Empty or full fresh water tank?

[USMCHappyCamper]

I’m new to the full timer club but had a quick question that I can’t seem to find an answer for. Should I keep my fresh water tank full or empty? I’m connected to city water but see that my fresh water tank is full from the dealer.?. Thanks in advance!

 

[livinthelife]

I’m new to the full timer club but had a quick question that I can’t seem to find an answer for. Should I keep my fresh water tank full or empty? I’m connected to city water but see that my fresh water tank is full from the dealer.��. Thanks in advance!

We usually put a little in our fresh water tank (maybe 1/4-1/3 full), even if we're headed to a full hookup site. You never know if you'll wind up not making it all the way to where you think you are that night. Have you sanitized your tank? It's a good idea, if you haven't.

When headed for boondocking, we fill up just before we get where we're going.

 

[LV Naturist]

Although we are not fulltimers, our rationale still applies. We keep our fresh water tank full when we camp. Reason is, twice now in the years we've been RV'ing the campground has lost water. Once at a campground near Jacumba CA, the well pump went bad and it took 3 days to get fixed. Another time at a different campground there was a water main break and we were without water for 2 days. At least with the fresh water tank full, we had water. We then feed off the tank for a day or so before we head home, so we aren't traveling with full tanks. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

John

 

[jim1521]

I'm fighting weight restrictions (mostly tongue weight, and all of our tanks are forward of the axles), so we keep only enough fresh water to flush the toilet a few times while we're traveling between camp sites. Same thing when we travel home.

Now John brings up a good point that I haven't considered when we're at full hookups, that of filling the tanks and working off of them. I'll have to try that next time we go out.

 

[MtnGuy]

Although we are not fulltimers, our rationale still applies. We keep our fresh water tank full when we camp. Reason is, twice now in the years we've been RV'ing the campground has lost water. Once at a campground near Jacumba CA, the well pump went bad and it took 3 days to get fixed. Another time at a different campground there was a water main break and we were without water for 2 days. At least with the fresh water tank full, we had water. We then feed off the tank for a day or so before we head home, so we aren't traveling with full tanks. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

John

That is a scenario I had not thought about. I will be doing that from now on. I can fill the waste tanks with the extra water before the final dumping, which makes for better dumping anyway. I do travel with about 1/4 tans of water for on a road travel use.

 

[arhayes]

We are full-timers but rarely boon dock in our travels. I keep our tank about 1/3 full as we have had multiple occasions over our 4 years on the road where water in a park failed. In fact it happened this past week in Laughlin, NV where someone ran over and broke a water line at their site and water had to be shut off to the entire park during repairs. We just switched to the tank and carried on taking our showers.

I do dump and sanitize the FW tank twice a year since it is not in constant use. I would never travel with full tank because of the weight.


Alan

 

[Gronk1]

We travel with 1/3 full tanks also. Last month we traveled through NV to central AZ. Stopped for an overnight in Beatty NV. & Kingman AZ because of snow. At night in Beatty the lows were in the 20's, we don't carry an elect. hose anymore as I have had them fail way to many times. Had enough water for a shower ;-). The whole trip lows hovered around freezing, so we filled our tanks & ran off them while we were gone. On the way home had to stay in Reno because of snow & chain restrictions. They had a broken water main in the morning. I use to hate carting the extra weight...but not so much any more.

 

[st2rv]

John,
Great point, never thought of the campground water supply going off.
Thanks
Tom

 

[TucsonJim]

I'm heading out soon for some dry camping and there is no water available close to where the camp site is. So I just put my Sherline scale under the tongue of my 297RSTS and measured the difference between empty and full. Starting weight was 1330#. When the tank was full, the weight went up to 1560# My fresh water tank is 60 gallons, so the total weight is about 500 pounds, and the measured tongue weight change is 230#.

That's a lot of weight to be hauling around if you really don't need to.

Jim

 

[Cate&Rob]

I'm heading out soon for some dry camping and there is no water available close to where the camp site is. So I just put my Sherline scale under the tongue of my 297RSTS and measured the difference between empty and full. Starting weight was 1330#. When the tank was full, the weight went up to 1560# My fresh water tank is 60 gallons, so the total weight is about 500 pounds, and the measured tongue weight change is 230#.

That's a lot of weight to be hauling around if you really don't need to.

Jim

Jim - This must mean that your fresh water tank is well forward of the trailer axles. I thought the fresh water tank was always kept over the axles .

Rob

 

[vonzoog]

^^Interesting information.

Of course different RVs based upon different tank locations will deliver different numbers.

 

[vonzoog]

Jim - This must mean that your fresh water tank is well forward of the trailer axles. I thought the fresh water tank was always kept over the axles .

Rob

Not always. My previous toy hauler the fresh water tank was located just forward of the axles.

 

[TucsonJim]

Jim - This must mean that your fresh water tank is well forward of the trailer axles. I thought the fresh water tank was always kept over the axles .

Rob

Rob - Actually, it is well forward of the axles which I didn't catch when we were purchasing the unit. I haven't dropped the coroplast, but the white tank drain is 12 feet from the center line of the front axle, and 6-1/2' from the front of the trailer cap. It's no wonder I had so much variability in tongue weight. I'm now carrying both 2000# bars and 1500# bars to use depending on how I have the trailer loaded and whether I'm carrying a full tank of water or not.

Jim

 

[mtpocket]

1/3 full. Enough to use the bathroom and wash hands while traveling with a little cushion for an unplanned delay. No point in hauling a lot of extra weight around. If it's that big a delay there usually is a hotel not far I do like the idea of filling it a little more when at the campground. We turn our water off when we leave. Cant tell you how many times I go in the trailer and forget to turn it back on. I usually realize that when I need to wash my hands . If its raining I could hit the switch and turn the water on when I am ready outside!

 

[315RLTS in PA]

Although we are not fulltimers, our rationale still applies. We keep our fresh water tank full when we camp. Reason is, twice now in the years we've been RV'ing the campground has lost water. Once at a campground near Jacumba CA, the well pump went bad and it took 3 days to get fixed. Another time at a different campground there was a water main break and we were without water for 2 days. At least with the fresh water tank full, we had water. We then feed off the tank for a day or so before we head home, so we aren't traveling with full tanks. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

John

This has happened to us. Some people think we're crazy traveling with a full tank, but after being the only one with water, who cares what they think.

 

[LV Naturist]

This has happened to us. Some people think we're crazy traveling with a full tank, but after being the only one with water, who cares what they think.

I think it is wise to travel with some water in the tank, the amount will have to be up to the individuals comfort level and trailer weight situation. 1/3rd to 1/2 should be sufficient for immediate needs. Then you can always fill the tank during setup (assuming there is water). Then use as much of the tank water as you can before departing, leaving enough for potty breaks and the unexpected during travel.

John

 

[Craig Hanson]

Will be dragging mine around as empty as possible tank wise and topping off at the last opportunity when boon docking. Plan on a total dump when leaving a campground hookup and minimal fresh water fill before the next trip. I'm weight challenged with my tow rig so every little bit helps.

 

[gordofuchs]

I have to throw out another thought to mix things up. After reading water leak horror stories on this forum over the last three years, we began the routine of filling the fresh water tank when setting up camp. We shut off the city water supply and use the onboard pump and draw from the tank. That way if a leak develops, it is limited to whatever amount is left in the fresh water tank.

 

[jim1521]

I have to throw out another thought to mix things up. After reading water leak horror stories on this forum over the last three years, we began the routine of filling the fresh water tank when setting up camp. We shut off the city water supply and use the onboard pump and draw from the tank. That way if a leak develops, it is limited to whatever amount is left in the fresh water tank.

We're doing the exact same thing. We fill the freshwater tank at the camp site, then shut the city water off, and run off the tank. Any time we leave the trailer for any extended period of time (i.e. grocery shopping, etc.) we shut off the water pump. We also do this when we go to bed at night. There is enough water in the lines to flush the toilet if need be.

When we travel, I leave enough freshwater in the tank to flush the toilet a could of times during the day. We'll usually stop and set up camp by 3:00 - 4:00 pm so we're only talking about a 6-8 hour day of travel.

 

[Keebler]

I carry only five gallons of fresh and add five gallons of clean water after flushing the black, so traveling with 10 gallons of water, or about 85 pounds. Only enough for a couple of flushes and a hand wash.

I use city water when possible, but I have got into the habit of closing the valve on my Y water splitter every time I leave the camp site (close the awning too).