FRESH WATER IN TANK WHILE TRAVELLING.

[RichardHelen262]

We always travel with a full tank, it’s only equivalent to one good sized adult weight wise, I have never noticed any difference in performance or fuel economy either way

 

[Sharon the Cat]

We always travel full. That way we can decide to stop in the middle of nowhere for a few days if the fancy takes us. We do this wherever we are.

This time of year in France, you won't have any problems at all. In winter, water in unattended places is often switched off to stop pipes freezing.

 

[TJBi]

If you are able to comply with your weight limit with a full tank, no problem. I tend not to fill the tank at every aire with a service point, but reckon never to go below 1/3 of a tank if I can avoid it. On this trip, unusually, I came across two aires in succession where water supply was a problem. At the first, a free supply that had been working the evening before produced nothing but gurgles the following morning. I wanted to be on my way, so did not contact the mairie. At my next stop, the premises supposedly supplying tokens for water were either closed or out of tokens. It was third time lucky!

 

[Mtbcol]

If you are able to comply with your weight limit with a full tank, no problem. I tend not to fill the tank at every aire with a service point, but reckon never to go below 1/3 of a tank if I can avoid it. On this trip, unusually, I came across two aires in succession where water supply was a problem. At the first, a free supply that had been working the evening before produced nothing but gurgles the following morning. I wanted to be on my way, so did not contact the mairie. At my next stop, the premises supposedly supplying tokens for water were either closed or out of tokens. It was third time lucky!

We can do it with about 50 kg in hand

 

[r4dent]

.If in Spain, we can drop into the supermarket and spend less than 2 euros on 2 x 6 Litres of freshwater,
Same in France but water might cost near to 3 euros

Not that much more in UK

This is Iceland , most supermarkets have similar.

 

[Canalsman]

Not that much more in UK

This is Iceland , most supermarkets have similar.

View attachment 152255

Save the planet a little bit by not using plastic that you don't need to...

 

[TJBi]

<snip> 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

In France, I can get a 100-litre tankful for free in some places, €2 in many others. Makes your €2 for 12 litres look a bit expensive. To say nothing of the environmental cost (plastic, transport...).

 

[Sharon the Cat]

Is that the country or the supermarket? Genuine question.

Not that much more in UK

This is Iceland , most supermarkets have similar.

View attachment 152255

O

 

[r4dent]

Not that much more in UK

This is Iceland , most supermarkets have similar.

View attachment 152255

Is that the country or the supermarket? Genuine question.

O

Two clues
a) Iceland (the country) is not in the UK
b) The currency in Iceland (the country) is the Icelandic Króna (£1 is over 160 Kr.)

 

[marchie]

In France, I can get a 100-litre tankful for free in some places, €2 in many others. Makes your €2 for 12 litres look a bit expensive. To say nothing of the environmental cost (plastic, transport...).

The point is that one doesn’t *need* to carry full water - a 12 litre top up from the supermarket will get you out of trouble when all else fails. It's not price, it's need, and 2 euros is neither here nor there; and not dependant upon time of year, albeit, you do need to buy during store opening hours

Steve

 

[r4dent]

albeit, you do need to buy during store opening hours

Steve

So you're not a scouser then

 

[zzr1400tim]

I always travel with a full tank of water.. especially in France where filling up can be a nightmare sometimes as a lot of sites do not have the threaded outlets on their site taps (you have to hold the button down while filling the Aquaroll) so whenever possible I use a hose and top up the tank
I dont care about a little bit less MPG or stopping distance .. never exceed 60mph anyway

 

[jann]

We prefer
A full tank of water
A full tank of diesel.
An empty grey water tank
An empty toilet.
A full fridge and larder.
Then we can stop whenever we want.

 

[Beechowl]

Funny enough just started to think more about this recently. If we are going somewhere with easy access to water I don’t fill up when leaving a site, unless I’m down to a quarter tank. If we are going somewhere uncertain I fill up. We like to be able to have water on board and available when we are likely to be wild camping for a couple of nights. Nice to have at least half a tank when travelling in my opinion. Virtually all of the sites in France are very well equipped in my experience and many of the aires are geared up for it as well.

 

[gabby82]

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.

Took my Motorhome round the far north of Scotland and Sky as we came out of lockdown. Kept the water and fuel tank full most of the trip. It was a learning curve as previously been a caravaner for many years. I guess the hilly terrain was unhelpful but fuel consumption dropped from around 24 mpg to around 12mpg. I now only take a small amount of water when travelling and top up when in the vicinity of my destination.

 

[Geek]

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,

You can read all manner of rubbish on the web. I'm guessing thst your motorhome weighs a bit more than 3000kg with you in it.

Adding another 60kg of water will add another 2% or less - not enough to make a detectable difference to anything.

The only caveat is that if, fully loaded, your van is approaching its maximum weight, those 60kg might tip the scales past illegality, but there again, if you are only 2% over, nobody would bother.

We have lovely soft water at home and prefer to use it. Our tank is big enough for two weeks, so short trips manage on home-filled water.

Water quality standards are better followed in France (they didn't privatise) so their water is generally more trustworthy than UK water, but that doesn't guarantee softness.

I suggest you find something else to worry over, and just fill the water right up every time.

 

[Geek]

We prefer
A full tank of water
A full tank of diesel.
An empty grey water tank
An empty toilet.
A full fridge and larder.
Then we can stop whenever we want.

You forgot:
Empty bladder
Empty bowels
Full windscreen washers
Inflated tyres

 

[mark61]

Took my Motorhome round the far north of Scotland and Sky as we came out of lockdown. Kept the water and fuel tank full most of the trip. It was a learning curve as previously been a caravaner for many years. I guess the hilly terrain was unhelpful but fuel consumption dropped from around 24 mpg to around 12mpg. I now only take a small amount of water when travelling and top up when in the vicinity of my destination.

24mpg reducing to 12 mpg is a massive drop. Outside of having a 5000 litre water tank, I'm going to suspect a typo, or faulty calculator.

 

[iandsm]

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.

I travel either full or 50% water and more importantly empty toilet. Should, God forbid, you have an accident, breakdown or some other issue that stops you driving you will very much regret an empty water tank and/or a full toilet.