Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Dry Camping Travel with H20

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Dry Camping Travel with H20

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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11703
Printed Date: 19 May 2025 at 12:45pm
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Topic: Dry Camping Travel with H20

Posted By: jonskipro
Subject: Dry Camping Travel with H20
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2018 at 9:35am

Can I travel with 36 gallons in water tank to a campground up in the mountains. About 50 miles?

Jon

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Jon M

Replies:

Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2018 at 9:53am

Almost certainly, but it could depend on what you're pulling with, how steep the mountain roads are and maybe where your tank is located. If the tank is behind the axle you could have sway issues. That's 300 pounds of water. On level ground you probably won't know it's there.

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2010 176
FJ Cruiser

Posted By: jonskipro
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2018 at 10:01am

Cool.....thanks for the info!

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Jon M

Posted By: jonskipro
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2018 at 10:04am

Tars.

I'm pulling with Toyota tundra 5.7L V8 engine!

Jon

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Jon M

Posted By: Ben Herman
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2018 at 10:12am

Originally posted by jonskipro

Tars.

I'm pulling with Toyota tundra 5.7L V8 engine!

Jon

You should have no trouble with that much power. With my Ridgeline, I try to be more selective. For example, leaving tomorrow for a state park - called ahead and they have faucets I can use to fill up when I get there. Last two trips, no such luck so filled the tank before I left.

Posted By: ouRdogPod
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2018 at 10:40am

I had a Tundra with the same engine. That truck was a work horse and towed like a dream!

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RDOGPOD
2 Dogs and Us
2016 R-Pod 179
2015 Toyota Tundra

Posted By: geewizard
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2018 at 11:44am

No worries, I do it all the time and over rough roads in MT, ID, and WA.

If you don't have a weight/sway control hitch, I suggest getting one. I have the Andersen hitch and it works great.

https://andersenhitches.com/Catalog/andersen-nosway-weight-distribution-hitch.aspx - https://andersenhitches.com/Catalog/andersen-nosway-weight-distribution-hitch.aspx

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2021 Winnebago Micro Minnie 1708FB
2017 R-Pod 177 (Blue) HRE SOLD
2004 Outfitter Apex 8 camper
2014 Toyota Tundra DC

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2018 at 1:53pm

We always leave with a full tank of water in our 177. No problems with sway or climbing in the Rockies; we do however have a sway-bar link attached to negate this possibility. Have been doing it this way since 2011 pulling mainly with either a '08 or '13 Explorer

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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2018 at 3:18pm

though not always, on several ocassions i've towed with full water tank. I noticed litle difference, I did get some sway on a rough uneven road, but I think it was more road condition than the water. My black and grey are both before the axle and always have something in them, that help reduce the weight of the fresh water just behind the axle.

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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding

Posted By: FrayAdjacent
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2018 at 4:01am

I've heard it's best to fill it completely up, so the mass of water doesn't slosh around and cause sway. Dump grey and black before the return trip, and dump the remains of the fresh tank as well.

Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2018 at 12:12pm

I've run our 179 with a full tank of water, pulling with a 2012 Highlander with a 3.5L V6 and haven't really noticed any difference vs. no water in the tank. The gray tank is behind the axle on the 179 and the fresh tank is furthest forward.

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Alan
2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod"
2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4
Three cats

Posted By: Blender Bob
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2018 at 9:16am

I found with our 178 with a full tank of fresh behind the axle -- a bit of sway is introduced, but only nearing 65mph. I also found that adding more weight(camping gear) to the front, increasing tongue weight by 100lb, helps reduce sway a lot. I have read insufficient tongue weight can cause sway, so manage that aspect of loading. all in all, adding 300lbs to 2800lbs of trailer weight is not noticeable in pulling with my T.V.

I also use a classic blue water cube with the spigot replace by a 4 inch treaded pvc pipe as handy to add water I carry in the back of my truck, or pickup along the way.

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Bob
2015 Chevy Colorado Z71
2018 178 R-pod Hood River Edition

Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2018 at 11:46am

I have never noticed any difference in the movement of the trailer (sway etc.) with changes in the amount of liquid in any of the tanks. Whether the tanks are full, empty, or in between, black, gray or "potable," it seems to make no difference in how the trailer tracks. I try to travel with empty tanks as a general rule to save on fuel and wear and tear on my TV, but that is not always possible.

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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost