Water

Wind resistance is a much bigger factor than the approximately 50 lbs of water in the water heater. I agree that leaving it full is best. Quantity of water in the fresh water tank is a different question as to the amount to carry. We travel with a full FW tank since we do tend to stay at places without hookups while we are enroute to a destination.

Originally posted by lgblau Everyone, evidentially, missed the whole idea that I was relating to. It had nothing to do with the operation, and or maintanance of the water heater. I simply asked if anyone drained their tank to save on the weight. Sorry if I somehow confused my post. 😎

We did go off on some tangents, but I think we mostly got your point and the answer is no, no one worries about that extra 50 pounds.  It makes no discernible difference to your MPGs and if you are calculating your weight with regards to your towing limits that carefully, you should probably be looking for a larger TV. 

I was listening to Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers, once when a listener asked whether driving with your headlights on (during the day) caused one's gas mileage to go down. His brother insisted it would.  Of course the Magliozzis laughed and said no, but then they got into one of their "yeah, but" discussions.  They allowed as how there is no such thing as a free lunch and yes, the extra electrical load on the alternator would cause the engine to use slightly more power (= gasoline).  Short of some big fancy MIT white board calculations though, they guessed that 2 identical cars driving across country, one with lights on and the other off, assuming identical driving conditions, etc., the car without lights might use a dollar less in gas.  

50 pounds of water would probably cost more than leaving your lights on, but still, it would take a pretty sharp pencil to calculate how much more.  If your time is worth anything, you probably aren't going to come out ahead draining the water heater.  And you could end up spending more on Teflon tape than you'll save on gas.

TT

I check the anode rod necessarily every time I sanitize, which is about once a year. I might do twice a year depending on how long the Pod has been sitting idle.

I figure it'll last this season and then need to be replaced. When I sanitized this spring, half of it was down to the central steel rod but the other half still had considerable magnesium remaining.

I will join the chorus and keep is short and simple.  No, I do not drain for the reasons the above posters gave.