By Cheri Sicard
When it comes to RV heated hoses there are a ton of options out there, which can paralyze consumers from making any decision at all. In the video below, one of our readers’ favorite YouTube RV vloggers, Jared Gillis from All About RVs, is here to share his experiences with RV heated hoses after years of full-time RVing.
Jared tested several different heated RV hoses and he made the video to share the results of which ones worked well and which didn’t work out well at all. After all was said and done, Jared came up with three viable options for cold weather RVing with heated RV hoses, and two more ideas to avoid them all together.
Jared’s heated RV hoses top picks
Jared started with his most expensive pick, down to the best budget options for cold-weather RVers. Check out the video for details and how-to’s.
#1 Pirit heated RV hose
Jared’s been using his Pirit hose for about three years now with good results, but this is the priciest of the three. All molded, it is hard to even tell this is a heated hose until you see the cord on the ends.
Pros:
- Rated at 200 PSI
- Rated to -40 degrees F, although Jared says he would not trust any hose to that temperature. But then, thankfully, how often, if ever, are you at minus 40?
- 18 month warranty
Cons:
- As it is all molded, if anything goes wrong the parts are inside and you cannot swap them out
- The price
#2 Camco RV heated hose
This one has a different look than the Pirit hose as it is constructed with a sheath around a hose. Jared says that this hose has failed on them and that is because of the low PSI. There are things he likes about it, but it did last them only a little more than one season.
Pros:
- Rated to -20 degrees F
- They include adapters for maximum connection versatility
- Repairable (and Jared talks about doing this in the video)
Cons:
- Only rated for up to 70 PSI of pressure
#3 DIY heated hose
Watch the video to see how to DIY it, although not all RV parks will allow it (which is how Jared ended up with option #1 above).
Pros:
- Less expensive.
- You can use the hose you already have.
- Sturdy and long-lasting. Jared says they have some DIY heated RV hoses they have been using for years that are still going strong.
Cons:
- Takes some time and effort to make, although it is not difficult.
- Doesn’t travel as well as commercial RV heated hoses as the insulation gets a bit bulky.
#4 Use your RV tank and tank heater
This option, the easiest and cheapest of all, forgoes the heated RV hose altogether.
#5 Drive south
If your water never freezes, you won’t need an RV heated hose!
##RVDT2252
As he said option 4 is the cheapest way, fill your water tank, drain your hose and store it and you’re good for at least 3-4 days.
We’ve been doing this for years. Unfortunately, our ‘advertised’ heated underbelly is seriously lacking in heat for the tanks. When it was really cold out, we experienced frozen pipes which luckily did not break. This has only happened twice and both times were unexpected.
Regulator at the water source. I run my heated hose from the ground, up the water pipe & filter, over the top of the regulator, down to the filter output. A few lead-free 90’s keep it all tight. Put a grocery store insulated freezer bag and 5 gallon bucket or waste basket over the works. The hose thermocouple sticks outside the bucket. The residual heat from the hose is just enough to keep things from freezing – been down to single digits for a couple days. Make sure the connection at the RV is also insulated.
I’ve seen DIY setups get hot enough to melt the hose inside.
I always just use my onboard water tank, which is in a heated bay. Why buy and carry a heated hose? A regular hose works fine in freezing temps to just refill a tank. Then disconnect it, drain it, and put it away. I also don’t have to worry about a heated hose failing, freezing, and making a mess.
Thank you, Cheri. I enjoy Jared’s videos, but have not watched this one yet. I have considered buying #1, but we do not travel into particularly cold areas during the winter enough to justify. I tend to use #4 (?), attaching the fresh water hose during the warmest part of the day (or before traveling), adding water to the fresh water tank, disconnecting the hose, and running the water pump. If we need clothes washed, then U do that in warmest part of day with the hose attached. Similar tactics used when dumping tanks. Safe travels! 🙂