Best RV Sewer Hose For You RV Or Campervan

Sitting down and having a chat about picking the best RV sewer hose is never going to be something that comes up on your bucket list. It’s not a particularly nice topic, and it’s certainly not the kind of thing that will make you any friends at a party.

Nevertheless, for some people, this is an important part of van life. And trust me, you don’t want to end up getting it wrong and making a real mess (literally).

In the world of RV accessories, you can find a gadget or a piece of equipment for every kind of job. All the best RV sewer hose models have accompanying accessories and various pieces of equipment to collect too.

It’s a whole new world, and you don’t want to find yourself up a certain creek without a paddle. (You might need the end of a paddle if you get a blockage in your pipe, however!)

Everything You Need To Know About The RV Sewer Hose

What Is An RV Sewer Hose

I’ve honestly never written or said the words ‘RV sewer hose’ as many times in my life. It’s not something that a lot of us think we’re going to end up discussing when we wake up in a morning.

Thankfully, I’ve already had my breakfast.

An RV sewer hose takes waste from your campervan to a drainage point at a campsite. It’s essentially a long, flexible pipe that can be expanded or contracted down for storing away. It’s a ginormous version of the kind of pipe that you might have under your household sink.

If, like me, you don’t use campsites and prefer to wild camp, then you’re probably best heading over to check out our article on the best campervan toilets. (This article will still be here when you get back).

You can still use hoses at these sites, but most are geared up for emptying removable cassette toilets, of which you will find many on the linked article above.

If, however, you like to holiday in campsites, then a long, sturdy hose will be invaluable when it comes to emptying time. 

Why Do I Need One?

I’ve heard this pipe called lots of things, some of which I can’t write down in this family-friendly article. ‘Sluice Snake’ and ‘Poop Pipe’ are about the only ones that I can write here. Still, you get the general idea.

Campgrounds have sewage points sticking up out of the ground, and an RV sewer hose connects your black and grey tanks (that’s dirty water and number two’s) to these sewage points.

Still with me? Good, let’s continue.

Picking The Right RV Sewer Hose

Size Matters

Picking the right hose is a more precise job than you might think. It’s not just a one-size-fits all sort of thing. Hoses come in various lengths and thicknesses. And of course, various degrees of quality.

RV sewer hose models tend to come in three different lengths – 10, 15, and 20 feet. There’s no right specific size, but choosing the correct length will be down to A) where you plan to go on holiday, and B) how close to a sewage point you’re going to want to park.

From experience, relaxing near a toilet emptying area isn’t enjoyable. Most people would look to purchase a hose around the 15-foot mark. You can add extension pieces on if you think that’s too short, but that’s leaving scope for more leakages along the way.

How Do I Know What Diameter Hose To Get?

If you use campsites on a regular basis and your hose is going to get a lot of usage, then you’re probably going to want to go for one that’s quite thick and has a large opening. Wider openings help with the flow of the waste and minimize the chance of blockages.

Equally, if you’re only planning on using a hose once or twice a year, then you could probably just get away with using a thinner, cheaper product. Just don’t come running to us when you get poop on your brand new sneakers.

The average size that most hardcore RV fanatics go for is 23mm. That should be able to cope with most things that you throw at it (or down it in this case). It’s also important to make sure you pick a flexible hose, one that will be able to stretch around corners and won’t freeze up and tear in winter.

All of these factors will be governed by how much space you have in your van. There’s no way you’ll be able to stick a 50-metre 40mm thick hose in a VW California Camper. Measure your boot space, take these factors into account, and buy accordingly.

How Do I Use an RV Sewer Hose?

Using an RV sewer hose is pretty simple. All you need to do is connect one end of the pipe up to your camper, and another into the designated emptying pipe or sewage depositing area. If you’re pouring into a site that could be described more as an open drain, then stand back and make sure you have some gloves handy.

What Accessories Do I Need To Complete My Set Up?

Remember I told you that these things come with more accessories than Inspector Gadget? Well, I might have been exaggerating a little bit, but there are tools that you can buy to make your life easier.

Sewer Hose Supports might seem a little bit over the top, but they do make your pipe visible to other campers and prevent any chance of them running it over and breaking it. They can also help with creating a flow to the sewage disposal point. They keep connections tight, and they also make the pipe look a little like a centipede, which is kind of cool!

An RV Macerator breaks down your poop and makes it thinner, reducing the risk of getting anything clogged in the pipe. Cleaning out a blockage isn’t any fun, and I wouldn’t want to start messing around trying to sort that out on an evening when all my friends were relaxing with beers.

Let’s Look At Some RV Sewer Hose Models!

I bet you never thought you could get this excited about a Sluice Snake…

1. Lippert Waste Master

PROS	CONS
Cam lock connector eliminates leaks	Expensive option
Extends to 20-feet and locks length in place	Permanently connected nozzle could be tricky to clean

The Lippert Waste Master is a seriously good bit of kit. The UV protected hose is smooth on the inside to prevent any blockages, and the helical coil on the outside allows the unit to be extended up to 20-feet.

The technology used in this hose keeps it extended at your desired length without it springing back. It uses leak proof connectors and has a 90-degree spout for discharging.

The only downside to this hose is that it’s about three-times as expensive as it’s competitors. Though the non-shrink technology makes it worth the extra cash.

2. Camco RhinoEXTREME

PROS	CONS
Crush protection walls	Fittings not permanently attached
Works down to -40℉

With easy-to-use swivel fittings and transparent connectors, the Camco RhinoEXTREME RV sewer hose is a great all-rounder. It’s compact enough to fit in most campervans and is super durable.

The TPE technology inside this hose makes it less susceptible to abrasion and pinholes. It also comes with ‘crush protection’, so wandering campers aren’t going to damage it with their blundering feet.

This RV sewer hose has a 4-in-1 connector that can be easily changed. Just make sure you remember to fix them up real tight, otherwise you’ll have a foul mess to sort out!

3. Valterra Dominator

PROS	CONS
23-mil thick hose	More pieces to connect
Two 10-foot hoses that interlock for leak-free usage

The strong and durable Valterra Dominator RV sewer hose is one of the best on the market. It comes with two 10-foot sewer hoses, giving you 10 or 20-feet depending on how far away you are from a sewage point.

The 23-mil walls on this thing are super strong and hold their structure perfectly. You’ll get a good flow from a product that will last the test of time.

And, it has the coolest name of any of our products. Who wouldn’t want to use the ‘Valterra Dominator‘!

This hose comes with four drip caps and shrinks down to just 39-inches for storing away. That’s pretty small! Yes, there are a few more components to put together on this one, but it’s worth having two smaller hoses for the price of one. And, you can easily add another 10-foot hose into the mix.

4. Camco RhinoFLEX

PROS	CONS
Two 10-foot hoses	Two pieces to put together
Reinforced with steel wire

The Camco RhinoFLEX is pretty similar to the Valterra Dominator in both size, thickness, and overall look. The main difference is, however, that the RhinoFLEX has over 6,600 reviews on Amazon. It’s a pretty popular product!

The Camco RhinoFLEX RV sewer hose has a 4-in-1 adapter, tight four-prong fittings, and transparent elbow pieces so you can see when your waste has ‘left the station’. The hose itself is reinforced with steel wire, so you know it’s going to be durable.

You can buy this product with frustration free packaging, which can only be a good thing for the planet and your mind.

Yes, it’s going to be a bit more fiddly than products that don’t need connecting together. But, having two hoses is better than one. I think that’s a saying, right?

5. Titan Premium

PROS	CONS
Includes 5-in-1 adapter	Smaller than some of the other models in this list
Great price

Last, but by no means least, is the Titan from Thetford. Thetford makes some of the best campervan toilets on the market, and the Titan Premium conforms to their same high standards.

Like some of the other products on this list, it is made from the highest grade, uncrushable, TPE. It’s abrasion resistant and works in extreme temperatures at both ends of the thermometer. It will even bounce back into shape after being run over by another camper!

The 5-in-1 sewer adapter makes this product a versatile hose that will work with virtually any camper and sewage outlet. It’s priced well but is shorter than some of the other hoses in the list.

If that’s a deal-breaker, then just add an extension piece into the mix, or go for the 20-foot option. Sorted!

More Content From The Van Clan Team!

• Check out the best composting toilet for your camper
• Van life insurance exists, and here’s how to get it
• Battle Born Batteries are the only batteries you’ll ever need
• Follow Van Clan on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!