SoundGuy wrote:
My beef with Coachmen (which is a Forest River company) is that as designed the 30 gal fresh water tank on my Freedom Express was inadequately supported so after the first fill it sagged noticeably ...
I immediately had my dealer support the tank with metal braces, moved the pump intake hose down to the drain port, and later added my own 4' x 2' piece of wood as further support.
My 2014 model has an open underbelly so this was easy to spot but I pity those who have purchased a more recent model Freedom Express 192RBS which now has an enclosed underbelly as my understanding is Coachmen has done nothing to better support the fresh water tank. :(
Ralph Cramden wrote:
Evidently Coachmen uses the same logic as Rockwood and that is let the buyer worry about it. Despite numerous people having tank failures in the last couple of years Rockwood continues with the piss poor design, steel not up to the task, and flimsy tanks. I understand at least on the Roo's they now have started installing the coroplast under liner for 2018? Hiding it will fix it I assume.
SoundGuy wrote:
My beef with Coachmen (which is a Forest River company) is that as designed the 30 gal fresh water tank on my Freedom Express was inadequately supported so after the first fill it sagged noticeably, as shown in this pic.:M
I saw this as a matter of time before the tank would literally fall off the trailer but also because the pump intake hose was connected to a fitting on the tank sidewall there's no way the pump could fully empty the tank. I immediately had my dealer support the tank with metal braces, moved the pump intake hose down to the drain port, and later added my own 4' x 2' piece of wood as further support. Now I can travel with a full tank if necessary and the pump can empty the tank completely.
My 2014 model has an open underbelly so this was easy to spot but I pity those who have purchased a more recent model Freedom Express 192RBS which now has an enclosed underbelly as my understanding is Coachmen has done nothing to better support the fresh water tank. :(
JBarca wrote:My TT came with 2- 42 gallon grey, 2-42 gallon Black, and 1 42 gallon fresh water tanks.
Your note mentioned travel with "full tanks". Tanks being more then one. No one here yet talked about full black or gray tanks. In our case there is no way I would travel with full black or gray tanks long distances at full highways speeds. My tanks black and gray are ABS and held to the bottom of the camper floor joists (not the frame) with clips along the side. The center of these large surface area tanks are unsupported. The sag in the center of the tank when full tells me, no do not press my luck.
Something else not talked about is the change in loaded tongue weight with full tanks. This is a camper specific issue. If you have a several hundred pound TW increase or decrease this needs to be understood and compensated for. This reason alone may prevent some folks from being able to tow stable with a full fresh tank. And it may be worse with full black and gray at highways speeds. Around the campground to the dump station not an issue. Get out on the open road at speeds above 45mph and things change.
valhalla360 wrote:We are talking about camping right?Huntindog wrote:
Water is an essential item... You can do without many things. Water is not one of them.
I find it strange that so many people will take a chance on such an item being available...
I guess those with inadequate TVs will do most anything other than buy a properly sized TV.
It's so essential that every city, town, village or stray farm house has it plumbed...not really a huge risk unless you are going into the desert or hurricane destroyed area.
The truck can handle it but why burn the extra fuel dragging 500lbs of weight when they have water at the destination.
We typically travel with maybe 1/4 tank. Enough so we have some for a rest stop and it's not an emergency to fill the tanks when we arrive.
If you know the destination doesn't have water, I wouldn't worry about hauling with full tanks but I would probably check with the destination if there is an easy place to fill up upon arrival.
JBarca wrote:djcjc wrote:
Anyone travel long distances with full water tanks or not a good idea?
Hope this helps
John
djcjc wrote:
Whenever we go to the races in Joliet I travel with water tanks full only a 20 minute drive and buy water only if we run out. Headed to the race in Sparta KY about 6 hr drive no water hookup at CG but water can be bought. Anyone travel long distances with full water tanks or not a good idea?
rbpru wrote:
If you have to worry about the water tank falling off because it is full. (And, yes they have occasionally.) You have bigger TT design issue to worry about.
djcjc wrote:
Anyone travel long distances with full water tanks or not a good idea?
