Adding Second 20 gal Water Tank

[hingarfi]

I am close to buying a 2004 3023 with 20 gal fresh water tank. I am aware that they can be ordered with 40 gal fresh water tank(s). Does anyone have experience/knowledge regarding adding a second 20 gal water tank to a 3023 (or other model)? Your comments and suggestions will be appreciated. As a pending boondocker, this water seems important.

[grill-n-go]

I am not aware of anyone who has a 40 gal fresh water tank and I may be stating the obvious. Based on the "leave not trace policy", I think that following math may be of help.

Freshwater tank 20 Gal.
From Walmart: 3 water jugs of 6 Gal. each = 18 Gal.
Fresh water total: 38 Gal.

All that goes into a 30 Gal gray water and one 10 Gal blue tote.
Total gray water capacity: 40 Gal.

This does not include the 6 Gal in your hot water tank

I don't know where you want to go for how long, but it gives you the water you want and a place to for it at all times.

[PopBeavers]

I have a 40 gallon water tank in my 2005 TM 2720. I like it that way. For 2-3 people for a weekend I don't need it all. But for 6 adults for 4 nights plus visitors when dry camping it is a lot more convienient that 20 gallons in bottles. Since we consume half of it we don't even come close to filling the gray tank.

[RockyMtnRay]

Since water weighs 8.3 lbs/gallon, 20 gallons of water adds 166 lbs to your trailer's weight. Worse, it's all added to one side and mostly to just the weight on the street side's wheel/tire.

A 3023 with 5000 lb axles (2500 lbs per side) and 15 inch tires (~2100 lbs rated) might be able to handle the weight of 40 gallons (332 lbs) setting on one side of the trailer.

However, a typically equipped 2720 (AC, spare tire, awning, swing tongue) with the stock 3500 lb axle (1750 lbs per side) and 14 inch tires (1860 lbs capacity) is overloaded on the street side with a filled refrigerator, charged toilet, filled hot water tank, and a filled 20 gallon tank (I know...I've had mine weighed on a per-wheel basis with this load). Add 166 lbs more from a filled 2nd fresh water tank and the street side suspension/tire will be substantially overloaded/prone to catastrophic failure.

[ripp1202]

Look at my post I added a 20 gal. tank to my 3023 :new_evil: The Rip

[hingarfi]

Ripp1202:

Re: Your post adding second 20 gal water tank to 3023. I am probably an idiot but I searched for your post and could not find it. What am I doing wrong? I even went to google and searched for ripp1202 site:trailmanorowners.com

Any help will be appreciated

[Larry_Loo]

Ripp's thread about adding a 20 gal. water tank is here:

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2353

If you know the name of a poster, one of the ways to find a message he's posted is to left click on the name and select "find all posts by ___." Then scroll down until you find the posted message you're looking for.

[hingarfi]

Thanks Larry

Unfortunately, as a trial member, I can not access this post.
http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2353
However, it sounds like the tank can be added. When I buy the 3023 (next week) and become a member of the forum, I will see how ripp1202 did it.

Murphy does me in again :-)

[MikeD]

I agree with Ray's caution concering extended travel with a filled 40 gallon tank. We ordered our 2720 with a 40 gallon tank, and while we don't travel with it filled, many campgrounds offer a potable water station (usually next to a dump station). We typically stop and fill up our tank before driving to our campsite. When we get to the campsite, we fill the hot water heater (6 gallons), and toliet (about 3 gallons), leaving around 30 gallons - just the size of our grey water tank. It sure beats running back and forth to get fresh water.

Mike