How To Hook Up An RV Sewer Hose And Use It (5 Simple Steps)

At some point in your RV adventure, the fun will stop (if only temporarily) when you have to empty those dreaded black and gray tanks.

However, connecting the sewer hose and draining the tanks need not be time consuming… or complicated (thankfully)!

Here’s our easy 5-step process to connect your RV’s sewer hose, drain those tanks, and get back to enjoying RV life as quickly as possible!

step 1: preparation

preparing to empty the black and gray tanks is not something you want to take lightly. not only can it be gross, but it can also be dangerous to your health.

so you want to optimally prepare for what lies ahead by wearing disposable gloves and eye protection.

Also, now is the perfect time to make sure the valves are closed on your sewer hose.

Step 2 – Connect the RV Sewer Hose

Once you’re ready to get the job done, it’s time to connect the sewer hose to your RV.

Your RV sewer hose will have two ends: one with a bayonet-type fitting that connects to your RV and the other with an elbow or “l”-shaped fitting that connects to the inlet of the RV. download station.

First, attach the bayonet-style fitting to the RV’s drain fitting. then pass the other end of the hose to the dump station inlet, placing the elbow in the inlet. If your elbow fitting doesn’t have a gasket on the end that goes into the inlet, you’ll definitely want one. this will help create a tight seal and prevent leaks (trust us, you don’t want leaks).

Tip: Use an RV sewer hose holder to help create a downhill effect for your hose. this helps where the ground slopes up to the discharge sewer inlet.

step 3: drain the black and gray tanks

Once the hose is in place, it’s time to open the tanks!

Important: Open tank valves slowly! this will relieve any pressure surge that could occur if your tanks are full. the last thing you want is for pressure to force the hose out of the dump station inlet.

let’s start with the black tank. Slowly open the valve to let the debris out of the black tank. As the debris empties through the hose and into the inlet, keep an eye on both connections to make sure there are no leaks anywhere. allow enough time for the entire contents of the black tank to drain. when you’re done, be sure to close the valve.

Now, we can slowly open the valve on the gray tank. emptying this tank second will help clear the sewer hose of the toilet debris we previously emptied. and again, keep an eye on both connections to make sure there are no leaks.

once it’s completely drained, go ahead and close the valves on the sewer hose.

step 4: disconnect the hose

twist the end of the hose connected to the RV to disconnect it and replace the cap on the drain valve.

Important: Do not disconnect the hose from the Dump Station inlet yet. we still have to clean the hose and we want the water to run to the inlet. we’ll get to that next.

Now that you’ve successfully emptied your tanks, it’s time to clean up!

step 5: cleaning

Lastly, we need to clean the sewer hose and save it for next time.

With the sewer hose still connected to the dump station inlet, use a garden water hose to spray down the interior, allowing water to pass through the hose and down to the inlet.

Tip: Use a bayonet plug sewer hose squeegee to easily clean your sewer hose. It will save you a lot of time and hassle.

once the inside of the hose is clean, remove the hose from the inlet and spray the elbow fitting.

Finally, store the hose in its designated spot in your RV and dispose of your disposable gloves in a trash can.

frequently asked questions

can you connect a caravan to the sewer of a house?

Yes, it is possible to connect your RV’s sewer hose to a home sewer system, but it may not be legal where you live. check with local laws before attempting this. if it’s legal, it’s really as simple as the steps above, just replace the camp dump inlet with the sewer inlet from your house (you’ll need to find the sewer cover in your yard). Check out our guide on how to unload the black tank of an RV at home for more information.

Another option would be to use your existing septic tank, if you have one, or install an RV septic tank in your yard, which could be expensive.

Lastly, you might consider using a composting toilet in your RV. These toilets provide an environmentally friendly way to dispose of waste without having to worry about the legalities of dumping it down your home sewer or the high costs of installing an RV septic tank. Check out our guide to the best RV toilets for a closer look at composting toilets.

how do you connect two RV sewer hoses?

If your RV or RV has two sewer connections, you can connect a sewer hose from each connection to a “y” connector, then have a third hose come off the “y” connector going to the landfill entrance. it’s a fairly simple setup that only requires two additional hoses along with a “y” connector.