Community Forums

cnlock · 08-07-2016, 05:12 PM

I am back again with another rookie question. We are planning our first ever long trip in September and I was wondering how you would handle the trip between stops for such things as using the bathroom. Can you put a little bit of water in your fresh water tank to use during the trip if your passengers want to use the bathroom without having to find a truck stop or convenience store?

Also, which is better to keep your refrig cold, using the propane or the generator while driving?

I have a bunch of other questions but I will start with these two. I appreciate any help you can provide.

Charles

Textronics · 08-07-2016, 05:23 PM

We keep a tank of water to use and use the potty as needed enroute. We use the genny to keep fridge and house AC on. Just be careful if you run the genny while stopped (say overnight in rest stop) that you don't run yourself out of gasoline, I'm too spooked by the LP to keep it on while driving. YMMV

buzz57 · 08-07-2016, 05:43 PM

I always travel with half a tank of fresh water. Always. You never know if the water is good at the next location or not. We drink out of our system and I know its safe and clean and odor free. We have always used the fridge on Lp when travelling. Never had an issue so far.

pcurt23 · 08-07-2016, 06:02 PM

what type of chassis do you have? Can your refrigerator run off the inverter and house batteries? I used to run my propane refrigerator all the time in my class C.

I keep the fresh water about half full during trips. I fill it up if I am going to dry camp. If we are just stopping overnight then we just hook up to electric and use the water in the tank.

Deny · 08-07-2016, 06:41 PM

Yes on the LP for frig....very economical.

Carry a little water....Toilet uses almost none....solid waste is the only need for water....your personal habits will dictate the frequency...it won't be much

Mr_D · 08-07-2016, 06:55 PM

I always have at least half a tank of water, but that's about 50 gallons, that's a lot more than you usually need.

Podivin · 08-07-2016, 07:23 PM

We always travel with water in the tank. My wife can take a potty break at any point (currently I do all of the driving, but she's willing to start learning). I much prefer to just pull over some place safe and use our own bathroom rather than hope to find a clean public one. That's one of the main reasons WHY we have an RV, traveling with our own 'stuff'.
In the temps we're having around here these days I always travel with the generator running so that I can run the coach AC, so naturally the frig gets it's power from that. In cooler weather I'll let it run on propane if we're going to be unplugged for several hours.

GreaTOne65 · 08-07-2016, 07:40 PM

We have always filled the fresh water tank, the DW, uses it at her convenience. I do all the driving since switching to Class A's. I can usually last for 4-5 hrs. and stop at rest areas, for me and the dog. We have owned 5 Motorhomes, and have always used LP on the road, never have worried, and never have had any problems.

GlennLever · 08-07-2016, 09:56 PM

I run with a full tank of water when traveling. I drain when it is in storage. I use the tank in the RV for showers, the toilet, and washing dishes. We drink from bottled water, any water going in our months is bottled.

I run the refrigerator on LP all the time. I do not even know if the 110 works for the refrigerator. It works (refrigerator) very efficiently on LP. There are wind guards to protect the flame and you should have an LP detector in your RV.

An absorption refrigerator takes a long tome to cycle to cold.

**NLOVNIT** · 08-07-2016, 10:43 PM

We also travel with 1/2 tank fresh water just for the purposes of bathroom breaks & for those times we overnight in a rest area or Wal-Mart, for showers in the AM.

We usually travel with our generator on, either summer to have the AC running or spring/fall to have the heat pumps running, so our fridge runs mainly on electric. If it's an absorption fridge, the best way to keep the fridge cold it to keep it full of cold items. Don't put warm or even room temperature items in your fridge. It sucks the cold out & takes a long time to recover. With just 2 of us, we often don't have enough food to fill our fridge so I fill 2 shelves with cool-it bricks to keep the internal temp at optimum levels.

Lori-

Tom3205 · 08-08-2016, 07:24 AM

Carry only enough water to get you between stops. 8 pounds per gallon is a lot to haul around. If refer is cold, it will stay cold for your daily trip, if less then about 6 hours, and if you don't open it. So if you are hesitant on using LP while driving, just turn it off.. and, put some ice packs in refer to help maintain the cold.

mojoracing · 08-08-2016, 08:00 AM

I travel full water all the time (100 gallons), never know where you are going to stop and what the water will be like. Doesn't change my mileage one bit. Fridge runs on auto all the time so if the gen is on to run roof airs, then it runs on electricity, if not its on propane. You bought the thing to be comfortable so don't sweat the little things. It should be as convenient as your home.

cnlock · 08-08-2016, 06:33 PM

It is a freight liner chassis. I have two options I believe for the refrig. Propane or electric. Don't know about running it off of the batteries. I think I have to either be hooked up or have the generator running.

cnlock · 08-08-2016, 06:39 PM

Thanks for all of the help everybody. We are excited but a little apprehensive about this long trip. Ever time we have gone out for just a weekend trip we learn more. Also, I have learned tons from all of your experience on here.

Thanks again, Charles