Community Forums

Gordon Dewald · 09-29-2015, 08:54 AM

IMO it is always better to travel with tanks either empty or full. Partially filled tanks will slosh. Unless you are postive you have baffles in the tank you will be generating some fairly large hydraulic forces in the tank.

Todd157k · 09-29-2015, 09:27 AM

I took an old water hose and cut off one end so if I have to get it from a faucet or spigot without a fitting, I can slide the hose over the end and tighten it on. I've had to use it a few times when the campground spigots are not set up for filling rv tanks.
I agree though, it can sometimes be a pain in the neck. Also, here in CA, water is at a premium so just pulling up somewhere and filling from a faucet can stir up a bit of trouble.

doc · 09-29-2015, 12:20 PM

FWIW - there are many Quik Trip (QT) in the SE and many more being built. Most all the new ones are built as truck stops with RV lanes in many. They all have potable water faucets. They don't mind if you wash a windshield or wash down a diesel over fill. Am sure they would not mind if you used a few gallons for a fresh tank fill as well

**CountryFit** · 09-29-2015, 02:59 PM

in early rv life, we started home with 1/4 full of water. after couple trips, dw seemed uneasy whenever she saw water was low and i had to look for water. since then, we always hit the road with water full to neck. knowing carrying 800lbs for couple hundred miles will burn more fuel, but sleeping sound worth more

Crasher · 09-29-2015, 05:28 PM

IMHO, it would be hard to measure difference in the mpg a motor home gets between full fresh and an empty tank. I get one mpg less when I pull a 12,000# trailer. 800# more or less won't be detectable. Also, the fresh water tank is such a small area compared to the coach that it wouldn't matter if it was half full as far as weight shifting while driving. I can never tell what's in the tank from how the MH drives.

palehorse89 · 09-29-2015, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crasher

IMHO, it would be hard to measure difference in the mpg a motor home gets between full fresh and an empty tank. I get one mpg less when I pull a 12,000# trailer. 800# more or less won't be detectable. Also, the fresh water tank is such a small area compared to the coach that it wouldn't matter if it was half full as far as weight shifting while driving. I can never tell what's in the tank from how the MH drives.

AGREE 110%

Try driving a tanker truck, 7200 gallon capacity, with 6200 gallon in it to meet the 80k weight limit.........talk about slosh back and forth, every gear has to be planed and get on the throttle when the liquid hits the back of the tanker(No baffles) .......if one throttles it up when the liquid hits the front of the tanker..........

Hang on

100gallon water tanks in these Coach's are nothing and do not effect the driving of them. Give a tanker a shot.........and if you think you are doing good.......try it on ice in the winter!

Rich-n-Linda · 09-29-2015, 06:05 PM

If you have a 100 gallon fresh water tank, the difference between a full tank and a half tank is only about 300 pounds. 300 pounds on a 30,000 pound coach is 1% of your overall weight. Big deal.

I always start a trip with the tank full.

2006 Mandalay 40E, Cummins ISL 400 HP