6 Best Potable Water Fittings For Travel Trailers Nomads Swear By

You’ve just pulled into a new campsite after a long day of driving, and the only thing on your mind is getting hooked up and relaxing. But as you connect your hose, the cheap plastic fitting on your RV’s water inlet cracks, sending a spray of water everywhere. A reliable water system is the lifeblood of any travel trailer, and it all comes down to the small, crucial pieces that connect it all together.

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Why Quality Water Fittings Matter for RV Life

A water leak inside a house is a problem; a water leak inside an RV can be a catastrophe. With floors made of wood composite and tight spaces where water can hide, a failed fitting can lead to delamination, mold, and rot before you even know there’s an issue. Your entire plumbing system is only as strong as its weakest connection point.

This is why seasoned nomads obsess over fittings. The constant vibration of travel, the varying water pressures at different campgrounds, and the expansion and contraction from changing temperatures put immense stress on these small parts. Cheap, brittle plastic fittings that come standard on many rigs simply can’t withstand the rigors of full-time travel.

Investing in high-quality, durable materials like brass isn’t about luxury—it’s about risk management. A ten-dollar brass fitting can prevent thousands of dollars in water damage and save you from the nightmare of a major repair on the road. Think of it as cheap insurance for your home on wheels.

Camco Brass Water Regulator: Protect Your Pipes

Never trust the water pressure at a campground spigot. I’ve seen sites with pressure so high it can blow out PEX lines, damage water heaters, and destroy cheap fixtures in a matter of minutes. A water pressure regulator is the single most important fitting you can own.

This device screws directly onto the spigot before your hose, limiting the pressure flowing into your RV to a safe, consistent level—typically 40-50 PSI. The Camco Brass Water Regulator is a classic for a reason: it’s built like a tank, lead-free for safe drinking, and utterly reliable. While the basic models are great, I strongly recommend one with a built-in gauge.

The gauge lets you see the incoming pressure and confirm the regulator is working correctly. It also allows you to fine-tune the output on adjustable models, giving you a comfortable shower without putting your plumbing at risk. This isn’t an optional accessory; it’s a non-negotiable piece of equipment for anyone who values their plumbing system.

Flexzilla Potable Water Hose: Kink-Free Hydration

Your standard white RV water hose is functional, but it’s also a constant source of frustration. It kinks if you look at it wrong, becomes impossibly stiff in cold weather, and fights you every time you try to coil it for storage. Life on the road is about simplifying, and your hose shouldn’t be a daily battle.

Enter the Flexzilla Potable Water Hose. Its vibrant green color is hard to miss, but its performance is what makes it a nomad favorite. Made from a hybrid polymer, it remains incredibly flexible even in freezing temperatures, coils easily, and has virtually no memory, meaning it lays flat and refuses to kink. This makes setup and teardown faster and far less annoying.

Most importantly, it’s certified drinking water safe, with no lead, BPA, or phthalates to leach into your water. A regular garden hose is not a substitute; they often contain chemicals that are unsafe for consumption. The Flexzilla combines the durability and flexibility of a high-end garden hose with the safety of a dedicated potable water line.

Camco TastePURE Filter: For Cleaner Drinking Water

The quality of water you find on the road is a complete wildcard. One park might have pristine well water, while the next has heavily chlorinated city water that tastes like a swimming pool. An external water filter is the easiest way to ensure every glass of water is clean and tastes great.

The Camco TastePURE is an inline filter that attaches between your regulator and your potable water hose. It’s a simple, effective solution that uses granular activated carbon (GAC) to reduce chlorine, sediment, bad tastes, and odors. It’s not designed to purify contaminated water, but it dramatically improves the quality of typical campground hookups.

Beyond better-tasting water, these filters also protect your RV’s plumbing. By trapping sediment before it enters your system, you prevent buildup in your faucets, shower head, and, most critically, your water heater. For the low cost of a disposable filter, you extend the life of your appliances and get better water—a clear win-win.

Valterra 90-Degree Hose Saver: Reduce Strain

Look at the city water connection on your travel trailer. It’s likely a plastic fitting that points straight out from the side of your rig. When you connect your water hose, the weight of the hose and the water inside puts constant, heavy strain on that connection, creating a sharp, unnatural bend.

This is where the Valterra 90-Degree Hose Saver comes in. This simple brass elbow screws onto your RV’s inlet and provides a downward-facing connection for your hose. This allows the hose to hang naturally, eliminating the strain on the inlet fitting and preventing kinking right at the connection point.

It’s a tiny, inexpensive part that solves a huge problem. I’ve seen countless RV water inlets crack and fail from years of this unnecessary stress, leading to costly and annoying repairs. Installing a hose saver is one of the smartest preventative measures you can take to protect your rig’s most vital water port.

Camco Quick Connects: For Fast, Easy Hookups

If you move your trailer frequently, the repetitive task of screwing and unscrewing your water hose, filter, and regulator gets old fast. It’s especially tedious with cold, wet hands on a pack-up morning. Camco’s Brass Quick Connects streamline this entire process.

The system consists of male and female fittings that allow you to connect your water components with a simple push and click. You install a female end on your RV’s inlet and male ends on your hose, filter, and any other accessories. Instead of fumbling with threads, your entire water setup snaps together in seconds.

The key is to invest in quality brass quick connects, not plastic. Plastic versions wear out quickly and are prone to leaking. While adding any new connection introduces another potential failure point, the time and hassle saved are well worth it for many nomads, provided you use quality parts and check the O-rings periodically.

2wayz Hose Splitter: Double Your Water Access

You’re all set up at a beautiful site, but you need to wash your muddy hiking boots or rinse the salt off your surfboard. The only water source is the single spigot your RV is connected to. A hose splitter, or Y-valve, is the simple, elegant solution to this common problem.

A heavy-duty brass splitter like those from 2wayz attaches directly to the campground spigot, instantly turning one outlet into two. Each outlet has its own independent shut-off valve, so you can run a line to your RV’s city water connection while keeping the other outlet available for a second hose.

This gives you an external water source without ever having to disconnect your primary supply. You can fill dog bowls, wash your truck, or clean gear with ease. Just be sure to get a robust, all-metal version. The cheap plastic ones will inevitably crack under sun exposure or pressure, creating a leak at the source that can flood your campsite.

Essential Fitting Maintenance and Care Tips

Even the best fittings in the world won’t last if you don’t take care of them. Your water system is constantly exposed to the elements, high pressure, and the bumps of the road. A few simple habits can mean the difference between a reliable system and a constant headache.

First, treat your gaskets and O-rings like the critical parts they are. They provide the seal that prevents leaks. Keep a small bag of assorted replacement hose washers and O-rings in your toolkit and inspect them every time you hook up. If one looks cracked, dry, or compressed, replace it immediately—it costs pennies and takes seconds.

Here are a few more pro tips to keep your system leak-free:

• Don’t overtighten. Hand-tight plus a gentle quarter-turn with a wrench is plenty. Cranking down on fittings will destroy the gaskets.
• Keep threads clean. Before connecting, give the spigot a quick blast of water to clear out any dirt or debris that could foul the threads or damage your filter.
• Store properly. When not in use, connect your hose ends together to keep insects and dirt out. Store all your fittings in a dedicated, clean bin.
• Always winterize. If you’re traveling or storing your rig in freezing temperatures, drain every drop of water from your hoses, filters, and regulators. A tiny amount of frozen water can expand and crack even solid brass.

Ultimately, building a robust water system is about creating peace of mind. By investing in a few key, high-quality fittings and maintaining them properly, you eliminate a major source of potential stress and failure. This allows you to focus less on what might go wrong and more on the freedom and adventure of the road ahead.