Fresh water tank - Montana Owners Club

campfire42 · 09-09-2010, 09:57 AM

We usually travel with 1/3 of our fresh water tank full. But due to water availability, we have to fill it up this trip. Has anyone had a problem traveling with the tank full? Thanks.

capn chris · 09-09-2010, 10:44 AM

No.

ols1932 · 09-09-2010, 11:00 AM

No, we have had no problems and we travel with a full fresh water tank all the time. Too many times we've stopped in areas where either the water source available was unavailable or we've been in areas where there was no water.

Orv

TLightning · 09-09-2010, 12:28 PM

The only disadvantage of travelling with a full water tank is the 500 lbs it adds to the weight of the RV.

PowellsMonty · 09-09-2010, 12:50 PM

Water & fuel, never had too much.

Art-n-Marge · 09-09-2010, 01:29 PM

I would rather travel with a full fresh water tank than any other tank. Most of the weight on my rig is at the front axle or over the pin and filling the fresh tank in the rear wheree the tank is located would help with the balance. 46 gallons x 8.33 lbs/gal. is about 384 lbs. At my last weight check I have plenty of weight margin for that much extra weight and this was with a 1/3 full fresh tank. A full tank sloshes around less than a partially full one and I would only be adding 260 lbs with a full tank.

I would be more worried about refilling fresh in the tank and dumping the resultant black and gray tanks after I'm at the CG. But one of these days I'll have a fresh water bladder & pump and a dump tote.

HamRad · 09-09-2010, 01:58 PM

Like most folks posting on this subject I often travel with a full or near full fresh water tank. I've not had a problem thus far. There are some folks, however, who have had problems. The most notable that I remember is the Denners. They were in Alaska when their water tank fell out of its holder and drug on the ground! I'm sure there are probably a few others who have had trouble too but thankfully this seems to be the exception rather than the rule. So if you need the water by all means fill up and worry about it only if something happens.

Happy and safe traveling!
HamRad

campfire42 · 09-09-2010, 01:59 PM

Thanks to all who replied. I had heard of full tanks comming undone and falling off TT's, and that doesn't appear to apply to Montana's.

campfire42 · 09-09-2010, 02:01 PM

Not too common a problem anyway. Thanks

bigmurf · 09-09-2010, 02:31 PM

Always travel with a full tank. We full time too.

richfaa · 09-09-2010, 02:33 PM

Oh yes it does... That 60 al fresh water tank weighs nearly 500lbs and it is on ours at the very rear of the camper that takes a lot of bounce. They are not strapped in and a few good bumps could drop it on the road.

campfire42 · 09-09-2010, 04:20 PM

I think we are more in the 60 gal. range too. Hopefully with our tank being, I think, in front of the street side tire area, it won't bounce as bad as yours being in the rear of 5er. We certainly agree that back of trailer bounces, we tie our cabinets closed and secure food in refrig.

iowaone · 09-09-2010, 04:20 PM

I have traveled with all my various campers havihg full fresh water tanks. No problem yet.

campfire42 · 09-13-2010, 05:10 PM

Thanks for all the encouraging replies. We had a very successful w/e trip traveling with all that water to a Village park near the Mississippi River in Wis.

nowinter · 09-14-2010, 01:08 AM

Previously with my SOB RV, I always traveled with a full tank of water. The water tank was located a few inches behind my rear axle. After returning from a trip, I inspected under the trailer and found my water tank out of it's frame. I placed the tank back in it's frame support, added another support, then strapped the tank to the supports. I inspected the water tank supports on my Montana and all looked good but it was supported almost exactly like my previous SOB. I do not carry potable water in my tank, especially since it is located in the rear of the trailer where it severely bounces during travel. I realize I am over cautious (just ask DW) but just do not want to take a chance. Would be hard to calculate the dynamic effect of a bouncing 500 pound tank. In my opinion, If you do choose to travel with potable water, I would suggest a full tank would be better than a partially full tank due to the movement of the water during traveling. This is a tough decision.

pbahlin · 09-14-2010, 02:04 AM

We just met a Tiffin MH traveler in Elkhart who had his full fresh water tank drop off the bottom of his rig and it was dragging on the ground, had to get it temporarily re-attached until he could get back to his dealer for major repairs. He was not a happy camper.....$$$$$$$$. He was also having slide trouble and had that repaired as well. Just thought I'd share that it isn't only Montana's that have problems!

Betty

simonsrf · 09-18-2010, 08:22 AM

I try to always dump our fresh water before traveling when I know we're going to end up where there is fresh water. I replaced the cap drain with a finger-valve....and it drains itself.

When traveling to a boondocking spot, we fill up with the full 60 gallons; we've never had any problems toting a full tank.

RKassl · 09-19-2010, 12:26 PM

We always travel with at least 1/2 tank fresh water, never had a problem. We need to stop worrying every time we do something with these Montana's

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