Macerator Emergency Extension Hose

 

I always keep a macerator hose extension on hand in case the sewer connection required extra reach. Although it is uncommon for campgrounds to place sewer connections far back from camp sites, I have seen it on occasions.

The Thetford Sanicon 21-ft Retracting Hose is ideal for extending the reach of your macerator hose; it is also available in a shorter 10-foot version. The 28-footer costs around $81 and the 10-footer costs around $38. I made my own extension using a Flexible PVC flat hose with a Polyester sleeve, similar to a fireman's hose, for a more compact and less expensive alternative.

Parts Needed:

• 1-inch ID Flexible PVC flat hose, about $17 for the 25-foot length on Amazon. 
• 90 degree 1-inch diameter PVC barbed fitting (could be cheaper at your local hardware store)
• 1-inch diameter barbed union fitting (lot cheaper at Lowes, just over a dollar a piece). The cheapest I could find on Amazon is this brass barbed union/splicer (about $4/ 2-pack). 
• 1-inch ID clear vinyl tube which is also from Lowes for about $2.74 a foot. 
• 1-1/2-inch Stainless Steel Thumb Screw Hose Clamp (optional). If you accidently kink the hose while in use, the clamps will prevent it from detaching. Remember Robin Williams' movie "RV"? You do not want that. 😁.

PROS of a flexible flat hose extension:

• Cheaper than commercially made extension hose
• Packs small and takes less storage space
• Easy to roll up and self-draining
• Small solid wastes tend to not accumulate inside the hose and are easier to clean out than corrugated hoses

CONS of a flexible flat hose extension:

• The whole hose needs to be unrolled before use
• Not commercially available with right fittings

The hose and the 90-degree barb connector are held together by a short piece of clear Vinyl tube. To make the Vinyl tube more pliable and easier to slide over the barbed fitting, warm the tube with a heat gun first then use Silicone lubricant or similar inside the Vinyl tube for lubrication. 

The straight barbed insert/coupler is inserted into the other end of the hose and butt connects to the original macerator hose. 

I only used about 10 feet of the flat hose and kept the remaining 15 feet as a backup.

The additional 10-foot reach should be sufficient to reach out a few feet behind the RT.

A foot of clear Vinyl tube attached to the macerator discharge end aids in visualizing whether holding tanks require additional cleaning during emptying.

A small bungee cord secures the macerator valve in place.

The 10-foot macerator hose extension tightly rolled into itself for storage. Size in comparison to an Android phone.