we go camping every other weekend. we only use sites that are full hookups so we don't camp using the holding tank. I did santitze the system though when I purchased the new camper last month. we went camping last weekend and used the full hookup water.. now my camper is parked in my driveway with no water in the holding tank but I believe still water in the lines from our last trip. I will go camping again next weekend to a full hookup site. its been 90 degrees here for past two weeks, how do I know that the water in the waterlines is still good? i would hate to santatize the water every couple weeks. the city water at my house is cholronated which was why i was thinking of filling it between trips so that chlorine water stays in the lines.. but how does others do it between trips? like i said, the tank is dry right now but probably still some water left in lines because i didn't drain the lines, when i get to campground should i just let the water run for awhile to get the old water out of the lines? or is two weeks not enough time to turn the little water that there is in the lines bad? thanks again

Give it a taste sometime. Best way to find out if the tank will hold up all summer. Ours does.

I always leave my water tank 1/2 full , drain it when I get home and refil with city water . My grey and black tanks get flushed when I get home ( have my own cleanout to the sewer) And then I add about 5 gallons to each after they have been flushed , So on my next trip it keeps things loose in the holding tanks , and I have fresh water in my supply tank if necessary.

Just run the system for a while when you get to the next campground.

I always drain mine. Flush it a little between uses.

I drain between trips, figure your water heater holds 6 gallons, why carry the extra weight if you do not have too....

do you keep water in holding tank between trips?

24 Replies

ata3001
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
The problem even leaving the tank drained between uses is that the tank has virtually no ventilation other than the vent & that doesn't allow enough air movement to allow the tank to dry itself out. The result in hot weather is mold. Ask me how I know.... I now fill it after each outing & add 5 or 6oz's of bleach, run that thru all the water lines. Prior to the next outting, I will fill & rinse all of it at least three times before the fill to go.
Mike_Up
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
I don't leave the water in the fresh water tank or the HWH as we have well water. If you leave it over a couple weeks, it starts smelling really bad. Wouldn't even want to wash with that nasty water.

We drink bottled water. Family not fond of well water.
Mike_Up
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
Lynnmor wrote:
If you have this type of water fill; rain, wash water and whatever will go right in the vent to the water tank. I replaced mine with a locking hatch.

My Jay flight doesn't have a vent built into the fill cap. They have 2 hoses as the overfill/vent that drain by the tires.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
If you have this type of water fill; rain, wash water and whatever will go right in the vent to the water tank. I replaced mine with a locking hatch.
PAThwacker
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
I noticed moldy water pouring out of my tank over the weekend. Entire family suffered from gastroenteritis however I doubt the moldy water was the cause. I am going to resanitize but how good is that. It is capped with a screw on cap that has a hole in the center. Airborne spores, bacteria, heck airborne viruses get in there.
donut_dave
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
if I have well water from home, whatever is left stays in there until I fill up for the next trip in state. if I have campground water in the tank, I will drain what is left. sanitize once per year at the beginning of the season.
when the trailer is at hunting camp, I bring it up with a full tank of home water and then will add water to the tank with 5 gallons a home water as needed.
then near the end of hunting season is winterizing time.
dadmomh
Explorer
Jul 09, 2013
Generally nothing. We rarely use our FW tank and if we do, it's just enough to use the facilities while in transit. We did use it quite a lot on a longer trip and forgot to drain it. Kept trying to figure out where that nasty smell was coming from. Bingo! Time to sanitize and we're much more careful to remember to drain it when we get home. We never seem to have an issue with whatever water might be left in the lines or WH.
mosseater
Explorer II
Jul 09, 2013
I keep ours filled all the time. When we come back from a trip, I drain out the partial tank of campground water and fill it up with city water til the next trip. The chlorine keeps the system sanitary and I always have water in case I need it. If it sits more than two or three weeks, I change it before leaving on the next trip. Some of the State Parks we go to have so much chlorine in the campground water it's tough to get it past your nose.
Wishbone51
Explorer
Jul 09, 2013
I usually run it 1/3 full... It's in front, and it handles better with a bit more weight on the hitch, plus it's nice for potty breaks along the way or "camping" in the front yard with the kids every friday night.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Jul 09, 2013
mister_d wrote:
beemerphile1 wrote:
We go all season with varying amounts of water in system while stored. We sanitize the system at the beginning of the season and again about mid season. All is good.

x2

X3 But, I rarely ever drink water from the faucet in the camper. I have a couple of gallon jugs and some water bottles I carry my drinking water in. I just dry them out between trips and then refill them before the next trip. And, around here the local grocery stores are called HyVee stores. They sell a gallon jug of drinking water for less then a dollar.