Irish Tinkers
Dalton. MA
New Member
Joined: 06/07/2012
View Profile
 Offline
|
I never travel with a full tank of water we put enought to use the rest room and that's it... We have never had a problem getting water and have been from one end of the country to the other ... Why would you want to add the extra weight to pull around ... For me it's a safety issue u can pull it all right but stopping on wet roads or in a hwy situation were you need make a sudden moves it will be an issue.
|
Bit Bucket
Brookings, Oregon
Senior Member
Joined: 04/29/2011
View Profile
|
Irish Tinkers wrote:I never travel with a full tank of water we put enought to use the rest room and that's it... We have never had a problem getting water and have been from one end of the country to the other ... Why would you want to add the extra weight to pull around ... For me it's a safety issue u can pull it all right but stopping on wet roads or in a hwy situation were you need make a sudden moves it will be an issue.
This is indeed true...
I did a test earlier this spring on stopping distances.
I filled my fresh water tank and stopped as hard as the anti locks would let me from 45 mph. After 5 tries, I averaged 184' 4 3/8"
I repeated the test with an empty fresh water tank (only had time for 4 stops) and found that the average stopping distance was now 184' 3 7/8"
I was so impressed by how much I gained that it has changed the way we travel to our campsites. I now leave all un-necessary items at home to reduce weight. I have the wife and kids travel in a seperate vehicle that has all of our food and clothes, lawn chairs, fire wood, barbecue, etc.
I also never put any more gas in the vehicle than I need to get there, as this too just adds un-necessary weight.
After all is said and done I have almost improved my stopping distance by a foot when traveling at normal speeds!
|
SailingOn
Central Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 01/08/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
It's worth emphasizing what CraigJeepers has said above.
A few gallons or less in the tank, no stress.
A full tank is like a well packed parcel; no movement, stress is distributed evenly about the tank.
200# or so bouncing around in a half empty tank: lots more strain on the tank and support structures.
|
MitchF150
Washington, the State
Senior Member
Joined: 07/13/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Just to add to the poll of filling my tank or not... I ALWAYS fill my FW tank before leaving for a trip.. You just never know what you are going to find or not find at your destination.. I will always know what I have, even if it's only 30 gallons... 
Mitch
*Anything I post is for entertainment purposes only and what usually works for me.. Your Mileage May Vary..
|
Irish Tinkers
Dalton. MA
New Member
Joined: 06/07/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
I never travel with a full tank of water we put enought to use the rest room and that's it... We have never had a problem getting water and have been from one end of the country to the other ... Why would you want to add the extra weight to pull around ... For me it's a safety issue u can pull it all right but stopping on wet roads or in a hwy situation were you need make a sudden moves it will be an issue.
|
|
|
MitchF150
Washington, the State
Senior Member
Joined: 07/13/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Irish Tinkers wrote:I never travel with a full tank of water we put enought to use the rest room and that's it... We have never had a problem getting water and have been from one end of the country to the other ... Why would you want to add the extra weight to pull around ... For me it's a safety issue u can pull it all right but stopping on wet roads or in a hwy situation were you need make a sudden moves it will be an issue.
I've experienced more times where the water provided at my destination is not as good as my own water more often than having a hwy situation were I needed to make sudden moves and the full water tank caused an issue...
In the end, you just have to do what YOU feel is best for YOU and that's all that matters... 
Happy camping!
Mitch
|
Searching_Ut
Utah
Senior Member
Joined: 05/09/2011
View Profile
|
We dry camp most of the time, and more often than not the campground doesn't have running water so we almost always carry a full tank. When I've had to travel in strong winds a couple times I ended up filling up my black, gray, and fresh tanks finding it actually makes the trailer handle quite a bit better under those conditions.
|
Bearhawk
Away up north
Full Member
Joined: 12/16/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
Full, usually unless going to full hookups then maybe about half. Only time I ever had a problem was once - very early on - I filled the tank, put all the weight past the rear axles and found the tow was less than satisfactory. I learned not to worry and now have plenty of tounge weight.
Bearhawk (n): A Plansbuilt Amature Aircraft. An expensive hobby that was replaced by 2007 29FBS Jayco Jayflight G2 & 2008 F350 Crew with 6.4L Diesel
At least this adventure flew off the drawing board and running out of fuel is not as dangerous! 
|
Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
Senior Member
Joined: 08/23/2005
View Profile
 Online
|
Irish Tinkers wrote:I never travel with a full tank of water we put enought to use the rest room and that's it... We have never had a problem getting water and have been from one end of the country to the other ... Why would you want to add the extra weight to pull around ... For me it's a safety issue u can pull it all right but stopping on wet roads or in a hwy situation were you need make a sudden moves it will be an issue.
It should not be a safety issue. Granted less weight will stop sooner, simple physics.
However as long as the additional weight of water does not put you over your GVW or other towing parameters there should not be a safety issue. Your rig is designed to operate within its ratings.
In short the RV was designed to carry the water.
07'Duramax dually,12'Open Range 399BHS
Hawkshead TPMS,Hensley BD3,Killerbee exhaust brake
Blue Ox Bedsaver,air bags w/compressor
Arvika pin box bike rack,Bak Flip tonneau cover
5500 Onan LP,EMS-HW-50
14'Porta Bote w/8.0 Nissan
Vu Cube 2000,Splendide 2000S
|
Atlee
Mechanicsville, VA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/28/2002
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Agree. If a full fresh water tank causes the rig to get in the "unsafe" territory, then either the TV or TT or both are overloaded.
The owners manual for my HiLo advises against carrying a full black and gray tank. I think it's mostly because they are both located behind the axles. The fresh water is located just behind the A frame. I can travel with a full fresh water tank all I want.
If I know the next stop is at a FHU campground, it doesn't matter if the tank is full or not. However, if I know, or the possibility exist, that the next stop will be without water, I try to top off the fresh water tank.
Lantley wrote:Irish Tinkers wrote:I never travel with a full tank of water we put enought to use the rest room and that's it... We have never had a problem getting water and have been from one end of the country to the other ... Why would you want to add the extra weight to pull around ... For me it's a safety issue u can pull it all right but stopping on wet roads or in a hwy situation were you need make a sudden moves it will be an issue.
It should not be a safety issue. Granted less weight will stop sooner, simple physics.
However as long as the additional weight of water does not put you over your GVW or other towing parameters there should not be a safety issue. Your rig is designed to operate within its ratings.
In short the RV was designed to carry the water.
Erroll, Mary, Duffy the Badger Dog plus "Ollie"
2009 HiLo Towlite 2209T
2005 F150 Supercab 4x4, w/ 5.4L
1996 RoadTrek 210 Popular, on 1995 Chevy Chassis
|
|
|
