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Traveling with full tank(s)

michigander

michigander

Active member
I have a 2021 Paradigm 310RL.

Is this designed to allow you to travel with full tanks?

I know I would have to be aware of GVW limits, etc.

This is more of a convenience thing for filling fresh water at home, or emptying grey/black tanks at home.

Thanks.
 
Oregon_Camper

Oregon_Camper

Forum Admin
Staff member
Great question!! Our last RV had a 60 gallon fresh water tank and we would fill it prior to leaving home as we boondock about 90% of the time. We are getting a 340RL and that has a 96 gallon fresh water tank....that might be a bit more than I want to carry at ~768 pounds.
 
D

darrell

Well-known member
Alliance will tell you it is designed to carry all of the tanks full while traveling. I have only seen 1 report of a tank coming loose (either on FB or here, not sure which) and that was due to being installed incorrectly IIRC.
 
Oregon_Camper

Oregon_Camper

Forum Admin
Staff member
darrell said:
Alliance will tell you it is designed to carry all of the tanks full while traveling. I have only seen 1 report of a tank coming loose (either on FB or here, not sure which) and that was due to being installed incorrectly IIRC.
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thanks...great info :)
 
Keysandstops

Keysandstops

Active member
When we travel, we put a little in the fresh water tank for when we need to stop along the highway for the toilet. We have filled the tank when our destination is without hookups. I realize the prevailing wisdom is to fill the tank when you get close to your destination, but I have no clue about the water quality at any place other than my home. I don't think I want to take a chance, even with a good water filtration system.
 
Oregon_Camper

Oregon_Camper

Forum Admin
Staff member
I think I saw an Alliance factory tour video, where it was shown how the tanks are supported with additional support beams that other mfg don't do. However, I looked, but was unable to find it. :(
 
J

Jimmy 2-Tone

Active member
We picked up our Delta 262RB last Friday and I didn't check to see how full the tanks were. After getting home and checking out the unit I checked the tank levels and both gray water, black water and fresh water were all full. That's 180 gallons or about 1,450 lbs. combine that with approximately 1000 pounds of gear. I did watch a video of "Josh the RV Nerd" does a factory tour that showed how the tanks are reinforced so I'm not worried about tank failure but I was over weight. Why the dealer would fill all the tanks is beyond me, maybe to test for leaks, but there is no excuse for not draining them. The dealer wouldn't setup the hitch off my old camper to the Delta because of liability issues but will send me out on the road overloaded. Come Tuesday someone is going to get an ear full.
 
C

Coacher

Active member
We often will drive for five days to reach a destination and usually staying at electric only sites. I'm not going to dump every day. I try to have enough fresh water for a couple days.

We're on the road for up to 8 weeks so we've learned to trust background water.
 
L

Lantley

Well-known member
I don't hesitate to travel with full tanks. I just refilled my fresh tank yesterday for an upcoming trip.
I always fill my fresh tank at home because I know the quality of my chlorinated city water.
While I will connect to the campground water I seldom fill my tank with CG water unless absolutely necessary.
 
C

Coacher

Active member
stanburnb said:
We are most timers, 10 - 11 months a year, and we mostly dry camp so I almost always travel with a full water tank.
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What's keeping you from full timing and is the one or two months in the sticks and bricks worth it?

We're about to face that decision.
 
C

Chaseweston

Well-known member
I've had the underbelly off on our valor to figure out how much was damged from a leaking gray tank and on our Valor, the fresh tank is fully supported with steel straps and I have no hesitation of traveling with full, even seems to help with lower center of gravity with that weight right above the axles.

our front Gray and Black benefit from the piece of angle that the propane quick connect hose crosses the width of the underbelly one. This runs across the midsection of both tanks supporting them from below.

our Kitchen Gray tank is only supported by the flanges on the top of the molded tank with no support from below. I do not like traveling with this tank full as I have seen how much it deforms (bellies out) just from the weight of its contents when full and stationary. I do not like the thought of the stress on the top molded flanges and the acceleration forces during travel bumps so I make sure to travel with this tank mostly fully drained.

Mileage will vary model to model but this i\s my experience.
 
S

stanburnb

Active member
Coacher said:
What's keeping you from full timing and is the one or two months in the sticks and bricks worth it?

We're about to face that decision.
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our home base is in CO, so it is an easy stop. We visit the dentist, doctor and I do any maintenance I don't want to do on the road. I do all my own maintenance and we mostly dry camp/boondock and our home base has a concrete pad. We pass in the spring for a couple of weeks and again in the fall for a couple of weeks. The fall stop is to allow us to vote. It is worth it to us. There is no badge of glory associated with being able to call yourself a full-timer, especially since most full-timers stay long term in places. We move every 5 to 7 days and have been travelling this way for 5 years now. Everyone travels differently and this works for us.
 
C

Coacher

Active member
stanburnb said:
our home base is in CO, so it is an easy stop. We visit the dentist, doctor and I do any maintenance I don't want to do on the road. I do all my own maintenance and we mostly dry camp/boondock and our home base has a concrete pad. We pass in the spring for a couple of weeks and again in the fall for a couple of weeks. The fall stop is to allow us to vote. It is worth it to us. There is no badge of glory associated with being able to call yourself a full-timer, especially since most full-timers stay long term in places. We move every 5 to 7 days and have been travelling this way for 5 years now. Everyone travels differently and this works for us.
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Our kids are spread across Texas so it's looking like we will continue to keep a Texas base for winters. We're just not certain if we want everything that comes with maintaining a house.
 
S

stanburnb

Active member
We find there is not much to maintain. Our house is about 900 feet built in 1888. The yard is xeriscaped has has a drip irrigation system. In the fall, I drain the water in the irrigation system and turn the water off to the house. In the spring, I turn the water back on. The thermostat in the house is set at 45 degrees. I have security cameras and temperature sensors connected to the internet and very good neighbors. The house is paid for so there is no mortgage. Our utilities, including internet, run about $125 a month and property tax is about $80 a month. Not much different than the cost of a storage unit. But everyone's case is different.
Coacher said:
Our kids are spread across Texas so it's looking like we will continue to keep a Texas base for winters. We're just not certain if we want everything that comes with maintaining a hous
Click to expand...
 
C

Coacher

Active member
Thank you for the insight. We are usually gone for two months during the summer and even with most of my landscaping being native plants it seems like I'm spending a month of free time trying to clean things up.
 
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