Full water tank

[Cinders1]

We are into our first trip with our new (to us), 2015 Forest River, 29’ Georgetown. Driving in west Texas and the winds are high. Is it help or not to have a full tank of water?

[Deep Water D]

I always travel with a full water tank. 'Cuz you just never know...

[Mr Lars]

Dang, windy in west Texas? or are you near West,Texas?
You think its windy now, you shoulda been here early this week!!
I'm in Midland, just a gentle breeze today.
As for your water tank, the extra weight may give you more stability when tank is full.

[Old-Biscuit]

2 things....
When wind is 45 mph steady....pull off and wait it out

(High wind warnings for high profile vehicles)


Full water tank so you have water cause you just never know!

[dan-nickie]

Oh I always travel with my tank full but it's not gonna help with those winds.

[wildtoad]

Full water makes for a better ride and you just never know when you will need it. Too many times I’ve run into campgrounds where the water was bad.

[av8tor2]

Originally Posted by Cinders1

We are into our first trip with our new (to us), 2015 Forest River, 29’ Georgetown. Driving in west Texas and the winds are high. Is it help or not to have a full tank of water?

Your MH has a 50 gal. fresh water tank. Water weighs 8.34 lbs/gal. so, give or take, a full tank would add about 415lbs. to your gross weight.

I'm pretty sure that wouldn't make much of a difference either way. Like was said above, you never know when you might need fresh water. But I don't believe that much extra weight would matter. That's what I think.

[530ktm]

I like to travel with a full tank. Mine is 100 gallons so that is another 800 plus pounds and it is up front just behind front axle. I always use my water where ever I go and then fill it up when I leave if water is good. Any additional weight if up front will help handling but not so much if in the back. I had an Adventurer and the 80 gallon water tank was under the bed way in the back, not so good.

[FIRE UP]

Wow,
I've never seen so many agree on carrying a full water tank. Usually, there's quite a few that are so worried about losing a miniscule amount of fuel mileage so they carry as least as possible. We've carried a full tank for decades. And, WE'VE NEEDED IT, more times than I can count. So, my advice, for whatever it's worth, carry the full tank.
Scott

[oscarvan]

Allright, I'll be the dissenting opinion. But, I believe, for valid reasons. I'm often close to my rear axle weight and GVWR, especially with a trailer. The tank is right in front of the rear axle, in the same bay as the black and grey tanks. So depending on how heavily I'm loaded on the hitch and upstairs I'll adjust the water load. If I know I'll be showering out of the tank along the way I"ll take more. If all we need is two days of toilet flushes I'll take less. Full is 650 pounds. That's a lot. Not worried about mileage.

Trivia.... At least one of the big three airlines does NOT fill it's water tank on the airplane for every flight. It's used for flushing, sinks and coffee. 260 people going across the Atlantic get a full tank, about the same size as my coach.... For a 3 hour domestic flight they get half that..... And yes, that is for fuel savings and increased payload.

[Milford 47]

Anytime you lower the center of gravity by adding weight in the lower portions of any vehicle and especially MH's you are less likely to be blown over.

Back when we ran doubles and triples empty we added a couple yards of sand or gravel to keep the rear tires on the road in high winds. The added water will of course lower your center of gravity and so if you have to travel in wind it is a plus

[Gary RVRoamer]

The extra weight should have some small benefit, at least in theory, but I doubt if you will see (or feel) any practical difference when the crosswinds blow. An additional 400-800 lbs in a 22,000 lb vehicle isn't much difference and the winds are still pushing that huge sail (the sidewalls).