fresh water tank dump

[Big Jim]

Does anyone else dump their fresh water while traveling down the road?
I don't feel the need to transport 60-70 gallons of water to the next site, so I dump while driving through the low point drain.
I have been flagged, gestured at my trailer wheels, even pulled over by one concerned motorist.
It dumps right in front of the wheels which makes it apper like "smoke" I was told by the concerned Canadian.
Recently in Wisconsin a motorist seemed to be enraged that I acted like I knew what was going on. He shadowed me fo several miles coming up then sliding back to the wheels, even pulling off on the shoulder, then getting behind me again. Not 5 minutes later another vehicle had a note " WHEEL SMOKING"
I don't feel that I am doing any damage to my trailer or causing a peril for other motorists.

[clubhouse]

Nope, I don't drain FW while driving becasue I just don't want the hassel you describe. I live and travel mostly in California and people are particually concerned about what is being drained to the ground. In fact, on a serperate note, I have had several campgrounds inform me that outside shower use is prohibited becasue they are concerned about water runnoff. Anyway, I rarely will still have 60-70 gallons left in the tank when I am leaving a campsite and since the low point drains take so long to drain I usually just run the sinks to get most of the water in the gray tank then get rid of it at the dump station on my way out. I do keep some water, probably around 5-10gallons for "just in case".

[tlhdoc]

I drain the tanks as I tow all the time. I did have one person tell me my tires were smoking. Usually the tank is near empty so there isn't that much water to drain.

[Chakara]

Any way to jury rig up something so the water drains behind the tires? I've had people worry about water coming out of my trailer. Interestingly, since the new trailer dumping 10-20 gallons via the siphon effect I haven't had a complaint.

(I placed valves on the drain lines to fix that by the way. Ran out of water 2 trips ago....had 30 or so gallons left the last trip!)


-Chak

[McMonk]

Depends where we're camping, but 90% of the time we travel with most of the FW drained away...too much weight to carry around~

[Seann45]

Full fresh water tank or empty I have never noticed a mileage difference and I tow thousands of miles a year..

[edowsfamily]

we empty it while on the road. that way i can wash the windshield of the cars behind us

[drfife]

Originally Posted by Seann45

Full fresh water tank or empty I have never noticed a mileage difference and I tow thousands of miles a year..

I too have towed tens of thousands of miles towing with no change in fuel economy with holding tanks full or empty.

[tlhdoc]

I dump the tank for these reasons. 1. I have very limited cargo capacity 2. Water sloshing back and forth in a half full tank can increase the chance of sway 3. The tank will empty completely when towing. If I dump and not tow there is always some water left in the tank. 4. Why do I want to bring home water from a campground?

[hottotrot]

We had two motorcycle drivers yelling at us outside of Vegas. They did not like the shower

[tnchuck100]

Allowing a tank to dump while driving is very, very rude. As a motorcycle rider myself I can tell you I would be quite annoyed at someone letting his water fly all over me. Rude, simply rude.

Please, those of you that are doing it STOP! Be considerate of others. The road is not for your exclusive use.

[Boubou]

I dump tanks while driving. Never much left in there. Not like a river coming out, just a trickle once in a while ( basically, I drain at campground but leave the valve open to empty the rest)

[Rustic Eagle]

I never let it drain while in-tow. If I need to drain the fresh water tank I'll drain it the day before I depart the CG so that the campsite is dry when I leave.

Bob

[Quahog]

X2

[tlhdoc]

Originally Posted by hottotrot

We had two motorcycle drivers yelling at us outside of Vegas. They did not like the shower

I guess they should not have been so close.

[tnchuck100]

Originally Posted by tlhdoc

I guess they should not have been so close.

I guess the motorcyclists were entitled to use the road without the expectation someone would be dumping an unknown (to them) substance from their RV.

As I said before - dumping while going down the road is an inconsiderate thing to do.

[tls001]

Originally Posted by tnchuck100

I guess the motorcyclists were entitled to use the road without the expectation someone would be dumping an unknown (to them) substance from their RV.

As I said before - dumping while going down the road is an inconsiderate thing to do.

x2

[David472]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

I never let it drain while in-tow. If I need to drain the fresh water tank I'll drain it the day before I depart the CG so that the campsite is dry when I leave.

Bob

I do something similar. I usually don't drain the FW tank until I get home, but last trip I chose to drain the FW tank upon leaving. I drained into a bucket and dumped it in the woods beside the site. It took maybe 8 or so buckets, but that way the campsite stayed dry. I never drain while in motion.

[tinlizzie23]

Above all, be considerate to your fellow travellers. I can understand why folks might think it's OK to dump water while running down the road, because they KNOW what is being dumped - just water. HOWEVER, put yourself in the place of another motorist, either 4-wheeler or motorcycle, who DOESN'T know what is being dumped. In that case, wouldn't you be just a little concerned about what is being sprayed all over you and/or your vehicle ?? In this case, I vote emphatically for NOT dumping on the road.