Empty Trailer

johnnyv · 04-03-2021, 08:02 PM

When pulling 21ne home from delivery hub, should we fill water tank for some weight ? 4 hour drive. Thx !

HABBERDABBER · 04-03-2021, 09:16 PM

Why haul more weight, and increase braking inertial momentum?

Do you have a reason to have do so? If so, do so. If not, don't.

johnnyv · 04-03-2021, 09:37 PM

ok sounds good. Works for me. thx

Brian B-P · 04-03-2021, 11:03 PM

Even if added weight were desirable, for stability it would need to be at or ahead of the trailer's centre of mass, so roughly at or ahead of the the leading (front) axle. The waste tanks are up there, but the fresh water tank is behind the axles in all Escape models - filling the fresh water tank will reduce the stability of the trailer.

johnnyv · 04-04-2021, 07:47 AM

ok thx. Will pull empty.

johnnyv · 04-04-2021, 08:28 AM

Is their a minimum tongue weight ?

sherminator · 04-04-2021, 09:17 AM

The generally accepted minimum is 10% of your trailer's total weight.

UncleTim · 04-04-2021, 09:45 AM

Speaking of our 5.0, I never tow it without full fresh water. The trailer handles way better and seems to be more balanced with full water. I realize the two trailers work on differing principles. So this doesn't apply to a 21.

Greg A · 04-04-2021, 10:02 AM

I don’t know about the tow characteristics of a 21, but when I tow any distance I make sure I have at least 1/2 a tank of water. I can’t tell you the number of times we had to pull over and use the trailer bathroom that has been following us. Having to overnight unexpectedly in a Wally, truck stop, or Cracker Barrel, if the tank had been empty we wouldn’t have been happy campers.
You never know what you may encounter, and if the trailer isn’t fully prepared for any situation it will find a way to bite you.
I’d recommend full propane tanks and water before you head out, even for a short 4 hour pull, then you can handle anything that may arise, especially in these times of COVID.

johnnyv · 04-04-2021, 10:02 AM

uh huh, that's what i,m talking about.

C&G in FL · 04-04-2021, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleTim

Speaking of our 5.0, I never tow it without full fresh water. The trailer handles way better and seems to be more balanced with full water. I realize the two trailers work on differing principles. So this doesn't apply to a 21.

I rarely tow my 5.0TA with water in the fresh water tank and have not noticed any difference in handling full, partially full, or empty. But I carry an Arizona Iced Tea gallon jug full of water for emergency toilet flushing when enroute. And I do put a couple of gallons and tank treatment in the black tank before departing.

Perry Butler · 04-04-2021, 10:33 AM

We rarely travel with more than half full black or grey tanks, much less full, but every camper we've owned has gone down the road with a full tank of fresh water, not half full, but full.

Enjoy,

Perry

splitting_lanes · 04-04-2021, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg A

I can’t tell you the number of times we had to pull over and use the trailer bathroom that has been following us.

I’d recommend full propane tanks and water before you head out, even for a short 4 hour pull, then you can handle anything that may arise, especially in these times of COVID.

Funny and sound advice!

pkgman51 · 04-04-2021, 11:42 AM

I remember some years ago when we picked up our 19 how the trailer bounced around when completely empty. Putting some weight, our stuff plus some fresh water, in the trailer produced a dramatic reduction in bouncing around.

emers382 · 04-04-2021, 12:12 PM

I certainly had no problem with bouncing when I picked up a sticky trailer for my son in IN nearly a thousand miles from here. He bought it at a place which sells repossessed equipment. I had no idea how this type of trailer would tow but was surprised at the lousy gas mileage coming home. He later told me both black and grey tanks were full

Mike Lewis · 04-04-2021, 01:20 PM

Partially full tanks can slosh around and cause instability when towing. I've had this happen to me. So tow either full or empty. I think Escape recommends this as well.

Brian B-P · 04-04-2021, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleTim

Speaking of our 5.0, I never tow it without full fresh water. The trailer handles way better and seems to be more balanced with full water. I realize the two trailers work on differing principles. So this doesn't apply to a 21.

The water tank is placed the same in the 5.0 and 21', so adding water to the fresh tank certainly hurts stability of both trailers (although as Carl mentioned it may not be noticeable, especially with the 5.0). If the 5.0 "feels better" by adding water, the truck is apparently having difficulty handling the pin weight of the trailer without water.

Perry Butler · 04-04-2021, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

Partially full tanks can slosh around and cause instability when towing. I've had this happen to me. So tow either full or empty. I think Escape recommends this as well.

Enjoy,

Perry

Jim Bennett · 04-05-2021, 07:15 AM

I have never worried about tank levels while towing for the last 30 years, and have never had any issues at all. This is with two stick built and two Escapes. I do prefer the grey and black empty as there is no reason to have anything in the tanks under way, and prefer at least enough fresh water to ensure adequate for the journey and even extra, and often just tow with a full tank if not headed to a campground with water hookups.

For the OP towing 4 hours home, I would not worry at all.

johnnyv · 04-05-2021, 07:18 AM

Thank you Jim.

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