Do you tow your AS with a full fresh water tank?

[dznf0g]

No more than 1/2 tank....unless my next stop is dry camping with nowhere to fill.

[rmkrum]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

No more than 1/2 tank....unless my next stop is dry camping with nowhere to fill.

This is what we typically do.. Carry enough water for flushing toilet and washing hands while on the road, lunch stops, etc. Dogs and humans have access to bottled water for most drinking uses.

Don't seem to have a sloshing problem, but the ProPride may be suppressing that...

Our dogs, in particular, will have digestive issues unless we keep their water supply the same--bottled water seems to work best.

Boondocking or cold weather, we run on a full fresh tank to prevent shore water hose from freezing..

[gypsydad]

We try to travel full. We also 2 carry empty fresh water 6 gal. containers in case we decide to boondock on our trips. 10 gal. will take us thru a few days with showers. We use the oxygenics shower head which helps conserve. Never had an issue with traveling this way.

[the ponz]

During our second outing with our trailer, it was mid April near Cincinnati. Left home with an empty water tank for a the campground 8 miles away. That night, the temperature dropped to 30*, ice formed in the hose from the spigot. We had no water in the trailer until 1pm.

Now I always have at least 1/2 full tank while traveling, (and two extra water hoses).

[Mollysdad]

I try to travel with just enough water for a couple showers and dish washings. I've never run out before getting to a water supply.
40 gallons of water weighs almost 500 pounds, weight I don't need to be bouncing around in the trailer.

[Dave-n-Janet]

I generally travel w/full or near full fresh water.
39 gallon tank * 8.34 lbs/gal is approximately 325 lbs. Makes trailer tow more stable than when I did it with tank empty.

[abqdor]

I also travel with a full tank whenever possible and figure it to be about 325-350 pounds. Definitely should help with stability of the trailer.

A thought occurred to me though, if you're traveling with only half a tank, has anyone experienced or noticed any side to side slosh that has caused trailer sway?

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by abqdor

I also travel with a full tank whenever possible and figure it to be about 325-350 pounds. Definitely should help with stability of the trailer.

A thought occurred to me though, if you're traveling with only half a tank, has anyone experienced or noticed any side to side slosh that has caused trailer sway?

No. I have and do travel with empty, full, and everywhere in between. I've never noticed any effect whatsoever. However, I have a ppp hitch, which would mitigate potential movement (beginning of sway event) caused by sudden sideways sloshing.

[Martee]

Never traveled with any fresh water in the tank. Always found a good water supply available at the next nightly stopover....and of course rest rooms are everywhere. We do carry just 2 gallons bottled water in the galley for drinks and for basic cooking. And 1 gallon in the lavatory for any emergency flush needs.

[azflycaster]

Always travel with a full tank of water. You never know what awaits you down the road. Also, the extra weight forward of the axles and low creates a better towing experience.

[Daquenzer]

I travel with about 25% full. Just enough to flush toilets and wash hands. I see no reason to travel with full tank. We also don't drink the water out of the tank. Not that we couldn't, but we carry bottled water for drinking. Don't even drink campground water. We buy gallon jugs at Walmart and keep 3 in the camper for drinking. I also carry an empty 6 gallon container if I need to get water for some reason.

[Bill M.]

Yes. When I get a chance to fill up I do. I like traveling with it full or nearly full. Couple hundred lbs not a high percentage of the total weight and I do not think it changes my performance at all. An early caravan leader told us once " two tanks empty and one full and I will leave you to figure out which one."

[SilverWind]

Our decision on how much water to carry is based on which trailer and tow vehicle combination we decide on for the trip. The two Airstreams have a much different water tank placement.

Our 2017 25FB's 30 gallon fresh water tank is always full if heading for a dry camping destination. On other trips it is half full for bathroom stops etc. Since the tank is towards the center of the trailer near the axles, it can be at any level and not affect handling significantly with our RAM 2500.

On the other hand our 17 foot 1968 Caravel's 30 gallon water tank is located at the very front of the trailer. 250 pounds of water has a significant impact on the hitch/tongue weight of the trailer. Airstream listed the dry hitch weight as 330 pounds in 1968. We weighed the tongue with a Sherline trailer tongue scales yesterday. The tank was at 100% of capacity. Tongue weight came in at 590 pounds which is very close to the manufactured tongue weight plus a full tank of water.

We recently towed the Caravel 1000 miles behind our RAM 2500 which is equipped with rear air load leveling. The water tank was mostly full and it towed perfectly.

We took the Caravel out for a spin yesterday behind our 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with the water level at 100%. We wanted to see how the Jeep's Quadra-Lift Air Suspension would handle the tongue weight. It was wonky at normal ride height. The stiffer, higher ride height settings helped. We'll test it again at the 50% water level. We may go with a weight distribution system as recommended by Jeep for Gross Trailer Weights over 3500 pounds. Our's is very close to 3500 with a full water tank.

[Moflash]

Airstream was designed to tow with a full tank of fresh water

[trumpetguy]

Always travel full which means over 50 gallons. We checked in to a Florida state park once and there was a burst water main. Water was shut off for a whole day and when turned on was the color of iron. Needless to say we were glad to have our own water supply. “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail”.

[AlinCal]

Leaving for big sur Pieffer state campground next week, will carry full water since it is like gold in some ca parks. Last big sur camp in jan was Kirk creek with no water except host had bottled water at $5 gal.
The Excella fresh tank is right over the axles so no real bother, unless towing with a 4runner

[majorairhead]

Better to have it and not need it, than need it, and not have it. We always have water on board.


I carry a couple full, and a couple empty gallon jugs for hauling water.


What'd those boy scouts used to say??? "be prepared".

[pteck]

Always full 100% when leaving on any trip. Always just about depleted when returning home.

Would one head out with half a tank of gas? Or half a charge of battery?

It's a critical resource for being on the road which is why I always have it full when possible. Especially from home with known water quality.

It does not appreciably affect my towing dynamics full or empty. Always stable.

[switz]

Our Classic has a 54 gallon water tank and we tow with a 2500 Ram 4x4 Cummins. We can feel the slosh if the tank is half full. We have arrived at camp grounds having water issues and were glad to have a full tank.

We leave next Tuesday, 30 April, to drive up to our summer camping spot in Ponderosa Shadows, an Airstream only membership park in Lakeside, Arizona. We are putting in a new parallel water line first thing into the park and water will be on and off as the work progresses. I find myself as President this year and that involves a commitment to be there nearly all the time this season.

Water in the tank is like gasoline in my airplane back in the day. It was better to have full fuel at takeoff and not need it than sweat out not enough due to weather changes.

[gypsydad]

Always have 1/2 tank of fresh water or more. I also carry 2- 6 GAL water containers in case I need to fill up while boondocking...