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FishHaggis's avatar
FishHaggis
Explorer
Jun 27, 2013

towing travel trailer with full holding tanks?

What is the general rule of thumb for towing a travel trailer that has liquid in the holding tanks? I get that the liquid adds weight, but if I camp off the grid and the grey and black water tanks are semi full, is the trailer designed to handle that? Where do I dump it? Do I just go to a campground and ask to use their dumping station? Would there be a cost to just dumping the grey and black water tanks?

New to this so appreciate any advice.

Thanks,

29 Replies

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  • Huntindog's avatar
    Huntindog
    Explorer
    Jul 03, 2013
    Atlee wrote:
    Skyline RV advises against traveling with full black & gray tanks. They advise to dump as soon as posible.


    hershey wrote:
    You should be able to tow easily with holding tanks full or nearly full. Actually, the travel motion will facilitate the breaking up of any solids and make the next dump much more efficient. Most campgrounds will allow passing through RVers the use of the dump station for a fee. Many truck stops (Old Flying J's) have a dump station, most charge a small fee. Some road side parks have a dump station but those are rare. Some RV dealers have a dump station also. There are apps for your smartphone that shows dump locations.
    Is Skyline still around?

    No matter. ANY TT that cannot be towed with full tanks has a design flaw.

    The only reason this subject should have any merit is for those with a marginal TV who need to watch the weights very closely.
  • Atlee's avatar
    Atlee
    Explorer II
    Jul 03, 2013
    Skyline RV advises against traveling with full black & gray tanks. They advise to dump as soon as posible.


    hershey wrote:
    You should be able to tow easily with holding tanks full or nearly full. Actually, the travel motion will facilitate the breaking up of any solids and make the next dump much more efficient. Most campgrounds will allow passing through RVers the use of the dump station for a fee. Many truck stops (Old Flying J's) have a dump station, most charge a small fee. Some road side parks have a dump station but those are rare. Some RV dealers have a dump station also. There are apps for your smartphone that shows dump locations.
  • Beachums's avatar
    Beachums
    Explorer
    Jul 03, 2013
    For me, it depends on the situation. We dry camped at a facility the had a free dump station. However, because I was focused on helping a buddy who was on his first trip, I fell behind in my own duties breaking camp. We had all planned to caravan the 120 mi trip back home. As a result, I chose to carry a full compliment of waste tanks back with us. The line was just too long at the CG.
    The last trip we were on, there were many hills, a bunch of stop and go traffic, and it was twice as far away. I took the time to drop that unwanted ballast before I left the CG......
    To answer the OP's question, I guess I have no real policy on the subject.
  • ktmrfs's avatar
    ktmrfs
    Explorer II
    Jul 03, 2013
    in our current trailer we have traveled almost 15K miles, close to 300 days. Virtually ALL the time we leave home with a full fresh tank, and usually can't/don't dump till the grey tanks are full (60 gallons). Have a dump station at home, so don't bother to dump when leaving camp on short trips. Never been an issue, In fact, our trailer lists the weights with FULL tanks, and makes no mention of NOT traveling with full tanks.
  • 69_Avion's avatar
    69_Avion
    Explorer
    Jun 29, 2013
    Terryallan wrote:
    However, While you are just moving it around. On many TTs. You are moving it from over the axles to the very rear of the TT, and that CAN seriously change the way the TT towes, and not for the better.

    That is the problem with some Airstreams, and their frame is very light to start with. The combination makes for some serious problems.
  • Huntindog's avatar
    Huntindog
    Explorer
    Jun 28, 2013
    I have always taken my waste home to dump....An as a coincidence, my sensors are trouble free....:B
  • Wishbone51's avatar
    Wishbone51
    Explorer
    Jun 28, 2013
    Some cities' public works will have a dump station. I have one a couple of blocks away from me that charges $1. It wasn't even listed on dump station websites.. I found it on some forum somewhere when looking for a close place to dump.

    The only issue is that it's Mon-Fri.. but luckily there is a state park within 5 mi from my house that allows you to dump for free.
  • Desert_Captain's avatar
    Desert_Captain
    Explorer III
    Jun 28, 2013
    There are folks who when arguing weights insist that they only tow with empty tanks. I guess they always stay at RV parks/resorts with full hook ups. Most of the campgrounds we visit don't have dump stations and even if they do that doesn't necessarily mean they are available. I have seen the line at Zion stretch back a dozen rigs, as in a couple of hours and not everyone can or will wait that long. Broken dump stations are not unheard of either.

    My grey or black tanks are at the rear of the trailer and if they are more than half full I need to compensate by adding at least half a tank of fresh as that tank is all the way forward to maintain the proper TW. As all three are 30 gallons just half a tank each can easily add 400+# to the drive home, usually down some serious mountains at least until I can find a dump station at another CG or truck stop. Just another reason to understand and utilize GVWR's when computing actual loads. :C

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