Levitator vs. Camco Sidewinder vs. Valterra Slunky
Three RV sewer hose supports, two completely different design philosophies. Here is how they actually compare on real campsites — including the situations where the cheaper accordion is the right call.
Ground-followers vs. suspension
Every sewer hose support on the market falls into one of two categories, and the category matters more than the brand.
Ground-following supports (Sidewinder, Slunky, every accordion)
- Rest on the ground, so they mirror whatever the ground does — every rut, dip, and slope transfers straight to your hose
- The built-in “slope” only works if the site is already flat; on ground sloping toward your RV, gravity works against you
- Segments and cradles are rigid plastic sitting in full sun and weather all trip long
- Even folded, a 15 ft accordion is a bulky item to store
Suspended tension line (the Levitator)
- The hose hangs from a tension line anchored at your RV outlet and the sewer connection — it never touches the ground
- Continuous downhill fall from outlet to sewer no matter what the terrain underneath is doing
- Included UV sleeve shields the hose from sun, weather, and abrasion
- Packs down to a small bag; nothing rigid to store
The comparison table
Street prices checked July 2026 at major retailers. We sell the Levitator, so check our math — every spec below is verifiable on the linked retailer pages.
| Feature | Levitator Support Kit | Camco Sidewinder 15′ | Valterra Slunky 15′ (S1500) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design type | Suspended tension line | Plastic accordion cradle | Plastic slinky-style cradle |
| Street price | $59.99 includes 10 ft UV hose sleeve | $37–$51 | ~$30 |
| Works on ruts & potholes | Yes — hose never touches the ground | Follows the ground contour | Follows the ground contour |
| Works on ground sloping the wrong way | Yes — slope set by the line, not the site | No — inherits the site’s slope | No — inherits the site’s slope |
| Gravel & grass sites | Unaffected | Sits on top; can shift and settle | Sits on top; straps help on wind |
| Hose UV / weather protection | 10 ft UV-resistant sleeve included | None — hose fully exposed | None — hose fully exposed |
| Storage size | Soft pack, ~3.5 lbs | Folds flat, still a long rigid stack | Collapses to about 8.5 in tall |
| Straps needed | No | No — deep cradles | Yes — ships with 6 tie-downs |
| Span / length | 7 ft span 15 ft version in pre-order | 15 ft | 15 ft (also 10 & 20 ft models) |
| Setup | Clip line at both ends, tension, done | Unfold, position, angle segments | Stretch, position, strap the hose in |
| Where it shines | Uneven, sloped, gravel, long stays | Flat pads, budget setups | Flat pads, tight budgets |
When an accordion support is the right call
We make the Levitator, but we’ll be straight with you: if you camp exclusively on level, paved, full-hookup pads and want to spend as little as possible, a $30–$50 accordion does the job. The Sidewinder’s cradles genuinely hold without straps, and the Slunky packs down small. Millions of RVers use them on flat sites without drama. The problems start the moment the ground stops cooperating — which, statistically, is most campsites that aren’t a paved resort pad.
Buy for the campsites you actually visit
Flat concrete every trip: save the money, buy the accordion. Gravel, grass, ruts, or any slope: the Levitator is the only support in this comparison whose drainage does not depend on the ground being right. It costs about $20 more than a Sidewinder and includes the UV sleeve the others don’t have — the piece that protects the hose accordions leave baking in the sun.
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From RVers who switched
Common questions
Is the Levitator better than the Camco Sidewinder?
On flat, paved sites they both work; the Sidewinder is cheaper. On uneven, sloped, or gravel sites the Levitator maintains drainage slope because the hose hangs from a tension line instead of following the ground, which is where ground-based supports like the Sidewinder struggle.
Why do accordion supports fail on uneven ground?
An accordion support rests on the ground, so its shape is the ground’s shape. A rut becomes a low spot where waste pools; ground sloping toward your RV means the “slope” runs backward. The support can’t create fall that the site doesn’t have.
Is the Valterra Slunky good on sloped campsites?
The Slunky has a built-in 4.5 to 7.25 inch height taper, which helps on level ground. On a site that slopes toward your RV, that taper is fighting the terrain and usually loses. It also ships with six straps because the hose needs securing to the cradle.
Why does the Levitator cost more?
It is a different mechanism (suspension rather than molded plastic), it includes a 10 ft UV-resistant hose sleeve that the others don’t, and it is made by a small US business rather than mass-produced. Street price is $59.99 with $5 flat shipping, 30-day free returns, and a 30-day warranty.
Does the Levitator work with my existing sewer hose?
Yes. It supports standard 3-inch RV sewer hoses, the same hoses used with Sidewinder and Slunky supports. The included sleeve fits hoses up to 10 ft; a 15 ft version is in pre-order.