Filling fresh water tank before trip, good or bad?

john&bet wrote:
Mine is in the very rear of the trailer and it is full most of the time. Holds 60 gal. I do not see it as affecting fuel mileage at all. Speed and wind affect it more.

I agree. I've towed all over the country with tanks full, empty and everything in between. Makes little or no difference in fuel economy.

Speed and wind are what effect mpg's.

Mine is in the very rear of the trailer and it is full most of the time. Holds 60 gal. I do not see it as affecting fuel mileage at all. Speed and wind affect it more.

LOL, thats what I get for trying to multiply 7.5 x 50 in my head! Sorry, I should have at least written it done on paper! But 375 lbs is still a lot and I could think of a dozen others things weighing that much to bring with us instead of water!

More than just the security of having water when needed I carry water as ballast.

A TT or 5er is not much more than a box of air very suceptable to wind, especially broadside wind. The weight of water down low makes for a more stable trailer whether it is in wind or going into a corner too fast. It lowers your center of gravity & does not affect fuel milage much unless doing alot of mountain driving. On the flat once the weight is moving, it takes little effort to keep it moving unless you are one of those who like to cruise at 65 plus. Then it is air resistance, not weight that is killing your milage.

For over 55 years, with 5 RV's, we have always filled our Fresh Water Tank before leaving home on our ranch. Our ranch well water is pure, without Chlorine, other chemicals that may be found incampground hookups, city water, other unknown water sources as we travel. We alsways use our own well water for drinking, coffee making, etc.

In campgrounds We often hook to the local water connection for showers, washing dishes (using our soap and washing liquid, toilets, plus at dumping stations in campgrounds, etc., I hook to the local water outlet to rinse the holding tanks and drain hoses. We have a sanitary hose hookup to use just for rinsing the holding tanks and drains.

Coach-man wrote:
... 50 gallons of water weighs 750 lbs. ...

Uh, no...water weighs a little more than 8lb/gal so 50 gal would be about 400 lb. Not trivial but quite a bit less than 750.

We have been camping for 10 years, I know that does not automatically make me an expert, but here is my opinion. One, if you use your tank for drinking water, you need to sanatise it correctly, failing to do so may expouse you to serious illness or wourse. We allways travel with bottled water for drinking, no problems with taste or other problems! Two you need at least some water in your tank for flushing and washing. We always carry at least 10 gallons as we travel. We usually do not dry camp, so getting water at the destination is not a problem. If you dry camp check first about getting fresh water first before you go! Internet, phone ect. If not available at the destination, somewhere close is an option. 50 gallons of water weighs 750 lbs. that is a lot of weight to be hauling around. Save the gas millage, or consider 750 lbs. of other stuff to haul with you instead of water?

5er, we carry about 10 gallons
The motor-home, we carry 40 gallons since we can stop anywhere for overnights.

We always travel with water. When the water is out at a campground, we always have water available.

We drycamp 99% of the time, rarely stay at locations with hookups.

So our water tank is always filled before we leave home and then filled as we need it, usually at the same time we're dumping the tanks.