profdant139
Southern California
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Joined: 11/14/2005
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I'm about to reveal my ignorance of how the water heater really works, so brace yourself: we are going to do some boondocking and I want to carry as much water as possible. I read somewhere that I could carry an extra six gallons by filling my water heater.
Here is my question -- isn't it already full? I don't drain it when I get home after a trip -- we use it often enough that I just turn it off, park my trailer, and then fire it up the next time. Does it drain itself in the meantime? Is there anything I can do to make sure it is really full of water when I leave?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
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hwybnb
Southern California
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Joined: 05/02/2001
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The water heater tank fills automatically unless you have a bypass system that is on. It will remain full until you use all of the water in your main fresh water tank, After that point water drawn from the hot water tank will no longer be replenished. You could use it as "extra" cold water for drinking etc if you turn the heaeter off.
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Flyfisherman128
Broadalbin, NY
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Joined: 08/09/2005
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You dont actually get an extra 6 gallons. Once the main water tank is empty the pump stops pumping and the water tgat is in your hot water tank is stuck there. I guess if you were really inclined to do so, you could pull the drain plug and get water from there.
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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actually you would "lose" 6 gallons if it was empty to start and you filled it up, like flyfisherman sez, unless you drained and caught it directly from drain point. so you would have to fill your fresh water tank and fill the hot water heater and top off tank again.
bumpy
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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The water in your hot water tank already IS part of your water capacity. If you want to carry EXTRA water the easiest way is to purchase a few of those 6 gallon plastic jerry cans from Walmart for about $4.00 each. They have a pour spout to make it easy to empty the water into your FW tank and they're pretty easy to store in the tow vehicle.
2004 F-150 HD 3,050 lb. payload
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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rockhillmanor
On the Road
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Joined: 12/06/2003
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profdant139 wrote:I'm about to reveal my ignorance of how the water heater really works, so brace yourself: we are going to do some boondocking and I want to carry as much water as possible.....
Thanks in advance for your advice.
The horse people have solved this problem of dry camping and extra water needs eons ago.
We travel in MH's and LQ's so we have the same concerns as any other RV'er.
Here is a link to a catalog for portable water tanks to take along when camping. They come in all sizes and can fit in a corner or to fit in a truck or on top on a rack.
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_search_results.html
This one is the corner model, a 'real' space saver in an RV.
Rock
31 ft Four Winds
We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
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bearsnob
Oregon
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Joined: 03/04/2004
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skipnchar wrote:If you want to carry EXTRA water the easiest way is to purchase a few of those 6 gallon plastic jerry cans from Walmart for about $4.00 each. They have a pour spout to make it easy to empty the water into your FW tank and they're pretty easy to store in the tow vehicle.
I remember when they were 4 bucks. Now they're twice that, but still a great deal. Get them asap because they will run out of them as we get closer to MD weekend.
Bill, Carol & Striker The Cat
2005 Everest 323k
1989 Ford F-350 Crew Cab, 460, 5 spd, 4.30 axle
Everest owners: check out the Everest Owners Club.
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