Fresh water tank vs on-road handling
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
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: https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16467
Printed Date: 20 Sep 2026 at 3:36pm
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Topic: Fresh water tank vs on-road handling
Posted By: enaltrebor
Subject: Fresh water tank vs on-road handling
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2026 at 1:52pm
Hi, we are taking our 2024 RP116 on its first boondocking outing soon. We routinely empty the tanks on the way out of RV parks. We want to fill the FW tank at home for this next trip.
I didn't see baffles when looking through the translucent FW tank wall. Fluids slosh when cornering. (40 gal of gas in a retrofitted tank, with no baffles, can destabilize a light pickup.)
• Is sloshing of 250 gallons of water, low to the road, even a problem?
• If a problem, will the hitch stabilizer help? (It's a size up from the minimum required.)
• What other gotchas await us?
Thanks,
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Do not go gently into that flood light.
Rage, rage, against the dying of the night.
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Replies:
Posted By: Rpod-Couple
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2026 at 9:58pm
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Your fresh water tank should be 30 gallons, which weighs about 250 lbs. When the tank is full, it really can’t slosh much. And your trailer is probably 3000 lbs+. The water is less than 10% of the trailer weight. I tow with my fresh tank full with a mid-size SUV and haven’t had any issues with the water contributing to side-to-side sway. If anything, it adds weight on the tongue which makes for less side-to-side trailer sway.
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Steve & Elaine
2021 R-pod
2023 VW Atlas Cross Sport
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Posted By: enaltrebor
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2026 at 2:21am
Thanks
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Do not go gently into that flood light.
Rage, rage, against the dying of the night.
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 17 Jul 2026 at 1:56am
In our case, a 177, the FW tank is behind the axle. For 15 years we always leave with a full FW tank as we usually boondock and love our sweet well water. As long as there is at least 10% of your loaded trailer weight on the a-frame (tongue) you are good to go. A friction bar is utilized for added safety.
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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."
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