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easywind · 01-18-2011, 09:08 PM

Have a 83 Holiday Rambler travel trailer and we absolutely love it. However we have a gray water leak that we have been unable to find for 1 year. The underside is enclosed by a belly pan. I'm at the point where I want to rip it out so I can find the source of the leak but being relatively unschooled about these things I'd like to find out what the pourpose of the pan is and would it be ok to pull it off. I know if pulled I will never be able to reinstall it. Any thoughts are appreciated.

RVhauler · 01-18-2011, 09:28 PM

Most but not all TT/5er's belly pans are fastened with screws. Also most of the pans are installed in sections. Usually a two person job to remove and re-install. Some older TT had a fiber board belly pan which was anchored up in the frame and has to be cut out

easywind · 01-18-2011, 09:49 PM

Thanks for the quick answer, I see that the pan is installed in sections but the question I asked was what is the purpose and would it be ok to pull it off. Knowing that the trailer is 28 years old and I thought I had this problem solved 3 times already.
Just trying to find out if it's really stupid to remove it.

Ray,IN · 01-24-2011, 10:32 PM

The main purpose is to protect the holding tanks from cold temperatures. A secondary purpose is to streamline the underside air flow. If you never plan to camp in freezing weather you may remove the belly pan without any repercussions

adehaan86 · 10-16-2012, 11:54 AM

I have a enclosed belly on my RV as well. Does that automatically mean it can handle colder temps? I have water lines in with the storage compartment. The storage compartment does not have heat going to it.

dgrant09 · 10-16-2012, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adehaan86

I have a enclosed belly on my RV as well. Does that automatically mean it can handle colder temps? I have water lines in with the storage compartment. The storage compartment does not have heat going to it.

I would say no - one would need a heat source in the belly area. Either the tanks or the complete area.
I have seen heated tanks - never owned these - our belly in our new trailer is heated when the main heater is on (Cougar)..
Our last trailer had no heat in the under belly and it did well with temps into the upper 20's.. Never tried to camp any colder.. Boy those floors were cooooool..

adehaan86 · 10-17-2012, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgrant09

I would say no - one would need a heat source in the belly area. Either the tanks or the complete area.
I have seen heated tanks - never owned these - our belly in our new trailer is heated when the main heater is on (Cougar)..
Our last trailer had no heat in the under belly and it did well with temps into the upper 20's.. Never tried to camp any colder.. Boy those floors were cooooool..

Do you know on a older model how to tell if the heating heats the tanks?

wingnut60 · 10-17-2012, 10:16 AM

Heat in the underbelly on an older model would be rare. It is usually accomplished by have an opening in a furnace duct into the inclosed area. More modern/higher end units now have heat pads on the tanks run off electricity.
In either case, no heat unless the furnace is on or hooked to electricity.
Joe

adehaan86 · 10-17-2012, 10:40 AM

Is there a way to check without tearing belly apart? My RV is a higher end RV. Just they went under that's why no one hears of them anymore.

wonderer1 · 10-17-2012, 10:42 AM

one of the uses of belly pans is to clean up the air going under your vehicle. (turbelence) reducing drag and increasing fuel milage. question is how much does it help?? since you sound like your going to have yours off, if you have time and $, make a run with it on and then with it removed. I know that's a lot of fuel. like i said if you have the time and $. i'm also curious how good they work. semis now have their fuel tanks shrouded, but i haven't seen belly pans on them.

jesilvas · 10-17-2012, 07:40 PM

Come on, just take off the underbelly. It's not nearly as bad as you think. And there is NO way to fix a leak without taking it off if the leak is under there.
Just pull loose screws up to a certain point from one end, and then just fold the wrap under itself until you can get to what you need.