6 Best Sewer Hose Supports For Extreme Temperatures Nomads Swear By
For RVers in extreme climates, a durable sewer hose support is vital. We review 6 top picks that resist warping in heat and cracking in cold.
You’ve seen it happen at a campsite. A cheap, accordion-style sewer hose support, baked by the desert sun for weeks, finally gives up and collapses in the middle of a black tank dump. It’s one of the least glamorous, yet most critical, pieces of gear for any serious RVer, especially those of us who live in our rigs year-round. Choosing the right support isn’t about convenience; it’s about preventing catastrophic failures in the most unforgiving conditions.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!
Why Extreme Temps Demand a Better Hose Support
High heat is the silent killer of cheap RV plastics. A standard, flimsy hose support left in the blistering Arizona or Texas sun will soften, sag, and eventually lose its ability to maintain a consistent downward slope. This creates low spots, or "bellies," in your sewer hose where waste and water collect, leading to clogs and nasty backups.
Freezing temperatures present the opposite, but equally destructive, problem. Any water trapped in those saggy bellies will freeze solid. As the water expands into ice, it can easily crack your sewer hose, creating a disastrous leak you won’t discover until the next thaw. I’ve seen it happen, and it’s a mess nobody wants to clean up in 20-degree weather.
This is why a robust, temperature-resistant support is non-negotiable for full-timers and snowbirds. It’s not just about keeping the hose off the dirt. The primary job of a sewer support is to guarantee a constant, uninterrupted gravity feed from your RV to the sewer inlet, no matter if it’s 110°F or 10°F outside. A quality support holds its shape, resists UV degradation, and won’t become brittle in a deep freeze.
Camco Sidewinder: The All-Weather RV Standard
Ensure proper RV waste drainage with the Camco Sidewinder Sewer Hose Support. Its telescoping design navigates obstacles, while deep cradles securely hold your 15' hose to prevent slipping.
If you walk through any RV park, you’ll see the iconic orange or brown of the Camco Sidewinder. It’s the default choice for a reason: it’s simple, relatively inexpensive, and packs down small. For weekend trips or camping in moderate climates, it does the job perfectly well.
However, for nomads facing true extremes, the Sidewinder reveals its limitations. The plastic, while durable for casual use, can become brittle in sustained sub-zero temperatures. I’ve seen the cradle legs snap off when handled carelessly in the bitter cold. In prolonged, direct sun, it can develop a noticeable sag over a 20-foot span, requiring you to re-adjust it periodically to maintain proper flow.
Think of the Sidewinder as the reliable sedan of hose supports. It will get you most places without issue and is a massive step up from no support at all. But if you’re consistently parking in the harsh sun of the Southwest or the icy winters of the North, you may find yourself wanting a heavy-duty truck.
Lippert Flow Down: Stability in Sun and Snow
Keep your RV or boat holding tanks clean and clog-free with Lippert Flow Max. This powerful, eco-friendly treatment breaks down waste and toilet paper, preventing buildup and cleaning sensors. Enjoy a fresh scent and peace of mind with this safe, natural formula.
The Lippert Flow Down is what you get when you engineer a solution specifically for stability. Instead of a single, connected accordion, it uses individual, interlocking A-frame sections that create a much more rigid and stable channel for your hose. This design is inherently resistant to sagging.
Where the Flow Down really shines is on soft or uneven surfaces. Each support section has a wider base than a typical Sidewinder, preventing it from sinking into soft mud, sand, or snow. The ball-and-socket style connections between sections also allow for more flexible articulation, making it easier to create a smooth slope over bumpy ground.
This added stability is a game-changer in high winds or when you need to stretch your hose over a longer distance. The tradeoff is a slightly bulkier packed size and a few extra seconds of setup time to click the pieces together. For full-timers who value a "set it and forget it" sturdiness, that’s a price well worth paying.
Valterra Slunky: Flexible and Freeze-Resistant
The Valterra Slunky often gets compared to the Sidewinder, but it has a few key differences that make it a favorite for cold-weather RVers. Its design features deeper, more rounded cradles that are more forgiving to a stiff, cold sewer hose. The plastic formulation also tends to remain more pliable in freezing temperatures, reducing the risk of cracking.
The Slunky’s self-fastening strap and compact, spring-like compression make it one of the easiest supports to store. It collapses down into a surprisingly small package, which is a huge benefit in rigs where every inch of storage space counts. This makes it a great option for van-lifers or those with smaller travel trailers.
While it excels in flexibility and storage, it can be less stable than the Lippert system in high winds. However, its deep channels do an excellent job of protecting the hose and maintaining a slope. If you prioritize compact storage and cold-weather performance over absolute rigidity, the Slunky is an outstanding choice.
Level-Trek: For Unstable Ground and High Heat
Level-Trek isn’t your typical hose support; it’s a modular system of interlocking blocks, much like oversized LEGOs. This design makes it the ultimate problem-solver for the most challenging campsites. When you’re parked on a severe slope or need to run your hose over a curb or ditch, no other support offers this level of customization.
Made from a high-strength, UV-stabilized polymer, these blocks are virtually immune to high heat. They will not warp, sag, or degrade, even after months in the desert sun. You can stack them to create the precise height and slope needed, ensuring perfect drainage no matter how awkward your parking spot is.
The obvious tradeoff is in setup time and complexity. You have to place and stack each support individually, which is more work than simply stretching out an accordion-style support. This isn’t the support for a quick overnight stop. But for boondockers, long-termers on undeveloped land, or anyone who refuses to be defeated by a bad campsite layout, the Level-Trek system is an indispensable tool.
RV-Concepts Support: A Rigid, Long-Term Choice
For the RVer who stays put for months at a time, the RV-Concepts Sewer Hose Support is in a class of its own. This is less of a portable support and more of a semi-permanent installation. It consists of rigid, half-pipe sections of heavy-duty plastic that you lay end-to-end, creating a perfectly smooth and protected trough.
This system’s primary advantage is absolute reliability. It is completely unaffected by sun, snow, or rain. The rigid channel guarantees a perfect, sag-free slope and protects the hose from falling debris, lawnmowers, or critters. Because the hose rests in a smooth trough, it’s also far less likely to snag or get hung up.
Portability is its major drawback. The sections are bulky and don’t collapse, making them impractical for anyone who moves frequently. But if you’re a snowbird setting up a seasonal site for three to six months, this system provides the kind of worry-free performance that lets you focus on enjoying your stay, not on nursing your sewer line.
Thetford Titan: A Rugged and Integrated System
Connect your RV to dump stations easily with the durable Thetford Titan sewer hose kit. It features two crush-resistant TPE hoses and a Revolve 5-in-1 adapter for secure, leak-free connections.
Thetford took a systems-based approach with its Titan line. The Titan Sewer Hose Support is specifically designed to work with the famously rugged Titan hose. The C-shaped cradles are perfectly molded to grip the hose, providing a secure fit that other, more generic supports can’t match.
This integrated design provides exceptional stability. The combination of a tough, puncture-resistant hose and a support that holds it securely minimizes the risk of sags, disconnects, or leaks. The support itself is made from a durable, weather-resistant polymer that stands up well to both UV rays and cold snaps, making it a true four-season option.
The main consideration here is that you’re buying into an ecosystem. While the support can be used with other hoses, it performs at its absolute best when paired with its intended Titan hose. For those who appreciate well-engineered, integrated systems and are willing to invest in one, the Titan package offers a level of rugged, cohesive performance that is hard to beat.
Choosing Your Support for Year-Round RV Living
There is no single "best" sewer hose support, only the best one for your specific travel style. The cheap support that works for a weekend camper in California will fail a full-timer wintering in Colorado. Making the right choice is about honestly assessing where you go and how long you stay.
Use this framework to guide your decision:
- For the Casual Traveler: If you stick to moderate climates and move every few days, the Camco Sidewinder is a cost-effective and perfectly adequate choice.
- For the All-Terrain Nomad: If you frequently move between varied campsites with uneven ground, the stability of the Lippert Flow Down or the flexibility of the Valterra Slunky is a significant upgrade.
- For the Off-Grid Boondocker: If you consistently park in challenging, undeveloped spots, the modularity of the Level-Trek system is a must-have problem-solver.
- For the Stationary Snowbird: If you stay in one place for months at a time, the unmatched durability of the RV-Concepts Support is worth the investment and lack of portability.
- For the Systems Thinker: If you want a rugged, integrated hose-and-support package, the Thetford Titan system provides excellent synergy and reliability.
Ultimately, a sewer support is a piece of insurance. You’re investing a little more money and setup time to prevent one of the most unpleasant failures an RVer can experience. By matching your support to the demands of the climate, you’re not just buying a piece of plastic; you’re buying peace of mind.
Don’t underestimate this simple piece of gear. A reliable sewer hose support is a hallmark of an experienced RVer who understands that proactive preparation is always better than reactive disaster recovery. Choose wisely, and you’ll never have to think about it again.