Just pondering… how full for travelling (1 Viewer)

Mar 14, 2020
538
442
Isle of Man
Funster No
69,394
MH
Autotrail Cheyenne
Exp
Since 2015, still learning
To all those that travel with water in the tank.
is it better to be full rather than partial to avoid the sloshing effect, and would it actually make a difference?
 
Sep 29, 2019
2,850
6,516
Funster No
64,846
MH
Hymer Exsis
Exp
20 years
Makes no difference for the 100l we carry.

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Puddleduck

LIFE MEMBER
Jan 15, 2014
12,214
42,687
Scottish Borders
Funster No
29,703
MH
SunLiving Lido M45SP
Exp
On and off for many years.
It depends on where we will be that night (and possibly the night afterwards). If on a site we will usually travel with minimum water but if staying somewhere without water on tap we will make sure we have at least a half tank. We use bottled water for drinks so tank water is for washing (ourselves and dishes) and flushing the loo.

If we are staying put for more than a couple of nights we fill the tank.
 

PP Bear

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 5, 2013
7,299
33,037
Kent, UK
Funster No
25,395
MH
Auto Trail Dakota SE
Exp
2012
Always full cos you don’t know when the zombie apocalypse will arrive and the need to head for them there hills, where you can dump the grey wherever you like and can dig a hole to dump the cassette dumps
🧟 🧟‍♂️ 🧟‍♀️
 
OP
OP
Cush
Mar 14, 2020
538
442
Isle of Man
Funster No
69,394
MH
Autotrail Cheyenne
Exp
Since 2015, still learning
Thanks all. I always liked to arrive as full as possible. Good to know that there is no need to consider the sloshing effect.
 

kevenh

Free Member
Jun 1, 2019
3,320
11,797
Thatcham
Funster No
61,329
MH
Compass C-Class
Exp
I'm a Progressing Newbie
If we’re taking our pushbikes I’ll only put in 45lt of our 70lt capacity. Max capacity if no bikes.
We’re usually on a site with drinking water taps nearby & I’m still fit enough to walk about with a 20lt load (y)
But our Motorhome is a little un. Along with the 70lt fresh water tank, we’ve only got a 40lt grey tank. 🤷‍♂️
edit: tipo fixed!

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Last edited:
OP
OP
Cush
Mar 14, 2020
538
442
Isle of Man
Funster No
69,394
MH
Autotrail Cheyenne
Exp
Since 2015, still learning
Never travel with grey water coz it stinks so always end up brimming the fresh whilst at the service point, the black gets dumped whilst I'm at it aswell
Agreed dunnah01 and if you open the cab windows when driving it just sucks the smell towards you. you only do it once. Smelled worse than black waste!
 
OP
OP
Cush
Mar 14, 2020
538
442
Isle of Man
Funster No
69,394
MH
Autotrail Cheyenne
Exp
Since 2015, still learning
If we’re taking our pushbikes I’ll only put in 45lt of our 70lt capacity. Max capacity if no bikes.
We’re usually on a site with drinking water taps nearby & I’m still fit enough to walk about with a 20lt load (y)
But out Motorhome is a little un. Along with the 70lt fresh water tank, we’ve only got a 40lt grey tank. 🤷‍♂️
I also enjoy the refill ritual when low on water. Best hack I have for that is using the end section off a domestic downspout to act as a funnel. It fits the filler opening perfectly and let’s you pour quite quickly.

83C0130E-FB16-4082-A70C-1D086F080E88.jpeg
 

suavecarve

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 18, 2009
7,160
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Surrey/Hants
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8,035
MH
Rollerteam 685
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July 09
Never travel with grey water coz it stinks so always end up brimming the fresh whilst at the service point, the black gets dumped whilst I'm at it aswell
Thats a fair to medium point which was well raised. Leave the tank open when travelling after opening.
Makes it less likely to smell and annoys some to think that grey water droplets will cause the end of the world

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Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
50,056
137,620
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
Leave the tank open when travelling after opening.
Not good practice as the as there is quite a bit of water still in the tank unless you have air suspension or hydraulic Jack's so you can tilt the van to drain the tank properly.
If I empty my tank level then tilt the van on the air another 10 - 20 Lt comes out.
 

Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
50,056
137,620
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
But out Motorhome is a little un. Along with the 70lt fresh water tank, we’ve only got a 40lt grey tank.
That would make using a van like that difficult off grid. Our last van only had a 100 Lt tank I always carried another 40 Lt in the garage.
 

suavecarve

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 18, 2009
7,160
36,908
Surrey/Hants
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8,035
MH
Rollerteam 685
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July 09
Not good practice as the as there is quite a bit of water still in the tank unless you have air suspension or hydraulic Jack's so you can tilt the van to drain the tank properly.
If I empty my tank level then tilt the van on the air another 10 - 20 Lt comes out.
I ll practice some more then (y)
 

jumar

LIFE MEMBER
Nov 6, 2012
3,450
10,053
Spain
Funster No
23,578
MH
Hymer Tramp
Exp
Since 1994
Payload...our full tank weighs 120kg...we carry adequate to get the trip started...top up as we leave for the next leg of a journey....never had problems finding fresh water....
For drinking we carry a container of water from home which is filtered, don't drink from tank... anything ever been said before on this...?😃😃😃👍🇪🇦
 

Puddleduck

LIFE MEMBER
Jan 15, 2014
12,214
42,687
Scottish Borders
Funster No
29,703
MH
SunLiving Lido M45SP
Exp
On and off for many years.
Payload...our full tank weighs 120kg...we carry adequate to get the trip started...top up as we leave for the next leg of a journey....never had problems finding fresh water....
For drinking we carry a container of water from home which is filtered, don't drink from tank... anything ever been said before on this...?😃😃😃👍🇪🇦
Pretty much what we do!!!

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Apr 27, 2008
11,702
13,620
Eastbourne East Sussex
Funster No
2,327
MH
Hymer low profile
Exp
Since 1972
Always full water and empty grey if possible. Of course not everywhere has facilities to fill and empty so sometimes have to drive with some grey. The sloshing about in the grey tank probably gives it a bit of a clean.
 
Feb 15, 2014
685
1,168
cambridgeshire
Funster No
30,113
MH
Bessacar E450
Exp
3 years
Fill to the overflow of my 60l and by time of arrival quite a lot has sloshed out.
first time out with my bessacar i filled to brim, got to site and was down to 3/4 of tank, overflow is at front of tank and must have been loosing water everytime i braked so i fitted a one way valve to pipe so air can go in but water cant get out, so now have hatch and top of tank open and fill to brim for start of trip
 
Dec 19, 2020
2,926
6,813
The salty bit of Hampshire
Funster No
78,519
MH
Carthago Compactline
Exp
Since 2017
Full fresh plus 25L in the garage. Grey gets dumped at every opportunity. I also leave tap open but only a litre or two might drain out.

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PP Bear

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 5, 2013
7,299
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Kent, UK
Funster No
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MH
Auto Trail Dakota SE
Exp
2012
Full fresh plus 25L in the garage. Grey gets dumped at every opportunity. I also leave tap open but only a litre or two might drain out.
Been known to have an extra 80 lts under the bed when off grid. I reduced it to 40 lts as the norm, which is what I’ve got at the moment.

Cant have enough fresh 👍🏻
 
Feb 16, 2013
18,956
46,931
uttoxeter
Funster No
24,713
MH
ambulance conversion
Exp
50 years
This is where the watering can comes into its own, if we are near a tap, just nip out while Julie is doing something else and fetch a can full so we are always full.
We only have a seventy ltr tank so we have to keep an eye on it, but it will last us three days from full, but I also have four 20 ltr cans under the seat which doubles our capacity but don't use them if there is other available.
I have a short hose with a submersible pump on the end and poke the hose through the window straight into the tank.
Similar fill them with the filling hose so I don't have to lug them about.
Toying with the idea of taking them out and putting one big tank in their place, but as they are I can move them about.

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Jul 13, 2019
75
98
Milton Keynes, UK
Funster No
62,386
MH
Hymer Bclass ML 780T
Exp
Since 2003
Always leave home with a full tank and fill up as and when needed. Never noticed any handling difference between full, empty or points in between. I guess there must be some hit on fuel consumption, but never noticed it.
Whilst I will empty the grey tank whenever opportunity arises, I have never had a smell problem if opportunity does not arise. But always keep the plugs in the sinks and shower drain. Maybe emptying the tank immediately after driving helps prevent build up of gunge.
 
Feb 16, 2013
18,956
46,931
uttoxeter
Funster No
24,713
MH
ambulance conversion
Exp
50 years
Yeah that's another thing, always empty the toilet at every opportunity then we know we can last three days minimum 6 water if I use my reserve, gas and electric I can manage without but water and emptying is an absolute must .
 

funflair

LIFE MEMBER
Dec 11, 2013
18,888
28,967
Guisborough
Funster No
29,351
MH
MORELO palace
Exp
since 2012
Usually travel full as it stops a half load banging about inside the tank, we might not feel it in the van but I bet the tank feels it ;)that aside though 360 litres of water over the rear axle helps the ride when the garage is empty.

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