How much fresh H2O is enough?

[Darkspeed]

I am in the process of laying out a new frame for a 31' AS and have the opportunity to increase the size of the fresh water tank.

What is a 'Wish list' size tank for H2O?

Thanks..

[TBRich]

It all depends on how you plan to camp. Do you drink the water? Do you cook with the water? Do you only use it for dishes and toilet and shower? Etc. I will say that we run out of fresh water before we have either holding tank filled. 'Course we have a Bambi with smaller capacities. Even so we can go a week with the black tank.

[Darkspeed]

I was thinking of going overkill on the fresh water because worst case I dont fill them all the way up but have the capacity if i did need it

[Jim Foster]

Our '83 27' Excella has 50 gal located between the axles. So far it has been adequate. We don't keep it full unless we are headed for a dry camping session.

Our 42' houseboat had 120 gal, but then, weight was no issue.

[withidl]

My 2002 ASCL 31’ has 54 fresh, 37 grey and 39 black (grey + black = 76). I have found the 54 fresh is about right when dry camping since even with “equalizing” the grey into the black via their manifold when the grey gets full to allow for more space in the grey I generally run out of fresh about the time the grey is maxed out after “equalizing”. The black never usually gets full before the grey even after equalizing so I’ve got to dump about the time I’ve run out of fresh.

[utee94]

It really depends on how you intend to camp. I have 30 gallons fresh and go through it in a long weekend of dry camping, while still having capacity in my 30-gallon gray and small original (13-gallon?) black. More of all of the above would be good, but most of all more fresh, maybe 45-50.

[Darkspeed]

Thanks everyone thats a big help!

[Jack46]

How do you "equalize" grey and black tanks?

[Silver Otter]

Originally Posted by Jack46

How do you "equalize" grey and black tanks?

I second the question. Do we have that capability built in to our 1999 Excella? I've tried to read all the literature and have not seen anything about that. Neat idea.

[wasagachris]

Originally Posted by Jack46

How do you "equalize" grey and black tanks?

I think what the OP means is to place the cap on the drain outlet and then open both dump valves. The grey water will flow out of the grey tank and into the black tank. Before dumping both valves must be closed and before you remove the cap a bucket is used to catch the small amount of waste water that will be trapped between the dump valves and the drain outlet cap.
Trailers without grey tanks can do the same by capping the outlet and opening the black tank valve essentially turning the black tank into a grey tank as well.
The problem lies if the tank(s) are allowed to overfill, cross contaminated water can back up in to the shower pan. Yecch.

[jdalrymple]

The biggest problem with more fresh water is where to put it when you make is gray, or black. As has been mentioned above.

Always some gotcha, ain't there........

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by Darkspeed

I was thinking of going overkill on the fresh water because worst case I dont fill them all the way up but have the capacity if i did need it

You don't want to go too big.

If you always run with the tanks 1/2 full you will increase the probability of slosh induced sway.

Or get a tank with baffles. Or two smaller tanks.

[InsideOut]

We have a 30 gallon fresh water tank, a 13 gallon black water tank and two gray tanks totaling about 22 gallons. We find this adequate for a three day boondocking weekend. We wouldn't want to hold any more wastewater for any longer because both start to stink after a couple of days in warm weather.

Shari

[TG Twinkie]

We have a 12 gallon grey and a 12 gallon black tank. Along with a 30 gallon Fresh water tank. The grey tank is the one found to be a bit too small, especially if you use th shower. We carry seperate drinking water.

[Jammer]

The new ones have a 55 gallon freshwater tank. That's what I have, and I sometimes run out, although with anything larger the graywater tank (40 gallons) would be limiting.

Motorhomes are often equipped with considerably larger tanks, and if the frame and axle could take the weight, I would imagine it would be a convenience for Airstreams to have them too.

A fact to consider is that in the 1960s, campgrounds typically had water hookups at each site and grey water was commonly dumped into catholes or onto the ground. It's now rare to encounter water hookups except at sites that have a sewer connection. The Minnesota state parks removed all their existing campsite water hookups to discourage graywater dumping, and now just have water at central locations.

[thecatsandi]

60 gallons or more.

[Jim Foster]

Originally Posted by Jack46

How do you "equalize" grey and black tanks?

Here's one way.

A hole can be drilled in the top of the inlet elbow on the gray tank. A pipe inserted into that hole, not quite to the bottom. The pipe connected through a filter to a water pump with a pressure switch , like the one used for fresh water. The outlet from the water pump connected to a "T" placed between the toilet shut off valve and the toilet inlet.

After some gray water has been accumulated, close the fresh water valve to the toilet, and turn the pump on. When the toilet is flushed, the pump will run, and water will be drawn from the gray tank rather than from the fresh tank.

This will make space in the gray tank and save fresh water.
You don't need to buy a top of the line pump for this. If it makes a little noise, so what.

[withidl]

Originally Posted by wasagachris

I think what the OP means is to place the cap on the drain outlet and then open both dump valves. The grey water will flow out of the grey tank and into the black tank. Before dumping both valves must be closed and before you remove the cap a bucket is used to catch the small amount of waste water that will be trapped between the dump valves and the drain outlet cap.
Trailers without grey tanks can do the same by capping the outlet and opening the black tank valve essentially turning the black tank into a grey tank as well.
The problem lies if the tank(s) are allowed to overfill, cross contaminated water can back up in to the shower pan. Yecch.

“Jack46” and “gherer”, poster “wasagachris” has answered your question about my “equalizing” of grey into black tanks accurately.

I will add a little detail that after the manifold cap is put on, the manifold should be flooded by FIRST opening the grey valve, then open the black valve to allow the higher level of grey water to flow into the black tank. It’s then important to close the black valve FIRST while grey water is flowing into the black tank to prevent manifold contamination with black water, then close the grey valve second. That way when you dump you will only have to deal with the small amount of grey water spillage when the manifold cap is removed.

[Darkspeed]

Originally Posted by markdoane

You don't want to go too big.

If you always run with the tanks 1/2 full you will increase the probability of slosh induced sway.

Or get a tank with baffles. Or two smaller tanks.

That's a good point - I wonder if they have open cell foam inserts for water tanks like fuel cells

[wasagachris]

Weight is a concern also. 1 US gallon = 8.35 lbs. So a 50 gal tank weighs 417.5 lbs when full.