Carrying Water in the tank

bassknuckles · Feb 23, 2008, 06:23 AM

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.

'tiredTeacher · Feb 23, 2008, 07:41 AM

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.

wavery · Feb 23, 2008, 08:31 AM

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.

campdaddy · Feb 23, 2008, 08:46 AM

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
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.

tlhdoc · Feb 23, 2008, 06:44 PM

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?

'tiredTeacher · Feb 24, 2008, 07:51 AM

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!

Lifeangel1 · Feb 24, 2008, 08:32 AM

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.

bassknuckles · Feb 24, 2008, 11:01 AM

"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

campdaddy · Feb 24, 2008, 11:15 AM

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.

wavery · Feb 24, 2008, 11:26 AM

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.

campdaddy · Feb 24, 2008, 06:39 PM

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.

austinado16 · Feb 25, 2008, 01:26 AM

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.

stewartlittle · Feb 25, 2008, 09:37 AM

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?

beacher · Feb 25, 2008, 11:55 AM

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.

.

cokoliso · Feb 25, 2008, 12:39 PM

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.

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Carrying Water in the tank