Tip for the day...always carry some fresh water...

[Elite130]

I learned a good lesson this weekend. Always carry some water in your fresh-water tank. Even when you have FW hookup at the campsite. You may need it.

We went camping at a KOA Campground this weekend. It was quite windy and for some reason the power went out throughout the campground early Saturday morning, probably from 6:30am till about 9:00am. Since the campground water comes from a well and needs to be pumped, there was no water available, anywhere. This meant all bathrooms were closed. Luckily, this didn't affect us because we had battery power and before we left the house I filled out fresh water tank about 1/2 way (I tend to be over-prepared), but all of those tent campers, TT, and motorhomes without any water stored (in FW tanks or jugs) were out of luck. Truthfully, I'm surprised they don't have a backup plan for this (i.e. generator).

This is your random tip for Monday morning. Have a great week!

[Wishbone51]

haha.. We were on the road once with no water and the kids needing to stop to use the bathroom. Flushed with a bottle of water.

[Holly-n-Matt]

Great tip - thank you!

[legolas]

X2, I am not dragging an extra 140 or 150 lbs of water all over the universe especially in the mountains. Have 3 gallons of bottled water for emergency use including the unplanned bathroom stop. Fill up or 1/2 when you get there.

rockhillmanor wrote:
I NEVER travel with a full tank of fresh water.

BUT....I DO fill it up when I arrive at a CG just for that very reason of a power failure. Makes me laugh because I usually am the only one in the CG that has water while waiting for the power to come back on! :C

Great Tip OP!

[Lowsuv]

always 50 gallons of Bend water under the walk around bed .
adds to tongue weight , which reduces sway .
2002 komfort .
no restrictions about full tanks in the manual .

[Go_Dogs]

I am very cautious about water. I sterilize my holding tank/hose a couple time/season. I bring a full tank AND bottled water. I bring water from home for the dogs. I do not trust the water at campgrounds. Bacteria,(Legionella's), minerals, chemical runoff, etc. No thanks! For the weight of another passenger, why take a chance?

[ArmySFCRet]

69 Avion wrote:
In Arizona, water is like gold, especially in the summer time. That is the reason I travel with the water tanks full.

Amen to that one!!!

[69_Avion]

In Arizona, water is like gold, especially in the summer time. That is the reason I travel with the water tanks full.

[thomasmnile]

ArmySFCRet wrote:

thomasmnile wrote:
Jayco manual for our new WhiteHawk states not to travel with any tank "loaded".

Could that just be "leagalize" for "we don't want to get sued for poor workmanship or quality"?

Have read of tanks falling out of the belly on the Jayco owners' forum. I don't know how the tanks are installed (I had read they are strapped in place on the ultra lites but am not sure); if they are just supported on the perimeter by angle metal or if they are on a plywood or OSB platform. On my fifth wheel (different manufacturer) they were set on a StructureWood platform between the I- beams and supported by web trusses under the StructureWood. I would suspect the tanks on the WhiteHawk are the same blow mold polyethylene tanks with about the thickness of a milk jug that are used by many manufacturers.

EDIT: The manual says don't travel with loaded tanks, yet the yellow weight sticker listing cargo carrying capacity that the RVIA requires on rigs now, lists the weight of a full fresh water tank. Seems like a contradiction, doesn't it? Why would that matter if you're not supposed to roll with a tank of water?? :h

[ArmySFCRet]

thomasmnile wrote:
Jayco manual for our new WhiteHawk states not to travel with any tank "loaded".

Could that just be "leagalize" for "we don't want to get sued for poor workmanship or quality"?

[thomasmnile]

wilcamp wrote:


I can't imagine the angle-iron braces bolted and welded to the frame, under the water tank, not being capable of supporting the weight of 20 gallons +/- of water, and yeah, I know that's 160-200# of added weight. The peace of mind in having this resource available far out-weighs the risks that are condemned by the "weight police".

Would suggest anyone consult their manufacturer's owners manual before loading the FW tank and traveling. Jayco manual for our new WhiteHawk states not to travel with any tank "loaded". I've done it with our fifth wheel, and I've done it twice with the WhiteHawk (full fresh water tank) and the tank hasn't popped out of the belly.........yet.:W

[ForestRiverTeac]

JN_B wrote:
I don't travel with it full, but definitely 1/3-1/2 for pitstops along the way.

X2

If there's a problem with water at a CG, that much water usually gets us through the first night without problems.

[JN_B]

I don't travel with it full, but definitely 1/3-1/2 for pitstops along the way.

[mowin]

Just remember if you are seasonal campers like DW and I, you will need to put some bleach in with the water. You wouldn't want to shower with it after it sits in there for a month or two without treating it. :E

I usually dump the FW tank twice a season and refill just to freshen it up.

[ktmrfs]

rockhillmanor wrote:
I NEVER travel with a full tank of fresh water.

BUT....I DO fill it up when I arrive at a CG just for that very reason of a power failure. Makes me laugh because I usually am the only one in the CG that has water while waiting for the power to come back on! :C

Great Tip OP!

several times I've arrived at a CG that for one reason or another didn't have any water for a while, even when we arrived. (storm, power failure etc.)

We always travel with a full or nearly full water tank. Was nice to have water when others didn't. Personally, even if the CG has water, it's nice to pull in, unhook, and not have to hook up to water/power etc for a while, just relax. Then the next day plug in and hook up water.

Other nice thing is if the water is potable, but not necessarily good water (hard, iron, etc.) nice to have good water on board.

IMHO no reason to NOT travel with a good supply of water. The weight is so little compared to total weight it isn't going to affect mileage enought to notice. I've never seen an RV that said NOT to travel with water in the tanks, and I've done so with a full 50 gallon tank for close to 20K miles and the water tank has plenty of support for the weight IMHO.

[JiminDenver]

We learned our lesson on the first trip with our first trailer 20 years ago. We thought they have water there, we will be fine. Unfortunately the pumps were red tagged and the only water had to be boiled. We boiled and filtered it but our dog wouldn't touch it and we thought we were going home until a kindly lady gave us a gal of water for the dog.
Now we take water if we are boondocking or going to a campground. We like the houses water and never worry about shortages.