fresh water tank ?

[aspeyrer]

New to this fifth wheel toy hauler, actually my new toy hauler will not be ready from the factory for another month. My question: do people travel with there fresh water tank full? I would think they dont. I know i will be traveling to a few places that do not have water hook ups, or any kinda hook up. Could i fill my water tank with a garden hose at a truck stop close to my destination? The tank in the trailer holds 100 gals.
thanks

[Ray,IN]

It depends on your trucks GCWR and GVW, and how much CCC your TH has left over after everything is loaded. 100G of water weighs 834#. I nearly always travel with a full fresh water tank. This allows us to dry camp anytime we decide to stop, and my truck 5er rig has the capacity to haul the weight. When you travel with an empty tank you cannot stop anywhere and use the restroom in your RV, wash up, etc.
This is yet another reason to observe weight limits for both truck and trailer.

[Arch Hoagland]

I seldom ever carry more than a quarter of a tank of fresh water. Just enough to get us to our location.
However it all depends on where you are going.

[aspeyrer]

As far as GCWR i will not be overweight. Pin weight, i may be over 500lbs. all these numbers drive me crazy! i will not really know the true numbers until i weigh it. Anyone know a good place to weigh truck and trailer?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN It depends on your trucks GCWR and GVW, and how much CCC your TH has left over after everything is loaded. 100G of water weighs 834#. I nearly always travel with a full fresh water tank. This allows us to dry camp anytime we decide to stop, and my truck 5er rig has the capacity to haul the weight. When you travel with an empty tank you cannot stop anywhere and use the restroom in your RV, wash up, etc. This is yet another reason to observe weight limits for both truck and trailer.

[HD4Mark]

It depends on the destination for us. On a short weekend trip to a CG with full hook ups the fresh water is empty. On a long trip like our yearly snowbird trek to Fl and back the tank always starts out full so we can shower along the way. The convenience is worth the weight to us.

You would think your 5er was designed to handle the weight. If your tow vehicle is up to it and you want/need to go full or water, why not?

[aspeyrer]

is the water tank on most 5er on one side or both sides ( equal weight distribution) of the trailer. I have heard people say hauling with full tanks can damage your trailer, is this true?

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD4Mark It depends on the destination for us. On a short weekend trip to a CG with full hook ups the fresh water is empty. On a long trip like our yearly snowbird trek to Fl and back the tank always starts out full so we can shower along the way. The convenience is worth the weight to us. You would think your 5er was designed to handle the weight. If your tow vehicle is up to it and you want/need to go full or water, why not?

[HD4Mark]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspeyrer is the water tank on most 5er on one side or both sides ( equal weight distribution) of the trailer. I have heard people say hauling with full tanks can damage your trailer, is this true?

Sorry to say I can not answer that never having owner a 5er. If we had the need for a big pick up it sure looks like the way to go though.

The fresh water tank in our class A is right in the middle but not sure on 5ers. I would think that since the idea of a fresh water tank is to have portable water the design would take into consideration that you would be hauling it. Hopefully a 5er owner can clear this up for us.

[Uncle Dave]

I almost never travel with it more that 1/4 full.

I fill up as close to the riding as I can

At 8.34 lb per gallon with a 100 gallon tank it seems wasteful to me to carry this load on the truck, tires, suspension etc.

Uncle Dave

[Ray,IN]

The tank is usually centered port/starboard, but fore/aft depends on the design dept. I did own an old 92 Dutchmen 5er that had the tank at the RF corner, towing that with a full tank made quite a difference in how the rig handled.
If you have sales literature it should display tank locations.

[aspeyrer]

thats what i was thinking. anyone ever fill there water tank at a Flying J truck stop? or rest area? or another brand truck stop? I know flying j has a rv dumping station.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Dave I almost never travel with it more that 1/4 full. I fill up as close to the riding as I can At 8.34 lb per gallon with a 100 gallon tank it seems wasteful to me to carry this load on the truck, tires, suspension etc. Uncle Dave

[Uncle Dave]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspeyrer thats what i was thinking. anyone ever fill there water tank at a Flying J truck stop? or rest area? or another brand truck stop? I know flying j has a rv dumping station.

Flying J has dump and water.

I go to glamis many times a year and fill up at red rock about an hour away from the dunes.

No need to tow a thousand pounds of water over the banning pass.

If you cant do it that way - well then you cant.
But if all possible I try to go as easy on my gear as is feasible.

That extra 834 lb makes difference in tire life if you end up turning hard- more weight is tougher on the sidewalls in a solid axle rig and repeated tight turns results in earlier sidewall cracking.

UD

[CD]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Dave Flying J has dump and water. I go to glamis many times a year and fill up at red rock about an hour away from the dunes. No need to tow a thousand pounds of water over the banning pass. If you cant do it that way - well then you cant. But if all possible I try to go as easy on my gear as is feasible. That extra 834 lb makes difference in tire life if you end up turning hard- more weight is tougher on the sidewalls in a solid axle rig and repeated tight turns results in earlier sidewall cracking. UD

You may be right about the tire wear but our tires always die of old age, not wear. I ike to know where my water comes from and what it tastes like if I can.

[hooverbill]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland I seldom ever carry more than a quarter of a tank of fresh water. Just enough to get us to our location. However it all depends on where you are going.

Ditto.

[Uncle Dave]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CD You may be right about the tire wear but our tires always die of old age, not wear. I ike to know where my water comes from and what it tastes like if I can.

I totally get both points you make.

I use known water sources and really dont drink toy hauler water, but do wash dishes and shower with it.

The motorhome has a "real" filtration system in it and I do drink that water/coffee etc.

U.D