We were advised to do this, during the winter I can understand this, but is it necessary during the summer months?
Do you really need to empty the hot water tank after every trip?
- Thread starter HomerMarge
- Start date
You would be best to empty, as it will be extra weight when towing and do you really want to use water that had been left standing the tank a month later?
i always do this,but its up to every individual.but it is extra weight,and,the water will be fresh,although its not direct drinking water from the heater.
Yes I had not really considered the weight aspect pointed out by yourself and CK. I think this alone makes my mind up that yes I should drain it each time. Thanks
I always empty mine at the end of each break(never on the grass) as it is usually a few months between each use.My system is drained by flicking open a tap in one of the lockers and it then drains from underneath,much to the amusement of the kids who say the caravan's having a wee! Oh to be young again.
Is that Ruth or is it Paul that is posting, it you could make it clear in each posting it would be nice as I wouldn't like to offend calling he and she and vice versa
It's not just the extra weight that you will be towing, it is the design of the mountings which are fine holding 10 litres of water in a stationary position,, but totally different dynamics when you are throwing it around corners.
I alwyas empty mine although I have been guilty of emptying it onto the grass in the past. Never thought about the impact of all that hot water actually killing the grass. Genuine lack of thought on my part. I will now empty once we get onto the road.
I alwyas empty mine although I have been guilty of emptying it onto the grass in the past. Never thought about the impact of all that hot water actually killing the grass. Genuine lack of thought on my part. I will now empty once we get onto the road.
Hello P & R
I concur entirely with Zbungle. From practical testing of caravans, you would be amazed at the stress and strain put on many fittings inside a caravan whilst towing. Surprisingly, the spectacular low frequency up down motion from the suspension is not as destructive as the high frequency energy generated by the forward and back motion through the tow hitch coupling.
The Cascade 2 and "GE models both have a substantial foot between the tank and the floor (provided it has been installed correctly which can support the weight of 9 litres of water but it would provide little support against the shimmy effect from the tow hitch motion.
I would recommend you drain each trip.
I concur entirely with Zbungle. From practical testing of caravans, you would be amazed at the stress and strain put on many fittings inside a caravan whilst towing. Surprisingly, the spectacular low frequency up down motion from the suspension is not as destructive as the high frequency energy generated by the forward and back motion through the tow hitch coupling.
The Cascade 2 and "GE models both have a substantial foot between the tank and the floor (provided it has been installed correctly which can support the weight of 9 litres of water but it would provide little support against the shimmy effect from the tow hitch motion.
I would recommend you drain each trip.
Some of us have to! I tow with a normal car, rather than a large 4x4. The only way I can get the nose-weight down to 75kg is by draining the hot water tank before every tow; I also have to use small 2x 3.9kg gas bottles and a lightweight battery as I won't resort to overloading the end wardrobe (as recommended by one major manufacturer).
To prevent your comment from the stirring the futile 4x4 argument up again, I'd like to add that you've got to watch the maximum permissible noseweight that the caravan allows, never mind the car, and that may also be 75kg.
I tow with a large 4x4 but that is irrelevent, my concern is that carrying 14kg of water in the heater means that I cannot take any beer without exceeding the allowable weight, the water goes....no contest!
Hello Rod,
I don't know which model of water heater you have, but if it is a Carver Cascade, then you must be using Heavy water! Most water heaters have a 9 litre capacity and each liter of water weighs 1Kg. (basic metric standards) Some models of Truma had 14L capacity perhaps yours is one.
Interstingly, the coating that Carver used on the inside of the Cascade was derived from the brewing industry (who use aluminium Barrels) so why not keep your beer in the cascade?
Have fun
I don't know which model of water heater you have, but if it is a Carver Cascade, then you must be using Heavy water! Most water heaters have a 9 litre capacity and each liter of water weighs 1Kg. (basic metric standards) Some models of Truma had 14L capacity perhaps yours is one.
Interstingly, the coating that Carver used on the inside of the Cascade was derived from the brewing industry (who use aluminium Barrels) so why not keep your beer in the cascade?
Have fun
Hello Alistair,
Perhaps you are luck and have more tha enough payload capacity in the caravan, but for some people the margin can be quite close. The extra 9 or 14Kg must add to you fuel consumption.
And as I have implied in earlier replies the mass of water under motion can compromise the security of the tank seal.
Better to be safe than sorry.
Perhaps you are luck and have more tha enough payload capacity in the caravan, but for some people the margin can be quite close. The extra 9 or 14Kg must add to you fuel consumption.
And as I have implied in earlier replies the mass of water under motion can compromise the security of the tank seal.
Better to be safe than sorry.
Having towed six different vans over a 20 year period I can scarcely believe I am reading this debate! I constantly see vans with lockers, cupboards etc stuffed full of all kinds of things, plus tables, chairs, bicycles, awnings, even full size BBQ's on board and we are discussing emptying a hot water tank!!! If anyone is so close to the max payload that a water heater full of water causes a problem then something else is drastically wrong with the outfit match.
The police (or is it VOSA?)are now stopping caravans and using portable stress guages to measure the weight at each wheel and the jockey.
My neighbour was stopped and found to be 200kg overweight and was not allowed to continue until his son arrived and transferred items to his car to reduce the weight to that on the plate.
After this, I bought a Reich Weight control and found mine to be 130kg overweight, also there was a large difference between the axles.
This was with no food or clothes in the van but the 50 litre on-board tank and 14 litre water heater were full. Emptying these balanced the weight across the axles and by transferring items such as the awning ground sheet etc. to the car, the caravan can now be legally towed.
This situation was brought about by having a motor mover and a Supermule fitted. I have now, regretfully, removed the motor mover and sold it to allow for more allowance for other items.
Out of interest I checked my son's Avventura and this was 300kg overweight!
My neighbour was stopped and found to be 200kg overweight and was not allowed to continue until his son arrived and transferred items to his car to reduce the weight to that on the plate.
After this, I bought a Reich Weight control and found mine to be 130kg overweight, also there was a large difference between the axles.
This was with no food or clothes in the van but the 50 litre on-board tank and 14 litre water heater were full. Emptying these balanced the weight across the axles and by transferring items such as the awning ground sheet etc. to the car, the caravan can now be legally towed.
This situation was brought about by having a motor mover and a Supermule fitted. I have now, regretfully, removed the motor mover and sold it to allow for more allowance for other items.
Out of interest I checked my son's Avventura and this was 300kg overweight!
Your findings don't surprise me one bit, Rod. It's amazing how quickly the kilos (or pounds) add up when loading the 'van. I've been caught by the police myself with being 130kg over the limit for the 'van. Fortunately, after draining the remaining water from the tank and moving a large cooler filled to the brim with food to the back seat of the car I was allowed to continue without a fine (although I was probably still over the limit then). Caravan manufacturers must take a bit of the blame though, too. There are too many models on the market with max. payloads of under 200kg, which IMHO is plain unrealistic to meet the needs of a family of 4.
Hi Lutz
your quite ight,mine is a 6 berth and we regularly take 6 people,and a payload of just 170kg!!
your quite ight,mine is a 6 berth and we regularly take 6 people,and a payload of just 170kg!!
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