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12-20-2017, 06:27 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Franklin
Posts: 94
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Do you tow full of water?
I have a 2016 Jayco Eagle HT 29.5 BHDS. I was wondering if any of you tow with your fresh water tank full. Does it tow better, no difference or tow bad? I have read some tow with a full tank. I was wondering what everyone else does.
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12-20-2017, 06:40 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: anytown
Posts: 1,751
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No. Too costly on the fuel bill especially through the mountains.
Typically about 1/4 full for immediate needs and to prevent the seals from drying out.
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12-20-2017, 07:12 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: FL
Posts: 11,281
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Yes. We virtually always tow with ~80gal of fresh water with no problems. The few times we didn't have full tanks, I didn't notice any difference.
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Sherm & Terry w/rescue Eydie (min Schnauzer) & Charley (std Poodle)
SOLD:2015 Jay Flight 27RLS, GY Endurance (E), Days: 102 '15, 90 '16, 80 '17, 161 '18, 365+ '20
SOLD: 2006 Ford F350 PSD, 4WD, CC, LB, SRW, Camper pkg., 375,000mi
Full timing: Some will think you're crazy, some will be envious, just enjoy the freedom!
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12-20-2017, 07:41 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Saint Thomas, PA
Posts: 2,234
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My 75 gallon fresh water tank is always filled. We dry camping almost 100%.
We even have times where we haul with waste water too and dump at another place.
What good is a self contained RV if you can't haul fresh water and/or waste water????
Earl
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2017 Eagle 293RKDS, factory ordered, lots of mods and upgrades. More than I can list.
2018 Ram 3500 crew cab long bed SRW diesel 6spd Aisin 4wd Tradesman.
B&W Ram puck 5th wheel
Line-X premium
Mopar wheel to wheel steps
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12-20-2017, 08:14 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Souderton, PA
Posts: 130
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I tow full (80 gals) often. I have documented about a 1 mike per gallon penalty in hilly terrain. I definitely notice a difference when stopping and starting. Otherwise I don’t perceive a big difference.
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2014 Jayco JayFlight 29QBH
2012 Ford F-250 Lariat crew cab 6.7L diesel
Honda 3000 is inverter generator
Biggest Weber fan in the world.
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12-20-2017, 08:22 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 79
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We only haul enough to handle restroom stops along the way, probably about 1/4 full. I can't tell a difference on when it has a 1/4 tank or empty from how it feels towing. Generally I try to avoid any unnecessary weight.
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2015 29.5 BHDS
2016 Silverado 2500HD 6.0 Gas
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12-20-2017, 08:27 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,229
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Always tow with full fresh water and empty gray and black.
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2019 Airstream Flying Cloud 27FB
2012 321RLTS Eagle (sold)
2011 F350 CC SB
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12-20-2017, 08:35 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Surprise
Posts: 2,623
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Quote:
Originally Posted by B5 GTX
We only haul enough to handle restroom stops along the way, probably about 1/4 full. I can't tell a difference on when it has a 1/4 tank or empty from how it feels towing. Generally I try to avoid any unnecessary weight.
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No reason to haul more than maybe 1/4 tank full. We stay at FHU parks almost exclusively. Unless your not going far, and going to boondock I don't see any advantage in putting extra strain on the tank and straps holding it, while bouncing down the highway.
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2011 Toyota Tundra double cab
2015 27RLS
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12-20-2017, 09:01 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Muskegon
Posts: 804
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This is a question that comes up here now and then. There's the fill the tanks crowd, and there's the carry the minimum crowd, and each side seems to be adamant about their choice.
We tow a 26BH, and we're members of the carry the minimum crowd. It's certainly more hassle to carry a minimum amount, as you need to plan a fill-up prior to your overnight stay, particularly if you're boon docking. Our basic philosophy is to reduce weight whenever possible.
Others like the convenience of having full tanks all the time, and typically argue that they suffer little or no increase in MPG or loss of performance.
If your tow vehicle can handle it, I suppose the best answer is whatever works best for you.
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12-20-2017, 09:03 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Albany, OR
Posts: 692
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If we are planning to dry camp, which we do about 3/4 of the time, we fill the tanks. If we know we will have access to water when we arrive, we will put in about 1/4 full for necessities.
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2015 Jayco 27RLS
2015 Ford F250 6.7PSD
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12-20-2017, 10:26 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 181
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DanNJanice
If we are planning to dry camp, which we do about 3/4 of the time, we fill the tanks. If we know we will have access to water when we arrive, we will put in about 1/4 full for necessities.
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This is a wise way to do it, and what I would likely do if dry camping. However, my trips are usually pretty long and the extra weight can hurt your pocket in fuel costs. I typically have less than 1/4 tank, just enough to flush the toilet several times.
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12-21-2017, 04:10 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 499
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Does your water spill out while traveling
Sorry to hijack this thread but I have read on other posts here (same topic) that a lot of water tends to splash out thru the overfill drains while in transit.
Can those of you who do fill up before departing, tell us how much water is typically lost?
I have not boon docked yet so I never travel with water in my tank. I generally only drive 1-3 hours for camping so I just use restaurants & gas stations for bathroom breaks. I hope to do longer trips in the future which is why I ask.
I guess I could always do a trial run on my next trip but I’m kinda thinking that’s what the camp fee is for...to use their water & electric. Water in my general area does not seem bad, dirty nor contaminated and I always use a charcoal filter and bring my own bottled drinking water anyway.
Thanks
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2016 Jayflight 27BHS
2015 Ford F-250 Super cab LB, 4x4 6.2 L gas
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12-21-2017, 05:48 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 197
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kayakterp
Sorry to hijack this thread but I have read on other posts here (same topic) that a lot of water tends to splash out thru the overfill drains while in transit.
Can those of you who do fill up before departing, tell us how much water is typically lost?
I have not boon docked yet so I never travel with water in my tank. I generally only drive 1-3 hours for camping so I just use restaurants & gas stations for bathroom breaks. I hope to do longer trips in the future which is why I ask.
I guess I could always do a trial run on my next trip but I’m kinda thinking that’s what the camp fee is for...to use their water & electric. Water in my general area does not seem bad, dirty nor contaminated and I always use a charcoal filter and bring my own bottled drinking water anyway.
Thanks
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You do lose some, take a turn with a full tank and you'll likely leave a trail of fresh water out of the overflow as the tanks are mostly flat and not deep. I've seen threads on here where guys have put shut off valves on the overflow they will close for traveling.
We always filled with water for shorter trips where we didn't have hookups. If we ran out which was very rare we had a 3 gallon fresh water jug we could add with. If we went somewhere with hookups we just put a few gallons in so we could use the toilet on the road.
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12-21-2017, 09:00 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Reno (home base) Winter Eloy, AZ
Posts: 988
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wags999
No reason to haul more than maybe 1/4 tank full.
Unless your not going far, and going to boondock I don't see any advantage in putting extra strain on the tank and straps holding it, while bouncing down the highway.
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Agree completely!!
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12-21-2017, 09:20 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: FL
Posts: 11,281
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kayakterp
snip...
how much water is typically lost?
...snip... use their water & electric. Water in my general area does not seem bad, dirty nor contaminated and I always use a charcoal filter and bring my own bottled drinking water anyway.
Thanks
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The amount of 'typical' water loss is tough to say and there is probably a huge variance - trailer, roads (speeds, hills, curves, etc.), driving habits - all could have an impact. Plus most 'idiot light' light water level gauges aren't very accurate. Personally, I estimate I lost ~1/3 of our ~80gal before I did something about it. We now use corks in the end of our tank overflow lines when traveling.
If you're using a charcoal filter, you've got a good start. When you travel out of your local (ie 'not bad') water area, at some point you're likely encounter campgrounds with poor water and you'll be glad you use the charcoal filter. If you use the search function for this forum, you'll find that water filters etc. have been discussed, at length, several times.
__________________
Sherm & Terry w/rescue Eydie (min Schnauzer) & Charley (std Poodle)
SOLD:2015 Jay Flight 27RLS, GY Endurance (E), Days: 102 '15, 90 '16, 80 '17, 161 '18, 365+ '20
SOLD: 2006 Ford F350 PSD, 4WD, CC, LB, SRW, Camper pkg., 375,000mi
Full timing: Some will think you're crazy, some will be envious, just enjoy the freedom!
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12-21-2017, 09:20 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: kaml
Posts: 1,285
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If we are on our way to a boondocking location then full water & empty waste. If we are leaving boondocking then empty water & full waste.
We usually spend a couple of nights in a park between boondock sites so we can dump & fill. We boondock for up to 20 days before needing to dump/fill.
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12-21-2017, 09:48 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: DFW
Posts: 2,211
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I've got an Eagle HT 26.5 BHS. I've been towing with the tank filled for balast as its forward of the axles. I used a couple binder clips and then bent the overflow hose over itself and secured it with the clips and a large rubber band. This kept water in the tank.
With my previous Curt hitch this method reduced chucking a fair amount. Maybe because it added a little weight on the pin. I've now got a B&W hitch and loaded or empty, there's no chucking, so I won't do it for ballast going forward. I'll also add, I didn't observe any difference in fuel use travelling with the tank empty or full. It only accounts for 2-3% of the total weight moving down the road.
One question I had is this... Which would be harder on the tank. 1/4 or 1/2 tank sloshing forward and back or side to side or a full tank where the weight of the water is static(mostly)?
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
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12-21-2017, 09:52 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,650
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Never due to cheap construction and afraid one day it will let loose and fall to the freeway. Don't have a problem finding water where we camp.
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12-21-2017, 10:00 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona
Posts: 2,324
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If we are dry camping always full!Rides a little better for us.
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12-21-2017, 10:11 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 3,198
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sundancer330
Never due to cheap construction and afraid one day it will let loose and fall to the freeway. Don't have a problem finding water where we camp.
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This is how I've always regarded the subject since we've owned our Eagle. Maybe one of these days I'll drop the underbelly and look at how well the tanks are supported but till then, no way as our camper carries 80 gallons.
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2012 Eagle 320 RLDS
2017 Ford F-250 FX4 Crew STX 6.2l
3.73 E-locker
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