Hose fittings & pressure reducers – controlling water without leaks or surprises
Hose fittings and pressure reducers are small caravan accessories that don’t look very exciting — but they play a big role in keeping your water system tidy, safe, and predictable.
Used properly, they stop leaks, reduce strain on fittings, and help prevent sudden bursts of pressure that can turn a simple water hookup into an unexpected flood.
This page explains what hose fittings and pressure reducers do, when they’re needed, and how to use them without overthinking it.
What are hose fittings?
Hose fittings are the connectors that join:
A site tap to your hose
One hose section to another
The hose to the caravan’s water inlet
They’re usually plastic or metal and come in various thread sizes and connection styles.
Good fittings make water hookup quick and drip-free. Poor ones lead to leaks, cross-threading, and damp ground around the pitch.
Common hose fitting types you’ll see
Tap connectors
These attach the hose to the site tap.
They often:
Clamp over different tap sizes
Screw onto threaded taps
Allow quick attachment and removal
Because site taps vary widely, adjustability matters more than clever design.
Hose connectors and joiners
These connect hose sections together or allow quick disconnection.
They’re useful for:
Extending hose length
Packing hoses into smaller spaces
Disconnecting without unscrewing everything
Simple, reliable connectors tend to outperform overly complex ones.
Caravan inlet connectors
These attach the hose to the caravan’s water inlet.
A secure fit here matters — leaks at the inlet can drip into lockers or behind panels without being obvious straight away.
What is a pressure reducer?
A pressure reducer (sometimes called a pressure regulator) limits the water pressure entering your caravan.
Site water pressure varies hugely:
Some sites have gentle flow
Others can deliver very high pressure
A pressure reducer helps protect:
Internal pipework
Push-fit connections
Taps and appliances
It doesn’t improve water quality — it simply controls force.
Do you really need a pressure reducer?
Not every caravanner uses one — but many do for peace of mind.
Pressure reducers are especially useful if:
You regularly use direct water hookups
You tour across different sites
You’ve experienced sudden pressure surges before
They’re less critical if you only ever fill via containers rather than direct connection.
Where pressure reducers are usually fitted
Most are fitted:
Directly at the site tap
Between the tap and the hose
Fitting them at the tap protects everything downstream, including the hose itself.
Common misunderstandings
A pressure reducer does not reduce water flow to a trickle
It does not filter water
It does not replace good hose connections
Its job is simply to stop excessive pressure entering the system.
Storage and handling
Because fittings are small, they’re easy to lose or damage.
Good habits include:
Keeping fittings in a dedicated bag or box
Letting them dry before storage
Checking seals occasionally
A missing washer is often the real cause of a “mystery leak”.
🔧 TalkWrench Tip
When connecting to a site tap, turn the water on slowly and watch the fittings for a few seconds.
Most leaks show themselves immediately — catching them early avoids soaked ground, lockers, and frustration.
The takeaway
Hose fittings and pressure reducers don’t add luxury — they add control.
They help make water hookup predictable, tidy, and drama-free, especially when site conditions vary. Like many caravan accessories, the right setup fades into the background — which is exactly what you want.