Camco RhinoFLEX 39741 review: flexible reach, bulky storage
A research-based review of the Camco RhinoFLEX 39741 sewer hose kit, covering 10/20-foot flexibility, storage fit, connections, inspection, and safe dumping.
Research-based review: RVCamping.info has not bought, handled, or physically tested this sewer hose kit. This assessment uses current product documentation, retailer specifications, government sanitation guidance, and clearly attributed owner reports.
The Camco RhinoFLEX 39741 is a sensible first sewer-hose kit for RVers who want both a short 10-foot run and a full 20-foot reach without carrying one long hose. Skip it if your storage tube cannot take the fittings, you want the thickest hose Camco sells, or your campsite setup needs more than 20 feet. Its best feature is modular length. Its main compromise is storage: the hose sections compress, but the 4-in-1 elbow adapter is still an awkward, contaminated piece that needs its own secure place.
What exactly is being reviewed?
This review covers the current Camco RhinoFLEX 20-foot kit, manufacturer part 39741 and UPC 014717397414. Camco's current product page identifies that SKU and UPC.[1] The exact Amazon listing linked below names model 39741 and ASIN B00C5RBRA8.[2]
Do not treat every RhinoFLEX listing as identical. Amazon also carries a separate 39742 listing under another ASIN, while Camco's current direct listing and the affiliate link in this article point to 39741. Confirm the model number on the Amazon page and packaging before ordering.
The 39741 kit uses two 10-foot hose sections. An RV retailer specifies 23-mil polyolefin reinforced with steel wire, a clear elbow, reusable locking rings, 360-degree swivel fittings, and a 4-in-1 adapter for a 3-inch slip inlet plus 3-, 3.5-, and 4-inch threaded inlets.[5]
Who should buy it, and who should skip it?
Buy the 39741 if you usually park within 10 feet of the sewer inlet but sometimes need 20 feet. Using only one section means less hose to route, rinse, dry, and store. Add the second section when the hookup is farther away.
It also suits first-time RV owners who need the main parts in one box. The clear elbow lets you see when flow has stopped, while the threaded adapter can secure the discharge end at common campground inlets.[5]
Skip it in these cases:
- Your RV has only a narrow round storage tube. A long-term RhinoFLEX user reviewing an earlier 15-foot version found that the fittings needed a 4-inch tube and the detached 4-in-1 adapter still required separate storage.[3]
- You routinely need more than 20 feet. Extra joints add more seals to inspect and more places for low spots to form.
- You expect a sewer hose to be puncture-proof. The steel-reinforced 23-mil wall is still flexible plastic. Keep it off sharp gravel, inspect it before every dump, and replace it if you find pinholes, crushed sections, loose fittings, or brittle material.
- You want a permanently connected seasonal-site setup. A supported, protected hose or rigid system may fit that job better, subject to the campground's rules.
The useful part is 10 feet plus 10 feet
A single 20-foot hose often gets extended farther than necessary. That leaves more material on the ground and creates extra sags where liquid can collect. The RhinoFLEX kit's two-section layout gives you a practical choice: one section for a nearby inlet, both sections when the pedestal is badly placed.
RVupgrades says each section compresses to 39 inches and expands to 10 feet. It also reports that the hose bends and stays where positioned, which helps on a sloped support.[5] Those are seller specifications, not measurements made by RVCamping.info.
The clearest independent experience we found is older and applies to a 15-foot RhinoFLEX kit, not this exact 39741 package. The reviewer reported that the hose held its shape, the bayonet connection stayed secured, and the clear elbow made it easier to watch the discharge. He also disliked the storage bulk of the fittings and adapter.[3] That is useful evidence about the RhinoFLEX design, but it should not be mistaken for a current durability test of the 39741.
Camco's own page currently shows two sharply different owner reports for SKU 39741: one owner said a year of use brought no leaks and easy bumper storage; another said one section twisted and would no longer collapse after four months.[1] Two reports cannot establish a failure rate. They do show why the return window and a dry fit at home matter.
Compatibility checks before you buy
Measure the whole storage path
Measure the inside diameter, door opening, bends, and usable depth of the bumper or carrier. Do not stop at "4-inch bumper" in a product title. The hose may fit only after removing the 4-in-1 adapter, and a bumper with internal rust, welds, or a tight end cap can have less usable clearance.
Plan a separate lidded container for the elbow and adapter if they do not fit. Store sewer equipment away from drinking-water hoses, regulators, and filters.
Check both ends
The RV end uses the common bayonet-style waste outlet connection. Inspect the RV's lugs for cracks or wear and make sure the fitting completes its twist before opening a valve.
At the ground end, the 4-in-1 adapter covers several common inlet sizes.[5] It does not guarantee a sealed fit at every campsite. Damaged threads, unusual inlets, local requirements, or a plain opening may call for a different fitting or an approved method of securing the elbow. Follow the campground or dump-station instructions rather than improvising.
Confirm that 20 feet is enough
Measure from the RV outlet to likely inlet positions with room for a continuous downhill route. Do not count on stretching the hose perfectly straight. A support, turns, and the elbow consume some reach.
Setup and inspection before the first trip
Dry-fit the system at home without opening a waste valve:
- Extend both sections and inspect the full wall under good light. Look for pinholes, flattened wire, splits, or sections that will not expand and collapse evenly.
- Check every gasket. It should sit flat without cuts, hardening, or distortion.
- Connect one section to the RV outlet and verify that the bayonet hooks fully engage.
- Join the second section, then gently pull and twist at the connection. Re-seat any loose fitting before use.
- Attach the clear elbow and adapter. Confirm that the intended storage container closes without forcing contaminated parts against clean gear.
- Pack disposable gloves and absorbent spill material. Keep a separate non-potable rinse hose if you carry one.
This short test is more valuable than discovering a missing gasket while a line of RVs waits behind you.
Safer dumping routine
Wastewater handling matters more than brand choice. San Diego County advises RV users to dispose of black and gray water at dump stations, secure both hose ends before opening a valve, watch the hose while dumping, keep valves closed when tanks are not being emptied, and carry spill-response material.[4]
A careful routine for this kit is:
- Put on gloves and inspect the hose, fittings, and gaskets.
- Connect the clear-elbow end to the approved inlet and secure it as the site requires.
- Connect the RV end, then tug both connections gently.
- Arrange a continuous downhill path. Use a hose support where the site requires one or where low spots would trap waste.
- Open the black valve only after both ends are secure. Stay with the hose.
- Close the black valve, then dump gray water if available to move residual material through the hose.
- Close all valves before disconnecting. Use only the station's designated rinse water, never a potable-water hose.
- Cap the hose ends and store the equipment in its dedicated compartment or container.
If a connection leaks, close the valve first. Do not try to reseat a pressurized waste fitting.
The model-number trap: 39741 versus 39742
Camco's current direct page lists 39741, and the exact Amazon page tied to B00C5RBRA8 also names 39741.[1][2] A different Amazon listing identifies 39742 under ASIN B01HPHR30U. Search results and retailer catalogs sometimes blend photos and copy from these packages.
This review and affiliate link are for 39741/B00C5RBRA8. Check that combination at checkout. If Amazon changes the detail page, seller, bundle, or model selection, stop and verify the package contents rather than assuming the ASIN still represents the reviewed kit.
Verdict
The RhinoFLEX 39741 earns its place as a practical starter kit because the two-section layout solves a real campsite problem. You can carry 20 feet without deploying 20 feet every time. The clear elbow and multi-size adapter also reduce the number of separate parts a new owner has to choose.
The kit is not maintenance-free. Storage clearance is the make-or-break compatibility check, and even Camco's small set of current owner reports includes both a trouble-free season and a section that deformed early.[1] Inspect it before the return window closes, protect it from abrasion, and treat every gasket and joint as a potential leak point.
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Check the Camco RhinoFLEX 39741 on Amazon
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