Moving fresh water tank to the rear

Terrible idea :S ... why in the world would you want to move the weight of water that should be in front of the axles to the rear, aft of the axles where it will only unload the trailer tongue? :h

Bad idea! Unless you never plan on towing it with any water in the tank. Reducing tongue weight and water sloshing around behind the axles will lead to sway.

If you're worried about that little extra tongue weight, me thinks you are looking at too much trailer or have too little of a tow vehicle. Having to modify a tt right off the lot just to make it work is not the way you want to start.

More than bad idea, it's a horribly bad idea. If you want to travel with water in the tanks, the weight on the end will reduce tongue weight, it will cause excessive trailer sway, it will void any warranty you may have on the camper, it will will require a lot of unnecessary work and refabrication, which will definitely void any warranty on the camper. Campers are simply NOT made to be customized. You'll have a nightmare running new water lines.

Fresh water tank is only 28 gallons (Click here for stats.) That's a small tank. Water weighs about 8 pounds a gallon, thats only about 224 pounds being distributed between the axles and the hitch. So at most, about half that will be on the hitch if the tank is full. 112 pounds on the hitch is not going to make THAT much difference, unless you are towing with a Volkswagon Bug.

This design has 2 storage compartments at the very back and the TT has plenty of CCC (2,411# cargo carrying capacity). So you can maintain your balance with stuff back there.

Carry less water while on the move. I would think by looking at your floorplan, its designed (engineered) to work as built to distribute weight where its designed to be carried.
Buy yourself a Sherline tongue scale to see your actual tongue weight as you load things into the trailer. Redistribute your stuff as needed to balance the load, at the same time, keeping your tongue weight within the TV specs.

Leave it alone and go camping.

Good advice from one and all, thanks! An even simpler option is just not filling the fresh water tank too much and that should resolve the matter without expense and without work -- sounds good to me! :W

WNYBob wrote:
This design has 2 storage compartments at the very back and the TT has plenty of CCC (2,411# cargo carrying capacity). So you can maintain your balance with stuff back there.

Problem is, the OP isn't telling you the full story. :R In this thread he revealed that he wants to tow this trailer with an undersized 3.0L V6 Mitsubishi and undoubtedly thinks he can work around it's limited payload capacity and therefore restricted tongue weight capacity by relocating the fresh water holding tank to aft of the axle, thereby shifting some of that gross tongue weight to the rear of the trailer, in turn requiring the TV to handle less tongue weight. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way ... sure, doing so will move some tongue weight to aft of the axles but it will also dangerously lighten the tongue. TERRIBLE idea ... the right solution, if he really wants this particular trailer, is a more suitable tow vehicle that can safely handle this trailer within all it's rated limits ... period.

Having read these forums for years I'm still amazed that even when it comes to such an important issue as towing safety some are still so willing to "fudge" around the real issue - i.e. lack of an appropriate tow vehicle - and think that will solve their problem. :R

Hey...knock off the "undersize" SUV garbage. I'll school you guys all day long about how to tow with a mid-size SUV and remain within all capacities. This is very doable with this trailer.

Regarding the water tank OP, its under the bed and actually on the floor (not in between frame cross members) because there is no where else it can go.

You have no option other than to carry a couple 5-6 gallon water totes in the trailer, placing them above the axles.

Like you, I have been reading these forums for many years but what I always find interesting is the many diverse opinions and points of view expressed. Information is power, as the old saying goes, so even with some negative comments from the famous "weight police", I'm quite satisfied with the results of my investigation.

Thanks for everyone's help!

SoundGuy wrote:
Having read these forums for years I'm still amazed that even when it comes to such an important issue as towing safety some are still so willing to "fudge" around the real issue - i.e. lack of an appropriate tow vehicle - and think that will solve their problem. :R