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

[Bobkatbry]

I'm not planning on boondocking anytime soon. Just purchased a tradewind that was hooked up to city water at an RV park for at least 6 months. Finally found out how to drain the fresh water tank. It's still pumping out. What's the estimated capacity? That's got to be at least a thousand pounds of old water I just pumped out.

[Bobkatbry]

Maybe not a thousand but it's at least 500 if my finger counting calculator is correct.

[68 TWind]

8.3 pounds/gallon for water and I doublt if the capacity is more than 30 gallons.
I replaced the missing factory fresh tank in mine with a 30 gallon but I never fill it full. I keep 8-10 gallons in it for flushing the toilet while stopped for lunch.

[OTRA15]

"A pint's a pound the world around . . . "

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

"A pint's a pound the world around . . . "

Close enough. A US gallon of water is 8.344 pounds, so a US pint is 1.043 pounds. Only engineers need that level of precision, so yeah, a pint's a pound, and a gallon is 8 pounds.

I've traveled with a full on-board water supply when I was headed out to a campground without a water hookup, with no ill effects because full tanks did not put me over my Airstream's gross weight rating. But if I'm headed to someplace that has potable— and palatable— water, there's no point to carrying the extra weight.

I would suggest, however, that you travel with tanks full or tanks empty, but not anything in between. Shifting weight due to water sloshing around in a partially-filled tank will not do your tank's mounting brackets any favors.

[AWCHIEF]

Simple answer, my fresh water tank is kept full. Water is drained and replaced monthly or as needed.

[mandolindave]

Don't know your unit but

You might not have to pump the water out ( although I have ) There might be a drain.

[dkottum]

Trailer stability is a good reason to travel with the water tank full. We couldn't have a better place to put 250 lbs than in the water tank, low and between the trailer axles.

And in our travels, our plans remain flexible as we move about the country. If we have a full water supply we are not limited to where we may decide to stop for a few days.

[Flynavy]

I would think your coach has the same tanks as mine. If so the fresh water is 40 gallons, black and gray tanks are 10 each. Hope this helps.

[Bill M.]

I travel with the fresh water at least 1/2 or more full. I do not see a down side to doing this with a trailer and I like having water when we stop for lunch or other breaks. I do keep the waste tanks fairly empty when I can. Have weighed the trailer when we are traveling several times and the axle load has been under the max.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Yes...until it's empty, then we fill it again.

Bob

[kdickinson]

No problem filling it before you head out. It's designed to be full during towing and it sure is nice having that water there if you need it along the way or when you get there

[graysailor]

Mine are full only if planning on boon docking. Usually only keep 5-10 gallons in the tank for quick hand washes or whatever when traveling.

[dannydimitt]

We always top off the water tank when heading out from somewhere that has running water . We seldom have a place pre planed for the next night and are likely as not run across a boondocking site for the next night or two.
I like that old saying about it's better to not need it and have it , than to need it and not have it .
As well as a full tank of water in the trailer, we also carry a couple of 7.5 gallon water jugs in the Dodge. They came in handy a few times on our two month road trip to Alaska and back , with most nights spent boondocking. And they work just fine as a way to refill the fresh water tank while staying for an extended time in National Forest campgrounds where the potable water spigots are sparsely dispersed near the out houses. With the help of a little fold down hand cart.

There is no noticeable effect on the diesel usage or stopping ability with or without the extra weight of the water .
Just Saying :-)

[Royce]

I always travel with a full tank of water, 25 gallons for my Minuet. That way I can change plans along the way and not worry about getting water.

[gecko]

We tow as empty as possible at all times. A lot has to do with your TV and the loaded weight of your trail. Water weighs about 8lbs/gallon, so each of our 40 gallon tanks would hold approximately 320 lbs when full, for close to 1000 lbs all up. With our smaller engine, I can feel the difference even with one full tank, let alone three.

So to reduce load on tires and axles, even though we're within the limits, and to make things lighter for our engine and transmission, we usually have only 1/8-1/4 in the fresh tank with both waste tanks completely dry. If we're going to boondock and we know where we're going, we'll re-empty the waste tanks after a day's travel, and fill the fresh right before we head off road. We also carry collapsible water tanks in the bedroom wardrobe, and fill up these small tanks totaling another 12 gallons and carry them in the Sprinter.

If we have no idea where we're going that day (very rare!), we might carry as much as 1/2 tank. But we know that when boon docking, even if we both shower, we can make do on 5 gallons a day, so not too worried if we have anything over 1/4 tank when we start out in the morning.

So--t0 wrap it up--depends on your loaded weight and your tow vehicle's capabilities.

[NY24]

I don't yet own an Airstream but, when I leave home in the rig I do have, I always take a full tank of my local water. Here on Long Island, NY, we're blessed with EXCELLENT water. I'll take the small hit in fuel economy to know that I have great water readily available. Before entering FL, I try to find a source of "good" water and fill my tank. My experience is that FL has some of the worst water in the country.

I do "hit the road" with EMPTY gray and black water tanks

[TBRich]

Always travel with a full tank .. but then the tank on a 19' Bambi is not that big! .

[herkvet]

We usually have the tank full. Helps with stability and nice to be able to use water when we want. When we are home I drain the fresh water tank, then sanitize, leaving a residual chlorine level in the tank. Repeat once or twice before we leave for a trip.

[SeaLevel]

Originally Posted by NY24

Before entering FL, I try to find a source of "good" water and fill my tank. My experience is that FL has some of the worst water in the country.

Not all of Florida. We have a very good water system in Jupiter, which utilizes both reverse osmosis and nanofiltration.