Have always towed pup with water tank empty. Don't "dry camp" often. Will be dry camping soon for a week. What do you do or recomend concerning going to CG -- tow with water tank full or empty?
I maybe in the minority, but if I'm dry camping I take at least a half a tank of water with me. Most of the time it's full. I have a 5 gal jug with a hose attached to refill the tank.
Moose
For the most part water is heavy and requires energy to haul it so I travel empty. Unless, of course, there's a specific reason to do so. For most of my off the beaten path campsites there's a "way station" enroute where I can take on the water needed. All that being said, I always keep aboard (5) of those 20oz (unsealed) water bottles that fit just so in a little cabinet. Should I stop for a night in some strange place I can get by through the night and for the next morning's coffee!
Fly
The more weight you tow, the more of a strain it is on the PU and the TV. I only tow with my water tank full when we are camping at the local SP or if the water is bad where we are camping. A full or empty water tank is ok to tow with, but a partially full tank allows room for the water to slosh around and can cause sway.:)
The extra energy to tow an extra 160 lbs?!! Are you peddling?
I have towed with the water tank full, half full and empty on our Niagara and have never noticed any difference.... Sway, whats that?... I have never used a sway bar.......
I'll tow our PU with the water tanks full, especially when we go hunting. I don't have a problem pulling, but I'm using a full size pick up as the tow vehicle.
Towing can be a problem with some of the FWD mini vans out there, and every bit of weight you can shed from towing would be easier. If water is available at the campground, and you can pull up and fill your tanks, then I would go that route.
Tow empty, less weight, less gas consumed, less wear and tear on the TV. A bucks a buck.
We have a couple of seven gallon jerry cans to fill the water tank. For schleping water at the camp ground I have an old luggage cart, beats hand carrying 56+ lbs of water.
Bob
We always tow with the water tank empty & fill it upon arrival. And we drain it as we leave the campground for the return trip. I also have a large water container I can use if needed, if I fill that at home I usually keep it in the van, not the camper. A luggage cart for the CG sounds like a great idea, I'll have to look around to see if we have any sitting around....
If I know that I will be dry camping, the 20 gallon tank and the 6 gallon water heater are filled for the trip. I rather use the water from my home, then end up with a dose of "Monty's Revenge" if you know what I mean. The 225 # in extra weight doesn't seem to bother my set-up. (2001 Coleman Mesa, with a Silverado TV) I do drain the tanks during the drive home though. This keeps the system clean, and prevents freezing of the lines during the winter months. Being here in GA, we camp just about every third weekend, so I never winterize the Pu.
If I go to CG's with full hook-up's, I travel empty and bring my own 5 gallon jug of drinking water.
Towing empty allows me to pack a few more items in my pu.I carry a reliance jug of drinking water and fill my water tank near where I'm camping. :D
I only dry camped once towed it empty, I had my hose handy and filled it at the campground. I think a gallon of water is about 8 lbs. If you tow it with water I would fill it. It seems to me with it half full you'd have water sloshing back & forth and would cause sway. July we are going camping but have water only apparently if you have a lng enough hose. My Hybrids water tank is 72 gallons...I will fill it there if need be
Quote from: Old GoatI have towed with the water tank full, half full and empty on our Niagara and have never noticed any difference.... Sway, whats that?... I have never used a sway bar.......
I towed ONCE with the 20 gallon tank full. With the 160 lbs located BEHIND the rear axle, I definitely could tell the difference. I let my speed get a bit high (about 65), and the trailer started swaying, and I almost wrecked. Won't make that mistake again.