and are reinforced with steel wire. They’re also collapsible and you only have to extend as much hose as you need.
This sewer hose has a 90-degree clear elbow that lets you see what you’re dumping and it attaches to a 4-in-1 sewer connector (which allows you to dump at any dump station). It also has four storage caps to ensure your hose storage spot stays clean and dry between dumps.
Camco RhinoFLEX RV Sewer Hose
- 2 10 foot Rhino FLEX sewer hoses with pre attached bayonet and lug fittings
- 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
- Rhino FLEX sewer Hose is made of 23 mils of durable polyolefin and reinforced with steel wire
The Valterra Viper RV sewer hose kit breaks down into two 10-foot sewer hoses which makes it a very versatile standard RV sewer hose (and it’s able to compress down to 50 inches meaning it’s one of the easiest sewer hoses to store).
This RV sewer hose is thick, durable, and comes with swivel fittings that makes it easy to put together. The ClearView adapter allows you to keep track of water flow while dumping at RV dump stations, too!
Valterra Viper RV Sewer Hose
- Includes 2 collapsible 10-foot hoses with rotating fittings plus a 90 degree universal sewer adapter and 4 drip caps
- Hose collapses from 10 feet to 50 inches for convenient storage
- 90-degree sewer fitting is transparent, allowing you to see when draining is complete
The Titan RV sewer hose is 15-feet long and may be the best RV sewer hose on the market. So many RVers rave about the durability when it comes to this sewer hose (in fact, even if you were to run it over by a car, it would bounce back to its original shape!).
This RV sewer hose is made with Thermal Plastic Elastomer (also known as TPE) which is a proprietary technology that makes this sewer hose abrasion-resistant. This kit comes with two press-fit end caps to eliminate leaks and orders (and the 5-in-1 sewer adapter allows for easy connection at any sewage inlet).
Titan RV Sewer Hose
- Fit type: Universal Fit
- Create a 25-foot sewer connection with the 10-foot extension hose
- 1 revolve 5-in-1 sewer adapter with exclusive handle
The Lippert Waste Master is a 20-foot sewer hose that’s able to collapse down to 5 ½ feet for compact (and easy) storage. Some RVers consider this to be the best RV sewer hose on the market today!
The cam lock provides a secure connection while eliminating the possibility of a leak and the patented design provides a smooth interior surface to eliminate trapped waste within the sewer hose (trust us, this is an important feature).
Lippert Waste Master
- 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
- Nozzle also features a 90 degree discharge port that is easy to fit and secure into any sewage inlet
The Camco Revolution sewer hose is able to connect to two drain pipes at once, allowing you to drain both the sewage and the grey water tank at the same time! For this reason alone, we’d consider this to be the best RV sewer hose (but it’s hard to say when we’ve shared so many great sewer hoses).
The clear adapter gives you visual confirmation that all waste is being disposed of while at a dump station and it’s easy to store thanks to its accordion-style construction. This is what I currently use!
Camco Revolution Sewer Hose
- Includes two 10′ heavy-duty vinyl RV sewer hoses with pre-attached swivel fittings
- Includes one swivel clear bayonet elbow fitting with 4-in-1 adapter
- Easily stores in 4-” square bumpers when 4-in-1 adapter is removed
Frequently Asked Questions
Even full-time RVers have questions about RV accessories they’ve had for a long time – and RV sewer hoses are no different! Here are the most common questions when it comes to sewer hoses:
How often should you replace an RV sewer hose?
Even the best RV sewer hose can age and become brittle overtime as they’re made with plastic. We recommend replacing your sewer hose every 24 to 48 months depending on the durability and construction of your hose.
Note: Sometimes the box that sewer hoses come in let you know how long until you have to replace it!
What length RV sewer hose should I get?
We highly recommend purchasing a longer sewer hose (such as a 20-foot hose) rather than a 15 foot sewer hose as it’s better to have too much hose than not enough.
You could always get a hose extension for your RV hose, but if you’re looking to save space for easy storage, you may not want to purchase several accessories for one hose.
How many RV sewer hoses do I need?
Realistically, this answer can change depending on how much storage you have available. You typically only need one sewer hose, but models like the Camco Revolution Sewer Hose (as mentioned above) is able to empty the black tank as well as the gray water tanks at once.
Not only that, but having a backup hose is a great idea just in case your sewer hose cracks while boondocking!
Are RV sewer hoses universal?
Most RV sewer hoses are three inches in diameter.
Are you able to connect RV sewer hoses together for extra length?
You can, but the risk of leaks in your sewer hoses increases drastically. We’d recommend just purchasing a larger, more durable hose from the start!
How do I store my drain hose?
Storing sewer hoses in your RV can be challenging if your rig doesn’t have a built-in storage tube. You obviously don’t want to keep a dirty (or used) hose near other RV accessories!
We recommend purchasing a plastic container with a lid that’s able to fit in your exterior storage or in the back of a vehicle (if you’re towing one, that is).
We hope this guide was able to help you narrow down which RV sewer hose is best for you! What type of sewer hose do you currently use? Let us know in the comments below.
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