RVing is fantastic because it allows you to travel in comfort, even if you happen to wander into the middle of the desert or park next to the beach. That said, in order to take full advantage of the comforts offered by your RV, you will need to have access to RV hookups.
Not sure what RV hookups are or how to use them? This is the article for you.
What are RV Hookups?
There are three types of RV hookups: water, electric, and sewer. Water hookups allow you to have running water in your rig. Meanwhile, electric RV hookups give you a place to plug your RV in so you have power running to your appliances. Lastly, the sewer hookup gives you a safe and sanitary place to dump your RV tanks via an RV sewer hose.
Where to Find RV Hookups
RV hookups are found in campgrounds and RV parks across the country. While hookups are available at many campgrounds, they aren’t always included in the list of amenities, and even those that have water and/or electricity for RVs may not have sewer hookups at each site. For this reason, you will want to call ahead to make sure that whichever campground you book has the hookups you’d like to have.
Note: Some RVs require 30 amps of electricity, and others require 50 amps. Make sure the campground in question has the right kind of electric hookup for your RV. If not, you might need a dogbone adapter.
Using RV Hookups
Wondering how you go about using RV hookups once you’re parked at a campsite? In this next section, we will go over each type of RV hookup and how to use it.
RV Water Hookups
To connect to an RV water hookup, you will need a freshwater hose and an RV water pressure regulator. Make sure you have a freshwater hose (blue or white) rather than a garden hose, as this will help ensure the water is safe to consume.
Start by connecting the water pressure regulator to the end of the freshwater hose. Screw the other side of the pressure regulator onto the campground water spigot and attach the other end of the hose to the camper at the city water inlet.
Turn the water on at the spigot and head into the RV to check the pressure at the faucets. Adjust as necessary.
RV Electric Hookups
If you want to use an RV electric hookup, you will need an RV surge protector. Make sure you buy the right one for your RV, as there are both 30-amp and 50-amp versions available.
Start by finding the correct outlet on the power pedestal. The 30-amp outlet will have spots for three prongs, and the 50-amp will have spots for four prongs. Plug the surge protector into the correct outlet on the power pedestal and flip the matching breaker into the “on” position. Check the surge protector display to ensure everything is okay with the connection.
If everything looks good, turn the breaker off, plug the RV power cord into the surge protector, and turn the breaker back on. This should give your RV power to run all appliances. That said, you’ll need to be careful not to run too much at once, as doing so will flip the breaker.
RV Sewer Hookups
Finally, you’ll want to hook up to the sewer connection point. For this, we recommend donning some disposable gloves. You’ll also need a sewer hose with all the correct connection pieces.
With your gloves on, remove the caps from the sewer hookup as well as the RV sewer outlet. Twist the threaded piece from your sewer hose kit into the sewer hookup. When that is tight, twist the connector on the end of the hose into the top of the threaded piece.
Carry the other end of the sewer hose to the RV and connect it to the sewer outlet by twisting it into place. Once all connections are secure, you can open the tanks and let the wastewater run into the sewer. We recommend opening the black tank first so that the follow-up gray water can wash the black water out of the hose.
Now that you know the basics of RV hookups, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test. Book a campground now and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!
About the author: Chelsea Gonzales
Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.
You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.
Tim C. ~ “Patrick answered quickly, made sure we were safe, and immediately started working on options to get us safely on the road again! Incredible Service!”
For the first couple of years of RVing it seemed I learned something new every time I pulled into a campground and hook up. Often times it was not the most enjoyable experience but a good lesson learned. Over the years, experienced RVers develop a mental “checklist” of items to inspect, clean, and prepare for when hooking up at a campground. One tip for beginners; Ask the campground host if they provide assistance for beginners.
