These two hoses may look the same at first, but there are a lot of important differences. Let's take a look at the features that differentiate a high-quality RV drinking water hose from a "meh" one.
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| Brand | AIR GEAR RV Water Hose | Valterra Coil-n-store |
| Carry bag? |
✓ |
✖︎ |
| Fittings | Chrome over lead-free brass | Plastic |
| Strain relief | 3" long heavy-duty | None |
| Guarantee | 5 years against any type of failure | 1 year |
| Price | $79 | $40 |
| Customer service | Real humans who answer phone calls and emails, five days a week | ??? |
The Valterra hose is much less expensive, but you get what you pay for. The plastic fittings will bend and leak. Plastic fittings just aren't durable enough for RV use, which is why AIR GEAR uses only lead-free brass, with a tough chrome plating.
The cheap fitting also means:
- The Valterra hose can't take as much pressure. This is a potential problem in campgrounds with high water pressure. You can expect small leaks at the fitting in that case.
- It isn't rated for hot water use. Imagine the hose lying in the sun all day. That is hot water passing through the plastic, which it may introduce microplastics into your water.
The Valterra warranty reflects the manufacturer's confidence in their product: just 1 year. (Then you should be prepared to replace it.)
The AIR GEAR hose will last for a long, long time. We guarantee it for five years against ANY type of failure. In nearly a decade of selling this hose, we've replaced exactly one because of failure (it had a cut in the plastic). Our 300+ five-star reviews back that up!