Vista Cruiser 23RSS - towing with a full water tank??

[Wayne0422]

Hello all,

Complete newbie to the travel trailer world. After several years of being backpackers, then becoming tent campers, and then using a popup trailer for the past 10 years, my wife and I finally went to the dark side and purchased our first travel trailer - a 2024 Vista Cruiser 23RSS. We intend on doing mostly boondocking-type camping, and so need to bring water with us to the campsite. We are looking forward to eventually (when we retire in a few years) driving across country with the 23RSS.

We won't be able to camp with it for another month due to work and family obligations, but I have a few questions in the meantime anyway that I'm hoping can be answered.

First, last night we were talking to our RV dealer (where the 23RSS is being stored), and we made a comment about filling up the trailer with water before leaving for camp. The dealer seemed shocked and said - you should never drive with a full tank! We said, well the place we camp has no water hookups and no electricity so we of course need to fill the tank first. He said, well, the sloshing water is a problem while you drive. Then he backed himself up and said, "the sway bar on the hitch should help with that though".

And so, my first question as a newby (I do have lots of other questions) - do any of you with Vista Cruisers (or I suppose other types of travel trailers, just not fifth-wheels) travel with full (or even half tanks) of water? I know to empty the tank before we leave the campsite to return home. But now I'm concerned about traveling TO the campsite with a full tank of water (or even a half tank). But that was one of our reasons we traded in the popup on a TT - so that we could actually have a bathroom and a shower, etc etc. But now I'm reading on the internet about horror stories of the water tanks falling off the TT while enroute to the campsite!!! WTF!

Thanks in advance for your help,
WW

[Bike Dr]

Hello
That sounds just crazy!!! I'm not sure of these newer TT's but I have had a few in the past years and have filled the tank mostly full to reduce sloshing of water in the tank. It will be more weight but less movement of water inside the tank itself. And never had a problem. If these newer TT fall apart that easy I most definitely would not want that TT.

Just my opinion!

Good luck!!

LIFE IS GOOD!!! LIVING IT!!!!

2005 41'4 ATRIUM SE CAT
2017 20' Diamond closed trailer
2014 Streetglide Special
2010 Mini Cooper 0r 04 H2

[Flower]

With our Vista Cruiser 19BFD we traveled from Tennessee to North Florida with a full tank of water one time with no problem using a WDH. I don't know where your water tank is placed in front or in back of the axle because you need to make sure you have enough hitch weight to prevent your camper from swaying. Our Vista Cruiser 19BFD has a single axle and our water tank is in the rear behind the axle so we needed to make sure we loaded the camper with enough weight in front to provide a safe hitch weight.

[Wayne0422]

Originally Posted by Bike Dr

Hello
That sounds just crazy!!! I'm not sure of these newer TT's but I have had a few in the past years and have filled the tank mostly full to reduce sloshing of water in the tank. It will be more weight but less movement of water inside the tank itself. And never had a problem. If these newer TT fall apart that easy I most definitely would not want that TT.

Just my opinion!

Good luck!!

LIFE IS GOOD!!! LIVING IT!!!!

2005 41'4 ATRIUM SE CAT
2017 20' Diamond closed trailer
2014 Streetglide Special
2010 Mini Cooper 0r 04 H2

Thank you for your response, Bike Dr. I know, right?! It does sound crazy to me as well! After doing a lot of research (including on this forum) I'm thinking that the dealer just believes personally that it's not a good idea, perhaps because of the risk of sloshing water and the lower gas mileage. He didn't say the tank would fall off (but maybe he can't say that for liability reasons, who knows?) I'll ask him again when we go for our "orientation" when taking possession of the Vista Cruiser. I get conflicting info on the websites as to just how large the freshwater tank is on the VC 23RSS - I've read 21 gallons and I've also read 27 gallons. The dealer said 35 gallons when I'd asked him, but I'm pretty sure that's not correct. Anyway, I'm going to travel with water and see how things play out - will post back if the tank falls off enroute!

[Wayne0422]

Originally Posted by Flower

With our Vista Cruiser 19BFD we traveled from Tennessee to North Florida with a full tank of water one time with no problem using a WDH. I don't know where your water tank is placed in front or in back of the axle because you need to make sure you have enough hitch weight to prevent your camper from swaying. Our Vista Cruiser 19BFD has a single axle and our water tank is in the rear behind the axle so we needed to make sure we loaded the camper with enough weight in front to provide a safe hitch weight.

Hi Flower, and thanks so much for your response. This is good information. Our tank is in the front, under the queen bed, well in front of the twin axles that the 23RSS has. Should we try to put more weight in the back then? Trouble is, the storage compartment is right in front of the water tank directly behind the hitch. All that's behind the double axles is the dinette, which doesn't weight much. We're having a new WDH put on which the dealer says will work for the 23RSS. I drive a 1500 Silverado 5.3 L engine, which is plenty big enough to handle the 23RSS which weights 4,200 with AC on it (but once again I get conflicting info on the weight - I've read 3,900 and also 4,200).

[Wayne0422]

[Flower]

You need to be mindful of the weight of the water you carry that needs to be deducted from your cargo capacity. You probably will have a label in one of your storage cabinets ours is in the kitchen cabinet that gives you your cargo capacity and the weight of a full tank of water. What I like about the Vista Cruisers is the water tanks are visable from inside the camper and you can see with your own eyes the amount of water in your tank. Most campers have their water tanks tucked up under the camper and your unable to see clearly the amount of water you have.

[Wayne0422]

Originally Posted by Flower

You need to be mindful of the weight of the water you carry that needs to be deducted from your cargo capacity. You probably will have a label in one of your storage cabinets ours is in the kitchen cabinet that gives you your cargo capacity and the weight of a full tank of water. What I like about the Vista Cruisers is the water tanks are visable from inside the camper and you can see with your own eyes the amount of water in your tank. Most campers have their water tanks tucked up under the camper and your unable to see clearly the amount of water you have.

That is more great info, Flower; thank you. I'll definitely look in the kitchen cabinets when I take possession of the RV for that info. And I agree - it's pretty nice to have the water tanks visible by lifting up the bed!

[KathyKerr]

I have a Vintage Cruiser 23RSS, exact same body style, and have traveled with tanks full, half full and almost empty, and never noticed a difference. The WDH we have stops most sway anyway, so I'd worry about that more. Never heard of the tanks falling off, especially because your water tank is located under the bed. If it ffell off, it would take your bed with it

[muleman]

Originally Posted by Wayne0422

Hello all,

Complete newbie to the travel trailer world. After several years of being backpackers, then becoming tent campers, and then using a popup trailer for the past 10 years, my wife and I finally went to the dark side and purchased our first travel trailer - a 2024 Vista Cruiser 23RSS. We intend on doing mostly boondocking-type camping, and so need to bring water with us to the campsite. We are looking forward to eventually (when we retire in a few years) driving across country with the 23RSS.

We won't be able to camp with it for another month due to work and family obligations, but I have a few questions in the meantime anyway that I'm hoping can be answered.

First, last night we were talking to our RV dealer (where the 23RSS is being stored), and we made a comment about filling up the trailer with water before leaving for camp. The dealer seemed shocked and said - you should never drive with a full tank! We said, well the place we camp has no water hookups and no electricity so we of course need to fill the tank first. He said, well, the sloshing water is a problem while you drive. Then he backed himself up and said, "the sway bar on the hitch should help with that though".

And so, my first question as a newby (I do have lots of other questions) - do any of you with Vista Cruisers (or I suppose other types of travel trailers, just not fifth-wheels) travel with full (or even half tanks) of water? I know to empty the tank before we leave the campsite to return home. But now I'm concerned about traveling TO the campsite with a full tank of water (or even a half tank). But that was one of our reasons we traded in the popup on a TT - so that we could actually have a bathroom and a shower, etc etc. But now I'm reading on the internet about horror stories of the water tanks falling off the TT while enroute to the campsite!!! WTF!

Thanks in advance for your help,
WW

That really show the intelligence of your average salesperson they do not know their job to responsibly give proper information. I have also read horror stories of tanks falling off when loaded. Never seen this but have read the stories. I have a 19 Rd and have logged a lot of miles dragging it behind me with a full tank of water in it. Tank Is under bed and the way it is in there really shouldn't be anyway for it to fall off. Unless maybe if your floor was totally rotten out. I wouldn't want it if we couldn't travel with it full. We don't do very much boondocking but we do some. But we do enjoy having our bathroom while traveling and being able to stop and eat lunch etc etc but mainly we might be on the road and stopping in road side parks and parking lots for 2 or 3 days before getting somewhere we are going and sure like our water as we travel. We have traveled some rough highways and backroads but I believe the highways take the most toil on our camper. I spent last 2 days doing maintenance from these travels and I did inspect but something I didn't have to work on was the water tank. I am just doing a estimate but off the top of my head I would say our Vista Cruiser has been pulled around 70,000 miles at this point and with a little maintenance from time to time hope to do another 70,000 with a full tank of water. Happy Journeys

[Wayne0422]

Originally Posted by muleman

That really show the intelligence of your average salesperson they do not know their job to responsibly give proper information. I have also read horror stories of tanks falling off when loaded. Never seen this but have read the stories. I have a 19 Rd and have logged a lot of miles dragging it behind me with a full tank of water in it. Tank Is under bed and the way it is in there really shouldn't be anyway for it to fall off. Unless maybe if your floor was totally rotten out. I wouldn't want it if we couldn't travel with it full. We don't do very much boondocking but we do some. But we do enjoy having our bathroom while traveling and being able to stop and eat lunch etc etc but mainly we might be on the road and stopping in road side parks and parking lots for 2 or 3 days before getting somewhere we are going and sure like our water as we travel. We have traveled some rough highways and backroads but I believe the highways take the most toil on our camper. I spent last 2 days doing maintenance from these travels and I did inspect but something I didn't have to work on was the water tank. I am just doing a estimate but off the top of my head I would say our Vista Cruiser has been pulled around 70,000 miles at this point and with a little maintenance from time to time hope to do another 70,000 with a full tank of water. Happy Journeys

Thank you Muleman - you (and KathyKerr) have definitely put my mind at ease, especially considering you both have Vista Cruisers. What you both say makes total sense, that the water tank is right under the bed so there's really not much chance for it to fall off (except if the floor is rotted as you said). Our dear old popup's water tank hung on for dear life, but we never had a problem with it (and often traveled with a full tank). Rock on and Happy Journeys to you as well.

[Wayne0422]

Originally Posted by KathyKerr

I have a Vintage Cruiser 23RSS, exact same body style, and have traveled with tanks full, half full and almost empty, and never noticed a difference. The WDH we have stops most sway anyway, so I'd worry about that more. Never heard of the tanks falling off, especially because your water tank is located under the bed. If it ffell off, it would take your bed with it

Hi KathyKerr - nice to hear from someone who has a 23RSS (I'm hoping to hear you reply back that you love it??) Glad to hear you've had no problem with the tank or the sway issues and what you say makes total sense. I didn't realize the tank was DIRECTLY under the bed (I thought it was hanging underneath the floor in the front). I'll check that out when we finally pick up our camper this Saturday. We're very excited to use our new baby (with a full tank of water, I might add).