Main water tank level when touring? (1 Viewer)

Swift

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I have been told that on my Swift Kontiki 645 you should never travel with a full tank of water as they are prone to spilling/over flowing, so if you are off for a few days wild camping what would you consider as a safe level to fill to, I don't want to be flooded.

I have checked and I have caps on the top of the tank, they look secure but I don't want to take any risks going rund a corner and it a load sploshing out :Eeek:
 

GJH

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Aug 20, 2007
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If it's anything like our tank there is a big access cap on the top, a filler pipe going in, a draw off pipe coming out, an emptying pipe at the base and an overflow. The last two shouldn't matter because they release the water outside the van. If the seals on the others are properly fitted and there are no splits in the pipes there shouldn't be a problem should there?

We did have a problem with ours a few years ago because of a split in the filler pipe but replacing that solved it. Now if I overfill or there is any leakage when travelling it is just from the overflow so no problem.
 

pappajohn

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you shouldnt have a problem with water loss no matter how full.

we always travelled with a full tank on the outward journey in the kontiki
 
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Swift

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I would have thought it would more stable full rather than three quarters full and sloshing about. I usually travel nearly empty and fill up when I arrive, roof box seem a good idea as long as the kids can carry the jerry cans up ::bigsmile:

Just waiting to see if anyone has had a leak running full :winky:
 

Geo

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Jul 29, 2007
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Always ran full in my Kontiki never had any probs
still run full now with the RV

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rainbow chasers

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No reason why not - but my two penneth - I always recommend to travel with a quarter tank....this is for customer economics, and the local topology.

We have the wonderful A30 - up and down, up and down...seriously, you can burn 1/2 tank (diesel) doing 75 miles of A30, and the other 1/2 tank will last the other 250 plus!

So to keep weight down for hills, speed and economy - quarter tank is enough to do any washing up/hands whilst travelling and saves you having to bleed the system when on site as you have already dragged it through. Don't see the pont in having extra weight on board if you don't need to.

Personal choice at the end of the day!:thumb:
 
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Swift

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Thanks for the tip, A30, know it well, we had some time in Cornwall in the van earlier in the year, a bit windy on the West side though :Eeek:

I bought a device that you drive over one wheel at a time and it calculates your total weight, pretty scary and has made me economise on non essential stuff, fluids being a major weight :winky:
 
Feb 27, 2011
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It depends on what you are doing. If you are just going to sites in the UK then travel with an empty tank and fill up as you arrive.

If you are wild camping or going to Europe then fill up at every opportunity.

There shouldn't be any reason at all other than fuel economy not to travel with a full tank.

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JJ

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Spending most of the last twenty years living "off site" in my van of the day, my very first rule to myself is to fill up with water when ever possible.

Water is the most important element in my life on the road... I can exist quite some time with no diesel, no gas or no electricity but no water and I am in trouble..

I am willing to pay the extra cost of always having as much water on board as possible.

JJ :Cool:
 

bobandjanie

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Hi, we had a Swift Kontiki 650 and that used to loose water out the over flow, we found that a pain in the ****, ::bigsmile: so I put a valve on the over flow pipe, and that did the job. :thumb:
But you had to make sure it was open when you filled up, or you got very wet. :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO: Bob.
 

Jim

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We tend to travel full, I know it costs money to tote all that water. (But its our own nice spring water) but I hate arriving on site and have to immediatley faf about filling up before we get pitched, makes me feel like a tugger:Smile:

Travelling full is a small price to pay for the ability to arrive, apply handbrake, drink beer. :Smile:

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GJH

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I think it was Brian (Hilldweller) who pointed out on a previous thread that the weight of a full water tank is relatively small in comparison to the weight of the vehicle and its other contents so effect on fuel usage isn't all that significant.

We tend to travel full for similar reasons to Jim.
 

Rayb182

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We have a Kontiki 645 and never had any problems, when wilding it always start off with full tank, we're off tomorrow, we shall have a full tank, enough for 4-5 days, so Scotjimland, Jan and Chas come down for a coffee:thumb:

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Jaws

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Last year on the way home from Croatia we got so desperate I had to pull in to an Aldi's and BUY 4 x 5 litre bottles of water.. Mind you, at €1.25 per 5 ltrs it was not TOO painful.

But yes, agree with others.. for economy travel with a 1/4 tank, if going in to the unknown, travel full.. The extra fuel costs are proly minimal :Smile:
 
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Swift

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We have a Kontiki 645 and never had any problems, when wilding it always start off with full tank, we're off tomorrow, we shall have a full tank, enough for 4-5 days, so Scotjimland, Jan and Chas come down for a coffee:thumb:

Thanks, mind at rest now :thumb:

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scotjimland

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We have a Kontiki 645 and never had any problems, when wilding it always start off with full tank, we're off tomorrow, we shall have a full tank, enough for 4-5 days, so Scotjimland, Jan and Chas come down for a coffee:thumb:

thanks.. will pop down for a shower and drink all your tea... ours is metered :roflmto:

BTW.. you are always welcome to pop by and replenish said tank at our house.. I sell it cheap :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 
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Swift

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Sound theory but the numbers don't back it up.

3500kg of vehicle.
100kg of water.

How much is that going to murder economy ?

I must say I do notice a difference between having my wife or girlfriend in mine, fuel figures much better with girlfriend. :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 

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