The Best Caravan Water Hoses

Your caravan water hose does two jobs: filling your tanks at water stations and connecting to town water at caravan parks. Both require a food grade hose. Not a garden hose, not a general purpose hose, a proper drinking water hose designed specifically for potable water. The difference matters more than you’d think, especially when you’re filling your tanks in 40-degree heat and drinking that water for the next week.

This guide covers the best water hoses for caravanning, the fittings and adapters you’ll need, and how to keep your water system clean and functional on the road.

Why Food Grade Matters

Standard garden hoses are made with PVC that contains plasticisers, lead, and other chemicals you wouldn’t want anywhere near your drinking water. When water sits in a garden hose in the sun (which it will, constantly), those chemicals leach into the water. You can taste it, and the long term health implications of drinking plasticiser laced water for months on end aren’t great.

Food grade hoses are manufactured from materials approved for contact with drinking water, typically reinforced PVC or polyurethane that’s free from lead, BPA, and phthalates. They won’t taint the taste of your water even after sitting in direct sun. Look for hoses labelled “drinking water safe,” “food grade,” or “AS/NZS 4020 approved” (the Australian standard for products in contact with drinking water).

The Types Of Hose You Need

Most caravanners need at least two hoses: one for drinking water and one for sullage (waste water). They should never cross over, and keeping them visually distinct (different colours, different storage locations) makes that easy to enforce on the road.

Drinking water hose: This is your primary hose for filling tanks and connecting to town water. It must be food grade and AS/NZS 4020 certified. A 20 metre length handles the vast majority of situations. Some travellers carry a shorter 10 metre coil as a backup or for quick fills where the tap is nearby.

Sullage hose: Used for draining your grey water (sink, shower, and washing water) into dump points. This does not need to be food grade, but it does need to be dedicated to the job and clearly identified. Typically 27mm internal diameter with 40mm fittings to suit standard dump points. A 5 metre length is usually sufficient since you’re parking close to the dump point.

Starter packs: Several brands sell caravan starter packs that bundle a drinking water hose, sullage hose, and the adapters you’ll need. If you’re starting from scratch, a starter pack is usually better value than buying individual components and works out cheaper than piecing it together yourself.

What To Look For

Length: 20 metres is the standard recommendation. It’s long enough to reach most caravan park taps and water fill stations. Some travellers also carry a shorter 10 metre hose for quick tank fills where the tap is close, which saves unwinding the full length for a five minute fill.

Hose type: You’ll choose between flat (lay flat) hoses and round (traditional) hoses. Flat hoses roll up compact and store easily, which is a big advantage in a caravan. Round hoses are more robust, less prone to kinking, and handle higher pressure better. Both work; it comes down to whether you prioritise storage space or durability.

Diameter: Standard caravan water hoses are 12mm (1/2 inch) internal diameter. This is the most common fitting size and flows fast enough to fill a 200 litre tank in 10 to 15 minutes. Larger diameter hoses (19mm/3/4 inch) fill faster but are bulkier and heavier.

Fittings: Most hoses come with standard click on (Gardena style) fittings. Make sure they’re brass or quality plastic. The cheapest plastic fittings crack in UV and cold, and a failed fitting at a water station in the middle of nowhere is a frustrating problem. Carry spares regardless.

The Best Caravan Water Hoses

Flat Out Caravan Hose Starter Pack

The Flat Out starter pack is one of the better all in one solutions for caravanners setting up from scratch. It includes a food grade flat drinking water hose and a sullage hose, so you get both hoses sorted in one purchase. The flat design keeps storage compact, and the pack includes the fittings you need to get connected. Available through Outback Equipment. A practical starting point that covers the essentials without overcomplicating it. View at Outback Equipment.

Supex Caravan Starter Pack

Supex is one of the most recognised names in caravan accessories, and their starter pack reflects that reputation. It bundles a drinking water hose with adapters and typically includes a sullage hose as well. The components are solid quality and the pack is widely stocked, which matters when you need a replacement on the road. Available through Anaconda. View at Anaconda.

Supex Deluxe Caravan Starter Pack

The step up from the standard Supex starter pack. The deluxe version adds more adapters and accessories, which is useful if you’ve already discovered how many different tap configurations exist across Australia. If you’re doing a long trip and want to be prepared for as many situations as possible, the deluxe pack is worth the extra spend over the standard version. Available through Caravan RV Camping. View at Caravan RV Camping.

Supex 10m Coil Drinking Water Hose

A compact coil hose for situations where 20 metres is overkill. If the tap is right next to your van, unrolling a full 20 metre flat hose is unnecessary. The 10 metre coil is food grade, stores in a small space, and is particularly useful as a second hose for quick fills. It’s also a good backup if your main hose develops a problem. Available through Caravan RV Camping. View at Caravan RV Camping.

Stand at Ease Water Quick Filler Bundle

Designed specifically for fast tank fills, this bundle includes fittings that speed up the process of connecting and disconnecting at water fill stations. If you’re regularly topping up at water stations rather than staying on town water, the quicker you can get in and out, the better for everyone waiting behind you. A smart buy for travellers who do a lot of free camping and rely on regular tank fills. Available through Caravan RV Camping. View at Caravan RV Camping.

Coast RV 5m Roll Black Extra Flex Sullage Waste Hose

Every caravan needs a dedicated sullage hose, and this is a reliable option. The black colouring makes it immediately identifiable as non drinking water, which is exactly what you want. At 5 metres, it’s long enough to reach most dump points without carrying excess hose. The 40mm fittings suit standard dump points and the 27mm internal diameter handles grey water flow without backing up. Available through Caravan RV Camping. View at Caravan RV Camping.

COAST Drink Water Hose Carrier

Not a hose itself, but worth including because storing your drinking water hose properly is part of keeping your water clean. This carrier keeps your hose contained, clean, and separate from everything else in your storage. It also makes it easy to grab quickly at a water station rather than hunting through a tunnel boot. Dimensions of 20mm x 280mm means it fits neatly without taking up significant space. Available through Caravan RV Camping. View at Caravan RV Camping.

Essential Fittings And Adapters

Universal tap adapter: The single most useful fitting you’ll carry. Water taps across Australia come in a baffling variety of styles, from standard outdoor garden taps to square shaft taps, lever taps, and taps with no thread at all. A universal adapter (sometimes called a multi fit or snap on adapter) handles most of them. Brands like Holman and Pope make good ones. Around $15 to $25.

Spare click on fittings: Carry at least two spare click on connectors and a spare hose end fitting. These are the most common failure point, and they’re the last thing you want to be hunting for in a small town on a Sunday. A $5 fitting can save a lot of frustration.

Hose reel or storage bag: A dedicated storage bag or small bucket for your drinking water hose keeps it clean, separate from non potable hoses, and contained during travel. Some travellers use a small hose reel mounted inside the tunnel boot. The COAST Drink Water Hose Carrier listed above is a tidy purpose built option.

Pressure regulator: If you’re connecting to town water at caravan parks (as opposed to just filling your tanks), a pressure regulator protects your caravan’s plumbing from high water pressure. Some parks run at pressures that can damage caravan fittings and hoses over time.

Hose Care And Hygiene

A few simple habits keep your drinking water hose clean and your water tasting fresh. Drain the hose after every use rather than leaving water sitting in it. Store it out of direct sunlight when possible; UV degrades even food grade materials over time. Give it a flush before the first use of the season and periodically during long trips by running water through for a minute before filling your tanks.

If your water starts tasting off, the hose is the first suspect. A soak in a diluted white vinegar solution (one part vinegar to ten parts water) overnight, followed by a thorough rinse, usually sorts it out. If that doesn’t fix it, the issue is likely in your tanks rather than the hose.