Black Tank Repair

[Lindaxtwo]

Took our rig to Settle's in Virginia this morning to get the black tank leak checked out. Found two cracked areas. One on the lower corner and other at the connection. The really scary thing was that when they removed the underbelly, both supporting straps on the grey tank had broken. Seems to me that two is too few to hold it in place. Thank goodness the metal lip was around the tank. A new tank is being ordered but sounds like it won't get to Settle's till end of next week. Gonna be a long week !!

[davydee]

Heck no, take advantage of the situation! You're right next to Shenandoah National Park. Eat a meal or two at Big Meadows Lodge and at Skyland. Take a walk down White Oak Canyon and Dark Hollow falls. Isn't there a winey just across the road from Settle's Amissville lot? Drive along I-66 until you get to the first metrorail station, ride it in and enjoy the Capital mall and the Smithsonian. There's also a Smithsonian museum near the Dulles airport. And at least make Bubby cook a dinner or two for you! Go visit Middleburg, VA and see what old horse money looks like. You're only a couple of hours or so from Gettysburg, PA. Harrisburg's got a good cinemax. Monticello is just south of you about an hour so so away. I'm told Mt. Vernon has a new visitor's center you could visit. Then there's the Marine Museum at Quantico, VA. OK, so Williamsburg is packed and maybe you should pass on that. Stay off I-95 on the weekends. However, Amissville & Flint Hill beat the heck out of being 13 miles west of the center of the 48 contiguous states. Good luck!!!

[MonacoMama]

Linda & Linda...I am glad you were not on the road traveling and found out "the hard way" about a bigger black tank problem. Good Luck getting it fixed sooner rather than later.

Davydee...That is some great information! You could start up a tour guide business on the side!

[rockintom]

Thanks Linda for keeping us up to date. All my straps were broken too. I believe they are too light (guess maybe 32 gauge) for the job they have to do. I may be overkill but I put heavier straps (22 gauge plumbers strap) and used #14 lag bolts to secure. I was blown away of how much the tanks flex and bow when full. Unbelievable! So I decided to add 2 additional straps on the grey tank. Supported it a lot better and I feel much better in the future life of the tanks. Good luck girlfriend! Take a look at my thread on grey tank leak. If you haven't already done so, check out my pix on the link I've attached in that thread. rockin'

[Lindaxtwo]

Thanks all for your thoughts. We drove two hours north to Linda's family homestead to hang out till middle of next week so probably won't get a chance to do your tourist suggestions, Dave but great info for the future when we are in that area and want to check things out.

Tom: Did you run the strapping only lengthwise or did you put some across the width of the tank too to help the "bulge" in the middle ?

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindaxtwo Thanks all for your thoughts. We drove two hours north to Linda's family homestead to hang out till middle of next week so probably won't get a chance to do your tourist suggestions, Dave but great info for the future when we are in that area and want to check things out. Tom: Did you run the strapping only lengthwise or did you put some across the width of the tank too to help the "bulge" in the middle ?

http://albums.phanfare.com/4218260/4...ageID=71837523

Again Linda go out to my Phanfare site and view the slideshow. I used four straps lengthwise with plastic tubing to isolate the strap from the tank where the tank comes in contact at the bends (ends of the tanks) You will see the tank with three straps (both full and empty) and the tank full with three staps and then full with 4 straps. I think the photos will answer alot of your questions. rockin'

[HB Phil]

Wow, that's graphic. Even with 3 straps it looks over-stresed. No wonder the corner cracked, specially with no straps.

After seeing that I'll always dump before traveling. Is it the same for the freshwater tank too?

[rockintom]

Phil,

The fresh water tank is mounted in an angle iron surrounding frame set up. The actual tank is clean and it bulges on all sides when it has water in it. After seeing this set up close and personal, I am reluctant to travel very far with more than a half tank of water. Just my opinion... rockin'

[BookIIRoadtrash]

Rockin, I really think that when a tank is full while traveling it’s not going to have much movement as to a half filled tank slouching the liquids.

[motojavaphil]

We have some friends with a HiLo trailer that love to remotely boondock. They filled up and went over a rough road to get back to civilization. Needless to say they broke their tank and are replacing it. I think in general keeping low levels and not sressing the tanks are a good idea on any rig. I know I do not like to travel with too much in the tanks. Phil

[HB Phil]

This definitely poses preoblems for boondockers who need to travel, either with full fresh water tanks traveling in to a spot, or, with loaded waste tanks when departing and getting to the next dump station.

From those pics of Tom's tank, I'll be concerned with just campground speed bumps going 1/2 mile to the dump station, no less down bouncy roads in and out of a remote boondock spot.

[motojavaphil]

The other part of this is that the failures tend to be the exception and not the rule. I wonder what is needed. Thicker tanks, better retaining straps, a combination thereof? I know my friends HiLo needed extensive work since the black water came into the living area. I know that a simple fender bender can turn into a bio-hazard area when these tanks let go. We do it for fuel tanks, seems my like they would grace the poop tank with some armor as well.
Phil

[rockintom]

HPD,

I hear you on the sloshing bit....and agree, but I still contend that half is better than a full tank tank....think about the weight. If our grey tank was full of plain water it a would weigh about 460 lbs in round numbers. That's a lot of weight to be bouncing up and down the road.

To others,

After jacking with the holding tanks....it's in my opinion that beefing the underside supporting system with heavier straps would probably be the answer. When the straps stop supporting the under side of the tanks, they hang from the sides and the tanks get stretched out of shape, stress the tank lip area and that's when the trouble begins!

[davydee]

...and the final results?