Moving fresh water tank to the rear

[raydf]

In a travel trailer I'm considering buying (a 2017 Gulf Stream Vista Cruiser 23RSS), the floor plan is as follows:



At the factory, the fresh water tank is installed below the "Queen Size Bed" at the front of the trailer (to the driver's side.) Being a bit concerned about having all that weight forward, I wonder if you guys think that moving that fresh water tank to the exact rear of the trailer, below the driver's side bench in the dinette (it fits) would be a good idea or not? Also, would you think that it is a major piece of work or should it be relatively "simple"?

Thanks!

[profdant139]

Gosh, it would be a pity if this forum (trailers) were to devolve into incivility. There are other places on the Internet that have been infected by invective. Let's not go there -- let's disagree respectfully. Otherwise, as has happened elsewhere, it becomes a race to the bottom. Decent folks will decide not to post, thus depriving everyone of both good questions and good answers.

Thanks for listening.

[jamesu]

Right on, SoundGuy. I couldn't ageee with you more.

Guys who have to learn things the hard way always seem to have to pay more in the end. Have known people like that my whole life. You warn and counsel them and then have to just step back and watch. It's not our problem, but sometimes it's tough to watch especially if he's a friend.

[SoundGuy]

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

raydf wrote:
Like you, I have been reading these forums for many years but what I always find interesting is how some folks here love to verbally "punish" other people such as myself who are merely investigating a purchase BEFORE actually doing it. Information is power, as the old saying goes, so even with the negative comments from the famous "weight police", I'm quite satisfied with the results of my investigation.

As I just posted it makes no difference at all to me what you choose to do. 🙂 Having been at this for a few years now I can however read between the lines and see what you're trying to do - convince yourself that matching an inappropriate tow vehicle to an oversized trailer will somehow alter the laws of physics. I've been there myself and know you're in for a disappointing result ... if it makes you feel better to label myself and others offering similar caution as "weight police" then have at it, doesn't change the facts of the matter. :R Good luck with this, IMO you're going to need it. :R

[SoundGuy]

RinconVTR wrote:
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.

Absolutely undersize ... no question about it. :B

Hey, doesn't matter to me, if the OP proceeds with this ill advised combination it will only be a matter of time before he discovers the hard way just how inappropriate it is. I've seen it time and time again, even got caught back in our early years attempting the same thing, more recently went through this with friends of ours who were convinced their GM Acadia (with factory tow package) would be sufficient to tow their newly acquired Starcraft Launch 21FBS which is both lighter and shorter than this trailer the OP is talking about. Sure, with just 2 of them in the vehicle and towing over relatively flat terrain such as that commonly found here in S Ontario they managed relatively well BUT once they got into the hills south of Buffalo they got a real eye opener, crawling up one upgrade after another ... and I mean crawling. Once they finally arrived at their destination, Alleghany State Park, he had a heck of a time even backing their trailer up and on to the campsite, as I pictured in this current discussion ... their vehicle was simply unsuitable for the task at hand. They now tow with a 1/2 ton GM Sierra that will take that trailer anywhere they choose to go, safely. It's not just about pulling the trailer but also about safely stopping it, dragging it up significant upgrades, being able to handle far less than ideal weather and road conditions ... but hey, if the OP wants to discover all this himself the hard way then heck, go for it ... he just can't claim later he wasn't warned. :S

[raydf]

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

[RinconVTR]

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.

[SoundGuy]

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

[raydf]

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

[downtheroad]

Leave it alone and go camping.

[bobndot]

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.

[WNYBob]

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.

[DutchmenSport]

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.

[camp-n-family]

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.

[SoundGuy]

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