By Gail Marsh
Setting up in an unexpected downpour of rain was all it took for quick-release hose connectors to become one of hubby’s favorite RV gadgets. Do you use them?
We’ve put them on our drinking water hose and black water rinse hose, and they really live up to their name! Now it takes no time at all to snap hoses into place without the hassle of getting the threading lined up and tightened so that no water leaks. The quick-release hose connectors are also great when we camp in cold weather. It’s so much easier to snap hoses on than fumble with threaded fittings when your fingers are frozen!
We’ve learned a few important things about them that may be helpful to you:
• Many quick-release hose connectors have a water stop feature. Nice idea and useful, but it can be difficult to connect to it if the hose is pressurized.
• The best quick-release connectors are made of solid brass – not brass-colored aluminum or other brass lookalikes. It pays to get high-quality connectors. (The first ones we bought from our local home store lasted less than six months before they corroded and developed leaks.) These are the highly-rated ones pictured above.
• You can get quick-release connectors that are made from plastic. Some people have had good luck with these because they will not corrode. However, the sun can degrade the plastic and cause the connectors to fail.
• A water pressure regulator is a must. Water pressure can vary greatly from campground to campground. Many quick-release connectors are rated for water pressure under 60 psi. If your water pressure exceeds 60 psi you may damage the connector or worse – your RV plumbing lines. This is the one RVtravel.com recommends.
• Quick-release connectors come in varying sizes. Be sure to check the size your hoses require before you make a purchase.
• Make sure your quick-release hose connector is solid brass and lead-free, or labeled for drinking water use.
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##RVT1215
Have been using these for many years. Sure makes hooking up faster and easier.
Get the brass ones. Plastic will work. But fail.
some hoses have aluminum ends. Do not mix these with brass quick releases, you will never get them off due to bi-metal corrosion. Switch to plastic or put a plastic water valve in between or get a different hose.
Don’t see the benefit…you still must screw the quick connect on to the faucet, the same as you’d need to do with the hose without the quick connect. What am I missing?
John, if you have one end attached to your rig’s water inlet and the other on your hose end, you can quick disconnect the water hose to your RV.
You’ll still need to thread the other end to the campsite spigot but hey, half the fittings to tighten with half the risk of washer loss.
I think the real positive beyond the convenience of one less fitting to tighten is the less thread wear on your RV’s connection. Maybe not a huge win but avoiding a cross thread is never a bad thing!
PS – My first set leaked if they were not straight or had hose weight. Not this brand but similar.
I’ve used the brass ones, they leak too easily for me to continue to use them
Jim, there are several brands and price levels of brass quick connectors. It pays to read reviews. read of one brand that did not have good O-rings and leaked. Mine do not leak even when there is side pressure against the hose.
Are the connections drinking water safe?
Quality brass does not contain lead which could be a concern.
WAIT! Brass is great, but most brass uses lead in production. Fine for the garden hose and flower beds, not so good for drinking water.
They do make lead-free brass quick disconnects – and yes they cost more. Here are the lead-free brass quick disconnects I recently purchased for use with our portable RV water softener. It is a LOT easier to maintain the softener with quick disconnects.
One other thing about quick disconnects- they reduce hose diameter; so they do have some impact on both water pressure and volume. If you are connected to a low pressure water source, you may want to remove some or all the quick disconnects.
And most have an anti- siphon check valve in them, reducing water flow even more.
Those may be fine if your hose connections are inside a bay. My TT has the connections on the side, which means the quick connect is sticking out and not protected from the elements, dust and dirt, when going down the road.
Plus, I use a 90º elbow on the city water fill. One end still needs to be screwed on.
And be careful with connections in bays! I tried brass quick connects back around 2002. Had a knock on the door. It was our neighbor informing us we had water pouring out of our water bay. Yep…quick connect had failed. Fortunately the bay had a built in drain for just such emergencies and most of the water was captured in the plastic floor pan, but still had to dry the bay out from the spray all over. Have never used them since.
These are great for a stick house; with my TT I would still have to pull the cap covering my threaded connection and install the QC and then remove it when I change location. I totally agree get the brass units. Side note I only use water hoses with brass connections having learned my lesson with aluminum and plastic connections.
I’ve been full timing for 20 years. Gave up on brass because of corrosion, have used the plastic ones ever since without any problems.
Thank you, Gail, for the recommendation and the link! I began using quick-connects a few years ago. I think the it was after reading an article by Nanci, but it might have been you. Ours are getting greenish, so I will replace them all after we return home. Have a great day and safe travels!
Love my quick connects. I’d like to find a silicone cap to cover the end for sand or dirt when disconnected. Similar to what’s on the LP quick.
Thank you for the suggestion, Gail! We do use quick connectors beyond the first connectiin to the water hydrant. For that connection, I use a Hose-Grip Water Hose Large Collar Connector (https://technorv.com/products/hose-grip-i?srsltid=AfmBOoqLw4Xy0rhuMMuxlwKTbBtR3Lo8DKVFKTj7TiQa2mGAJdMS9883). Beyond that connection, the rest are quick connects. Have a great week and safe travels!