A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

Good morning all -

It is so neat reading all of the exciting messages as the Florida GTG begins. So I have a question for y'all. How do you manage to manipulate the connecting and disconnecting of the sewer connection. I not only have small hands but with age, I have lost a lot of my strength. When we go camping, it usually takes both Terri and I to connect or disconnect the sewer hose and any extensions that we would need. Now that she is experiencing a loss of use of her right hand, I can't do it on my own.
I would hate to have stop camping because of this. Any helpful hints? For those traveling alone, how do you do it?

Stay safe!

Bonnie

I use to carry a pair of groove joint pliers that were about 16 inches long and opened wide enough to fit the sewer connections. They gave me plenty of leverage to open things. Someone is always borrowing my tools and they disappeared. You can probably find them at places like Harbor Freight. Sometimes I can't get the screw on covers on the campground sewer dump opened and need to use pliers on that too.

Martha

Bonnie so sorry to hear you are having this problem, sure hoping someone has a good suggestion for you. I've lost a lot of strength in my hands also. I exercise them often, hoping to keep them useful. It takes both hands for me to dump and get hose on or off. So far I manage.

Good luck to you, Don't want you to quit camping that's not acceptable,
CArol

I have the same issue already and have been thinking and hoping there was a wrench out there to help- glad to see there is. It's on our list.

I've never had trouble and connect mine with one hand. Maybe I'm just lucky. I push the connection up onto the rig connection and then push it around to be tight. Yesterday, for the first time, I didn't notice it wasn't tight. Had it at an angle. Was hard to then get off and put on correctly. But when I get it on right it turns easily. Guys this is something I'll have to watch on other rigs. Saw a rig, brand new, at an rv show that would require me lying on the ground to get to the connections. Yikes. That tool looks like it might be what will help you. Mitch is so good at finding that stuff.

Bonnie, I bet you could get someone at the campground to help you. When Sarah and Wendy got to DeFuniak Springs, Sarah had several people who helped direct them in helping her get set up. Wendy was having problems with her water and there was lots of help for that too.

Beth, this is just a problem that has developed in past 3 or 4 years, not the only thing I have a problem with , hence exercising Must be independent so whatever it takes. Tool Mitch found looks like a great idea, whenever or if ever I need it.

CArol

Dawn, you are very right I always have many offers of help, sometimes would be better without some

Hope you can find a wrench to help with this problem...I can do that part ok...my problem
is ..you have to put one arm thru the opening and the other one under the opening ...not an easy task...
donna

.

FYI, that $5.19 wrench is $13.99 at Amazon! Same exact thing! YIKES!
(And not eligible for free shipping at Amazon, either...)

.

I have a similar wrench except mine if white and a full circle. I leave it on the sewer pipe so I can remove the cap and then slip it on the fitting so I can hookup the hose to the pipe. It came with my RV but I think you might be able to get one from Camping World.

Another option would be one of those wrenches you can buy at hardware stores that have a solid handle and a rubber strap to wrap around jar lids and other things.

I also use a stool because I have two replaced knees and it is not comfortable to kneel, plus not clean most places. And finally, I have two other adjustable wrenches I got from Sears to use on the water hoses. I could not possibly get them tight enough with just my fingers.

You might want to ask at Camping World or a dealer if there is some way you can modify the hookup to make it easier to use.

Try getting a pair of the rubber gardening gloves that have a raised pattern on the palm. You would be surprised how much more turning power they give you. Sometimes I can't get my sewer hose undone and I just grab those gloves and it comes right off easily.

Also, you know the liner stuff many of us put between plates etc that is non stick? I use a piece of that to open difficult jars. Bet it would work on a hard to turn sewer connection also.

Thanks Sharon, your glove suggestion made me think of that. Love when we can use things we already have.

I have been using rubber gloves and those circles of rubber for opening jars. I also put plumbers tape on the CG faucet. You don't have to have such a tight connection, it doesn't drip and it is easier to undo.