Traveling with water onboard (1 Viewer)

[Sdrawde]

I promise I did a search for this but couldn't find anything (which as I write this, makes me think the wording of my search criteria might be poor).

We don't have our Moho yet but I'm trying to cover as many learnings as we can do it's possible to just set off when we do get it. We have had caravans in the past so I'm aware of correct loading, but I like the idea off for a 'short ish' journey with some clean water on board, so do people do this?

The Moho we are getting will be a bare minimum of 3500 kg.

Thanks again from the Edwards crew of two.

 

[chaser]

I promise I did a search for this but couldn't find anything (which as I write this, makes me think the wording of my search criteria might be poor).

We don't have our Moho yet but I'm trying to cover as many learnings as we can do it's possible to just set off when we do get it. We have had caravans in the past so I'm aware of correct loading, but I like the idea off for a 'short ish' journey with some clean water on board, so do people do this?

The Moho we are getting will be a bare minimum of 3500 kg.

Thanks again from the Edwards crew of two.

Never travel without being as full of water as I can get in,

 

[GMLS]

We carry 1 or 2 10litre bottles of drinking water all the time (saves constantly purifying the main tank) and then fill up the tanks as required I.e 25% for emergencies and then 50% to 100% depending on duration of event and ease of getting top ups.

 

[WESTY66]

Always set off full water, and a few bottles of mineral water

 

[Mr porky]

Always full of fresh and no grey or black if possible.

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[tonka]

It will all depend on the van and it's payload. There are many 3500 that have such poor carrying capacity that filling a full tank would put you over max weight. Only way to know for sure is load up when you have the van and visit a weighbridge to see what you have spare.
I travel with a full 120ltr tanks and can last on average 4-5 days on a rally off grid but the van has the capacity to do it at 5000kg.

 

[Brains]

Here you go, an entire recent thread on the subject!
Here

 

[JJ]

No water = No life.

I always travel with a full tank of water.


JJ

 

[chaser]

No water = No life.

I always travel with a full tank of water.


JJ

You can manage without any of the other stuff in a van but if you have no water you are stuffed.

 

[Gingernuts]

I Take a full tank of our lovely soft Scottish water on every trip
When not in Scotland I fill up at every opportunity but don’t drink it! I buy a 5 litre bottle at aldi or Lidl for drinking wherever I am

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[Sdrawde]

I love this forum.
Thank you

 

[TinaLes]

Looks like you have already done some research on vans of up to 3500kgs and above and can see the payload advantages of vans of over 3500kgs, requiring a C1 licence
Never believe quoted MIRO payloads from manufacturers, always get a weighbridge cert before parting with any money, they are always exaggerated. most quote for only 25ltrs of stored fresh water 1.to keep weight down or 2. because some not all manufacturers fresh water tank baffles are not strong enough to stop the tank leaking or splitting whilst full & travelling.(check this out in van manual)
If you are staying on a campsite then no worries on getting water, just carry enough to flush the WC en route, save on weight, therefore diesel.
Some travel with full tanks as they dont want to have the hassle of finding a tap especially when travelling long distances in winter when a lot of Aires have no water turned on, while some like us only fill to about 25% which is 25 ltrs, enough to use the wc, and wash up the dishes, as we only drink bottled water for tea & coffee, especially abroad. We only brim the water tank if we are staying somewhere for a few days, having on board daily showers, and lots of washing up/laundry.

Hope that helps, we are all have different opinions on the need to have full water tanks on our travels.
LES

 

[Lenny HB]

All way travel with a full tank 150 Lt as you never known when you will be able to fill up next.

 

[LostInSpace]

You are right to be careful with the weight of a 3500Kg 'van.

We always use 5 litre bottles - availble everywhere - for everything, with just enough in the tank for daily use.

The Hymer Exsis-i 580 is magic for that as you can fill the tank from inside the 'van without having to remove anything other than the fresh water access cover.

 

[hja]

Leave home full. Between stops, depends. If going from site to aire with no facilities, fill before leaving. If water easy to get at next stop, just go with what we’ve got. Return home with what is in the tank, but try to be not very much.

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[Silver-Fox]

I always leave home full, 100lts.

Never carried bottled bottle and still around to tell the tale

I don’t use a food grade hose to fill either, just those expanding hoses

 

[Barclaybasher]

Full tank + 10l of tap water.

Having lived for a couple of years on a small boat, having to top water tank up from containers I am very careful about water use - even still at home!

 

[LostInSpace]

It's what some of the French do with the taps which puts us off.

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

I always set off full and would also refill at the site I was leaving even if going to another destination that had water.

 

[Zigisla]

Entirely depends on how you are going to use Moho. If only on sites or Aires that have known water then travel empty all the time. If travelling in the free spirit lifestyle many Moho owners do, then you need to be full as much and for as long as possible.

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[Orion]

Always fill to the brim before heading off as we never know when we might have the opportunity to do it again in some of the more remote locations - and leaving from home it’s with our lovely Mid Devon soft water!

For drinking water we keep one of those 5/6ltr containers of still water that are readily available from the supermarkets at less than €1, and decant it into the 500ml bottles that fit in the fridge using one of these:

Usually available for a couple of € from the supermarket or a China shop if in Spain.

 

[LostInSpace]

and leaving from home it’s with our lovely Mid Devon soft water!

Or Lake Vyrnwy water used to be lovely soft water. It probably still is, but we don't get it any more.

 

[VXman]

Depends on where you are going to stay. If off grid then definitely fill up. If you are off to a water equipped campsite then no point

 

[StitchUp]

Does the water affect the handling of the motorhome in any way? I remember doing my skid pan police driving course in a Cambridge with a tank of water in the boot - couldn't do more than 5mph around the bends

 

[Lenny HB]

Does the water affect the handling of the motorhome in any way? I remember doing my skid pan police driving course in a Cambridge with a tank of water in the boot - couldn't do more than 5mph around the bends

Full or empty never notice the difference.
Might be different if your tank is above floolvel. r

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[Sdrawde]

Entirely depends on how you are going to use Moho. If only on sites or Aires that have known water then travel empty all the time. If travelling in the free spirit lifestyle many Moho owners do, then you need to be full as much and for as long as possible.

So is it possible to know if an Aire has water in advance of arriving at it?

 

[Barclaybasher]

In Winter particularly it's better to have water on board as most taps on Aires will be switched off....

Edit - and campsites closed until you get to Spain

 

[Two on Tour]

So is it possible to know if an Aire has water in advance of arriving at it?

Park4Night, Searchforsites and the like will normally indicate if drinking water is available on an aire, but will it be working when you arrive is another matter.

 

[Orion]

Does the water affect the handling of the motorhome in any way? I remember doing my skid pan police driving course in a Cambridge with a tank of water in the boot - couldn't do more than 5mph around the bends

Don’t forget to factor in the bald tyres inflated to circa 90psi as well! Did you do the cadence braking in the days before ABS as well? Straight across the skid pan aimed at the perimeter wall and pumping the pedal for dear life!

 

[Zigisla]

So is it possible to know if an Aire has water in advance of arriving at it?

As Two on Tour said, you know of an aire has that facility, but latest review may let you know.
IE lovely place really quite, shame water not working or blocked or all facilities working.

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