FW capacity

[Gjac]

I just started looking on line at TC's and noticed there are not many units that have more than 30 gals of FW. Those of you that dry camp most of the time which I assume most of you do where do you store extra water?

[hedgehopper]

burningman wrote:
A Northern Lite 10-2 is at least 1000 pounds heavier than that (2400 lbs).

Yours might be. Ours is not a an EX or an SE. The only heavy options we have are an air conditioner and a generator. But you're right about the 2400 lbs not being the correct weight. That's without options.

[SugarHillCTD]

Our previous Eagle Cap 850 (short bed) had a 50 gallon FW tank.

But kohldad and someone else hit upon it- the amount of time it lasts also depends on usage. Wife and I have done a fair amount of sailing bareboat charters and know how to make what water we have last for long periods.

[Gjac]

Water has always been the limiting factor as to how long I could dry camp for, but I see many on here have found ways to work around it. Only one person mentioned a cassette toilet. Also with the wheels on it can you use it to empty the grey tank also in areas where you can’t let grey water drain on the ground?

[burningman]

A Northern Lite 10-2 is at least 1000 pounds heavier than that.

[hedgehopper]

We have a Northern Lite 10-2 CD with 36 fresh, 18 black, and 40 gray. The black tank is usually the limiting one. We don’t use the hot water heater or the shower. We carry 9 gallons of drinking water (8 jugs under one dinette seat, and one under the sink. I don't recall ever wishing for bigger tanks.

Even though our camper is on the lighter side, about 2400 lbs, we prefer a DRW truck for the improved stability when compared with a SRW.

In the time we’ve owned this combination, the camper has almost never been off the truck.

[Rocknxj]

You can figure out ways to use less water. My Lance 921 had 36 gal FW, and I could stay a week to 10 days in the desert, taking showers, on 36 gal. I don't use it for drinking water, carry that separate, and use paper plates and utensils, so very little dish washings. Bigger issue is gray water capacity. Let it leak a little if you're in a place where you can, or I carried a 12 gal portable holding tank, just in case. I always have a car trailer, either the buggy in the desert or the race car at the track, so an extra holding tank, or an extra jug or two of water is no big deal. I just got an 1161, and it has 42 gal FW, and I just spent 10 days in the desert with two people and didn't run out of water.

However, if I was starting to look for a camper, I'd want as big FW and holding tanks as possible.

[jimh406]

Of course, there are plenty of reason why Stable-Lifts aren’t more popular. Just take a look at many of the older threads. That is, if anything other than positive comments remains in the threads. 🙂

But, the main reason I don’t have Stable-lift is I have no need for it.

[burningman]

The skinny legs work, but are nowhere near as solid and stable as a Stable-Lift.
Not even close. Plus, no tie-downs needed, they’re way easier.
I don’t understand why they aren’t a lot more common.

[Bedlam]

Atwood brackets are lighter duty than the Rieco Titan models. I don’t remember the swing outs on HappiJac’s.

[Kayteg1]

The legs might be stable for light campers, but I bought 2 campers with 3500 lb and 4300lb empty weight and both of them had bracket extenders bend pretty bad.
The legs have a lot of vertical strength, but not much horizontal stability.
Any pad slope bigger than 2" and they might become problem.

[Gjac]

sbryan@vtbryans.com wrote:

Gjac wrote:
Not knowing much about TC's this setup looks like it should be std on all TC's. The 4 skinny legs just look like they would be wobbly if you try to use the camper unmounted to the truck. Those that take the camper off do you need any other support other than the 4 skinny legs to make it more stable?

The so called skinny legs hold the TC just fine. If we are going to be in one place for more than a few days we dismount the camper and lower it down. Contrary to the way things look, the legs are very stable and the camper will not tip over on its nose.

. Shawn, that is good to know. That wa sone of my concerns.

[stevenal]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6_oEmG7DzU

[sbryan]

Gjac wrote:
Not knowing much about TC's this setup looks like it should be std on all TC's. The 4 skinny legs just look like they would be wobbly if you try to use the camper unmounted to the truck. Those that take the camper off do you need any other support other than the 4 skinny legs to make it more stable?

The so called skinny legs hold the TC just fine. If we are going to be in one place for more than a few days we dismount the camper and lower it down. Contrary to the way things look, the legs are very stable and the camper will not tip over on its nose.

[Gjac]

burningman wrote:
That’s because you haven’t attached a Stable Lift.
If you did, it would be five minutes. And effortless.

Not knowing much about TC's this setup looks like it should be std on all TC's. The 4 skinny legs just look like they would be wobbly if you try to use the camper unmounted to the truck. Those that take the camper off do you need any other support other than the 4 skinny legs to make it more stable?