Fresh Water Level (Traveling)

[Bluebird Bill]

So we survived our first voyage in our Miramar and had a blast. We leave in a few days for a three day return to MI and wondered on filling the fresh water tank. Is half usually adequate for maybe one shower each and washing some dishes? We're planning on using rest areas instead of our toilets as much as possible. I was told by someone to pour PineSol down each toilet as well but assume that's for when we are not going to use the tanks for anything. Is that correct?

 

[ducksface]

Full tank always.

There is a faction here who try to save weight by carrying half or one/third tanks.
Other than weight I don't remember why they do this.

Five hour traffic backup after you've used the 1/4 tank could be a thing I don't need to save weight against.

Unexpected day or two delay(hundreds of stories on this forum)in a Wal-Mart parking lot while you wait for a mismatched spare the tire store that's closed on Sunday will go to the next town and get for you on Tuesday. (also why I carry a spare)

Bad water at a campsite or needing a water-thief you don't have is another.(when travelling late in fall we found all municipal sites from SD to NM had turned their water off for the season)

Those are my reasons for a full tank.

They're just about my same reasons for never letting fuel get below half a tank.
I try to convenience me.

Is that tank half full...or half empty?
Truth is; it's missing its potential.
When it fullfills its potential it benefits me.
When it misses its potential by 1/2 or 3/4 it does not benefit me IF/WHEN I need...what I intentionally did not bring.

 

[Bluebird Bill]

Full tank always.
There is a faction here who try to save weight by carrying half or one/third tanks.

Five hour traffic backup after you've used the 1/4 tank could be a thing I don't need to save weight against.

Unexpected day or two delay(hundreds of stories on this forum)in a Wal-Mart parking lot while you wait for a mismatched spare the tire store that's closed on Sunday will go to the next town and get for you.(also why I carry a spare)

Bad water at a campsite or needing a water-thief you don't have is another.

Those are my reasons for a full tank.

They're just about my same reasons for never letting fuel get below half a tank.
I try to convenience me.

Is that tank half full...or half empty?
Truth is; it's missing its potential.

Makes good sense, thank you.

 

[ghnl]

Consider weighing your rig - packed up as if ready to travel. That will give you a better idea of how close you are to maximum GVW. If a full tank puts you at/over the maximum then you either need to start tossing out unneeded items, beefing up the suspension or getting a different RV.

We travel with full water tanks and empty holding tanks.

Edited to add: After emptying the holding tanks I add a few gallons of water and a dose of holding tank deodorant.

 

[ducksface]

There are hundreds of things to put in your empty tank all of them sworn by by someone.
We use generic
Tide laundry pods.
I'm not married to them they're just compact and easy.
I sway easily.
Those pods in the above post will fit our needs.

 

[16ACE27]

So we survived our first voyage in our Miramar and had a blast. We leave in a few days for a three day return to MI and wondered on filling the fresh water tank. Is half usually adequate for maybe one shower each and washing some dishes? We're planning on using rest areas instead of our toilets as much as possible. I was told by someone to pour PineSol down each toilet as well but assume that's for when we are not going to use the tanks for anything. Is that correct?

You have unknowingly opened a HUGH can of worms full of anecdotes and varying opinions. You have to decide what is important to you as there is no right answer for all occasions.
The consensus from the thread previously discussing this topic is "1/3 full".

In the travel trailer world we always rode with tanks empty to minimize weight unless there was no water at the destination.
In our MH we travel with whatever was left over from last time we filled it; or we add more to it if close to empty. In rare cases we fill it with good water from home if we know the water is absent or "bad" at the destination.

 

[ducksface]

Does anyone here wish they had a smaller water tank?
If it were smaller, would you still carry 1/3¿

Let's change the questions and change the answer.

What is the lowest AMOUNT in gallons you want to carry?
Why?

40 fits us.
If we had an 80 gallon tanks I'd probably still fill it, but I'll understand a cap on gallons.
40gallons is a week+ worth for us.
No cooking for us, just showers.

 

[ghnl]

I wish the water tank was centrally located. As it is now, it's under the bed in the rear. If it were located between the wheelbase the weight would be better distributed.

 

[ducksface]

I added the 60ish gallon bin(it'll hold fuel or water or whatever i put in it that has its own container)where the spare tire should be under an axis;
Between the hitch and the rear axle.
So I've spent a lot of time under an e450.

There is lots and lots of room over the drive shaft and along-side the driveshaft.

I considered buying/building tanks there but we're fine(for now)with the over our right rear passenger wheel water tank.
We travel light. Many of the cupboards and drawers and even a bin or two are empty.

My expeditionary type Blazer makes it's own water from the a/c condenser. If I do this to the rv I'll put the final tank over the driveshaft.
One of those 40g, long, 7" high, gray tanks should fit right up there.

 

[jklbus01]

So we survived our first voyage in our Miramar and had a blast. We leave in a few days for a three day return to MI and wondered on filling the fresh water tank. Is half usually adequate for maybe one shower each and washing some dishes? We're planning on using rest areas instead of our toilets as much as possible. I was told by someone to pour PineSol down each toilet as well but assume that's for when we are not going to use the tanks for anything. Is that correct?

The average home shower uses 17 gallons of water. In an RV, there are many variables in RVs, but I use 15 gallons as a guide. Filling your fresh water tank at about 8.5lbs per gallon of water will add weight and reduce fuel economy. Using rest stops is a useful idea too. As to PineSol, I use a concotion of equal parts PineSol, fabric softener and amonia to clean my black tank. On a recent trip to Yuma from Seattle, we got infested with Drain Gnats. These annoying tiny flying insects live underwater and love the smells from the black tank. I dumped the tanks, added my concoction to the black tank and not only did it clean the tank, but it effectively eliminated the gnats. It was great.

 

[bry899]

Full tank always.

There is a faction here who try to save weight by carrying half or one/third tanks.
Other than weight I don't remember why they do this.

Five hour traffic backup after you've used the 1/4 tank could be a thing I don't need to save weight against.

Unexpected day or two delay(hundreds of stories on this forum)in a Wal-Mart parking lot while you wait for a mismatched spare the tire store that's closed on Sunday will go to the next town and get for you on Tuesday. (also why I carry a spare)

Full Tank always, Our 1st motorhome the Fuel pump needed to be replaced (low pressure) we were stuck in Las Animas, Colorado for 2 days until the part came in. The repair place locked us in their gated yard for the night. We always travel with full tanks now. The extra 334 pounds (40 gallons) does not affect the MPG.

 

[ducksface]

Full Tank always, Our 1st motorhome the Fuel pump needed to be replaced (low pressure) we were stuck in Las Animas, Colorado for 2 days until the part came in. The repair place locked us in their gated yard for the night. We always travel with full tanks now. The extra 334 pounds (40 gallons) does not affect the MPG.

This is pure truth on every level
Need
Unexpected delay
mpg

The
why to logic
outweighs the
I just don't Logic
by 100 times.

 

[Lt Keefer]

I fill my tank before every trip and refill when it gets to 1/4 tank.

 

[bry899]

I fill my tank before every trip and refill when it gets to 1/4 tank.

Yes, I refill fresh water, propane, Gas, and beer when I get to 1/3.

 

[ducksface]

I fill my tank before every trip and refill when it gets to 1/4 tank.

We're opportunists with water.
If it's handy we'll fill a water tank that's barely down.

I try to benefit us whenever possible.

 

[Bluebird Bill]

The average home shower uses 17 gallons of water. In an RV, there are many variables in RVs, but I use 15 gallons as a guide. Filling your fresh water tank at about 8.5lbs per gallon of water will add weight and reduce fuel economy. Using rest stops is a useful idea too. As to PineSol, I use a concotion of equal parts PineSol, fabric softener and amonia to clean my black tank. On a recent trip to Yuma from Seattle, we got infested with Drain Gnats. These annoying tiny flying insects live underwater and love the smells from the black tank. I dumped the tanks, added my concoction to the black tank and not only did it clean the tank, but it effectively eliminated the gnats. It was great.

Thanks for the reply, makes great sense on the water question. I have two more questions for you: 1) We have two full baths, do I simply pour the concoction in each toilet and do I flush halfway, add it, then flush all the way? What's the total amount in your concoction? 2) Our gas Miramar has the Ford Godzilla and when ascending hills on the way home I would tap the brake to disengage cruise and use the gas pedal to avoid it downshifting into 5th or 4th. Is that normal and when I do get the guts to travel I24 through the Smokies, do RVers use Manual going up and down? Sorry, newbee questions.

 

[16ACE27]

How many black tanks do you have? 2 tanks equal two concoctions. One tank equals one.

I can see preventing downshifting on minor hills, don't need to kill the cruise control to prevent it, just push on the gas early..

And if you do want to kill the cruise control, just hitting the RESUME button should disengage it, at least on the V10s it does.

 

[Bluebird Bill]

How many black tanks do you have? 2 tanks equal two concoctions. One tank equals one.

I can see preventing downshifting on minor hills, don't need to kill the cruise control to prevent it, just push on the gas early..

And if you do want to kill the cruise control, just hitting the RESUME button should disengage it, at least on the V10s it does.

Makes sense on the cruise, thanks. So we have two black tanks. My question was in the toilets with normal flushing and an idea on how many ounces for each tank. I'm thinking of just PineSol.

 

[paulwadley]

I have a 2022 Thor Miramar 37.1 with two full baths. It has two grey tanks and two black tanks. I use the commercial toilet pods(one in each toilet). Once I have to dump the tanks, I add another pod to each toilet. When I get home, I flush both black tanks several times to get them cleaned out. I do travel with a full tank of fresh water(100 gallons) just in case we run into issues along the way. We will always have water for the toilets and dishes/showers. I have been caught up in major traffic accidents for hours on the road and was thankful we were prepared for the delay. I use our tank water when we go winter camping in Utah to avoid freezing the city water line(if they have it working).

Paul

 

[dkoldman]

2) Our gas Miramar has the Ford Godzilla and when ascending hills on the way home I would tap the brake to disengage cruise and use the gas pedal to avoid it downshifting into 5th or 4th. Is that normal and when I do get the guts to travel I24 through the Smokies, do RVers use Manual going up and down? Sorry, newbee questions.

I would think the Ford Godzilla to have a Tow Haul mode? My F-53 does. I drive with Tow Haul mode on all trips especially in the mountains. It does everything automatic for me. Maybe I am doing something wrong but I have done it for 6 years with 4 trips in Colorado. But it brakes downshift nicely and reverse for pulling steep inclines. I can still do so manually, but why worry.

I rarely use cruise any more, too many people will simply pass me, and then slow down and make me have to slow down to. I could just hear the engine drinking gas trying to resume the speed. It really depends on the traffic in the area. Kind of congested in these parts.


On the Freshwater tank, I always try to travel with full tank. I can see why one may not wish to fill it up on a return trip IF it is NOT CONVENIENT, but where I use to shake my head is where some people have said they actually drain the water down to 1/3rd tank I felt that as nonsense, but as fate would have it, I rigged up my 6,000lb Navigator as my towed. So if I have the towed, I will not have the freshwater tank full. I have 71 gallons tank. I may carry 30 gallons? Not exact, the gauge will just NOT read 2/3rds or Full. We have never run out of freshwater in 6 years. We have had a full gray tank (61gals) a few times without the towed. Our waste tanks are always empty when towing (except for casual bathroom use while on the road).