Home Made Sewer Hose Holder

Instructions and drawing contributed by Larry Adam

Materials Needed:

• 1 – 36", 4" PVC Pipe
• 2 – 4", PVC End Caps
• 1 – Length of 1" Wide Galvanized Steel Strapping with 3/8" Holes Spaced At 1" Intervals.
• 2 – 4" U-Bolts with a 5" Reach (minimum reach) with 3/8" Threads
• 4 – 3/8" Nuts for U-bolts
• 1 – 3/8" Allen Head Bolt with a Round Head
• Small amount of PVC Cement (for 1 end cap)

Tools Needed:

• Saw to cut PVC pipe if over 36" (or the length you plan on making holder)
• Drill and tap to make standard 3/8" coarse threads
• Allen Wrench
• Drill with 3/8" drill bit
• Dremel Tool or a small saw (to cut locking notch in end cap)
• Sandpaper
• Primer and paint if you wish to paint brackets
• Wrench for U-Bolt Nuts
• Hacksaw

HOW TO BUILD THE HOLDER

1. Cut the 4" PVC pipe to the length you wish to have inside clearance for.
2. Drill several holes in what will be the bottom of the holder. Keep the holes close enough to the ends so you can reach them inside the pipe to sand off any burrs from drilling.
3. Cement one end cap on the end opposite the loading/unloading side.
4. Place one U-Bolt in a vise.
5. Place the steel strapping over the U-Bolt threads about 1" using the first hole available and with the balance of the strapping pointing upward. (You may need to open the required holes using a 3/8" drill).
6. Lock the strapping in place with nuts.
7. Bend the strapping down over the top of the U-Bolt at a 90-degree angle to the rear where it is over the threads.
8. Hold the piece of PVC pipe over the strapping so that the pipe is positioned about even with the outside of the U-Bolt.
9. Bend the strapping around the PVC pipe and down the back of the U-bolt.
10. Determine the best holes to use to keep the strapping tight and mark where to cut it off so you have enough to go over both U-bolt threads.
11. Repeat the process in steps 4 to 10 to make a 2^nd strap assembly.
12. Remove the locking nuts and strapping for the U-bolts (and paint if desired).
13. Use coarse sandpaper or a file to take a little material off the inside of the second PVC end cap so it slips on and off smoothly without sticking.
14. Determine where you wish to have the locking pin located (e.g., facing straight back).
15. Place the end cap on the pipe to where it will sit when the holder is closed.
16. Drill a hole through the cap and pipe using the drill bit required for the 3/8" tap (about 2" in from the edge of the cap).
17. Remove the cap and tap the hole in the pipe with a 3/8" tap.
18. Hold the Allen bolt alongside the pipe to determine where to cut it off so it does not protrude through to the inside of the pipe (which could tear your hose).
19. Insert the 3/8" Allen bolt and snug it down.
20. Take the end cap and, using the hole you drilled, make an "L" shaped notch about 1" long using a Dremel tool.
21. Test the locking notch to see that the cap goes on and rotates to lock in place.

INSTALLATION

1. Determine the location to mount the holder on the 4" square bumper (typically above the bumper).
2. Place the U-bolts over the bumper from the rear (so the threaded ends face the trailer body).
3. Slide the strapping piece over the PVC pipe.
4. Place the first strapping piece over the U-bolt, press the second end over, and install one nut tightly.
5. When both pieces of strapping are in place and the pipe is oriented with drain holes facing down, tighten the nuts with a wrench until snug.
6. Optionally, attach a small safety chain between the cap and U-bolt to keep the cap from being lost.

This holder takes about two hours to construct and 30 minutes to install. The total project cost is roughly $25 based on purchasing a 5-foot length of PVC pipe and basic hardware.

DRAWING OF HOSE HOLDER