What Size PVC Pipe For RV Sewer Hose Storage? (Find Out Now!)

Dennis Howard
by Dennis Howard

Whether you are an old hand at rv’ing or a brand new RV owner, you face one of the problems that have plagued RV’ers for years. Where do you store a stinky sewer hose in your RV when traveling from camp to camp. Having tried various methods and solutions, I wondered what size PVC pipe would be my best option for storing my TV sewer line.

Six-inch PVC pipe is the most used option, with 5” PVC fence posts coming a close second. Most RV campers who use upgraded sewer lines for their RV soon discover a sewer line storage problem. The fittings on the better RV sewer lines don’t fit inside the back bumper. These oversized fitting fit conveniently inside a six-inch PVC pipe.

RV’ers tend to be inventive and creative folk. A search on the internet reveals many potential solutions to the RV sewer hose storage problem. Many of us have found that the easiest and least onerous solution is a length of PVC pipe attached to the rear bumper. Adding a larger diameter section of PVC pipe affords easy access and keeps the smells out of our RV.

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Storing the Infamous Sewer Hose

Few of us want to store a sewer hose in the cross RV storage bin. The proximity of that compartment to the living area of the RV is an open invitation to odors. Most RV and travel trailer manufacturers include a hole square metal tube bumper at the rear of the RV. This is meant to be a storage place of a sewer hose and even comes with a snap in plastic lids.

However, the reality of the situation is much different. While the sewer hose itself fits snuggly inside this 4” square metal bumper, the oversized fittings on most RV sewer lines are too large to store in this space. That means we must find another place to store our RV sewer hose. We do have a few suggestions and ideas to share.

PVC Pipe – A Versatile Option

PVC pipe is lightweight, easy to work with, and readily available. These attributes make PVC pipe a perfect storage solution for your RV sewer hose. In general, most RV sewer hoses and fittings will fit inside a six-inch diameter PVC pipe. The other fittings necessary to make a secure storage area for your RV sewer pipe are readily available at most home improvement stores.

The biggest challenge in adding a PVC pipe sewer hose storage area to your RV is deciding on a location. RVs come in so many different variations and designs that finding that perfect location for your RV sewer hose storage requires some ingenuity. However, some places seem to be used more than others by RV enthusiasts.

An Addition to the Rear Bumper

If your travel trailer is like mine and has a hollow square tube back bumper, you may already have the perfect place for your sewer hose storage. These square tube bumpers offer a perfect place to mount a length of six-inch PVC that doesn’t require a lot of modifications to your RV.

Some people lay a length of six-inch PVC on top of the square tubing bumper and secure it with strap clamps or U-bolts. The PVC can be painted to match your RV. Most people paint the PVC black to match the rear bumper. Once the pipe is painted and installed, it tends to disappear and blend into the trailer nicely.

This location is especially handy if our sewer connection and valves are at the rear of your trailer or RV. It becomes a matter of sliding your sewer hose out of the PVC pipe and connecting. The location is convenient and easy to access.

Go Under the Bumper

Many RV’ers already have the top of the rear bumper dedicated to carrying other gear. Rather than re-arrange everything already attached, you can hang the PVC pipe from the underside of the bumper and have it almost as easily available. Going under the bumper does require a bit more work.

You must support the PVC pipe in more places. The PVC pipe must carry the load without the bumper under the PVC pipe for support. This is not a problem in most instances, provided you add several more attachment points between the PVC pipe and the trailer.

One other thing to remember is that adding the PVC pipe under the rear bumper makes the back of your trailer lower to the ground. When negotiating inclines such as driveway entrances and exits, you must not drag the PVC pipe.

Chassis Mounts for Motor Homes

Motorhomes provide more challenges. Often, the rear of the motor home, especially pusher-type buses, aren’t well suited for a rear bumper mount. In these cases, some motorhome owners have found ingenious ways to solve the sewer hose storage problem. Most of these require a bit more work to execute.

One of the most popular places to mount a PVC pipe sewer hose storage on a motorhome is in the space between the chassis and the subfloor. There is often a lot of room in this area. Some industrious motorhome owners mount a length of PVC pipe under the chassis with the open end through the back wall of the wet space.

The wet space compartment is usually waterproof since the other water connections are made in this compartment. Finding a place to make a six-inch diameter opening for the PVC pipe may take some work but is doable on most motorhomes. The PVC pipe is mounted across the chassis behind the wet space compartment out of sight and out of nose range.

Which PVC Pipe Is Best for Storing a Sewer Hose?

Most RV owners opt for a six-inch schedule 40 PVC pipe. This is the most easily sourced size and type of PVC pipe. The fittings needed to make your sewer hose storage space are easy to find and install.

You will need an endcap to close one end of the PVC pipe and a screw-in clean-out fitting for the other end. The screw-out cap makes accessing your sewer hose easy and provides a secure way to keep the sewer hose inside the pipe while traveling.

Be sure and drill some holes in the bottom side of your PVC pipe sewer storage to allow air movement around the hose. These holes will also allow any moisture to drain away, helping relieve the odor problem.

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The Challenge of the Sewer Hose for RV’ers

Handling your RV sewer hose and dumping your waste tanks is probably the least enjoyable part of your RV experience. However, you can take some of the hassle out of the job with a little ingenuity and work. Making the storage and use of your RV sewer hose easier makes the overall job of draining your waste tanks less onerous. A strategically placed length of six-inch PVC pipe can make all the difference in the world.

Dennis Howard
Dennis Howard

Dennis is a retired firefighter with an extensive background in construction, home improvement, and remodeling. He worked in the trades part-time while serving as an active firefighter. On his retirement, he started a remodeling and home repair business, which he ran for several years.

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