Trailering with Water

Dave Lyon · 02-22-2013, 08:05 AM

I'm curious to see what the consensus is regarding trailering with your fresh water tank full. How may of us fill our water tank at home prior to travelling vs. filling up at the campsite.

FWIW, I leave home with the fresh water tank filled. I generally camp within 3 hours of home.

statgeek · 02-22-2013, 08:18 AM

I travel full too. But I'm a newbie so am curious about this thread.

hockeytownmom · 02-22-2013, 08:19 AM

I keep mine empty to lighten the load and fill up at the campground.

MtnGuy · 02-22-2013, 08:20 AM

I only fill my water tank at home when I know I will dry camping. I usually travel with about 1/4 tank to flush the toilet and wash our hands while on the road, and a little to get by if case of a water outage at a full hookup campground.

TURBS · 02-22-2013, 08:21 AM

I only fill with water if I know there's no place to fill at or near cg.
And that's rarely the case that I cannot fill at or near cg.
Who wants to pull an extra 200 - 300 lbs around?
Do what ya want but I research water fill options before going.

Turbs

SaskCampers · 02-22-2013, 08:23 AM

I always fill ours, trailer pulls much better with a full tank as it is in front of the axles and our unit seems to have a very low tongue weight.

Crusader · 02-22-2013, 08:23 AM

I usually travel with about 1/4 tank to flush the toilet and wash our hands while on the road.

Kaytee1206 · 02-22-2013, 08:24 AM

We never drive with full tanks, just a couple gallons for potty breaks. We already get terrible gas mileage and we don't want to make it worse.

Pipeman · 02-22-2013, 08:35 AM

When we dry camp, 95% of the time, I carry my own water. I fill the 5er fresh water up at home. I also have two 50 gallon containers , one of which gets filled at home. When traveling, like others, I fill to the 1/4 tank level. When we dry camp, if we want it, we have to bring it with us as there aren't any amenities where we go.

froglegs · 02-22-2013, 08:47 AM

Never travel with water in tank. Have 1gal water next to toilet for flushing and bottle water in cooler for drinking. Water weight is 8lbs per gallon so do not have extry weight to tow.

bakken · 02-22-2013, 09:18 AM

We don't travel with full tanks simply because of how poorly some of these units are built. Having the tank fall out on the road is not something I want to experience.

Fire Instructor · 02-22-2013, 09:32 AM

Usually full, but if I know that it's going to be a relatively short pull (with no TT bathroom breaks) than I will pull empty. Pulled with less than half tank once on a trip where we KNEW we were doing one overnight in a truck stop parking lot. Had more than enough water for flushes, hand washing, and other minor use. Trouble was that that the other couple we were with had a breakdown, and I got FILTHY making the repair, and didn't have enough water for a quick shower. Fortunately, the truck stop had showers for the drivers, so I showered there. They have since added an RV Island, so RV's can dump, flush, pull forward, and fill!

Cajun Po-Boy · 02-22-2013, 09:41 AM

Travel with tanks empty...already have a great ride so I don't need the weight & though my diesel truck won't notice the extra 300-400lbs, really never use water while on the road so I don't bother.

**ependydad** · 02-22-2013, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnguy

I only fill my water tank at home when I know I will dry camping. I usually travel with about 1/4 tank to flush the toilet and wash our hands while on the road, and a little to get by if case of a water outage at a full hookup campground.

This about describes me to a T- except I'm closer to 1/2 and maybe even 2/3. Sometimes in the heat of the summer, it's nice to let hooking up to water (and sewer) wait until someone wants to get a shower.

**ependydad** · 02-22-2013, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

I only fill with water if I know there's no place to fill at or near cg.
And that's rarely the case that I cannot fill at or near cg.
Who wants to pull an extra 200 - 300 lbs around?
Do what ya want but I research water fill options before going.

Turbs

I'm way too lazy to plan for an extra stop. We already arrive more times than not in the dark. (Thousand Trails/first come first served parks, at that!)

TURBS · 02-22-2013, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ependydad

I'm way too lazy to plan for an extra stop. We already arrive more times than not in the dark. (Thousand Trails/first come first served parks, at that!)

In my neck of the woods its probably easier I suppose .
But we also only travel in a 100 mile or less radius of home to .
With the exception of goshen rally 2013 which will be our first ever long "trip" .
Although I did buy and pickup a camper once in gary Indiana.

Turbs

rotorhead1250 · 02-22-2013, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bakken

We don't travel with full tanks simply because of how poorly some of these units are built. Having the tank fall out on the road is not something I want to experience.

One of my first mods was a 12v heat blanket for fresh water tank, since the tank was down, I reinforced with angle iron under the tank to hold it up. With 500 lbs of water in that thing, I wasn't happy with the stock supports. Over kill? Yep.

Like others, I travel with full tank w dry camping, otherwise just enough for pit stops.

Twisty · 02-22-2013, 10:38 AM

Using some very rounded numbers it costs me about 1 cent per mile to haul a tank of fresh water.

whj77372 · 02-22-2013, 10:40 AM

Travel with about 1/4 tank only, but we don't dry camp.

garbonz · 02-22-2013, 11:05 AM

Travel with a 1/4 tank also.

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