Camco 59053 Propane Feed Hose Pigtail | 12 in ACME

The Camco 59053 is a propane feed hose, the short connector most folks call a pigtail. Its whole job is to link a propane cylinder to the regulator on your RV or trailer. One end carries a Type 1 ACME nut that threads onto the cylinder valve. The other end is a 1/4 inch inverted male flare that mates with the inlet on your regulator. It measures 12 inches, and it ships without a regulator, so it's meant to work with the one you already have.

Let's talk about that Type 1 ACME connection first, because it's the part that trips people up. Type 1 ACME is the big hand-wheel fitting you'll find on modern 20, 30, and 40 pound propane cylinders. It's the same connection people call QCC-1. The nice thing about it is that you don't need a wrench. You thread it on by hand and snug it down, and the internal seal does the work. If you've swapped a grill tank in the last fifteen years, you already know how this end feels.

The other end, the 1/4 inch inverted male flare, is the standard inlet on most RV and trailer propane regulators. Inverted flare fittings seal metal to metal on a machined seat, so they hold pressure well and take a little wrench snugging rather than hand tightening. If your current pigtail ends in this fitting, this one will drop right in. If you're not sure, check the inlet on your regulator before you order, since regulator inlets do vary.

Here's an honest note on what this hose is not. It's the version without thermal protection. Some pigtails include a built-in thermal shutoff that stops the flow if the hose gets too hot in a fire. This one doesn't have that feature. It's a straight feed hose. If your setup calls for a thermally protected pigtail, you'll want a different part number. We'd rather tell you that up front than have you find out after it's installed.

So who's this for? Most of the time it's a replacement. Pigtails don't last forever. The rubber gets stiff, the fittings corrode, and after enough seasons in the sun they can crack. If you smell propane near the tank, or your soapy-water leak check bubbles at the hose, it's time. A 12 inch pigtail like this is also common on dual-tank setups, where two cylinders feed an automatic changeover regulator through a pair of these hoses. Swapping both at once when one goes is never a bad idea. A lot of full-timers just replace their pigtails every few years as routine maintenance, so a dried-out hose never leaves them without heat or a working stove.

Installation is straightforward for most owners. Close the cylinder valve first, always. Thread the ACME nut onto the cylinder by hand until it's snug. Connect the inverted flare end to the regulator inlet and snug it with a wrench, not gorilla-tight, just firm. Then open the valve slowly and brush every joint with soapy water. Watch for bubbles. No bubbles means no leak, and you're good to go. If you see bubbles, close the valve, back the fitting off, and reseat it.

A few things worth keeping in mind. This is a propane part, so treat it like one. Don't use thread tape or pipe dope on the ACME or flare connections, since both seal on their own design and adding sealant can actually cause a leak. Replace a pigtail that's stiff or cracked rather than nursing it along. And if you're ever unsure about a propane connection, have it checked. We carry the gear, and we're happy to help you spec the right regulator and hose for your rig.