Sewer Hose

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Altazi

Altazi

Active member
Joined
Sep 26, 2021
Posts
43
Location
West Linn, Oregon
Sorry for hitting the forum so often, but I just discovered that our 2018 Surveyor 220RBS travel trailer did not come with a sewer hose - the rear bumper storage was empty. I’m glad I checked before our upcoming inaugural camping trip!

The trailer has what appears to be a standard twist-lock connector. (If this is not a standard thing, please let me know!) Looking on Amazon, I see different lengths of hoses, extension hoses, etc. What length is typically required? Are there any special requirements I should be looking for, or be aware of?

I have also seen what appear to be extendable trestle supports for sewer hoses, some over $80! Are these also required?

Again, any guidance would be most welcome. Thanks!
 
Rhinoflex. The one we got has a clear elbow. The kit is fairly complete. We needed a second hose and a Y connector since we have 2 grey tanks. That ladder support gizmo is pretty handy too. It helps maintain a slope toward the sewer tank. A couple extensions wouldn't hurt. Sometimes you might not be able to get close enough. Last fall we had a tree in the way of our left slide. Our TT has full wall slides on both sides so we ended up just a bit too far for ours to reach. Fortunately, we were with friends and I borrowed one of his.
oh...don't forget the wrenches!!
 
It is a standard fitting and I carry a 10' and a 20' and also a couper to connect them on the rare occasion that I need both. I think that the only time I have ever used the coupler has been when attending RV rallies. At least 80% of the time the 10' is plenty. I also have one of the supports for my sewer hose but I only use it when parked for more than a week or if in AZ or some other places that require the use of a support. I have been RVing for many years and have found that the most service for the cost is to buy the Valtera heavy duty hose or similar. You will also need the fitting that goes into the sewer connection at most RV hookups and for those parks that do not have a threaded fitting a rubber donut plug. If you do as I do and carry 2 hoses you need the adapter to hook them together as well.
 
Most of the parts Kirk suggested are available from Walmart. Just different brands. We carry two 10' hoses and a coupler along with the required threaded fitting and rubber donut plug. Ours does not fit inside the bumper. I have made a system to carry both hoses and accessories, using a length of plastic gutter material. It fits nicely and keeps the hoses straight and in place in one of the bays.
 
I will second the Camco stuff. I bought the clear flushing fitting for the RV end and the clear elbow for the sewer end. By a cone shaped push in adapter as well as a screw in one - many sites I have been to do not have the threaded sewer inlet.

I also carry a 10 foot primary and "accidentally" bought a second 10 foot primary - note they will not fit together :-( Make sure you buy an extension piece. I haven't needed longer than 20 feet.

Also an advocate of the accordion bridge to keep the hose off the ground. I have had holes in the hose due to pebbles, rocks, debris being flung from a park lawnmower.

This would be a pretty good starter kit, unless you want the flushing elbow.

1663615997332.png

This is on my wish list - It's a fancier flushing elbow with a gate valve. This would allow backflushing/filling the tanks with soapy water. It's a little pricier than I want to spend and I already have the no-valve one.

1663616613131.png

This is useful to carry along as well - Had a sewer hose split by a dumbass park kid who was weed whacking - The hoses to not hold up well to string trimmers.
1663616047338.png
 
Thank you all for helping!

Do the campsites have a standard sewer connection? Do they use that conical-looking plug thing? What about the dump stations - same thing? What holds it in place - only friction?

I like the idea of the swivel connectors, and the clear elbow seems useful for knowing when things are cleaned out.
 
Have not had to use more than 10 yet but we are newbies still. Did buy the 20' Camco kit.
 
Altazi said:
Thank you all for helping!

Do the campsites have a standard sewer connection? Do they use that conical-looking plug thing? What about the dump stations - same thing? What holds it in place - only friction?

I like the idea of the swivel connectors, and the clear elbow seems useful for knowing when things are cleaned out.
Click to expand...

They will either have a female 3" threaded adapter - like the sewer plug screws into - or some sort of bare tube end.

The conical connector, at least mine from Camco, stays pretty secure. I was pleasantly surprised. I had another one that wasn't very pliable/grabby on the fins.

There are dump stations that are 4 inch pipe. In those cases I have seen an articulated lid. You just hang your hose in and the weight of the cover holds in in place... until you pull the dump valve 10 feet away and watch the surge pop the elbow out on the ground where 4 more gallons of poo join in.

Ask me how I know this happens. Word to the wise. Those dumps are a two person job. Valve person and foot on the lid person.
 
Ex-Calif said:
There are dump stations that are 4 inch pipe. In those cases I have seen an articulated lid. You just hang your hose in and the weight of the cover holds in in place... until you pull the dump valve 10 feet away and watch the surge pop the elbow out on the ground where 4 more gallons of poo join in.

Ask me how I know this happens. Word to the wise. Those dumps are a two person job. Valve person and foot on the lid person.
Click to expand...
Ya those hoses like to flop out.
 
20ft (two 10ft sections) for both the bus and the truck camper.

Normally I don't need more than 20ft and often 10 ft is plenty.

I bought my sewer hoses from WalMart. I use a zippered "money bag" that I bought at WalMart with a bag of stones from DollarTree in it. The bag is plastic waterproof and the stones allow the bag to be weighted yet flexible.

Camco Revolution Sewer Hose

Money bag
 
Last edited:
Altazi said:
Thank you all for helping!

Do the campsites have a standard sewer connection? Do they use that conical-looking plug thing? What about the dump stations - same thing? What holds it in place - only friction?

I like the idea of the swivel connectors, and the clear elbow seems useful for knowing when things are cleaned out.
Click to expand...

1: Standard connection: NO Some have a 3" smooth hole. some a 4,, Some a threaded connection, some its capped with a flip top (Brass) cover. some with a rock or concrete plug some with a screw cap Some Well... there are more designs.
For my Macerator, which did not come with a hose or sewer connector I took a flower pot (The same size they use to make the concrete plugs) Drilled a hole in the bottome and glued in a length of PVC pipe. the top end of the pipe had a right angle elbow and the proper hose connector for my 3/4" black garden hose (Matched the macerator's connector) Filled the pot with concrete and that worked great...

For my 3" hose with the plastic thing google "Sewer Hose Pig" (Mine was a different design but other than the shape of the top (A simple block) the same concept.. Camco now makes a sewer hose RV I see when I googled the pig)
Advantages the pig/rv. the block I had.. 1 gallon o water (what it holds) is about 8 pounds More than enough to hold the elbow down.
Designed to "Form fit" over the elbow
Empty there's only about 1 pound to lug about
 
Altazi said:
Do the campsites have a standard sewer connection? Do they use that conical-looking plug thing?
Click to expand...
Sort of standard. Most have a threaded connection of either 3" or 4" which the fitting above will fit either. But some also have just a bare pipe adn that is when the foam donut is used to make a snug fit that won't leak or jump out. I also put some sort of weight over the hose when using a fitting that isn't threaded, just to be sure.
Altazi said:
What about the dump stations - same thing? What holds it in place - only friction?
Click to expand...
Dump stations rarely have a threaded fitting and some of them are unique so you occasionally need to be creative.
 
Many state health depts, and therefore the campground/RV parks, will require you to have either the hard plastic "conical-looking plug thing" (which is what I prefer) or a "foam donut" (which can get pretty yukky, pretty quickly).
 
Whatever hose you choose, invest in a few other things also. Good disposable gloves by the hundred, a good place for hose storage as the "bumper" will turn your stinky slinky into a sprinkler hose that will not make you or your neighbors happy. The inside of those bumpers rust and may create the sprinkler effect rather rapidly. A vinyl fence post with a cap on both ends makes for excellent storage. Depending on the bumper setup, the fencepost can usually be attached under or over it. Also, get a good tote with latches and a seal to put the sewer accessories in.
 
4930DAFE-571A-4BA1-9F01-89427C561707.jpeg
I got the Camco Rhinoflex 20’ kit, and verified that it fits my trailer connection. I also got the 20’ hose support kit.

I see two valves underneath my trailer. I am assuming the left valve is for the grey water tank, and the right valve is for the black water tank. Do these valves pull out to open?

In usage, when I pull into a campsite, and after I hook up the sewer hose, do I open both valves even though the tanks are empty? Do I leave them closed until the tanks are (partly?) full, and then close them again when emptied? Can I use the black tank flush at the campsite, and skip the dump station? Any tricks to flushing the tank?

As I said, total newbie here… Any guidance you can share is most welcome! Thanks!
 
Altazi said:
I am assuming the left valve is for the grey water tank, and the right valve is for the black water tank. Do these valves pull out to open?
Click to expand...
That is correct on both counts but we normally open the larger, black water tank valve first, then once it is empty close it and open the gray tank valve to flush out any remainder of the black tank's contents.
Altazi said:
In usage, when I pull into a campsite, and after I hook up the sewer hose, do I open both valves even though the tanks are empty?
Click to expand...
Absolutely do not leave the black tank valve open! If you do the water will rush out leaving all of part of the paper and solids inyour black tank to make problems that you do not want. Wait until the black tank is half or more full before emptying so that the sudden rush of liquids will carry out any solids. If you must empty when the tank has very little in it, add water to get it to 1/3 or more full before you empty. I also keep the gray tank valve closed until it needs to be emptied both to have it to flush the system after the black tank and also because leaving the valves open can allow sewer flies to enter the tank and breed there or odors to come from the sewer system.
Altazi said:
Can I use the black tank flush at the campsite, and skip the dump station?
Click to expand...
As long as you have a full hookup site you should use the tank flush system there in the same way that you would if at a dump station. Not all RV sites will have a sewer connection as many public park campgrounds have only water and electricity with a dump station to use as needed.
 
Make sure the hose is screwed into the fitting before using. And do not trust the conical fitting to hold the elbow securely. And always double check that the fittings are fastened correctly. Don't ask for details about how I know.

I don't trust the elbow popping of the conical adapter. I made a sewer pig out of a hunk of old blue tarp, couple shovels of sand and wrapped with some duct tape.

This PSA to avoid a massive :poop:
 
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