To tow full or empty?

[vicandug]

Hi all

We always fill up the tank on the camper before we head off.  The trailer doesn't bounce as round as much but it is heavier.

I was talking to someone the other day who said it's best to leave with tanks empty and fill up when you reach the destination....  Saves fuel costs and someone else pays for 160 litres of water.

What do you think?

Thanks

Vic

[GeoffA]

I like to have water from home. Less chance of picking up a bug.

[smokescreen]

I'm new to the camper trailer scene so I'm interested to know this also.

The only problem for me is I keep my water tank full while it's parked up to keep the nasties out.

[time]

Yep, I like my drinking and cooking water to come from home.  It doesn't rumble my guts like some other places water has.

It is worth whatever the extra cost to know I only have to worry about too much local beer being the problem

[Foo]

If you fill your tank before leaving home, you know what you are going to be drinking butt empty it before going back home as this will stop the sloshing of the water in the tank and less stress on the brackets, this doesn't happen if your tank is full. Just my take on things 

Foo

[Wato]

Yep I always fill the drinking water tank and jerries from home. Would be nothing worse than starting a trip and getting a stomaxh bug early on.

Craig

[McGirr]

Regarding towing with the tanks full, it depends what the road is like and what else is in the camper, what destination you are going to depending on what their water is like and do you drink the water from the tanks.

A lot of different scenarios which will have different answers.

Personally I never drink water from my tanks, I have 2 tanks totaling 140ltrs. I only use the water for washing and showing and take water bottles instead and a lot of beer that has water in it. 

To give you a scenario I will half fill both tanks on my camper for the first leg of the Cape trip and use the front tank first as we will be tackling the old coach road first which has hills and rough tracks.

I will top the tanks back up at Dulhunty River again the half full to even the weight. Once I get to Eliot falls I will top up again for 2 nights on the west of the Cape as there is no fresh water there.

Once I get to Seisia I will only use the rear tank as there are huts with water. On the way back home I will only have the rear tank with water.

If I had to drink the water from my tanks I would boil it first.

Every one is different. Yes you may use a little more fuel but how much is too hard to measure.

What works for you is the best way.

Mark

[Steffo1]

I have 2x90 litre diesel tanks & a 90 litre under tray water tank on my ute & have done some pretty precise calculations on fuel usage with the scenario mentioned & the conclusion I came to with the ute was: Having both rear fuel & water tank empty rather than all tanks full the difference in fuel consumption was diddly squat so I don't see why there would be much difference with the camper tank. I mean, really,  it's all going to depend on what trip you're doing. If the country is as flat as a Shit carters hat then no issue, but you're always going to use more in the hills. To me it's a bit like waiting for the "cheap fuel cycle" day. Unless you taking on a several hundred litres it's really irrelevant. If fuel drops 2c a litre & you've got a dangerously empty, push to the bowser  70 litre tank you're saving $1.40 huh ???Now, in a boat...well that's a different story!
Steve

[Chimpys80]

Always fill all tanks 2x60L on camper, 1x40 in the car and if we are going for two weeks with no other water supply then I also take 4x20L jerries of home drinking water. This is more than enough for  a family of 3 for 2 weeks on the beach in Exmouth.  I never empty the remaining water until I get home, mostly in case of car troubles in the way home, we will have drinking water and should I lose the coolant due to an issue I will have water to get the car going again and get us home!
Not bothered too much about fuel economy, I see it more as a safety thing for the family!

[Terry W4]

Would think that the weight of (in my case - 60lts in tank and 20lts in Gerry can) in a camper weighing in about 1000kgs would be insignificant. Also agree best to leave with water you can trust and also you don't know when you may have to stop early and access water.  I also keep a 10ltr container in the back of the Prado while travelling to provide water to the dog and maybe for a quick billy without opening up the trailer.

[Rumpig]

i always fill my water tank before going for 2 reasons...one is i like the taste of the water from home and know it's quality, and the second reason being that our KK has a heavy towball weight, so the water tank is right at the rear of the camper and this would help in a small way to transfer some of the weight distribution. I also fill the 20ltr jerry can that sits on the rear bar of the camp aswell, and try to take as little as possible in the front storage boxes (i take out what we won't need for that trip...ie the generator of it's a short weekend trip).

[Hairs]

We always carry a full load of water, 180lt.
Part & parcel of our setup, whether it be for an overnight stay or on the road for a trip.

[D4D]

I was talking to someone the other day who said it's best to leave with tanks empty and fill up when you reach the destination....  Saves fuel costs and someone else pays for 160 litres of water.

What do you think?

I bet they're a member of the caravanners forum

[Rumpig]

I bet they're a member of the caravanners forum

my money is on it being Rod or Dave 

[oldmate]

my money is on it being Rod or Dave 

ROFPMSL 

[Clouty]

my money is on it being Rod or Dave 

Geeez..
I don't even have a van yet..

Staying on topic I would fill my tank before I'd leave home cause I like the taste of my water and my tank was at the back of the camper which helped with the tow ball weight..

[Mallory Black]

Well...
the water from home is chlorinated so it will store in the tanks very well.

Never store water that didn't come from a tap no matter how fresh and drinkable it is because there's no protection from germs or slime when it's in storage

[gronk]

I think some have missed the point.....if you don't fill the tank at home....how are you going to fill it when you arrive at a camp site....??....most camp sites I've ever been to have no water available !!!

[oldmate]

I think some have missed the point.....if you don't fill the tank at home....how are you going to fill it when you arrive at a camp site....??....most camp sites I've ever been to have no water available !!!

Finally. Someone that has the same view I do. Lol. Isn't it why we have tanks fitted? So we can fill up and not worry about water when you get to a destination? If your going to leave empty, you may aswell just take a bucket with you and not bother having a water tank in your trailer. Sort of like having a fridge with no battery then filling it with ice at the caravan parlk lmao

[Clouty]

I think some have missed the point.....if you don't fill the tank at home....how are you going to fill it when you arrive at a camp site....??....most camp sites I've ever been to have no water available !!!

Totally agree..
95% of the time we do bush camping and there's no water available.. But I think there referring to caravan park style camping when a water tap is wedged in the corner of every site..

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

You also have occasions when water is needed both going to or from your chosen happiness.
Rare as it may be a burst hose, or a Water pump/Radiator failure.
This sort of failure can destroy a good holiday.
If you have no water, your stuck good and proper.

It's always better to have water.  It's just how much is the question.
Water can be used as ballast to help balance the camper as well.
Especially with rear mounted Tanks.
So for me anyway, I travel with, to and from.
As said, if you have it, you shouldn't need it.

[oldmate]

I agree mate, at Xmas we had freinds who were leaving so they said do you need any water? Yep I'll take what you have as we had been there 6 days and were staying another 4, so we emptied his tanks into mine, low and behold, I found out later that they the car boiled on the way out of the camp, and they just managed to scrap together enough water. I always leave the water in the tank as you just never know when you may need it.

[Hairs]

I always leave the water in the tank as you just never know when you may need it.

Couldn't agree more.
 

[Pog]

I was talking to someone the other day who said it's best to leave with tanks empty and fill up when you reach the destination....  Saves fuel costs and someone else pays for 160 litres of water.
What do you think?

I think they are TIGHT!!!

[broncos11]

my money is on it being Rod or Dave 

Fair go, we just keep the salt, pepper and sugar satchels