Please forgive how naive this question must sound but here goes... we've generally used our RV for traveling from one place to another and almost exclusively have stayed in places that have at least water and electric. We're now retired and want to start boondocking. Where do you fill your fresh water tank? It doesn't make sense to fill it at home and then haul 90 gallons of water 400+ miles.
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We usually fill ours about a third to half of the way before a trip so we can use the toilet on the way. Once we get to where we're going, it's filled up. Sometimes if you don't know what lies ahead, it's better to fill up and not have to worry about it.
I haul water. I like having it when I need it and it doesn't have any discernible impact on my MPG. I acquire water from just about any gas island where I refuel. In the winter, outside spigots are turned off up north. I can usually fill my tank from an inside spigot at an auto service bay, at WalMart, for example. Never hurts to ask and I haven't been turned down yet.
You can always find a place to fill your water tank. I have filled ours, with permission, at filling stations, peoples homes, commercial camp grounds (sometime a small fee), etc. If your staying in public parks that does not have on-site water connections they always have a common water spigot where you can fill your tank.
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I go boondocking pretty much the same area of eastern Oregon all the time. I have scouted around and ask the gas stations we use to refuel and they are more than happy to let you water up any time of the year. We have stopped there during the various hunting season and we know of a few other places around town that will let you fill up. it takes time to get all this done but worth it's weight in gold. I always take their hoses off and use my fresh water hoses. That's a trick I've learned on this forum. by using the gas stations water we have saved a lot of gas towing over some of these mountain passes. stop ans ask, you may be surprised what you can get for nothing
Eycom wrote: I haul water. I like having it when I need it and it doesn't have any discernible impact on my MPG.
In the west, it's not the MPG that's a factor. Ninety gallons of water is 720#, not an insignificant amount of additional weight to haul up steep passes at high altitudes. We generally fill 1/3rd or so before we go, unless we're going where we know there's not an opportunity to fill again. But I'll try to track down rest areas, gas stations and the like before we leave just to know where our refill options are.
I usually have about 2/3 of a tank. I don't use our water tank for drinking water. I know I will catch heck for saying this but when we stop to load up on groceries we buy water. If we don't use all of it we keep it in the rig. We usually have 10 gals. of drinking water with us.
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Eycom wrote: I haul water. I like having it when I need it and it doesn't have any discernible impact on my MPG.
In the west, it's not the MPG that's a factor. Ninety gallons of water is 720#, not an insignificant amount of additional weight to haul up steep passes at high altitudes. We generally fill 1/3rd or so before we go, unless we're going where we know there's not an opportunity to fill again. But I'll try to track down rest areas, gas stations and the like before we leave just to know where our refill options are.
Good point... I understand. While my tank holds half as much, and our hills are a little lower in the Smokies and Appalachians, the turbo diesel rules. Whether there's 4300# in the bed, or 3900#, there are no power issues. In the mountains or on the flats, the two factors affecting my MPG are headwinds and higher speed. Aside from that, I get between 12 and 13 either way.
w6pea wrote: I usually have about 2/3 of a tank. I don't use our water tank for drinking water. I know I will catch heck for saying this but when we stop to load up on groceries we buy water. If we don't use all of it we keep it in the rig. We usually have 10 gals. of drinking water with us.
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We do the same thing. We use bottled water for drinking and the water in our tank or from the campsite for washing, showers, etc.
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w6pea wrote: I usually have about 2/3 of a tank. I don't use our water tank for drinking water. I know I will catch heck for saying this but when we stop to load up on groceries we buy water. If we don't use all of it we keep it in the rig. We usually have 10 gals. of drinking water with us.
We do the same thing. We use bottled water for drinking and the water in our tank or from the campsite for washing, showers, etc.
People drink water?
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