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!

[Palindat]

Can-Am RV Center sets up a lot of smaller vehicles to tow RV's. Here is the web site
http://www.canamrv.ca/

Maybe you can get some ideas on what to modify on your tow vehicle to make it work.

[Fiddlestix]

Am joining this discussion a bit late. But will just say that I read these forums and others before I bought my tow vehicle. I remained patient, and landed a cherry 99 f350 dually w/7.3 and 4:10 rear end. My TT weighs in at about 6500 and I put a 1000 motorcycle in the bed. Needless to say I am thrilled with my rig and don't have a fortune tied up in it. Thanks to the many people in the forums.

[Huntindog]

marininn wrote:
Move the weight to above the axles, but not behind the axles. That will take weight off the tongue without causing the dreaded sway.That is not necessairly true. Reducing TW WILL make it more likely to sway, that is an absolute. TW is your friend. One cannot have too much of it, other than practical considerations of the ability of the associated parts to support it.
Usually this foolhardy endeavour is attempted to make up for the shortcoming of ones TV... Doing so gets one close to the worst of both worlds. An inadequate TV that is more likely to sway. Moving it back any number of inches towards the axle, but not behind them will reduce tongue weight. Look at the open bed semi rigs on the road, they usually put the weight on the trailer axles without issue. Of course their axles are the back of the trailer.
I move my tanks around on all the trailers/RVs I have owned. Never to the back, but just move to customize my floor plan. It is a bit of work to redo all the water connections and pipes, then rebuild cabinets but nothing but busy work mostly.
You need to consider the filler tube, the outlet pipe to the pump, the pump location, the routing to where it was connected and to the boiler.
I dont comment outside your question, on your tV, so good luck.

[marininn]

Move the weight to above the axles, but not behind the axles. That will take weight off the tongue without causing the dreaded sway. Moving it back any number of inches towards the axle, but not behind them will reduce tongue weight. Look at the open bed semi rigs on the road, they usually put the weight on the trailer axles without issue. Of course their axles are the back of the trailer.
I move my tanks around on all the trailers/RVs I have owned. Never to the back, but just move to customize my floor plan. It is a bit of work to redo all the water connections and pipes, then rebuild cabinets but nothing but busy work mostly.
You need to consider the filler tube, the outlet pipe to the pump, the pump location, the routing to where it was connected and to the boiler.
I dont comment outside your question, on your tV, so good luck.

[colliehauler]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
FOur pages on other thread basically stating....SUV not good match for that TT

SO OP..comes at it from another direction. :B

Sure why not....just dry camp. DRY as in no water, dry as in empty trailer dry as in don't take anything along

:S

Want to tow with that SUV.OK fine
Just look at something that is within it's real world tow capacity....like a pop-up

Want that trailer.....OK fine
Buy a bigger more capable tow vehicle

But the two together....sure fine. Justify it, ostrich it but don't kid yourself.
They are NOT a good match up

And I'm even agreeing with Soundguy :S

Well I agree with SoundGuy as well, he was spot on. I suggested a pop-up as well in the OP'S previous post if he is intent on towing with the Mitsubishi.

You sound like a very polite person and sometimes the answers seem a little harsh. The truth is you are lucky to ask the question before you buy to make a informed decision.

[beemerphile1]

RinconVTR wrote:

...I am simply proving by REAL LIFE EXAMPLE how absurdly foolish people on this forum can become.

The OP can in fact tow the trailer they wish to to tow, SAFE and EFFECTIVELY when set up properly....

One - your above statement is BS.

Two - your rig has no bearing on this conversation.

Three - this isn't your thread.

If the empty tongue weight is more than the hitch rating of the TV there is no way to safely tow the trailer, period.

[2012Coleman]

RV.Net wrote:
It's doable

Clearly, the most overgeneralized term on this topic.

[SoundGuy]

RinconVTR wrote:
Enough with the fluff and puffed chests. I have the facts and first hand experience.

I would like to help people enjoy RV life without fear mongering.

And this is where I will end it. Good luck OP! I wish you well.

Pretty obvious who has the "fluff and puffed chest" here. :W Thank goodness you've finally decided to end it. :R

As for the OP I suspect he's long been convinced of what works and what is ill advised. 😉

[RinconVTR]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

RinconVTR wrote:


I am still unclear what point is to be made here. As if those towing with large trucks have no issues? Not true at all.

Whatever. Here's the deal;

Am I towing 2-3 week national trips today with the same mid-size SUV...NO.

Would I change anything about the 3 summers I towed with a mid-size SUV within 250 miles of home...NO. Absolutely NOT.

Real question is........

When did this post become about you and what you tow?

OP is asking about a trailer that is OVER the capabilities of his SUV

Stay within capabilities/ratings and doesn't matter what you tow with.
Ignore capabilities/ratings and doesn't matter if its a 1 ton DRW it is OVER Weight.

Simple.

Oh, this is not about me. Dont try to fool anyone, Mr Oldman.

I am simply proving by REAL LIFE EXAMPLE how absurdly foolish people on this forum can become.

The OP can in fact tow the trailer they wish to to tow, SAFE and EFFECTIVELY when set up properly.

Will it be comfortable? NO. No not exactly the same as towing with a 1/2 ton or larger. But it CAN be done for those few occasions per year for MANY who wish to camp within a couple hundred miles of home.

Enough with the fluff and puffed chests. I have the facts and first hand experience.

I would like to help people enjoy RV life without fear mongering.

And this is where I will end. Good luck OP! I wish you well.

[Old-Biscuit]

RinconVTR wrote:


I am still unclear what point is to be made here. As if those towing with large trucks have no issues? Not true at all.

Whatever. Here's the deal;

Am I towing 2-3 week national trips today with the same mid-size SUV...NO.

Would I change anything about the 3 summers I towed with a mid-size SUV within 250 miles of home...NO. Absolutely NOT.

Real question is........

When did this post become about you and what you tow?

OP is asking about a trailer that is OVER the capabilities of his SUV

Stay within capabilities/ratings and doesn't matter what you tow with.
Ignore capabilities/ratings and doesn't matter if its a 1 ton DRW it is OVER Weight.

Simple.

[RinconVTR]

Huntindog wrote:

RinconVTR wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:

RinconVTR wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:

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....

I am not commenting on your rig, however I would wager that the empty tongue weight (of this proposed trailer) exceeds the hitch rating of the SUV before a single thing is added to the trailer.

It was 520lbs fully loaded without water. However, with the WDH this weight was not actually fully applied to the tow vehicle. Verified via scale.

I was under RAWR, GVR and GCWR and that's what really matters.

Like I said, I am not commenting on your rig.

And I ask WHY NOT?

WHY NOT drill me with questions if you believe it was unsafe or "illegal"?

WHY NOT ask me what made me do this?

WHY NOT ask how well or not my set up towed?

WHY NOT ask...

Not everyone can or desires to buy a truck for towing a handful of times per year. There are in fact ways to tow at max, safely, with mid-size SUV's and NOT feel underpowered nor unsafe.

To even the most experienced travelers...or most the internet Google search savvy....ASK. May you'll learn something when you get your head out of the big truck sand box.

I will tell you why not.
It doesn't matter what the subject is. Batteries, solar, Generators etc. There are a FEW people that view doing what is normally considered unwise as a challenge. They will go to many extremes to make it happen. And they usually can do it... But it needs to be done perfectly to work.
Most people will not follow precisely what needs to be done for a variety of reasons.

I too was one that started out with an inadequete TV... After a variety of bandaids were applied, I stepped up to a properly sized TV. Life is much simpler now.

I wish you well in your small TV travels... But I do not believe it is the solution for most people.

Of course, YMMV.

I am still unclear what point is to be made here. As if those towing with large trucks have no issues? Not true at all.

Whatever. Here's the deal;

Am I towing 2-3 week national trips today with the same mid-size SUV...NO.

Would I change anything about the 3 summers I towed with a mid-size SUV within 250 miles of home...NO. Absolutely NOT.

[Huntindog]

RinconVTR wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:

RinconVTR wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:

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....

I am not commenting on your rig, however I would wager that the empty tongue weight (of this proposed trailer) exceeds the hitch rating of the SUV before a single thing is added to the trailer.

It was 520lbs fully loaded without water. However, with the WDH this weight was not actually fully applied to the tow vehicle. Verified via scale.

I was under RAWR, GVR and GCWR and that's what really matters.

Like I said, I am not commenting on your rig.

And I ask WHY NOT?

WHY NOT drill me with questions if you believe it was unsafe or "illegal"?

WHY NOT ask me what made me do this?

WHY NOT ask how well or not my set up towed?

WHY NOT ask...

Not everyone can or desires to buy a truck for towing a handful of times per year. There are in fact ways to tow at max, safely, with mid-size SUV's and NOT feel underpowered nor unsafe.

To even the most experienced travelers...or most the internet Google search savvy....ASK. May you'll learn something when you get your head out of the big truck sand box.

I will tell you why not.
It doesn't matter what the subject is. Batteries, solar, Generators etc. There are a FEW people that view doing what is normally considered unwise as a challenge. They will go to many extremes to make it happen. And they usually can do it... But it needs to be done perfectly to work.
Most people will not follow precisely what needs to be done for a variety of reasons.

I too was one that started out with an inadequete TV... After a variety of bandaids were applied, I stepped up to a properly sized TV. Life is much simpler now.

I wish you well in your small TV travels... But I do not believe it is the solution for most people.

Of course, YMMV.

[RinconVTR]

beemerphile1 wrote:

RinconVTR wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:

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....

I am not commenting on your rig, however I would wager that the empty tongue weight (of this proposed trailer) exceeds the hitch rating of the SUV before a single thing is added to the trailer.

It was 520lbs fully loaded without water. However, with the WDH this weight was not actually fully applied to the tow vehicle. Verified via scale.

I was under RAWR, GVR and GCWR and that's what really matters.

Like I said, I am not commenting on your rig.

And I ask WHY NOT?

WHY NOT drill me with questions if you believe it was unsafe or "illegal"?

WHY NOT ask me what made me do this?

WHY NOT ask how well or not my set up towed?

WHY NOT ask...

Not everyone can or desires to buy a truck for towing a handful of times per year. There are in fact ways to tow at max, safely, with mid-size SUV's and NOT feel underpowered nor unsafe.

To even the most experienced travelers...or most the internet Google search savvy....ASK. May you'll learn something when you get your head out of the big truck sand box.

[Huntindog]

raydf wrote:
I apologize for bringing into this thread the "weight police" term, which I actually thought was rather cute (it sounded so to me anyway -- now I know it doesn't to most other people.)

Thanks for all the invaluable advice and yes, the noted SUV / trailer combo will probably not work well at all, no matter what you do with the water tank or anything else.

You can lead a horse to water, but you CANNOT make him drink.
The horse has to want to drink.
You sir, decided to drink.

Happy camping.