Traveling With Full Tanks While Boondocking

[Michelle DeVries-Zahrte]

Hi everyone,

We will be doing a lot of boondocking this trip. We have a 2018 3120RL. How are the tanks secured? Are they built strong enough to travel with full tanks if needed?

 

[mlh]

I always travel with the water tank. City water is to this country boy is awful. Never had a problem.
Boondocking is my favorite way to camp. Did I mention that I was a country boy. Where do you like to camp? My favorite places are the Shirley Basin and Union Pass Wyoming.
Lynwood

 

[Michelle DeVries-Zahrte]

I always travel with the water tank. City water is to this country boy is awful. Never had a problem.
Boondocking is my favorite way to camp. Did I mention that I was a country boy. Where do you like to camp? My favorite places are the Shirley Basin and Union Pass Wyoming.
Lynwood

Thank you for replying! I am a country girl at heart We have only ever boondocked in Quartzsite for 4 months and i consider that beginner level lol. This time we are going to the Wall, Black hills and whereever else we can find along the way to boondock back to Quartzsite from Illinois.

 

[mlh]

Sounds fun. Enjoy.
The Black hills aren’t that far from Wyoming. Google the Shirley Basin and Union Pass.
Lynwood

 

[Carl n Susan]

I remember this discussion fairly recently but darned if I can find it. Here is one that is sorta on topic.
Towing in the winter

 

[Mikendebbie]

Michelle - go to YouTube and search KEYSTONE MONTANA FACTORY TOUR…there are several. Most of them start the video showing the Lippert frame and then they show some of the frames with the tanks dropped down in the frames. The tanks are sort of shaped like a T…the top of the T fits in between frame members. I think they secure the tanks with “straps” of some sort.

When the tank is firm and new, I’m sure it stays in place - however…somewhere (maybe a YouTube…maybe discussion here)…the bottom of the tank hangs from the frame and bottom support is questionable in my opinion. Loaded with “water” (and other contents) the bottom can be subject to bow a bit…probably not that big of a deal, but the tank may not completely empty if it has a bow on the bottom, collecting things into a mini-pond. I can remember in this forum, maybe 6-7 years ago seeing a thread on this subject and forum member Bob Rohrman had pics of wood 2x4s he had added below his tanks for additional support. I liked that idea so I put it on my to-do list. It is still on my list. In the mean time - I generally travel with “empty” tanks (except for fresh water). In order to add the wood support I would need to remove the coroplast bottom…I can wait a little longer on that. Again, this is just my practice to travel with empty tanks, but we do not boondock. I don’t believe there is a risk of having trouble from traveling with full tanks. If trouble was common, Carl would have found dozens of related threads.

 

[Carl n Susan]

There are/were two types of holding tanks on Montanas.

Historically the Black/Grey tanks were a two piece construction. A base unit with a flat top and a lid glued to it. There are many, many horror stories about full tanks breaking the glue seal on the top, along with cracks in the fittings, causing leaks. Some have repaired using ABS glue and ground up ABS pipe. There is even a repair kit on Amazon - PlastiCoat I think is the name.

Recently, maybe 2018 or later - I don't recall, Montana went to a spun one piece tank. These seem to be much more sturdy and have significantly reduced to occurrence of holding tank failures. Never the less, 46 gallon tank weigh around 360+ lb. when full. I would question the support mechanisms ability to handle the wonderful road conditions we endure here in the USA.

The fresh water tank is a different story. It is made of polypropylene (AFAIK) and much stronger than the holding tanks.I have been traveling with a 3/4 to full fresh water tank for 12 years. There is only one instance where someone reported a problem with their fresh water tank support in the 20+ years I have been here. And that one had a suspect back story.

 

[Daryles]

We always travel with about 10-20 gallons in the freshwater tank for using the toilet and emergency shower (just in case).
We have boondocked many times. Normally we try to fill up close to where we will be staying. Look for local gass stations in the area. Call ahead to see if they will allow you to fill up when you get diesel. It wouldn't hurt to drop your coroplast and inspect your supports first if you have to travel some distance with full tanks.
We have a 2019 3130re.
I had the coroplast off doing work, I inspected the tanks. I was satisfied they were well supported. While you are there, inspect the cross brace support framed. The welds on ours were broken above the Axles.
Pictures. Freshwater tank, galley tank sits over the cross frame drop down. It won't fall out. Two cross frame supports under the forward tanks (bathroom). Broken cross frame welds.

 

[Carl n Susan]

And if you are boondocking a lot; consider getting a water bladder or equivalent that you can put in the bed of the truck. This allows you to get water without having to drag the RV along. Pair it with a 12V HF pump and you are all set.

 

[Daryles]

What Carl said.
We also have a tote and a macerater. Put the tote in the back of the truck and use the macerater to pump up into the tote.
Put a shut off valve at both ends of the hose for better control.

 

[beeje]

I always travel with a full water tank believing that either full or empty is the best way because a half full tank is going to slosh around and try and knock that tank out of place. I also never travel if I can help it with anything more than a couple gallons of waste water in any tank for the same reason

 

[VagabondLove]

I ended up mounting additional support bars under the tank, outside the coroplast. It gave me peace of mind when carrying full tanks.

 

[Larry & Kaprice]

Hi everyone,

We will be doing a lot of boondocking this trip. We have a 2018 3120RL. How are the tanks secured? Are they built strong enough to travel with full tanks if needed?

We have a 2020 3120RL for 7 years now and always travel with full tanks as we boondock all the time and never had any issues. We have had RVs for over 30 years and have always traveled with tanks full.

 

[danaw]

I travel with fresh tank full and plug the outside vent with a boat plug so it is still full on arrival. One caveat- put a taped note on the pump switch to remove the plug before turning on the pump.

 

[AZ Traveler]

I typically travel with a quarter tank or so of fresh water and top off near the camp site. This help limit the amount of weight you are dragging.

 

[Planenut99]

Unfortunately, I have suffered a fresh water tank failure in my 3121RL. The straps stayed in place but the tank buckled and broke a hole in the tank. I ordered a new tank, installed the fittings, and reinstalled it with some plywood underneath it for added support. I’ll do a write up on it someday but here are a few pictures.

 

[Mikendebbie]

Nice work!

Question for everyone who has dealt with fresh water tank issues…is the tank ALWAYS located at the very rear of the chassis Planenut99’s photo shows?…of course the overflow port is located way back there on my rig, so i assume my tank is in the same position - right?

 

[nickens]

Thank you for replying! I am a country girl at heart We have only ever boondocked in Quartzsite for 4 months and i consider that beginner level lol. This time we are going to the Wall, Black hills and whereever else we can find along the way to boondock back to Quartzsite from Illinois.

Please do a write-up that trip for ideas and inspiration!

 

[nickens]

Unfortunately, I have suffered a fresh water tank failure in my 3121RL. The straps stayed in place but the tank buckled and broke a hole in the tank. I ordered a new tank, installed the fittings, and reinstalled it with some plywood underneath it for added support. I’ll do a write up on it someday but here are a few pictures.
View attachment 2504715View attachment 2504716View attachment 2504717

I could never imagine putting that much weight that far back.

 

[RMcNeal]

Question for everyone who has dealt with fresh water tank issues…is the tank ALWAYS located at the very rear of the chassis Planenut99’s photo shows?…of course the overflow port is located way back there on my rig, so i assume my tank is in the same position - right?

Every one I've ever seen is located behind the rear axles. I think many owners use it as a counter balance for the pin. I know when I travel with a full fresh tank, my pin weight is less than when the fresh tank is empty.