Community Forums

GLWilliams58 · 09-20-2007, 05:03 PM

I have a busy motorhome that serves as a shower house for a group of dirt bike enthusiasts and find myself short of water each weekend. So I have a choice of adding a secondary water tank to my enclosed trailer (pulled behind the MH) or adding a second tank to the MH (which I would prefer). Has anyone added one to a MH that could provide some insight or concerns? Is there an advantage to pulling the extra water in a trailer versus adding it to the weight of the MH? Also, if anyone could recommend a tank supplier I would appreciate that as well.

Thanks.

GLWilliams58 · 09-20-2007, 05:03 PM

I have a busy motorhome that serves as a shower house for a group of dirt bike enthusiasts and find myself short of water each weekend. So I have a choice of adding a secondary water tank to my enclosed trailer (pulled behind the MH) or adding a second tank to the MH (which I would prefer). Has anyone added one to a MH that could provide some insight or concerns? Is there an advantage to pulling the extra water in a trailer versus adding it to the weight of the MH? Also, if anyone could recommend a tank supplier I would appreciate that as well.

Thanks.

TXiceman · 09-20-2007, 05:34 PM

Two things to consider.

Water weighs 8.34 #/gallon. Can you handle the extra weight within limits on the Motorhome chassis.

Next is if you have the extra fresh water, what are you going to do for gray water capacity? Can't dump it on the ground legally in most areas.

Ken

Tom N · 09-20-2007, 05:43 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by TXiceman:
Next is if you have the extra fresh water, what are you going to do for gray water capacity? Can't dump it on the ground legally in most areas.

Ken </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've often thought if the outside shower is used, where does the water go???

-Tom

NeilV · 09-21-2007, 04:29 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tom N:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by TXiceman:
Next is if you have the extra fresh water, what are you going to do for gray water capacity? Can't dump it on the ground legally in most areas.

Ken </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've often thought if the outside shower is used, where does the water go???

-Tom </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Tom,

I have thought about that too however it is not the same as dumping 50 to 100 gallons in a few moments after it has been stewing in a puetrifiying holding tank for a day or so.

At home you can wash your car but your clothes washer draining on the ground is potentially unlawfull in most areas also.

GLWilliams58 · 09-22-2007, 04:24 AM

Thanks. These are good points.

An extra 40 gallon tank when filled will add 400 pounds to the MH and I am still below cargo capacity. As to grey water storage, when it fills, outside showers are better than none, and the driver always gets the shower first.

That being the case, I am still wrestling with whether to install the tank on the trailer (beneath the floor and above the axels) or on the MH (under the queen, which may be slightly behind the rear axel).

Aside from weight and grey water storage, are there any other concerns? Has anyone done this? And, is there a better place on the MH that I should consider?

Thanks.

Moder2 · 09-22-2007, 06:39 AM

I'd be pretty leary about putting 400 lbs aft of the rear axle. Might take too much weight off your steering axle.

If it were mine, I would forgo the MH Mod's. If it were mine I would setup a tank in the trailer with an aux pump to just fill the MH tank. Placement in the trailer will also be key, you don't want too much weight on the hitch, but enough to make it pull well.

My opinion...

John

John Hilley · 09-22-2007, 05:38 PM

Put the water tank in the trailer with a pump and get a blue tote to dump your gray water in and carry it in or on the trailer.

Ray,IN · 09-25-2007, 02:49 PM

water tanks and accessories may be useful. A tank size calculator may be useful in your venture also.

GLWilliams58 · 09-25-2007, 05:12 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I have concluded that is was much more practical to put the water tank under the cargo trailer, not the MH. I found a tank manufacturer that is making one 60X22X7 that will hold 33 gals. It will fit perfectly between and above the axels. This gives me a little more usefulness out of the trailer when not behind the MH as well.

Three weeks to make it and ship it to me.

Thanks for your help.

Phantomiz · 09-28-2007, 11:23 PM

Hi,

I added a second 50 gallon fresh water tank to my 5th wheel when I had it. I installed it in the rear of the unit. It installed nicely with 1/4 X 1 1/2" angle iron across the width. My original factory installed tank was sheltered/insulated from the elements. My auxiliary tank wasn't. I rarely ever drove with it filled. I would usually fill it once I would get to my destination. When the factory tank would empty, all I needed to do was pull the handle on a 3 way valve. We would use water sparingly and could get about 1 week for a family of 4 (2 adults 2 children). Hard to economize water with children. Showers were rarely taken as they use up too much water.

Mac and Chris · 11-05-2007, 04:04 PM

We use a swamp cooler when out in the dry states in the summer, so I'm planning to add a 50 gallon tank to our MH before we head west again next spring.

Since it will weigh about 400 pounds we'll need to carefully remove everything not needed from the RV and leave it in our small storage unit in Tampa. I'm fairly sure we can keep the weight to an acceptable tonage

I like the 48 gallon laydown tank in the link Ray provided.

Mac