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Old 04-24-2014, 01:03 PM   #1
Mosnowman
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Towing With a Full Water Tank?

Okay I realize that towing with a full tank of water adds a lot of weight. My Cougar has a 60 gallon fresh water tank. I have it at home and am planning on camping Memorial Day Weekend at a State Park. They have water but it will be busy so I thought why not fill up at home and then I could go directly to the campsite.

Can you guys give me rationale why I shouldn't haul water to the park two hours away? Pros and Cons please! Thanks in advance for your opinions...
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Old 04-24-2014, 01:26 PM   #2
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I've hauled my RV's with full water tanks for the last 40+ years and I can't think of any "cons" the "pros" are that you have water onboard, can camp without having to stop at an "unknown" water source and possibly contaminate your tank, you know the quality of your water and you are "ready to camp" when you get there.

If we are going to a "full service" campground, I usually only travel with 1/3 of my tank filled, otherwise, if I'm going "dry camping" it's so full that it'll "slosh out the side" on tight turns LOL
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Old 04-24-2014, 01:34 PM   #3
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Mosnowman:
Not sure if you noticed, but there has been a recent thread which asks almost the same question. The thread can be found in the General RV Issue section and was started by Rolin Joseph on 04-21-2014. The title of the thread is "Do You travel with a full tank of water? AGAIN!"
There are two pages of replies so you might want to check back and read those responses.
Seems like we might have two threads running at the same time about the same topic.
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Old 04-24-2014, 02:37 PM   #4
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2 Hrs? I would tow full.
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Old 04-24-2014, 03:37 PM   #5
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I figure that is why they put a water tank in the trailer. Remember well the days when we tent camped and when we had a p/u camper with a 14 gal tank and a hand pump. We travel with it full of our well water and never worry about there being a water outage when we get to the park. 60 Gals x 8.9 lbs = 534 lbs - no sweat - it helps lighten the pin weight
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Old 04-24-2014, 08:19 PM   #6
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A gallon of water is 8.35 lbs. not 8.9 lbs.
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Old 04-25-2014, 05:19 AM   #7
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Actually it's 8.3 - 8.4 depending on the density of the water which depends on the temperature.

Take the water with you, it's not going to matter, especially on a short trip like that. Relax and enjoy.
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Old 04-25-2014, 05:35 AM   #8
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Well, thanks for the correction. I was going by the State of California standards and testing for a licensed weigher and sampler. Hauled milk for many years and was licensed. But, hey, you do it your way

On edit: That's not to say the State Milk inspector giving the tests was right
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Old 04-25-2014, 05:48 AM   #9
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Well, curiosity got me. Just weighed a gallon of water and I stand corrected.
Either the State Inspector had it wrong or My memory isn't as good as I thought Our well water is 8.3 lbs/gallon. Which actually makes 60 gals even lighter - so fill it up. BTW raw milk weighs 8.6 lbs/gal.
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Old 04-25-2014, 06:32 AM   #10
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AS LONG AS YOU ARE NOT OVER WEIGHT FILL'ER UP. WE FILL OUR TANK FROM HOME EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE FULL hook ups at the cc. We use our water for drinking and coffee
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Old 04-25-2014, 06:40 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jsmith948 View Post
Well, curiosity got me. Just weighed a gallon of water and I stand corrected.
Either the State Inspector had it wrong or My memory isn't as good as I thought Our well water is 8.3 lbs/gallon. Which actually makes 60 gals even lighter - so fill it up. BTW raw milk weighs 8.6 lbs/gal.
I was just chalking it up to another Cailifornia thing, like everything else they have to be different. It's all good, and I'm glad your water conforms to "normal" standards. Now how much does a gallon of beer weigh?
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Old 04-25-2014, 08:00 AM   #12
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Where we camp a lot of times there is no water, unless you want to slug around a 5 gallon jug to get some fresh mountain run off that is.

So we tow with a full tank. Also we have driven clear cross that continent and had no choice to fill'er up.

I actually prefer to pull with it full, vice half full or a third full as it is more stable in my opinion.

Anything less then a couple of hours distance is fine for me.
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Old 04-25-2014, 04:00 PM   #13
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We've found our 5er rides better with 2/3 to a full tank of FW.
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Old 04-26-2014, 05:02 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by SAABDOCTOR View Post
AS LONG AS YOU ARE NOT OVER WEIGHT FILL'ER UP. WE FILL OUR TANK FROM HOME EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE FULL hook ups at the cc. We use our water for drinking and coffee
I don't know about your rig, buy my 60 gallon tank is in the back behind the wheels, which means the weight of the water actually reduces the weight on the pin in my 5th wheel. The leverage pulls it down in the back and raises the front slightly.
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Old 04-27-2014, 05:23 AM   #15
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Hauling a full tank of fresh water depends on just how much you know about your trailer's weight. Lots of times people head out on a camping trip pretty heavy. If the water will put you overweight your tires will surely suffer the consequences. Tire damage is cumulative, it all adds up to early - probably undetectable - damage.

On another note, IMO, Keystone trailers have a higher than average fresh water tank failure ratio. I think it depends on the year and model. Strapping seems to have been the major problem.

Personally we never carry more than 5-6 gallons of fresh water. But, we always go where there is portable water available.

Here is a picture of the kind of state parks we like. Huge FHU sites. Lake access right across the street on the other side of the trailer.

Natchez Trace SP, TN

http://www.irv2.com/photopost/showfull.php?photo=16890

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Old 04-27-2014, 05:44 AM   #16
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...On another note, IMO, Keystone trailers have a higher than average fresh water tank failure ratio. I think it depends on the year and model. Strapping seems to have been the major problem....
Based upon what data?
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Old 04-27-2014, 06:53 AM   #17
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On another note, IMO, Keystone trailers have a higher than average fresh water tank failure ratio. I think it depends on the year and model. Strapping seems to have been the major problem.

CW
This is something I've never heard before. I'm sure a lot of members would be very interested in learning about the failure rates and reasons for failure so they could take action to prevent a problem with their RV. Where is this data on Keystone vs other RV brand failure rates located?
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Old 04-27-2014, 07:06 AM   #18
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Based upon what data?
I've personally know three people that had Keystone products with fresh water tank failures. They were all 5th wheels.

Our friends that traveled with us for about three years had two fresh water tank failures with their Montana. On the second one they took it to the factory. After talking with the factory people we discovered that the major problem was with tanks above 50 gallons. The seams were failing.

I've also found out that black water tanks sometimes fail when being flushed.

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Old 04-27-2014, 08:22 AM   #19
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Quote:
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....Keystone trailers have a higher than average fresh water tank failure ratio....
Quote:
Originally Posted by SAD View Post
Based upon what data?
Quote:
Originally Posted by CWtheMan View Post
I've personally know three people that had Keystone products with fresh water tank failures....
Well... Thereyahaveit!!!! LOL
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Old 04-27-2014, 09:12 AM   #20
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Well... Thereyahaveit!!!! LOL
"After talking with the factory people we discovered that the major problem was with tanks above 50 gallons. The seams were failing."

You forgot to snip that. We were at the factory with our friends for about a week while their new tank was being installed. Very rewarding experience.

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