Fresh water tank is always full. I never know where we'll end up spending the night, and I like to have the option of staying in primitive areas. My truck/camper combo also handles better with the water tank full. It helps move the COG forward. The black tank I let fill until close to full, then I dump. The gray tank is almost always empty while driving.
You actually drain the waterlines before each trip, too? That's a new one. To what purpose, if I might ask?
Fresh is full, black and gray are empty at start of trip. We always empty the waste tanks before filling the fresh. Waste tanks only hold so much. I like nearly all our Northwest water supplys so freah is rarely a problem. Propane full, fridge full and extra drinkables in the bed through the access doors to the bed area.
My brother, same camper, travels empty thinking he will get better MPG but also he pulls a boat, 2 kids and the associated stuff with a 1997 F-250 using added front leafs and rear Riderites. He does want to travel with less weight.
When we leave home our fresh water tank is always full. We don't want to choose the "perfect" camping spot only to discover that no water is available. Our waste-water tank is an (empty) five-gallon bucket.
Moreover, we always take several gallon jugs of drinking water when we leave home. We don't want to take a chance on being stuck with fluoridated water (or worse) where we camp.
fresh water tank is always kept full if possible, black and grey empty. you never know when that 30 gallon emergency drinking water supply might be the only thing you have at home or on the road. In 89 after the Loma Prieta earthquake we had 9 gallons of bottled water and a full hot tub. No power or outside potable water for a week. I keep my TC ready to deal with the unexpected.
03 F350 Diesel 4x4 Crew Cab long bed, 08 Lance 1055, Rancho 9000xl, Air Lift air Bags, Torqlift tiedowns,stable loads, super hitch, 48" super truss, Toyo 285/75R16 Opencountry HT
When it is not freezing outside fresh water (including hot water tank) is full or close to it at all times.
When camping black & grey water is dumped everyday if we see a dump station, that way if we find a campsite that we like we can stay and know that our waste tanks are starting out empty. Also figure why haul waste with us, has no purpose so may as well dump.
On a side note, if we keep the black & grey tanks dumped we have no problem with smells (without adding any tank deodorizer). Then if we stay in an area add some deodorizer for longer stays. Saves on costs of using tank additives as well.
2002 GMC 2500HD 4x4 4 Door
1992 Northern Lite 9'- 6" Camper
Homemade Cargo Trailer for hauling supplies
Advanced Elements Kayaks
Border Collie Guard Dog
2011 Wolf Creek 850N/Polar Cub/240w Solar/2-6v Lifeline AGMs/Morningstar Sunsaver w/RM-1 & SureSine-300 Inverter 2011 Ford F-250/6.2L/3.73/Bilsteins/Air Bags/Torklift TD w/Fastguns 2004 Jeep Wrangler/4.0L/5-spd US Navy Ret.
If you can feel a difference the way your truck handles with 30 gallons of water it is either psychological or you need a bigger truck!!! Do you feel the same with 30 gallons of gas on board?
2011 F250 Super Cab Lariat 6.2 373 FX4 Short Box 4" BDS, 35" Toyos, TorkLift, 16.5K Warn, Locked & Loaded
2007 SunLite Pop Up
Prefer to travel with 100% FW and grey and black empty. I have the capacity to carry the weight so don't see any benefit to running with less FW. Might carry less if I am heading to a spot with a known "GOOD" FW supply, but that is very rare.
There is no significant benefit to running light to save fuel as the weight involved is a very minor component (frontal area and speed having most impact on fuel consumption).
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