Filling the water tank while on the road

[dpkimmel2001]

So far every place that I've ever 'dry camped', they've always had a place that I could fill when I arrived. In a couple weeks I'll be heading to a place that doesn't have that option. I don't want to tow the extra weight for the entire trip. I want to fill close to my destination point. Do truck plaza's have water available at the diesel islands? I'm just looking for any options. I know many Flying J's have a RV island but the one closest to my destination does not.

[Jim-Linda]

You will never know the difference in mpg with full or empty water tank. 17 years of FT research.

Jim

[MiPaJacks]

Take the weight of your combined rig w/o water, determine the MPG, then add the weight of the water and see what effect it has on MPG. That is what hauling water with you might cost. It ain't much. I haul water with me when on the road. Truck plus 5th is heavy,heavy,add water and it is still heavy!

[rk911]

grizz272 wrote:
Twice I have depended on water being available when I got to where I was camping. Twice I found their water was contaminated. I haul my water and know what i have will be good.

that is precisely why we never leave home or a campsite without a full or nearly-full fresh water tank. we had the same experience many years ago after arriving at the White's City RV Park near Carlsbad Caverns, NM. during check-in we learned that the New Mexico Dept. of Public Health had shut down the park's water system due to a massive e-coli contamination. We had maybe 20-gal of fresh water with us for a multi-day stay. we moved on to a different park the next morning after discovering the source of e-coli....piles and piles of horse dung was everywhere. on water spigots, picnic table benches, patios, etc. having a full tank of fresh water also allows us more spontaneity in our travels.

[mgirardo]

Lots of gas stations have potable water available. Unfortunately there's no way to check ahead of time without calling ahead. I would imagine within 25 miles of your destination, there's got to be one gas station that would allow you to fill your tank. They could charge you for it, but it's probably worth not having to haul it.

On our MH, we can pull water into the Fresh water tank from any vessel that I can get my fresh water drinking hose into using the water pump. That's also how I sanitize the tank.

-Michael

[grizz272]

Twice I have depended on water being available when I got to where I was camping. Twice I found their water was contaminated. I haul my water and know what i have will be good.

[rk911]

dpkimmel2001 wrote:
So far every place that I've ever 'dry camped', they've always had a place that I could fill when I arrived. In a couple weeks I'll be heading to a place that doesn't have that option. I don't want to tow the extra weight for the entire trip. I want to fill close to my destination point. Do truck plaza's have water available at the diesel islands? I'm just looking for any options. I know many Flying J's have a RV island but the one closest to my destination does not.

unless it would cause your RV to exceed it's GVWR go ahead and fill at home. I keep very precise mileage records and I've recorded a very negligible decrease in MPG while hauling 85-gal of fresh water.

beyond that you can fill your tanks at many truckstops although the spigot may not be as conveniently placed as those found at Flying J. is there a Pilot near your destination?

[korbe]

We will check and see where dump stations are. We will fill up there. We will also fill up at home before we leave - if it's just a weekend trip.

[Sea_Dog]

Fill the tank before leaving home?

[I_am_still_wayn]

I would much rather tow with an extra 500 lbs. (it really is not that much) than risk using water from a questionable source.