Need a quality freshwater hose for your RV? What is the best drinking water hose for your RV? Here are important factors and different options to consider.
Having access to fresh, clean water when using your RV is important. After all, you use it to drink, cook and bathe with.
When it comes to purchasing the best drinking water hose for your RV that you can find, I have done the leg work for you!
I have outlined important things to look for when it comes to choosing the best drinking water hose. Then peek at my top choices for the best drinking water hose for RV!
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What to Look for in a Water Hose for Your RV? 6 things.
Your drinking water hose is a lifeline between you and accessing the fresh water in your water tanks. There are several things to consider when making that important purchase. I have highlighted a few of the most important.
1. Durability
When searching for the best drinking water hose for RV, you want it to last a long time. After all, you are taking this hose on the road with you and will be moving it around when you set up and break down your campsite.
In addition, the freshwater hose will be the link between the outside of your RV to your freshwater tap. Not only do you want to keep that water clean and fresh. But, you won’t want it to rip or tear open when exposed to the elements outside.
2. Safety & Consumption Rating
Not all RV hoses are made for drinking. A safe RV hose for drinking, bathing, and cooking is known as “potable.” Potable water hoses are made with safe materials that do not contain any toxic chemicals.
The best water hoses are also BPA-, lead- and phthalate-free.
3. Length & Diameter
Another thing to consider before purchasing your hose is its length and diameter.
Consider that you are hooking up your RV to an outside faucet, which might be located in a hard-to-reach spot. You need to find a happy medium among the different lengths. A shorter hose is easier to store; however, hooking to the water source tends to be easier when using longer hoses.
There are a few different lengths, but most standard hoses come in 25- or 50-foot options.
The two most common diameters for RV water hoses are 1/2″ and 5/8″. Most water pipes in RVs have a 1/2 inch diameter, so either 1/2″ or 5/8″ water hoses should provide sufficient water flow.
4. Storage Space
Storage space in your RV is coveted. That is why you want to consider how much room you have to store a hose before purchasing one.
If you don't have much space, a smaller or more flexible hose may be the best option for you.
5. Kink-Free Design and Flexibility
The last thing you want to do while camping is worry about untangling a hose. Look for hoses that offer a kink-free design. Spend less time untangling a hose, and more time enjoying the beautiful outdoors.
If you have a smaller RV, you can maneuver a flexible hose more easily in tight spaces. Many hose manufacturers provide information on their flexibility.
6. Cost
The price range of RV water hoses runs from $30-$100, but cost doesn't necessarily equal quality.
There are many great budget brands on the market that can still earn the title of “best drinking hose for RV.”
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Best Drinking Water Hose for Your RV
Here are the best RV water hose reviews to help you determine which is the best hose for you.
1. Camco Premium Drinking Water Hose
The Camco Premium drinking water hose is a favorite among RV owners. That is because it is reliable and has many features.
Its durability and high quality are why many rank it as the best drinking water hose for RV.
This water hose is 50 feet long and is thicker than most other hoses by about 20%. That means it will not develop pinholes or leaks. Adding to its durability are the fortified materials it’s made of since they provide the hose a longer lifespan.
It is also UV-resistant, which adds to its durability. With UV- protection, the sun’s rays won’t be able to penetrate and break down the materials as quickly.
This Camco hose is also designed to avoid kinks. That is not only less frustrating for an RV owner, but it will allow for better water pressure as well.
The Camco Premium hose is lead, BPA, and phthalate-free. Your family can drink safely and worry-free from this hose.
One downside to this hose is its size. It is long and thick, which makes storing this bulky hose a bit of a challenge. Its thickness can also make it a little more difficult than other hoses to uncoil.
2. Teknor Apex NeverKink
Teknor Apex NeverKink is the top choice for a kink-resistant hose, despite its 50-foot length. When it comes to staying untangled, this is the best drinking water hose for RV on the market!
It features a Non-Torsion System that resists twists, tangles, and kinks without compromising flexibility. Despite its non-kink system, this hose is simple to maneuver.
This hose is lead-free, and complies with regulations to be safe for human consumption. It also features Grip-Tite coupling to keep your faucet attachment leak-free.
3. Camco Heated Drinking Water Hose
This is perhaps the best drinking water hose for RVs when traveling to cold places… IF it performs as advertised.
We haven't been able to personally test this, and many one-star reviews seem to raise a red flag about reliability. But it is so unique we had to include it!
It comes with a regulating heat source. The manufacturer says it offers continuous water flow and does not require a thermostat.
This hose is supposed to be good for sub-zero temperatures and a claimed water line freeze protection for temperatures as low as -20 degrees F.
This hose comes with a durable external jacket that protects the hose and electrical components from exposure and damage. Its heavy-duty heat shrink relieves the strain placed on the hose.
The nickel-plated fitting resists corrosion and extends the life of the hose. It also comes with matching female hose fittings. They allow you to connect to RV power without issue.
Made with NSF61, the Camco model is safe for your family to use.
4. Aqua Joe
Another high-quality candidate for the best RV water hose is the Aqua Joe. Like previous options, it's also 50 feet long.
This durable hose is kink-free and resistant to abrasions. That is an important feature since it may be dragged around during the camping setup process.
Of course, it is also made with lead-, phthalate-, and BPA-free materials. Your family will always be safe drinking from this hose.
It also has a high water pressure water rating at 450 psi. You can rinse off the dirt from the day in a snap.
5. Camco EvoFlex
Yep, we have another Camco hose on the list. It's really no surprise since they are a top brand for RVers. This 35-foot hose's defining feature is its flexibility.
The flexible design holds no memory, making it easier to position and store. Like all drinking hoses should be, it's BPA-free, lead-free and phthalate-free. So, you get great tasting water.
The ends of the RV water hose have nickel-plated fittings with stainless steel strain reliefs.
RV Drinking Water Hose FAQ
When it comes to drinking water, you want to make sure you're doing everything right. You don't want to inadvertently pollute your water by using the wrong hose! Nor do you want to waste your time or money on the wrong products.
So, here are answers to the most frequently asked RV water hose questions.
Do You Need a Special Water Hose for RV?
Yes, you must use a special water hose for RV hookups rated for potable water. Your standard garden hose is not designed for drinking water. Sure, you survived sipping water from garden hoses growing up, but they're made from unsafe materials that contaminate your water. So, you need a proper drinking water hose for your RV.
How Long Should My RV Drinking Water Hose Be?
Your RV drinking hose should be 25 feet long at minimum. That's long enough to reach water hook-ups at most campsites. Many RVers prefer to use longer hoses with many of the most popular hoses reaching 50 feet. However, keep in mind that the longer a hose is, the heavier and bulkier to store it tends to be.
How to Sanitize the Fresh Water Tank
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This video is about Sanitizing the Fresh Water Tank. Flush out the winterizing fluids and start fresh for the next journey.
So, what is the best drinking water hose for your RV? We'd love to hear in the comments your experience with these or others you've found.
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December 17, 2022at1:31 pm, Donald Carpenter said:
I like to carry (2) 25′ hoses and only connect the second one if I need the extra length. Handling and ultimately draining a 50′ hose for storage is much more difficult.
December 19, 2022at9:02 am, Team RV Lifestyle said:
Excellent idea – thanks for sharing, Donald. Team RV Lifestyle
December 17, 2022at11:53 am, Howard Hardy said:
I purchased a camco heated potable water hose and used it last winter. The hose appears to be high quality, and my water never froze. But there is more and that caused me to be extremely disappointed in the hose. We have a lot of temps below freezing where I am located. My trailer is stationary during the winter and I am full time in it. After the water was not used for a while such as overnight the water had a bad taste and also a smell until you ran out the water that was in the length of hose. I had read in the instructions that you should run the water for a while before using it. I thought that a strange statement and also very vague. I contacted Camco customer service regarding the smell and taste issue. I was advised that I needed to run the water until the smell and taste dissipated. The water in the hose, after not being used for several hour, would be very hot which I am guessing contributes to the smell and taste. In my situation that was very bad. I have a 75′ 3/4″ hose that goes into a septic system. I keep the grey dump valve closed due to freezing issues until the tank is full. Then I can dump it but also then use compressed air to blow out the drain hose so it is always ready for the next use. I didnt want to fill the grey tank any more than absolutely required. As a work around I would run the water until the smell and taste dissipated,into a bucket that I would dump outside. Not fun. This year I made my own heated water line using PEX piping and heat tape. Its works great an no issue with smell or taste.
December 19, 2022at9:02 am, Team RV Lifestyle said:
Thank you for sharing all of this, Howard. We hope it will help others who may be in the same situation. Team RV Lifestyle
April 23, 2022at9:56 pm, Peter Bourdelle said:
Is drinking water hose connector thread same as GHT garden hose 3/4″-11.5 TPI, but sharper profile? Or is it 11/16″ – 11.5 TPI? Is there a 2-way y-fitting for drinking water spigot, to allow 2nd hose to a pressure washer, for eample?
April 26, 2022at9:32 am, Team RV Lifestyle said:
Hi Peter – This could be a good question for our Facebook group. Lots of RVers with different equipment, etc., there to help one another and celebrate the lifestyle. Here is a link if interested. https://www.facebook.com/groups/roadtreking Team RV Lifestyle
April 02, 2022at6:04 pm, The 7 Best Water Filters According to RVers said:
[…] filters are filters that get mounted to your water hose in an external location. While they are similar to under sink filters, they get placed between your […]
July 17, 2021at7:26 am, Samantha Nichols said:
The second Teknor Apex of these hoses I have bought. The first one still works fine, just bought a backup. No funny odors or tastes. It hasn’t got worn by being out in the sun in AZ so must be quality material. I’ve had the first one for over a year still works like new fast shipping would recommend!
July 11, 2021at4:18 am, Samantha Nichols said:
Camco is much nicer than the typical RV hose (the white ones). It’s 5/8″ instead of 1/2″ so if you happen to have multiple people using water at the same time, it allows you to handle the volume better. It has a spring on each end to protect it from kinking at the connections (which are top-quality connectors) and eventually leaking, so you don’t have to buy the spring-end hose connections separately. Very durable material, think I’ll get a couple of years of full-time RV living out of it. Seasonal users can get more if they store it safely when not in use.
June 05, 2021at3:51 pm, Ron sadora said:
Can you please send me a copy of the checklist I’ve been a follower of your for the past few years and enjoy you articles
Thanks
Ron
June 04, 2021at9:43 am, Irv said:
Another vote for the Zero-G drinking-water safe hoses. They don’t get stiff in cold weather and don’t take up much storage space.
June 04, 2021at9:32 am, Kathryn said:
We love the Zero-G hoses for drinking water. They are light weight, very flat for storage, and rated for drinking water. If one ever springs a leak you just cut off the ends and take them, with the receipt and UPC, back to the retailer for a replacement. We travel with a 25 and a 50 in our LTV Unity.
June 04, 2021at9:08 am, Ed D. said:
We have owned a few Camco TASTEpure Drinking water hoses and I can personally tell you that they work great in cold weather. We lease a spot on a lake in N. Carolina and we come to our RV even in the winter. The hose has kept our water free from freezing. We have never had a problem with it.
Ed D.
June 04, 2021at6:38 am, Best Drinking Water Hose For Your RV (2021 Reviews) - 2boomersandababy said:
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