Towing with tanks partially full

**hampal** · 08-06-2020, 12:31 PM

Another TT newb question. I'm sure this question has been asked before but I've not been able to find it.

We're taking our Imagine 2500 RL on a multi-day travel trip and I wanted to know if there are any concerns about towing with the tanks partially full. It'll be two days of approx 9 hours of driving each if you include lunch and bathroom stops. I was thinking of pre-treating the black tank before we even leave home so we could use the toilet between stops. That means putting a couple of gallons of water and a treatment packet in the black tank. We'd also want a couple of gallons in the fresh tank for flushing the toilet and washing hands.

Are there any concerns in doing that? I don't think the additional weight will put me over any limits of the trailer or tow vehicle. We're probably only talking about 10-20 gallons total. We've only had the trailer for a few months and IIRC the dealership told us we should tow with the tanks empty but seems counter-intuitive.

FWIW the tow vehicle is an F150 with 10500 lbs towing and payload of 2200.

TIA

**livinthelife** · 08-06-2020, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by hampal

Another TT newb question. I'm sure this question has been asked before but I've not been able to find it.

We're taking our Imagine 2500 RL on a multi-day travel trip and I wanted to know if there are any concerns about towing with the tanks partially full. It'll be two days of approx 9 hours of driving each if you include lunch and bathroom stops. I was thinking of pre-treating the black tank before we even leave home so we could use the toilet between stops. That means putting a couple of gallons of water and a treatment packet in the black tank. We'd also want a couple of gallons in the fresh tank for flushing the toilet and washing hands.

Are there any concerns in doing that? I don't think the additional weight will put me over any limits of the trailer or tow vehicle. We're probably only talking about 10-20 gallons total. We've only had the trailer for a few months and IIRC the dealership told us we should tow with the tanks empty but seems counter-intuitive.

FWIW the tow vehicle is an F150 with 10500 lbs towing and payload of 2200.

TIA

I can't address the weight part, but there's no issue towing with water in the tanks (fresh or black). A gallon of water weighs approximately 8 1/2 pounds, so 10-20 gallons would add around 85-170 pounds to your trailer weight.

**naanderson321** · 08-06-2020, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by hampal

Another TT newb question. I'm sure this question has been asked before but I've not been able to find it.

We're taking our Imagine 2500 RL on a multi-day travel trip and I wanted to know if there are any concerns about towing with the tanks partially full. It'll be two days of approx 9 hours of driving each if you include lunch and bathroom stops. I was thinking of pre-treating the black tank before we even leave home so we could use the toilet between stops. That means putting a couple of gallons of water and a treatment packet in the black tank. We'd also want a couple of gallons in the fresh tank for flushing the toilet and washing hands.

Are there any concerns in doing that? I don't think the additional weight will put me over any limits of the trailer or tow vehicle. We're probably only talking about 10-20 gallons total. We've only had the trailer for a few months and IIRC the dealership told us we should tow with the tanks empty but seems counter-intuitive.

FWIW the tow vehicle is an F150 with 10500 lbs towing and payload of 2200.

TIA

I never leave either my black or grey tanks empty. After I drain and flush I add water and treatment.

**Ynot4me2** · 08-06-2020, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by hampal

Another TT newb question. I'm sure this question has been asked before but I've not been able to find it.

We're taking our Imagine 2500 RL on a multi-day travel trip and I wanted to know if there are any concerns about towing with the tanks partially full. It'll be two days of approx 9 hours of driving each if you include lunch and bathroom stops. I was thinking of pre-treating the black tank before we even leave home so we could use the toilet between stops. That means putting a couple of gallons of water and a treatment packet in the black tank. We'd also want a couple of gallons in the fresh tank for flushing the toilet and washing hands.

Are there any concerns in doing that? I don't think the additional weight will put me over any limits of the trailer or tow vehicle. We're probably only talking about 10-20 gallons total. We've only had the trailer for a few months and IIRC the dealership told us we should tow with the tanks empty but seems counter-intuitive.

FWIW the tow vehicle is an F150 with 10500 lbs towing and payload of 2200.

TIA

That's how we travel, I prep the black and grey with the geo method and put in close to 1/3 fresh. Have you hit a cat scale to see where you stand weight wise when pack to camp?

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**WhittleBurner** · 08-06-2020, 05:17 PM

With leaving a little water (I also normally do the 1/3 tank) if you use the bathroom when traveling you can then flush the toilet.

**nwminnesota** · 08-06-2020, 10:46 PM

Right or wrong. I started to travel with full fresh water tank. Black tank is always prepared. However watch your weights so your not over capacity of the tow vehicle or camper