Dry camping question?

raptor · 08-04-2016, 09:36 PM

So you don't have to carry too much weight. Do you fill up fresh water tank when get close the site and empty it when you leave? As they say class c is up there in weight before you are adding more loads to it. I've booked a full hook up site by the ocean here in WA cost $53 per night. I'm trying to find other ways. How do season campers do?

In learning mode
Thanks

Skyliner · 08-04-2016, 10:34 PM

I carry a full tank of water because finding water is not as easy as one might think it is.

For week long trips, we also carry another 28 gallons of water in 7 gallon containers available at walmart. We have a cheap 12 volt water pump from Harbor Freight that does a great job at pumping the water into the fresh water tank.

**bikendan** · 08-05-2016, 12:49 AM

We primarily dry camp and we ALWAYS carry a full tank of water.
Our TV can easily handle it and the extra weight doesn't affect gas mileage.

It's the frontal air resistance that affects mpg mainly.

raptor · 08-05-2016, 01:06 AM

The reason I'm asking because some where in here said my class c Forester MBS 2401R is almost to max load before I'm adding more stuffs to it. You are right It would be hard to ask at gas station for 40 gallons of fresh water.

wahoonc · 08-05-2016, 06:01 AM

Depends...

A full tank of water for me is over 400#, I do have the spare capacity, but am careful not to take a full tank unless I know I am going to need it. Some parts of the country it is easy to find water to top up your tank, other places not so much.

Most of my dry camping takes place in state parks or COE on the East Coast, they typically have a place to fill your tanks on site.

I do travel with around 1/3 of a tank so we have some water to use while in transit.

Aaron

ilmor · 08-05-2016, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raptor

So you don't have to carry too much weight. Do you fill up fresh water tank when get close the site and empty it when you leave? As they say class c is up there in weight before you are adding more loads to it. I've booked a full hook up site by the ocean here in WA cost $53 per night. I'm trying to find other ways. How do season campers do?

In learning mode
Thanks

Your 24 ft has a lot of cargo capacity. Calculate the weight of a full tank and then consider whether your anywhere near exceeding the remaining capacity. If you've weighed your motorhome you have the best info. Personally, when I dry camp in my 2250 I always take a full tank of water with me.

5picker · 08-05-2016, 06:29 AM

If I camp somewhere where there isn't hook-ups I always take a full tank of water with me. I trust my water and I know I can fill my tank at home and not worry whether I'm going to find any.

It only cost a few pennies to to haul it there and in the grand scheme of a camping trip, that's well worth it for me.

raptor · 08-05-2016, 12:44 PM

This is the best place for camping education. Huge thanks to modern technology. One more question

. On RV door has a sticker that is saying "This unit has been winterized". Do you know what this really means?

timfromma · 08-05-2016, 01:23 PM

If I'm not headed directly to a full hookup campsite, I will fill the FW tank.

I recently went dry camping at a state park 2 hours from my house. There were water spigots scattered about but the nozzles were not threaded so filling my tank on site would have been difficult to say the least.

Bring it with you if you aren't 100% sure you can fill once you arrive.

**bikendan** · 08-05-2016, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raptor

This is the best place for camping education. Huge thanks to modern technology. One more question

. On RV door has a sticker that is saying "This unit has been winterized". Do you know what this really means?

It sounds like your RV was winterized when you bought it.
Didn't your dealer explain winterizing during the PDI?
They should have.

Your water heater valves are probably in their winter configuration so you won't get any hot water.

wahoonc · 08-05-2016, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raptor

This is the best place for camping education. Huge thanks to modern technology. One more question

. On RV door has a sticker that is saying "This unit has been winterized". Do you know what this really means?

I would ASS-U-ME that they blew the lines, pumped RV anti-freeze into them and dumped some more down the p-traps. YMMV

Aaron

5picker · 08-05-2016, 01:40 PM

Many dealers put the 'Unit has been winterized" sticker on the doors so they can tell at a glance when going through their lot which units have been winterized for the freezing temperatures.

Did your dealer cover winterizing and de-winterizing (sometimes called summerizing) at delivery of your unit?

emm-dee · 08-05-2016, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikendan

We primarily dry camp and we ALWAYS carry a full tank of water.
Our TV can easily handle it and the extra weight doesn't affect gas mileage.

It's the frontal air resistance that affects mpg mainly.

With my Harley loaded the TT weight goes up almost an extra 1,000 pounds but I don't see any change in available power or fuel mileage.

raptor · 08-05-2016, 09:26 PM

Yes they did talked about winterizing and De-winterizing. I think they did De-winterized my unit but forget to remove the sticker. For awhile I thought it must be special unit that I don't have to go though all procedures. Well it's not sooooooooo special after all.

Skyliner · 08-06-2016, 08:35 PM

Another thing to note if you tow with full fresh water tanks:
REINFORCE the brackets that hold your water tank. They are notorious for bending with a full tank and allowing your tank to fall out.
Please google, RV water tank fell out, term to confirm what I'm saying.

https://www.google.com/#q=rv+water+tank+fell+out

You may also like: