A better drain valve for your RV

By Jim Twamley

Seems like the fresh water tank drain valves provided on RVs are just too wimpy and easy to break. Here’s a way to replace them with something with a little more “muscle.”

For fresh water tank drains you can use a standard 1/2 inch barbed hose connector with a 1/2 inch threaded male end attached to a standard garden hose valve. This is held in place by a hose clamp. Why a standard garden hose valve? When you drain the fresh water you’ll be able to attach a standard garden hose and water the trees or run it down the sewer instead of making a small lake under the coach.

Most RV manufacturers use cheap drain valves that seem to break after several uses. I had to replace valves on my travel trailers, fifth wheels and now my motorhome. You can use any combination of valves you like as long as you have room for the modification. I don’t use these drain valves that often, but when I do use them I want them to work properly. Hopefully someone from the RV manufacturing industrial complex will read this and say, “What a great idea — drain valves that connect to a standard garden hose — why didn’t I think of that!”