Water & Waste
RV Sewer Hose Storage Ideas
Twenty feet of hose has to go somewhere, and the factory bumper tube is usually both too small and the wrong place.
By Mike M. ·
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Quick picks
What to store, and the support that competes with it for space.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Camco RhinoFLEX 20 ft Complete RV Sewer Hose Kit The default sewer hose for a reason: a reinforced 23-mil wall that holds its shape, swivel fittings on both ends, and a complete kit so you are not ordering an adapter from the dump station. | A first sewer hose that will not need replacing in a season | 8.0/ 10 | $63.00View on Amazon
|
| 2 |  Valterra Slunky RV Drainage Hose Support, 20 ft, S2000 A coiled spring support that compresses to a fraction of a rigid trough's length. It gives a less precise slope, and it fits in a cabinet, which for most people is the better trade. Stores smallest | Hose support that collapses to almost nothing | 7.2/ 10 | |
| 3 |  Camco Sidewinder Telescoping RV Sewer Hose Support, 20 ft A rigid folding trough that holds the hose in a steady slope. Without one, the hose sags, the sag holds waste, and the smell you blame on the hose is actually the sag. | Giving the hose a continuous downhill run | 6.9/ 10 | |
| 4 |  Camco Collapsible Bucket with Storage Case, 3 Gallon A three-gallon pop-up bucket that folds into a case. Storage space is the scarcest resource in a travel trailer and this is a bucket that respects that. | A bucket that does not cost you a cabinet | 7.7/ 10 | $15.97View on Amazon
|
Tap any row to jump to the full write-up. Prices come from Amazon and are read automatically — see each product below for the date.
The short answer
This is a genuine problem rather than a trivial one. Twenty feet of sewer hose plus a support plus fittings is a bulky, dirty collection of items that has to be stored separately from everything you eat and drink.
The bumper tube, and its limits
Most travel trailers have a square steel rear bumper with removable caps, intended as sewer hose storage. It works, and it has three limitations.
Length. A typical bumper takes one 10 ft section comfortably and struggles with two. If you bought 20 ft as two sections — which you should — one of them is going somewhere else.
Water ingress. Bumper caps are not watertight, and the bumper fills with road spray. A hose stored in a wet steel tube does not dry and the inside of the bumper rusts.
Structure. The bumper is not always designed to carry much weight. Bike racks bolted to RV bumpers are a known failure mode, and while a hose weighs little, it is worth knowing the bumper is not structural.
If you use it: drill a small drain hole at the bottom of each end if there is not one already, and cap both ends of the hose itself so the inside stays cleaner than the tube.
The four options that actually work
| Option | Capacity | Cost | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory bumper tube | One 10 ft section | Free | Wet, short, not structural |
| Sealed tote in a pass-through | 20 ft plus fittings | Low | Takes pass-through space |
| PVC tube under the frame | 20 ft | Low, some work | Needs secure mounting and clearance |
| Dedicated exterior compartment | Everything | Comes with the trailer | Only if yours has one |
The sealed tote is the answer most people land on. A lidded plastic storage box, sized to the pass-through, that holds the hose, the elbow, the adapter, gloves and the support. Everything dirty in one place with a lid on it.
The PVC tube is the custom answer and a good one. A length of 4 in sewer-and-drain PVC with a cap at each end, mounted to the frame rails with pipe clamps. Cheap, weatherproof, holds 20 ft, and keeps the pass-through free. The two things to get right are secure mounting — it must not be able to come loose at highway speed — and ground clearance, because something hanging under the frame will find the first steep driveway you meet.
The common mistake
The fence-post trick, and why it is popular
A length of vinyl fence post — the square section sold for garden fencing — is light, square, weatherproof, and comes in long lengths with available caps. Mounted under the frame it does the same job as PVC and is sometimes easier to find and easier to clamp because of the flat faces.
Same two cautions: mount it so it genuinely cannot work loose, and check ground clearance on a steep approach before you commit.
The storage rules
- Cap both ends of the hose. Drip caps are usually in the kit. They stop residue leaking into the storage and insects getting in.
- Drain it before storing. Lift the trailer end so the hose empties toward the sewer before you disconnect. A hose stored with liquid in it is the smell you will meet next trip.
- Store it separately from fresh water. Non-negotiable.
- Let it dry when you can. At home, hang it or lay it out in the sun for an afternoon before long-term storage. Damp vinyl stored compressed for months is how a hose starts to smell permanently.
- Store the support with it. It touches the same ground.
What to remember
- The factory bumper usually takes one 10 ft section, not 20 ft, and it fills with road spray.
- A lidded tote in a pass-through is the simplest practical answer.
- A capped PVC or vinyl fence-post tube under the frame works well — mind clearance and mounting.
- Cap both ends, drain before storing, dry it before long-term storage.
- Never store the sewer hose with the fresh water hose.
The picks in full
Camco RhinoFLEX 20 ft Complete RV Sewer Hose Kit
Camco · Best for a first sewer hose that will not need replacing in a season
The default sewer hose for a reason: a reinforced 23-mil wall that holds its shape, swivel fittings on both ends, and a complete kit so you are not ordering an adapter from the dump station.
Key specifications
- Length
- 20 ft (two 10 ft hoses)
- Fittings
- Bayonet and 4-in-1 adapter included
- Caps
- Translucent elbow in the kit
- Origin
- Made in USA
Capacity figures read from Camco RhinoFLEX specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- Crush resistance (30%)8
- Fittings (25%)9
- Storage (20%)6
- Build quality (15%)8
- Price for capability (10%)9
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Holds its shape instead of collapsing in a sag
- Complete kit — nothing else to buy on day one
- Fittings are the industry standard, so parts are everywhere
What it is bad at
- Twenty feet is bulkier to store than most bumper tubes allow
- The accordion wall traps residue and needs rinsing properly
- Not the thickest-walled hose Camco makes
Valterra Slunky RV Drainage Hose Support, 20 ft, S2000
Valterra · Best for hose support that collapses to almost nothing
A coiled spring support that compresses to a fraction of a rigid trough's length. It gives a less precise slope, and it fits in a cabinet, which for most people is the better trade.
Key specifications
- Length
- 20 ft extended
- Type
- Coiled spring support
- Storage
- Compresses to about 2 ft
- Color
- Black
How it scored
- Crush resistance (30%)6
- Fittings (25%)6
- Storage (20%)10
- Build quality (15%)7
- Price for capability (10%)8
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Collapses small enough to store anywhere
- Light
- Flexes around an awkward site layout
What it is bad at
- Slope is less consistent than a rigid trough
- The coil can tip on uneven ground
- Picks up dirt in the coils
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
Camco Sidewinder Telescoping RV Sewer Hose Support, 20 ft
Camco · Best for giving the hose a continuous downhill run
A rigid folding trough that holds the hose in a steady slope. Without one, the hose sags, the sag holds waste, and the smell you blame on the hose is actually the sag.
Key specifications
- Length
- 20 ft
- Type
- Telescoping, folding
- Material
- Rigid plastic
- Part
- 43052
Capacity figures read from Camco Sidewinder specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- Crush resistance (30%)8
- Fittings (25%)6
- Storage (20%)5
- Build quality (15%)8
- Price for capability (10%)8
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Rigid, so the slope stays where you set it
- Folds and telescopes for storage
- Keeps the hose off gravel, which is what kills hoses
What it is bad at
- Bulky even folded
- The folding hinges are the failure point over time
- Takes up the whole length of a pass-through
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How this is funded
Camco Collapsible Bucket with Storage Case, 3 Gallon
Camco · Best for a bucket that does not cost you a cabinet
A three-gallon pop-up bucket that folds into a case. Storage space is the scarcest resource in a travel trailer and this is a bucket that respects that.
Key specifications
- Capacity
- 3 gallons
- Form
- Collapsible, watertight fabric
- Case
- Included
- Use
- Washing, hose rinsing, general
Capacity figures read from Camco collapsible bucket specifications, October 2026.
How it scored
- How often you use it (40%)7
- Build quality (25%)6
- Takes up little room (20%)10
- Price for capability (15%)9
Weighted average of the figures above. We did not test this product — see how we pick.
What it does well
- Folds flat — it costs almost no storage
- Watertight fabric holds three gallons without a frame
- Cheap
What it is bad at
- Fabric will not take hot water or solvents
- Floppy when full, so carrying it is awkward
- Not the bucket for the dump station — keep that job separate
Common questions
Yes, and most trailers are designed for it — but a typical bumper takes one 10 ft section, and the caps are not watertight so it fills with road spray. Drill a small drain hole at each end.
Four inch sewer-and-drain PVC takes a compressed 20 ft hose. Use proper end caps, mount to the frame rails with pipe clamps, and check clearance on the steepest approach you expect.
No. Drain it toward the sewer before disconnecting, cap both ends, and dry it fully before long-term storage.
Sources
- Camco published water and waste product specifications — read October 2026
- RV Industry Association — standards and compliance program — read October 2026