Camco RhinoFLEX 20 ft RV Sewer Hose Kit (39742)

Published · Researched 2026-09-21

2026 lineup note (CORRECTED Sept 2026): Camco 39742 remains the current 20-ft RhinoFLEX kit SKU in 2026. Related SKUs: 39741 (15-ft kit), 39761 (15-ft kit — earlier versions of this dossier wrongly called it a "10-ft extension"; it is a kit with elbow and caps, also cross-listed as 39770), and 39764 (10-ft extension kit with pre-attached lug and bayonet fittings, also cross-listed as 39774). The 2023+ packaging refresh added "swivel transparent elbow" marketing and frustration-free packaging options, but the kit contents (2 × 10' hoses, clear elbow with 4-in-1 adapter, 4 storage caps) are unchanged. Made in the USA.

Version lineage (2023–2026)

• 39742 (current): The standard 20' kit: two 10' RhinoFLEX hose assemblies with pre-attached bayonet/lug fittings, transparent (clear) elbow with removable 4-in-1 adapter, and four storage caps. Listings from 2023–2026 show identical contents; the only visible change is updated Amazon/Camco marketing copy ("Swivel Transparent Elbow," frustration-free packaging).
• No hardware revision found for 2024–2026. The RhinoFLEX hose itself (23-mil polyolefin, steel-wire reinforced) is unchanged.
• Smart-buy advice: The 20-ft kit is the community-standard size — two 10' sections let you use just 10' at close dump stations. The 15-ft (39741) is the common alternative for smaller rigs; don't buy a cheap thin "starter" hose — owners consistently report upgrading to RhinoFLEX within a season.

Overview

The default upgrade sewer hose for RVers: rugged yet flexible 23-mil polyolefin hose reinforced with steel wire, so it bends, holds its shape, and collapses to only what you need. Swivel bayonet fittings (360°) and a clear elbow with a 4-in-1 dump-station adapter (fits 3" slip or 3"/3.5"/4" threaded) cover virtually any dump station. Compresses for storage in a 4" square bumper.

Key Specs

Pricing

• MSRP: ~$55.99 — inferred from Camping World's regular (non-sale) price of $55.99 (campingworld.com, crawled 2026-09-17). Nellis Auction listings cite "estimated retail" $53.99–$57.00. UNVERIFIED against Camco's official list price.
• Street: ~$51–$80. Examples: Camping World $51.49 sale (was $55.99, crawled 2026-09-17, item #44151); shelhealth.com $69.28 (sold out, crawled 2026-09-12); everest.com $79.99 non-member (crawled 2026-09-18); Best Buy bundle with Sidewinder support $114.99 (different bundle: 39742 + 43052).
• All prices USD, research date 2026-09-20. Re-verify live.

In the Box

• 2 × 10' RhinoFLEX sewer hoses with pre-attached swivel bayonet and lug fittings
• 1 × transparent elbow with 4-in-1 adapter
• 4 × RV sewer storage caps

Warranty

UNVERIFIED — Camco's official warranty terms for the RhinoFLEX kit were not confirmed from a primary source during this research. (Camco products generally carry a manufacturer limited warranty; check packaging or Camco's site before purchase.)

Support & Parts

• Camco (USA manufacturer). Replacement components (elbows, adapters, caps, bayonet fittings) are sold separately through RV retailers — useful since the clear elbow is the part owners replace most.
• (UNVERIFIED: specific support contact channels — check Camco's site or packaging.)

Community Verdict

RhinoFLEX is the consensus "buy once" sewer hose in RV circles — repeatedly recommended over the thin hoses that come with new trailers, which owners report splitting within a season. The steel-wire construction that holds its shape and the clear elbow (so you can see when the tank runs clean) are the two features owners cite most. Best Buy's marketplace listing for the 20' + Sidewinder bundle shows 3.89/5 across 443 ratings (crawled 2026-09-16); Amazon reviews trend strongly positive with the usual minority of complaints about fitting durability after years of UV exposure. The Valterra alternative (noted in the brief) has its own loyalists, but RhinoFLEX is the more-recommended name.

Additional voices (Sept 2026 research): long-term reports are the product's best advertising - trekwithus.com used one hose ~3 years full-time, connected 90% of the time in the sun, stepped on it once and it "flexed back into shape," never leaking; popupbackpacker's 8-year review (updated ~2026) says the original 2013 hose "still looks and works just like it was when we bought it," not a single leak. Forest River forums owners report the same RhinoFLEX still strong since 2007 and 2012. The failure modes are consistent and honest: pinhole leaks along the hose after ~2 years of near-daily UV exposure (mygrandrv.com), ground abrasion from laying it on rocks ("I killed my RhinoFlex after only a few months"), and UV degradation - one owner replaces theirs every 5 years "regardless," calling it cheap insurance. Bayonet O-ring seals need occasional replacement (easy, cheap). ShopSavvy's aggregate (July 2026) is the contrarian data point at 6/10, citing QC complaints and storage-compatibility gripes - worth knowing, though it sits against 22,688 claimed Amazon ratings at 4.7/5 on Camco marketing pages (marketing-claim figure, treat as such).

Long-term durability & warranty-claim reality

This is the best-documented durability story in the RV plumbing category: trekwithus.com's full-time ~3-year test (connected 90% of the time, in the sun, stepped on once) ended with zero leaks; popupbackpacker's 8-year review (updated ~2026) says the original 2013 hose "still looks and works just like it was when we bought it" with not a single leak; Forest River forums members report the same RhinoFLEX strong since 2007 and 2012. Failure modes, when they come: pinhole leaks along the hose after ~2 years of near-daily UV exposure (mygrandrv.com member, who switched to a Dominator after that lifespan and called 2 years acceptable); abrasion-through from dragging/laying on rocks ("I killed my RhinoFlex after only a few months" — forestriverforums); UV embrittlement for owners who leave it permanently connected. One disciplined owner replaces theirs every 5 years regardless — "cheap insurance." Bayonet O-ring seals are the service item: they weep after a few seasons and are cheap to replace. The clear elbow is the component owners replace most. Warranty-claim experiences are sparse — Camco's warranty terms were UNVERIFIED and the hose is a consumable in practice.

Version history — year by year

• 2023: 39742 kit contents stable (2x10' hoses, clear elbow + 4-in-1 adapter, 4 caps); Amazon/Camco marketing refresh adds "Swivel Transparent Elbow" language and frustration-free packaging options.
• 2024: No hardware revision found; SKU unchanged.
• 2025: No hardware revision found; kit remains the community default.
• 2026: 39742 current; related SKUs 39741 (15-ft kit), 39761 (15-ft kit — corrected Sept 2026; not an extension), 39764 (10-ft extension, also listed 39774). The RhinoEXTREME line (39867) continues as the thicker sibling.

Head-to-head vs closest rivals

• vs Camco RhinoEXTREME 20-ft kit (new in this catalog): the EXTREME uses a thicker, more puncture-resistant hose formulation at a higher price (~$90-110 street vs ~$51-80). Buy the EXTREME if you full-time with the hose permanently connected in the sun, or camp where the hose drags over rough ground; buy RhinoFLEX for typical weekend/seasonal use — it's the better value and the collapsible storage is identical in concept.
• vs Camco RhinoFLEX 10-ft extension 39764 (new in this catalog — see substitution note below): not a rival — the extension is the accessory that turns the 20-ft kit into 30 ft for far dump stations. Most owners eventually own both.
• Outside the catalog: Lippert Waste Master (cam-lock instead of bayonet — "tight and leak free" per a mygrandrv convert, but a closed ecosystem), Valterra Dominator (near-identical semi-rigid concept; mygrandrv member switched after pinholes), and the thin starter hoses that ship with new trailers (universally reported to split within a season — the upgrade RhinoFLEX replaces).

Care & maintenance

Rinse the hose with the gray-water flush after dumping; cap both ends before storage (the caps are "practically air tight" — trekwithus — which keeps residual water and odor in, not out). Store compressed in the 4" bumper or a storage tube, out of UV. Inspect annually for pinholes and UV crazing, especially if left connected full-time; replace O-ring seals at the first weep. Use a sewer hose support (Camco Sidewinder or Valterra-style) to keep the hose off abrasive ground — ground abrasion is the #1 premature killer per owner reports. Never store with bleach or harsh chemicals inside.

Buying traps

• Never buy a used sewer hose — hygiene; this is the one category where used is not an option.
• SKU confusion (resolved Sept 2026): 39742 = 20-ft kit; 39741 = 15-ft kit; 39761 = 15-ft kit (also cross-listed 39770 — earlier dossier versions wrongly labeled it the 10-ft extension); 39764 = 10-ft extension kit (also cross-listed 39774). Amazon listings sometimes mix kit/extension photos.
• Amazon "List Price" games: observed "list" figures vary; Camping World's regular $55.99 (Sept 2026) is the sanest MSRP proxy.
• Thin-hose trap: the cheapest 20-ft hoses on Amazon (~$25-30) are the same grade as the dealer starter hose — owners report upgrading to RhinoFLEX within a season anyway.
• Counterfeits: none confirmed; but third-party Amazon sellers have shipped older packaging — verify the swivel fittings and clear elbow on arrival.

Images

• camco-rhinoflex-20ft-1.jpg — hero/kit product shot
• camco-rhinoflex-20ft-2.jpg — hose/elbow detail
• camco-rhinoflex-20ft-3.jpg — in-use or packaged view
• [research workspace] — kit contents laid out (added 2026-09-20)
• [research workspace] — extended-hose flexibility view (added 2026-09-20)
• [research workspace] — 90° clear swivel fitting close-up (added 2026-09-20)

See [research workspace] for dimensions, sources, and what each depicts.

Research date: 2026-09-20. Prices and availability change frequently — re-verify live before purchase. Figures marked UNVERIFIED could not be confirmed from a primary source during this research.