FRESH WATER IN TANK WHILE TRAVELLING.

[Mtbcol]

Hello friends. When we had our self build campervan we used to fill our fresh water tank right up (40litres) now we have the Burstner we have 120 litres. We'll be mostly on campsites and aires when we head of to France on Sunday. I've read that it's best not to travel with a full water tank due to Extra braking distance, fuel economy etc.which if course is correct, but on the whole, how easy is it to find water around France ? ( we're heading to Annecy), this is only our second trip in Europe, so we're looking for advice please. Also what do people recommend as an amount if not to fill the tank up, I'm thinking 60 litres?

Thank you

Colin.

 

[SimonM]

I have a 180ltr tank, and I keep that full as long as I can. The main difference is I do not use campsites etc.

 

[Mtbcol]

Thanks Simon. We never used to in the UK but starting off slowly in Europe to see how it goes

 

[mark61]

I'd be surprised if an extra 60 kg of water will even add a metre to your braking distance. Might increase fuel consumption by 1 or 2 %

But, if staying on campsites and aires, you'll be able to top up every night stop.

 

[Mtbcol]

Thanks mark. I guess looking on line has involved some AI responses

 

[mark61]

Still, it makes sense to travel as light as possible. No point carrying litres of water around the country, when they'll be some where you are going.

 

[alcam]

Thanks Simon. We never used to in the UK but starting off slowly in Europe to see how it goes

Usually easy to get water all over France . To be honest if you don't tend to use campsites in the UK you'll find even less need in France

 

[bartman]

It is easy to get water in France as has been said. For instance, there is an aire at Annecy shown on the WC app which is free to stay and the water is free. However, in my experience where the water is free, in order to prevent wastage and misuse the tap is usually of the type where a button has to be pushed and held. Not very convenient. Also at some places there are risks of contamination where the drinking water tap is too close to the cassette rinsing. The app I have found most useful in conjunction with the WC app gives all this information and reviews, and also includes paid aires and sites. I don't think I'm allowed to mention the name but it is useful if you need to "search for sites"! There is a small annual fee, but it's well worth it

 

[r4dent]

100 L of water weighs 100kg which will be an increase of 100 / 3000 = 1/30th = 3% in the weight of your vehicle.

To accelerate or climb the energy required is related to the vehicle mass, and so fuel consumption will increase by 3% (in practice by less than 3% because more energy will be used overcoming air resistance) Typically thei will be a reduction of under 1 mpg.
To maintain a constant speed fuel consumption is not related to mass,
To brake requires the brakes to dissipate 3% more energy.

Conclusion, travelling with a full tank is the better solution.

 

[YeoBlade]

We always fill up whenever possible, we normally not sure where we'll be next. 13 yrs doing it this way has meant we have never run dry! Aires or wilding when in France.

 

[colinm]

Water is very easy to find in France, so if you are using sites no reason to change. It's only the last couple of decades the UK has started to catch up with the numbers of 'motorhome service points', when we first started using French campsites it was a eye opener how they where so much better set up for motorhomes.

 

[Mtbcol]

It is easy to get water in France as has been said. For instance, there is an aire at Annecy shown on the WC app which is free to stay and the water is free. However, in my experience where the water is free, in order to prevent wastage and misuse the tap is usually of the type where a button has to be pushed and held. Not very convenient. Also at some places there are risks of contamination where the drinking water tap is too close to the cassette rinsing. The app I have found most useful in conjunction with the WC app gives all this information and reviews, and also includes paid aires and sites. I don't think I'm allowed to mention the name but it is useful if you need to "search for sites"! There is a small annual fee, but it's well worth it

Thanks bartman, I'll have a " search for that site"

 

[Mtbcol]

100 L of water weighs 100kg which will be an increase of 100 / 3000 = 1/30th = 3% in the weight of your vehicle.

To accelerate or climb the energy required is related to the vehicle mass, and so fuel consumption will increase by 3% (in practice by less than 3% because more energy will be used overcoming air resistance) Typically thei will be a reduction of under 1 mpg.
To maintain a constant speed fuel consumption is not related to mass,
To brake requires the brakes to dissipate 3% more energy.

Conclusion, travelling with a full tank is the better solution.

Wow! . Thank you r4dent, I'm glad you added the conclusion. Full tank it is then

 

[GMJ]

It's horses for course for us.

If I know where we are going to has water on/near the pitch, then I'll travel light. But if we are having a longer driving day I'll carry more water so as not to have to sort that when we stop.

 

[Mtbcol]

Once again thanks everyone for the advice. I think the decision has been made on this occasion at least, by the weight of the clothes my wife is taking with us, so it won't be a full tank this time

 

[barryd]

I did read that if you are going to travel with water travel full or nearly empty as a half full tank with maybe 50l or 50kg worth of water will slosh about a lot and as it weight 50kg could be damage the tank. It was probably in a motorhome manual so could be utter tripe.

If you're not pushing your payload and 100l of water is easy to get where you currently are then travel full.

 

[YeoBlade]

The tank on my van has a travel level drain down, so if the drain valve in opened to the first stop, it drains to leave 20l of water, recommended for travelling with. I don't observe this!

 

[YeoBlade]

I did read that if you are going to travel with water travel full or nearly empty as a half full tank with maybe 50l or 50kg worth of water will slosh about a lot and as it weight 50kg could be damage the tank. It was probably in a motorhome manual so could be utter tripe.

If you're not pushing your payload and 100l of water is easy to get where you currently are then travel full.

Yes they should fit baffles in the tank, but don't. I ca hear our sloshing about sometimes as its inboard unlike the swift

 

[mark61]

Yes they should fit baffles in the tank, but don't. I ca hear our sloshing about sometimes as its inboard unlike the swift

Yes, you'd like to think any reasonable size tank in a MH would have internal baffles, guess some don't though.

 

[marchie]

We travel with 30 Litres minimum if we don't stay on a site (10 Litres automatically passes into the water heater). Occasionally use the 'reduce water to 20 Litres button' which I think is a MIRO standard, with usual caveats. If in Spain, we can drop into the supermarket and spend less than 2 euros on 2 x 6 Litres of freshwater, when we refill diesel, and then have 2 containers for aire/site tap runs. Same in France but water might cost near to 3 euros

Steve