Community Forums

vsheetz · 12-09-2012, 07:07 PM

I filled the fresh water tank the other week before a six hour trip - no other changes to the coach, tires, or loading. Before was running with about 1/4 tank. Noticeable difference in handling. No tendancy to wander in the lane. Can drive 5-10 mph faster on the highway with better confidence.

Others experience same/similar?

CampDaven · 12-09-2012, 08:09 PM

A balanced load can effect ride and handling.

sc3283 · 12-09-2012, 10:25 PM

very common situation with front engined gas RVs

Arch Hoagland · 12-10-2012, 02:14 AM

One time I had to make a three hour trip across an area where I knew there was going to be high wind that day.

I filled my fresh water tank and my four black/grey tanks and it helped keep me pretty stable in the wind.

So I'd agree it helps to some extent.

Jfhaas · 12-10-2012, 05:14 AM

Could it be that with full tanks the water can not slosh around. These tanks don't have baffles in tank. Have you tried with the tanks completely empty?

336muffin · 12-10-2012, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jfhaas

Could it be that with full tanks the water can not slosh around. These tanks don't have baffles in tank. Have you tried with the tanks completely empty?

Good point. I can defiantly feel the difference when 150gal fuel tank is full, it's in between the frame directly behind front axle.

Jfhaas · 12-11-2012, 05:44 AM

Yes but fuel tanks have baffles. So you are being helped by pure weight. As I said, water, grey and black tanks do not have baffles. Partly full water tank is going to slosh around as you go down the highway.

georgetown350 · 12-11-2012, 06:24 AM

I notice a difference however it is difficult to determine if the ride has improved due to the full tank as apposed to a decrease in wind direction/speed. It is not easy to produce the exact same conditions twice is what I mean.

Arch Hoagland · 12-11-2012, 09:15 AM

The theory about this is that the tanks are low to the ground and being low is better than weight added up high.
Or so the theory goes.

wincrasher · 12-11-2012, 09:21 AM

Well think about it - 100 gallons of water is about 800 lbs of added weight.
Of course it can make a difference, but at a cost in fuel economy.

On my DP, the water tank was up front, center, behind the front axle. On windy days, it made all the difference having that tank full.

Eric n Karen · 12-15-2012, 05:45 AM

Water weighs about 8.34 lb. per gallon, so if you add 75 gallons of water you are adding about 625 lb to your coach weight. This will have some effect on your center of gravity and may result in a noticeable improvement in handling - especially in the wind.

Libero · 12-15-2012, 05:56 AM

You are correct. Lower c of g = more stability.

vsheetz · 12-15-2012, 07:07 AM

Thanks all!

ahicks · 12-15-2012, 07:30 AM

A little late, but thought I'd add that I started filling my water tank if I know I'm going to be dealing with a side wind for any length of time - or on a particular leg of a trip? Our tank is directly behind the front axle, runs from one side to the other. I figure it handles better when full because of the weight distribution as well. Loaded normally (1/4 tank water, 1/2 tank of fuel), we have only about 35% of the coaches weight on the front axle. Filling that tank increases that percentage enough where our cross wind stability is increased noticeably. As we don't do a lot of dry camping, I'm not a big believer in running around with a full water tank, but under these circumstances, you might want to give it a try? -Al