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Finally -- An RV Sewer Gadget that Works!
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I'll confess that after five years of
full-time RVing, I've collected sewer gadgets that fill
two, five-gallon buckets. In fact, I've probably got at
least one of every sewer connector ever invented. They're
all supposed to serve the same purpose--make sure that black
water goes from your rig into the park pipe without spilling
on the ground. I'll also confess that every one of those
many connectors has failed at least once, making me a pariah
in a couple of RV parks.
The problem is one that every RVer has faced -- how do you
make sure that the final connection to the sewer pipe in
the park won't flip up and off once you open your black-water
valve? Pile rocks on it to hold it down? Not a bad solution
-- except where do you get those rocks, especially when
you arrive at a park after dark? Stealing them from your
neighbor might work until you notice that he's watching
you and he has more tattoos than a Maori and a dog with
a spiked collar. How about carrying rocks from one park
to another? Right. Store them in the wife's linen closet.
(Just as bad, or worse than that tattooed neighbor!)
Well folks, a solution has arrived.
It's called Hose
Buddy. It looks like a square one-gallon gas can
with some strange-looking cutouts on the bottom. Before
use, remove the cap and fill the inside with water or sand,
plug your sewer connector over the park pipe. Then place
the Hose Buddy on top, and presto! In my experience, the
connection stays tight and firm and does not come apart.
It's held down by the weight of the water (16 pounds) or
sand. It won't separate and spill sewage on your shoes.
The one I have is yellow -- they're also available in green
and brown. The manufacturer suggests filling the Hose Buddy
with sand or water. I prefer water, and I also shoot a couple
of squirts of dishwashing detergent in before filling. Now
the Hose Buddy serves two purposes: 1) when full, it prevents
the sewer hose from flipping off, and 2) you can use the
soapy water to wash your hands when you put it away. Refill
at your next stop.
I've tested the device at several RV parks. Recently, I
stayed at a park where the sewer pipe connection stuck seven
inches out of the ground and was a slip-fit (no threads).
The water-filled Hose Buddy held the connection securely
-- not a drop was spilled.
I recommend the Hose Buddy. I no longer worry about carrying
rocks or trying to find them after dark. In addition to
forgetting about black-water leaks, I'm looking forward
to throwing away those five-gallon buckets of sewer gadgets.
One last recommendation -- if you decide to get one, make
sure you write your name on it so that neighbor doesn't
get any ideas!
George Bruzenak
2/5/07
 George
Bruzenak, after a 35-year career in computer engineering
and weekend camping, hit the road full-time in a fifth-wheel
trailer in 2002. He has now been on the road for over
four years, collecting gadgets and staying connected
via satellite WiFi and HAM radio. His hobbies include
fishing, hiking, photography, and amateur astronomy. |
