Towing with full fresh water tank?

[partsman01]

So am trying to plan a trip up to Fairbanks Alaska, going from Port Coquitlam BC up to Dawson City, then top of the world Hwy.
My question is how many run with full water tank, I normally only keep a bit in just in case, but I am thinking on those roads in the Yukon and Alaska it will shake the tank out of it if full.
As when I fill right up the tank expands and the bottom rests on a cross-member, which I would imagine will rub a hole in it, not to mention possibly break the supports and fall to the road, so I think maybe keep it almost empty until arriving then fill up in the nearest town before heading into the rough stuff.
As this will be our first time dry camping because of where we will be.
Thanks
Bill

[partsman01]

I think I will carry water in my water jugs as suggested, as I will be carrying extra gas in two 20 litre containers, so no reason not to carry water in the box, and I have a spare shur flo pump I have rigged up with alligator clips so I can hook to the battery if I need to pump water into fifth wheel.
Thanks

[romore]

I normally fill the tank before leaving but we don't travel on rough roads. You will have paved highway to Whitehorse and probably to Dawson City (I have yet to travel past Whitehorse). If you are concerned about it, fill the tank half full for washing and the toilet and slow down.

[coolmom42]

otrfun wrote:
If you have any doubts about the integrity of the mounting hardware for your freshwater tank, I'd recommend filling it with only a minimal amount of water for a trip of this magnitude. The inconvenience of a missed shower pales in comparison to a 500-800 lb. tank dropping down on top of the axles, or worse, down to the ground at 60 mph on a bumpy road in the middle of nowhere.

If a "minimal amount" of water won't cut it, you could fill-up some 7 gal. Reliance Aqua-Tainers and store 3 or 4 of them inside your trailer or in the bed of your truck for later use.

Good luck!

I agree, and this is what I would do.

[otrfun]

If you have any doubts about the integrity of the mounting hardware for your freshwater tank, I'd recommend filling it with only a minimal amount of water for a trip of this magnitude. The inconvenience of a missed shower pales in comparison to a 500-800 lb. tank dropping down on top of the axles, or worse, down to the ground at 60 mph on a bumpy road in the middle of nowhere.

If a "minimal amount" of water won't cut it, you could fill-up some 7 gal. Reliance Aqua-Tainers and store 3 or 4 of them inside your trailer or in the bed of your truck for later use.

Good luck!

[MFL]

I often tow with a full 60 gal fresh water tank, but on fairly smooth roads. It does worry me a little, as I've no idea how it is supported. I sure would not tow with any of the 4 tanks full on rough roads, again not knowing how well they are supported.

Hope you have a great, trouble free trip!!
Jerry

[xtech]

Sure others may recommend against, but I always have towed with full or nearly full fresh water tank as we boondock a lot. Have done it with all my travel trailers and both of my 5th wheels which are Cougars. Have done it for over 35 years and never had a problem. We tow a lot now as retired so that means towing all over Alberta and BC and then down to Arizona and California the last 3 years.

[bpounds]

I usually tow with a full FW tank, if we will be boondocking. Typically only a few hundred miles. But in your case, I would carry just enough for use along the road. That's a long rough haul.