Driving with "full" water tank ?
My new Hymer has a 160L water tank and the "manual" suggests driving with no more than 20L. It then goes on to say that when filling the water tank take care not to exceed the maximum weight for the vehicle and that you may have to reduce other items to avoid doing so. Yet if you are not driving the extra weight , within reason, is surely irrelevant. The Dealership suggested that it was OK to drive with full tanks but suggested dumping all but 20L if you are heading on to the next site where more water will be readilly available. I intend, for at least for some of the time, to "wild" camp for several days at a time in which case the extra water would come in handy.
My question is what do others do in actual practice.
Comments
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We did drive with full water tanks, and full waste tanks, at times on the RV. The load wasnt an issue in terms of weight but it definitely affected handling.
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We nearly always travel with a full or nearly full fresh water tank but payload isn't an issue for us. It sounds as if your payload might be marginal, Cam.
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That's the oddity, Fysh. A near empty tank will slosh around and could decrease stability and effectively increase weight with every slosh.
Our habit is to top up the fresh and empty the waste on leaving each site. One compensates for the other in terms of weight and sloshing is kept to a minimum.
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We've always left home with a full tank of fresh water in both the Knaus and now the Pilote MH.
We use Aires in France, rarely if ever campsites, and not all Aires have access to water or working Bornes so we like to keep topped up whenever possible.
We've never noticed any difference in handling or even mpg, it's only like carrying another passenger, and unless you notice a problem then full or almost empty shouldn't make any difference.
We have diesel, waste water and fresh water slopping about in tanks the length of the Motorhome and neither of us drivers has ever noticed anything amiss.
If it's weight you're worried about then cut down on the beer in the fridge, wine in the drinks cabinet and wear the lightest or minimal clothes as possible.
Get the MH weighed, usually about £5, and make sure you are within the limit for your Motorhome.
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Thanks for all of the quick replies.
The motorhome, a new Hymer, has about 650kg payload so maximum weight is not my primary concern, I was more concerned about not overstressing the water tank by driving whilst it was full. I am probably being a bit overcautious here and maybe the translated
manual was confusing a recommendation with a requirement with regard to the 20L "limit".0 -
We always travel with a full tank of fresh water .just convenience really.
Brian & Jo
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That's the oddity, Fysh. A near empty tank will slosh around and could decrease stability and effectively increase weight with every slosh.
Our habit is to top up the fresh and empty the waste on leaving each site. One compensates for the other in terms of weight and sloshing is kept to a minimum.
I can see your point. Not having chance to gain momentum and energy making for a smoother ride.
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Can't see the point of having tanks and not using them to their full capacity, although 150 litres is a heck of a lot. We just got 100% waste tank alarm and 100 litre water nearly out - after 11 days. We aren't using the shower and not drinking the tank
water but washing up in the van.0 -
Thanks for all of the quick replies.
The motorhome, a new Hymer, has about 650kg payload so maximum weight is not my primary concern, I was more concerned about not overstressing the water tank by driving whilst it was full. I am probably being a bit overcautious here and maybe the translated manual was confusing a recommendation with a requirement with regard to the 20L "limit".
which model do you have?
a 650kg payload is the result of either a heavy chassis/MTPLM (4250kg) or a very light van on a 3500kg chassis....one of the new small 'Van' models perhaps.....?
either way, forget all about manuals and dumping water....if ypu have the payload and 'want' to carry plenty of water, then do so.
the 20kg of water in the Hymer manual is for vans with a smaller payload, where dumping most of the water prior to travelling will maintain a higher payload.
the tanks themselves (netween your floors) will be irregular cubiods.....ie lots of cubic sections merged together to give a large capacity but without any sloshing movements...
ours are very similar, makes no difference to handling, nor do they ever slosh.....this is the preserve of the external, underslung rectangular tanks seen on many uk vans.....Both our. boleros had them..
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It's always useful to carry some water in case you stop in a layby for a cup of tea.
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It's always useful to carry some water in case you stop in a layby for a cup of tea.
no flies.....as they say, Malc
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Thanks for all of the quick replies.
The motorhome, a new Hymer, has about 650kg payload so maximum weight is not my primary concern, I was more concerned about not overstressing the water tank by driving whilst it was full. I am probably being a bit overcautious here and maybe the translated
manual was confusing a recommendation with a requirement with regard to the 20L "limit".which model do you have?
a 650kg payload is the result of either a heavy chassis/MTPLM (4250kg) or a very light van on a 3500kg chassis....one of the new small 'Van' models perhaps.....?
either way, forget all about manuals and dumping water....if ypu have the payload and 'want' to carry plenty of water, then do so.
the 20kg of water in the Hymer manual is for vans with a smaller payload, where dumping most of the water prior to travelling will maintain a higher payload.
the tanks themselves (netween your floors) will be irregular cubiods.....ie lots of cubic sections merged together to give a large capacity but without any sloshing movements...
ours are very similar, makes no difference to handling, nor do they ever slosh.....this is the preserve of the external, underslung rectangular tanks seen on many uk vans.....Both our. boleros had them..
It is a B Class DL444.
It would seem that the 20L in the manual is a recommendation rather than a limit.
Thanks for all the replies.
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ah, we looked very closely at one last week.....for when we downsize....to a slimmer/lighter van....
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Yep when we go back to motorhoming ,we fancy a hymer , but probably a short A class type
cheers mrs bc 0 -
The only problem with carrying a full Aquaroll of water is that it can be very heavy to lift to get it in and out of the car or caravan. We tend to partially fill it making it easier to lift but at the risk that you can run out of water if you use too much
on your journey.0 -
The only problem with carrying a full Aquaroll of water is that it can be very heavy to lift to get it in and out of the car or caravan. We tend to partially fill it making it easier to lift but at the risk that you can run out of water if you use too much
on your journey.i think we are talking about full MH tanks, Malc....
im sure no one would be advocating travelling with a full Aquaroll bouncing about inside a caravan....not a good idea.
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The only problem with carrying a full Aquaroll of water is that it can be very heavy to lift to get it in and out of the car or caravan. We tend to partially fill it making it easier to lift but at the risk that you can run out of water if you use too much
on your journey.i think we are talking about full MH tanks, Malc....
im sure no one would be advocating travelling with a full Aquaroll bouncing about inside a caravan....not a good idea.
When I wild camped with a caravan the full aquaroll went in the car boot and certainly would not fancy it in the caravan
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I have plenty of payload but rarely travel with full water tanks ( I have two holding a total of 300 litres) unless I know water might be difficult to obtain. Why carry extra weight if you don't have to, all it does is increase fuel consumption.
peedee
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I have plenty of payload but rarely travel with full water tanks ( I have two holding a total of 300 litres) unless I know water might be difficult to obtain. Why carry extra weight if you don't have to, all it does is increase fuel consumption.
peedee
Write your comments here...Given the weight of all that water and the effect it could have if it slopped about in transit I would agree with you. We have a far smaller tank though and do not normally bother.
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WW, MH water tanks are not as you would imagine them.. ...certainly the larger ones...they arent one big cuboid, but are either irregular (many cubes joined together as ours... or they will be baffled in some way....)
water does not 'slop about in transit' though Peedee is right.. 300 ltr of water is a lot to carry about...
but, then again, your style of camping (always on a site with ehu and a tap) isnt for everyone. some MHers travel from aire to wild camp to aire and may not necessarily be able to pick up water at each stop.....and if you're ising the ban to shower, youll
need water on board...0 -
The main thing i notice when driving with a full fresh water tank, is that the fuel gauge goes down a lot faster. I usually only ever drive with about 20 litres in the tank, for loo flushing and just enough for an unscheduled overnight stop, without both showering. Never drive with a full waste tank.
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