Full FreshWater and Towing

[Lamar]

In March we are transitioning to an Oliver from a Rockwood Mini-Lite.  The Mini-Lite, and our previous Travel Trailers, had freshwater, grey and black tanks suspended below the frames with bracing on the side and below to keep in place.  We rarely traveled with more than a few gal of freshwater because of the potential damage to the metal braces with the weight and movement of the water.  We did experience this type of damage on one of our trailers. This has led us to waste water by dumping fresh water at times prior to taking off on a travel day.  That was frustrating.  I know the Oliver's tanks are inside of the outer hull and above the frame structure.  They are also place along the center lines of the trailer versus side to side or square.  I can't find anything in the forum that speaks to this, but I may just be missing it.  

My question is, "can you travel with either full or partially full water tanks without damaging the hull or frame structure"?  I understand that Weight distribution must take the weight of the water into account, but as far as structure, what is your experience and recommendations?

soon to be a new Oliver Owner,

Lamar

[topgun2]

Lamar - 

There are several places here on the Forum where you can see pics of the location of the fresh water tank (and grey/black tanks).  I believe that these pics will generally confirm your idea of the placement for these tanks.

Another consideration (for more than one reason) regarding the tanks is the depth of the tanks - they are not very tall but they are relatively wide and long.  The good news is that this helps with the weight distribution of the contents - keeps the weight low and more evenly distributed over the frame relative to other RV's.  The bad news is that the Oliver can be a bit more subject to its "level" - if the Oliver is slanted towards the nose, it will drain the tanks somewhat more slowly than other RV's.

For what its worth - I generally try to not tow relatively long distances with anything in my tanks.  This is not due to problems with either the frame or body of the camper, but, more weight due to the water is certainly not going to help with the MPG on my tow vehicle.

In the pic below you can see the fresh water tank (on the left) and its relation to the wheel wells and front door.

Hope this helps you!

Bill

 

Edited December 30, 2025 by topgun2
added detail

[topgun2]

p.s.  Of course I have assumed that you are getting an Elite II.

Bill

[Steph and Dud B]

We often tow with a full fresh water tank, often for long distances. No problem at all.

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, Lamar said:

My question is, "can you travel with either full or partially full water tanks without damaging the hull or frame structure"?

Certainly! We always travel with our fresh tank full whenever we leave home or leave campgrounds with good fresh water, thus allowing us to boondock the next few days. And we tow down steep mountain descents and on washboard dirt roads! 

We often tow back home with gray and black tanks near full, and fresh half full, since the RV dealer near home has a free dump station. We keep our Oliver bathroom and kitchen functional 100% of the time! Chris will NOT use a public bathroom during our Oliver travels.

We like to have what we need to be off hookups for 7-10 days. We certainly have enough electric. We carry an extra 35 gal fresh water in the truck bed. We find the limiting factor is the gray tank fills first (as soon as we shower). Good thing out west it's legal to dump gray in BLM and FS lands (drain gradually when >500 ft from other campers and water sources). 90% of Arizona is 500 ft from a water source!

Yes, fill up and tow your Oliver tanks full, NP! 😎

[Geronimo John]

1 hour ago, Lamar said:

My question is, "can you travel with either full or partially full water tanks without damaging the hull or frame structure"?

In my experience:  YES and NO:  

• Yes if you are traveling on paved roads or do gravel roads or dirt roads at a reasonable speed.  
• No if your are going off road and qualify for membership into the 10% group that NEED 3500 pound springs.  Then I suggest draining the black and gray tanks before heading into suspension hell.  Also carry full Fresh Water (FW) only needed when boondocking.  These thoughts are to reduce tire issue.

48 minutes ago, topgun2 said:

For what its worth - I generally try to not tow relatively long distances with anything in my tanks.  This is not due to problems with either the frame or body of the camper, but, more weight due to the water is certainly not going to help with the MPG on my tow vehicle.

My thoughts exactly for the black and gray tanks.

For the fresh water, I always travel with enough fresh water for a couple of days for my rest stops.   This may range from full FWT to half full depending.  Like TopGun, it is MPG and convenience related.  But also just in case I'm unexpectely stuck somewhere with a problem/weather and no FW source.

GJ

 

Edited December 30, 2025 by Geronimo John

[Ray Kimsey]

I have 2020 Elite 2 and over 40,000 miles on our trailer with no problem towing with tanks full or partially full.

 

 

[jd1923]

29 minutes ago, topgun2 said:

The bad news is that the Oliver can be a bit more subject to its "level" - if the Oliver is slanted towards the nose, it will drain the tanks somewhat more slowly than other RV's.

Took me a few outings to learn this. At a campsite, I level using the LevelMatePRO and keep the nose up 1/2" or more. This allows you to utilize a greater % of the fresh tank before the water pump takes air.

When dumping tanks I raise the front +2". Why is it that at 2 out of 3 dump stations the nose is down? And then I drive in the other direction and it's the same thing!

The other thing I've learned is the gray tank being on the right/curbside, drain pipe exiting to the streetside, it often will not fully empty if that side is down. I will raise the curbside jack so that it's +1" at least to fully empty the gray water.

[Geronimo John]

TopGun:

Great pictures.  Thanks for posting.

What is the white plastic "Mat?" to the right of the FWT?    Do you have a pic of the Gray and Black tanks as well?  

Is the plywood only for manufacturing or is it left to support the flooring?

thanks,

GJ

Edited December 30, 2025 by Geronimo John
Added questions.

[Geronimo John]

14 minutes ago, Ray Kimsey said:

I have 2020 Elite 2 and over 40,000 miles on our trailer with no problem towing with tanks full or partially full.

Some 100,000 miles or more too.

But then a few have experienced sub-frame welds being broken.  May or may not be related to full tanks weights.  May just be unicorns.  Or maybe just a few 10%ers that need 3500 pound rated springs.  

Regardless, I think 90% or more of us can agree that less weight for MPG and stress on the trailer would be beneficial, not harmful.   But carrying some FW is a good idea.

GJ

[John Dorrer]

We always travel with a full fresh tank

 We like to start with our home water. We have a water softener and high performance filter system that goes with us.

 

We tow with an F250 6.2 gasser.

 

The tanks are installed between the the bottom two shells. The area is insulated and heated by the furnace. As noted in TopGun's photos.

 

Rest at ease. Those tanks aren't going anywhere.

 

[Mike and Carol]

9 minutes ago, Geronimo John said:

Some 100,000 miles or more too.

We’ve got over 110,000 miles towing usually with a full fresh tank and black and gray at various levels depending on dump availability.  No issues and I don’t see much difference in mpg if I happen to have less than full tanks.  Mike

[topgun2]

2 hours ago, Geronimo John said:

Is the plywood only for manufacturing or is it left to support the flooring?

Mfg only - it saves wear and tear on the tank and insulation let alone safety underfoot for the workers.

2 hours ago, Geronimo John said:

What is the white plastic "Mat?" to the right of the FWT?

No real idea - other than they didn't have another piece of plywood?

 

2 hours ago, Geronimo John said:

Do you have a pic of the Gray and Black tanks as well?  

I'll take a look but I can't put my finger (mouse) on it right now.

Bill

[Lamar]

Thank you all for the info.  I typically will tow with my Yukon.  Seems to get 10 to 12 mpg no matter how I'm loaded 🤨 .  All of your responses are very helpful as are the Pics Topgun.  I can certainly understand the 10% back roads thing.   More than once I had to re-attach my dinette seating to floor on my first Travel Trailer.  I also have been know to hike back looking for my stinky slinky!  Thanks.

[Steve and MA]

2 hours ago, Geronimo John said:

What is the white plastic "Mat?" to the right of the FWT?    Do you have a pic of the Gray and Black tanks as well?  

This picture shows the end of the mat under the tank. Makes sense for draining. I don't have a picture showing the black tank, but it would be just outside of view at the lower right corner.

[jd1923]

When I see these pics, it makes me sick thinking how easy it would be during assembly to use some decent rigid or semi-rigid quality air ducting! I've replaced ours as far as I can reach, the originals were full of holes everywhere along the bottoms. 🙃

Edited December 31, 2025 by jd1923

[Rivernerd]

16 hours ago, jd1923 said:

When I see these pics, it makes me sick thinking how easy it would be during assembly to use some decent rigid or semi-rigid quality air ducting! I've replaced ours as far as I can reach, the originals were full of holes everywhere along the bottoms. 

Good point with regard to older Oliver trailers.  Our Hull #1291, late 2022, came with the Truma Varioheat furnace, which includes semi-rigid ducting throughout.  It is much more durable than the flimsy ducting shown in the manufacturing photo posted by Steve & MA.  See photo below.

[Geronimo John]

Great pictures for sure.  Thank you for posting.

GJ

[topgun2]

Here's another pic of the grey water tank - from the rear of the Ollie.  The plywood covers most of the tank but the drain can be seen.

Bill

 

[jd1923]

Here's a picture of our hull showing the gray tank waste valve, joining the main waste drain, coming from the right from the black tank. For reference, look top-center of picture to see the carriage bolts of the streetside stabilizer jack. The gray tank will only fully drain when the curbside is positive in height wrt to the streetside.   

After 2 1/2 years, I have a few thousand Oliver pics showing every before and after picture in doing my restoration work. This one was taken after replacing three (3) Oliver waste valves. 😎  

Edited January 1 by jd1923
typo

[John and Debbie]

On 12/30/2025 at 12:34 PM, Steph and Dud B said:

We often tow with a full fresh water tank, often for long distances. No problem at all.

We do also as our water from home is good quality.

John