Traveling With Water

[captacoustic]

I'm going to be dry camping at a bluegrass festival next week. I'll be going about fifty miles from a campground where I'm planning on filling the reserve water tank before traveling. Is it OK to fill it and travel?

Sorry if this sounds dumb. I'm assuming it's OK.

 

[bethandkevin]

I have always filled before leaving home.

 

[Rocky_3]

I have done it both ways. Empty I was thinking save weight and maybe better mileage. Neg on Mileage. Loaded my trailer rides better. My tank sits as far back on the frame as possible. I think a full tank takes some pin weight off. Allways full going forward.

 

[bobbecky]

We've always traveled with full water, never had an issue. You never know when you might get into a situation where there isn't water.

 

[BB_TX]

I generally travel about half full, but have also traveled full. Never a problem.

 

[DQDick]

I travel cross country with the tank 1/3 full, but wouldn't hesitate to take a full tank that short distance.

 

[Artemus]

Always travel full of water. Had been in three places with bad water in the past. I don't take chances. I know it was not part of your posts, but be sure your water system is well maintained. I sanitize my water system regularly and use good water filters.

 

[jfabernathy]

I've traveled with full fresh water tank before, no problems. But don't forget to periodically sanitize the fresh water tank if you're really going to use it for everything.

 

[Mark N-FRF]

If water will be a pain to get, then I travel full. I not, then I carry only enough to flush the toilet a couple times along the way. Weight carried is fuel burned. That is pure physics. Heavier objects require more energy to move. Period. So, I figure any less weight I carry is money kept in my wallet.

 

[takpak]

Generally carry 1/4 to 1/3 of a tank, just in case there is an unplanned stop somewhere along the way. The one time a year we do a dry camp event, we take a full tank with us. Otherwise, no need to haul that weight around all the time. Never had a problem. And, as mentioned, keep the system clean and sanitized.

 

[richfaa]

From past experience I do not trust the integrity of these holding tanks. We travel with maybe 10/15 gals of fresh water while on the road. We do not boon dock so that is not a issue.

 

[Recumbent-MOC]

We discovered that the fresh water tank sensors are not evenly spaced, and if going on an extended dry camping trip I recommend checking your system for quantities held on board. The employee that install our sensors put 1/3 tank sensor at about 8 to 10 gallons, at 2/3rds tank at about 40 gallons, at full we have maybe 53 gallons and then several more gallons before water runs out the over flow. We recently learned this dry camping in Canada and Alaska, so knowing the remaining amounts became important.

 

[PackerFan-MOC]

We only travel with about 10 to 15 gal. in the tanks for a quick toilet break. As stated earlier, less weight - less fuel burned!

 

[mtheo]

I usually carry only 1/3 tank, but do travel with a full tank when going dry camping.OR when I know that there will be high winds while traving over some of mountain passes. My tank is over the axles and will add about 500 lbs low on the frame to help keeper down.

 

[DonandBonnie]

We are with richfaa on the leaking tank issue, so hauling fresh water is a mixed emotion for us. We rarely boondock, however the last time we did we were not at a convenient location to drain the tank before moving. We hauled the partially full tank to the next campground. Call it fate or whatever, for some reason we did not drain the tank when we arrived. One week into our stay, the campground had a two day power outage. Their well ceased to operate without power, therefore no campground water. With the water in our tank that we did not drain, we were able to wash and clean up. Had we drained we would have been out of luck.

 

[bigred715]

Never carry water in fresh water tankand we don't dry camp. Have traveled across U.S. twice and never had a problem. Don't need the extra weight.

 

[h2ojocky]

I have always traveled with a full tank and have not had problems.

 

[Trailer Trash2]

I travel with my water tank 2/3s to full all the time the reason is if there is a disaster or a quake my Monty will be ready, also my Monty seems to bounce less when we travel, I don't know if the shocks on the Monty have anything to do with that but it works.
I also drain my tank after a few months of sitting, I used to drain it on the street but with the water crisis in California I don't I water the grass and shrubs.
Rich, the tank that is used is the cream colored heavy duty plastic, nothing like our holding tanks ( ABS ) junk. they wont rupture or crack.

don

 

[richfaa]

Don. They have fell off RV's while travelling down the road. IMO it is not the quality of the tanks but the installation of the tanks. Proper support and bracing would greatly reduce tank failures. The fresh water tank is 60 gallons or 500lbs bouncing around back there same with the other tanks. None of them are properly supported.

 

[steelpony5555]

Yep, split tank here too....