I have a Coleman/ Fleetwod PU. In May I will be going to a fishing tournament and dry camping in a parking lot for 3 days. The parking lot has no facilities (except portable Jons that will be there). I have dry camped several times but never incountered this problem. Since I will need to shower to get the fish smell off me hopefully lol (my pu has a shower and toilet) I will need water there is no water at the facility so I will need to bring mine own. I have a place to full the tank about 10 miles away. After he tank is full the speed limit is 45 mph. My truck has plenty of power to tow and stop the extra weight, beside driving slowely no sharp turns ect what else do I need to know? Am I risking breaking anything (ie: tank) by doing this?
Im thinking of fulling the hot water tank also. I really plan on smelling like fish.
Quote from: bassknucklesMy truck has plenty of power to tow and stop the extra weight, beside driving slowely no sharp turns ect what else do I need to know? Am I risking breaking anything (ie: tank) by doing this?
I routinely fill my tank and go. It's not an issue.
May I offer a piece of advice? Purchase a couple of 5 gal. water totes and bring them in the bed of the truck. Using a new transmission funnel, you could refill your tank. (Using a funnel is the simple solution; others may chime in with electric water pump or gravity feed ideas). BUT where are you going to dump your grey water when the tank is full? (If you have a tank). Grey water disposal will be a bigger issue than getting water, I would think.
It's not a good idea to tow the PU full of water as it puts a lot of stress on the tank mountings and adds weight to the trailer (8# per gal). However that short distance shouldn't be an issue.
It's even worse to tow with the tank 1/2 full, as the water sloshes around and can do a lot of damage. It's kinda like driving around with a bowling ball rolling around in the tank.
Last spring I had a crack develop in my water tank because of that very reason.
And there quite some discussion in a thread on this forum about the wisdom of carrying water in the tank, and how I finally fixed it.
See Thread Here (http://www.arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=62718)
For that reason I now never carry water in my tank. I always carry spare water cans and either fill the pup's tank at the campground or fill the water cans and use them to fill the tank. My problem could have been caused by a design flaw, I did add bracing to the tank, after I repaired the tank that I think should have been there in the first place, but I can see no reason to take the chance on causing a crack if there are alternatives available. I suppose that if I really needed to tow with water in the tank for some reason, I would, but if there is an alternative I would not do it. But that is just my experience, yours may be different.
Fill the tank and the water heater and don't worry. The trailers are made to carry the weight of the water. I don't usually tow with my tanks full, because it makes the trailer heavier, but for that short distance it shouldn't be a problem. Good luck on the fishing. What will you be fishing for?:)
Quote from: tlhdocFill the tank and the water heater and don't worry. The trailers are made to carry the weight of the water.
My tank sits inside, on the trailer's floor, under a dinette seat. I don't have a water heater. The tank is filled at home before every trip in case there is a problem with the camp's water system (and that has happened once). Fill 'er up and let'er ride!
I don't like pulling the trailer with a full water tank. Last year I pulled the camper empty but stopped at a gas station just before my destination and they let me fill my tank up there using their outside spigot and my water hose. It worked out well. I also carry jugs to add water if necessary.
"Good luck on the fishing. What will you be fishing for?"
I belong to a kayak fishing club. One of the biggest east coast kayak fishing tournaments is in Jamaica Bay in Queens NY in May. Targeted fish include stripe bass, blue fish and weak fish. Its catch and release tournament.
Thankd for all the responses Im still up in the air if I will carry the water in the holding tank or attemt to carry water in jugs. Its just a lot of jugs to carry
Quote from: bassknuckles...... Im still up in the air if I will carry the water in the holding tank or attemt to carry water in jugs. Its just a lot of jugs to carry
bassnuckles, Even though I had some trouble with my tank, based on what you have described you want to do, I'd fill the tank and pull it the last ten miles. In my case, I was towing it all the time and not necessarily full. Another thing is if your tank is inside and is completely supported on the bottom as tiredTeacher's description then I think it's not an issue. If it's hanging underneath the floor on a couple of brackets -like mine is- then I'd be more concerned. But, with what you're describing though, I'd fill it and go anyway; I just wouldn't do it all the time.
Quote from: campdaddybassnuckles, Even though I had some trouble with my tank, based on what you have described you want to do, I'd fill the tank and pull it the last ten miles. In my case, I was towing it all the time and not necessarily full. Another thing is if your tank is inside and is completely supported on the bottom as tiredTeacher's description then I think it's not an issue. If it's hanging underneath the floor on a couple of brackets -like mine is- then I'd be more concerned. But, with what you're describing though, I'd fill it and go anyway; I just wouldn't do it all the time.
It certainly shouldn't be an issue, once in a while, for short distances (watching for pot-holes etc) unless that last 10 miles is off-road.
In fact, one of the issues with having the tank full is the additional weight for pulling and stopping. Carrying full containers of water won't reduce your weight a bit. It sorta defeats the purpose.
Quote from: waveryIt certainly shouldn't be an issue, once in a while, for short distances (watching for pot-holes etc) unless that last 10 miles is off-road.
In fact, one of the issues with having the tank full is the additional weight for pulling and stopping. Carrying full containers of water won't reduce your weight a bit. It sorta defeats the purpose.
I agree. In my case it wasn't the total weight that was the factor, as I have way more towing capability than I'm utilizing, it was the location of the weight. My tank, which hangs off the bottom is (was) held in place with just two 1X1 L angles along the front and back of the tank, which let the center of the tank flex considerably. That's where it cracked. I have since added an additional brace across the center of the tank. If the tank were inside and fully supported on the bottom -disregarding any weight issues- I think it would be just fine to tow that way. I now tow empty though and fill the tank and/or the cans at the campground.
Quote from: campdaddyI agree. In my case it wasn't the total weight that was the factor, as I have way more towing capability than I'm utilizing, it was the location of the weight. My tank, which hangs off the bottom is (was) held in place with just two 1X1 L angles along the front and back of the tank, which let the center of the tank flex considerably. That's where it cracked. I have since added an additional brace across the center of the tank. If the tank were inside and fully supported on the bottom -disregarding any weight issues- I think it would be just fine to tow that way. I now tow empty though and fill the tank and/or the cans at the campground.
Too bad you can't put a 3/4" thick piece of painted marine grade or CDX plywood ontop of your brackets, and then set the tank on the plywood....and then tighten up the brackets.
Our tank is under the dinette, and we fill it at home and go.
Well,call me dumb but I did this once.Filled'er up at the house and headed to the mountains.Went to 3 campgrounds and all were filled,I was so mad I was just going and the camper was justa bouncin like a ball on that dirt road,I'm talkin wheels comin off the ground bouncin.
Still dont leak,but that could change anytime.
I have an Isuzu Trooper,now tell me where am I gonna put water to carry if I dont put in the tank?
Quote from: bassknuckles.... Am I risking breaking anything (ie: tank) by doing this?
I had traveled approximately 2900 miles and gone on five camping trips to the High Sierras, the Grand Canyon, and including my maiden voyage to Yosemite before I discovered that my fresh water tank was full the whole time!:yikes:
All of my first camping locations had full hookups!
My nice dealer had not only filled my fresh water tank, but they proudly sanitized it too. I found this out when I went to sanitize and fill my tank for the first time on camp driveway! I was preparing for my very first boondocking camping trip when I discovered that my fresh tank was already full!
Upon recollection of my walkthrough on delivery day I eventually remembered that the technician flipped on the water pump switch and demonstrated the wonderful inside shower, the galley sink, and the outside shower! :rolleyes:
So, unless you consistently drive over big potholes and large rocky roads for an extended period, you probably won't break anything. ;)
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They wouldn't put water tanks on popups if they weren't meant to be towed with water in them. I think most people out west who camp in popups do not camp at RV parks with hookups. If you're "dry camping", you have to tow with water in the tank. I have had 3 popups, and towed every one of them full of water every time we camped - and have never had any problem.
Quote from: cokolisoThey wouldn't put water tanks on popups if they weren't meant to be towed with water in them. I think most people out west who camp in popups do not camp at RV parks with hookups. If you're "dry camping", you have to tow with water in the tank. I have had 3 popups, and towed every one of them full of water every time we camped - and have never had any problem.
Although what you say is true, a little common sense will tell an owner that it is better to tow with your trailer lighter than heavier. You will save wear & tear on the TV, get a little better mileage, have a little extra breaking reserve and lower the overall stress on your PU. My PU carries 26G of water, that's 217#....not a small #. Afterall, isn't the reason that most of us buy a PU...... because they are lighter, easier to tow, low profile and offer better mileage???
Most dry camping areas have drinking water available and if they don't you could fill up at your last fuel stop.
Our PUs are built with a roof that raises up too......common sense tells us not to tow with the roof up. ;)
wavery ,
I have a startcraft 3612 which I hade lifted 4 inches to make sure I can get can into the area's I need to hunt and there is no water , therefore I must fill up at home and take an extra 5 gal grey water with 6 gal of drinking water with me for our trips.
On our last trip it took 45 minuets to travel 14.7 miles to arrive at our campsite and there was no water. I purchased this trailer to have the amities that my last one did not and if it should fail I will have more than one word for the manufacturer.
I almost crashed due to a loaded water tank. I was headed up to Mohave Narrows Regional Park, which is north of me up I-15 in Victorville. As there is no running water where we were going to set up, I decided to fill up at home.
I was leading a carvan of other families who were camping with us. After going over the Cajon pass, we started heading downill, and picked up some speed without realizing it. The trailer started swaying, big time, and I really had my hands full for a momment while I tried to gradually slow down and get the thing under control. I slowed down for the rest of the drive (about 10 miles).
My buddies who were following me thought for sure we were going to wreck, as I was swaying across three lanes of the I-15, on a Friday afternoon, with a bunch of traffic beside me and behind me. As everyone behind us slowed way down to avoid my impending wreck, I pretty much stopped the whole freeway. This now makes for some good laughs when I'm with this crowd.
I don't think it was the sloshing that was the root of the problem, but the location of the tank, which is aft of the rear axle. It doesn't take much to de-stabilize my pop up. Needless to say, I now find the very closest spot to fill up now, typically at the campground.
Full tanks don't slosh (solid mass). Do you have trailer brakes?
Around here, in the national forests and state parks, I don't see many potable water places to fill up tanks. And in general, the closest gas station is near my house. My point is that in the 20 years we've been camping in a popup, we have always filled the tank before leaving home, and even the roads in the parks can be long and bumpy. The water tank in ours is right over the axle and doesn't add much to the tongue weight unless we're going up a steep hill. Trailer brakes and an anti-sway bar make towing easy. And I don't see a warning in the owner's manual about driving with a full water tank. Some vehicles have plastic fuel tanks, and no one is concerned about it sloshing around as they drive. http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/9607/Alvarado-9607.html#ToC5
Quote from: Steve-o-budI don't think it was the sloshing that was the root of the problem, but the location of the tank, which is aft of the rear axle. It doesn't take much to de-stabilize my pop up. Needless to say, I now find the very closest spot to fill up now, typically at the campground.
Steve ~ there were certain models of the Coleman/Fleetwood Grand Tour series, certainly during the '96 to '99 era, that were out of swack from the get-go. I know, I had one ... mine was a '96 "Yukon" model (had the front storage trunk). Towing the PU home (EMPTY!) was a nightmare. I really had some 2nd thoughts about it but was re-assured that when I loaded the camper it would behave itself; and that was true, at least to a point, but the camper's weak point towing was always going down a steep grade! Having an anti-sway bar (and brakes!) for that beast were "musts"!
I seem to think the water tank (under floor) was somewhere in the vicinity of the axle. There were a couple of places that required me to take on water before getting there and I could'nt detect any difference in the towing manners. And like already posted, I forgot one time to empty the water tank and towed it home with whatever water was still in the tank (maybe half?). Same towing as empty as best I can recall.
I should think, too, that the water tank was engineered to carry water enroute. One just has to remember the weight factor when towing with water, for sure!
Fly
Just out of curiosity, how large of a capacity for the water tank?
Quote from: cokolisoSome vehicles have plastic fuel tanks, and no one is concerned about it sloshing around as they drive. http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/9607/Alvarado-9607.html#ToC5
Plastic fuel tanks are much more substantial than these square, weakly supported water tanks.
Plastic fuel tanks are thicker, rounded, baffled and substantially mounted.
I had these plastic water tanks on my boat. I eventually had to pull all 3 tanks (one at a time) and completely encapsulate them with fiberglass to seal and reinforce them as each one of them cracked.
On the other hand, I sold a 1979 Jayco 3 years ago that I always towed full of water, and the tank was still in great shape. There is no doubt that towing empty and filling at a campground or nearby gas station means pulling less weight, and towing with a partially full tank means a lot of sloshing. So if filling the tank at the destination is an option, it's a good idea. But if water isn't available at the site or nearby, you have to take it with you. I have been over some bumpy dirt roads and had to use 4WD to get in some places, and have never had a problem with having the tank full.
Thanks everyone.
Quote from: bassknucklesThanks everyone.
Isn't amazing how the simplist issues can generate the largest volume of responses?
Teach
You never know what will spark a "discussion" here.:D
Quote from: waveryPlastic fuel tanks are much more substantial than these square, weakly supported water tanks.
Plastic fuel tanks are thicker, rounded, baffled and substantially mounted.
Where I work,we made a blow mold for plastic gas tanks.I thought that was stupid.Some guys from the shop went to the place we made them for and watched them drop test them.
They filled them with water,raise them to about 20 feet in the air and let it free fall to the concrete floor.If it busted-did'nt pass.They watch a few of them dropped and none busted.The tanks hold about 12 gallons.
Thats hear say though,thats what they told us,I did'nt accually see it.
Alway's tow full
I personally do not think you will have issues carrying a full water tank the distance you mentioned. You might also consider bringing a few gallons from home for coffee, cooking, etc.
Disposal of your greywater may be a concern. Do you have a blue tote and is there some dump facility nearby?
We found that white vinegar did a great job on getting rid of the fish smell and would rinse hands with the vinegar (also supposed to help soften skin). (You might consider wiping counters, etc., with a bit of vinegar before your family joins you in the camper)
To the campsite full- to home empty (open the drain valve after packing up).
We just bought a Cirrus hybrid that has a 38 gal fresh water tank. Now, I've had problems with my water tank with the old pup camper, so I asked the lead service tech at the dealership about it on the new one because I did not want to deal with that again. Side Note: when talking with him for just a little while you soon realize he is extremely knowledgeable about all facets of campers and RVs. His recommendation is to tow with the tanks either full or empty. It doesn't make any difference, but he doesn't recommend towing with the tank partially full because of the sloshing and the effect it could have on handling. We did crawl under this camper and he showed me how well braced the tank is. I don't see there being any issue with the integrity of this tank; unlike my old camper. My plan now is to tow with the tank full when going and empty on the return leg.