Unsticking a stuck RV sewer hose fitting
What are essential tools for dealing with your RV’s sewer fittings?
What happens if the sewer hose on your RV is stuck to the gate valve fitting? How do you easily remove the hose from the valve, or separate two fittings? We have a few easy solutions to this problem.
Camco Sewer Hose Wrenches
Camco has a solution that can help in some circumstances. The Camco RhinoFLEX RV sewer hose wrenches are a two-piece solution that works with the pegs on sewer hoses. Essentially you take the two halves that form this wrench and use them to create leverage to unhook or hook your sewer hose fittings.
The nice thing about these wrenches is they’re inexpensive, plastic and can be easily stored. The disadvantage is that they tend to slip sometimes and can be a bit frustrating to use.
Oil filter tool
Another alternative is to use an oil filter removal tool. If you search for these or visit your local auto parts store there are all sorts of devices that will fulfill this need.
The one I found that I really like is this nylon strap oil filter wrench. What I like about it is that it’s softer than some of the solutions so it’s less likely to damage the plastic fittings which would be a big bummer in so many ways.
This works with a wrench and we always carry a wrench in our Airgear Tire Changing Kit which we also always carry with us. If your sewer hose is really stuck or the caps on the gate valves are stuck, this is a very effective solution to removing or installing those.
Maintaining the fittings and valves
You can also take steps to make sure that these fittings don’t get sticky over time. I like to spritz them lightly with a silicone spray lubricant. Silicone lubricants help to repel moisture.
You can also spritz this on the gate valves themselves as well as the pull mechanism for the gate valve. This will help keep the gate valves in good working order.
You will see some recommendations to use white lithium grease, but I don’t like this. According to the folks who make WD-40, which offers all sorts of spray lubricants, you may be wondering what on earth lithium grease is.
White lithium grease is actually one of the most popular lubricating formulas around the world, and this is because of its multi-function properties. It is both water and heat resistant which means it protects metal from corrosion and rusting and can function in extreme temperatures up to 150oC. White lithium grease demonstrates excellent adhesion to metal and is perfect for lubricating metal on metal surfaces.
On the other hand, silicone lubricant can be used on a variety of surfaces. It performs excellently on rubber, but it is also very effective on surfaces made from plastic, metal, wood, and other materials. It also helps to prevent surfaces from rust and corrosion because its waterproofing formula repels moisture from surfaces.
Silicone is an extremely effective lubricant and prevents friction and stickiness in the areas you apply it to. It also repels dirt, dust and grime and ensures that the surfaces are protected and maintained long term. That’s why it’s perfect for these RV sewer hose fittings and for the gate valve mechanisms on your RV.
