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Old 05-09-2015, 07:55 AM   #1
DonandBonnie
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Join Date: Jun 2006
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M.O.C. #5906
Boy, do those tanks sag

In another post we've been discussing a search for a water leak in our shower gray tank. To start the search we had to remove the belly cover on the bottom of the trailer. In light of several recent posts with concerns about completely emptying and cleaning the holding tanks we thought we would share our observations.

The holding tank drain system is in the end of the tank, not the bottom. A full tank sags more than two inches below the lowest point of the outlet pipe. As the tank empties the sag does lessen, but even an empty tank sags a half to one inch below the lowest point of the discharge pipe. So what does this mean? When you dump your tanks never completely empty. The bad news with that is that you probably will never get all of the gunk to drain from your tank. The good news is that the liquid that doesn't drain will slosh around as you go down the road and hopefully dislodge any stuck on solids that can drain out the next time you dump. Hope this info is helpful to some.
 
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Old 05-09-2015, 08:50 AM   #2
1retired06
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That is why when we are going to leave the unit in storage or parked for any length of time we flush twice, second time filling the tank via the old fashioned hose in the toilet method.
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Old 05-09-2015, 09:23 AM   #3
richfaa
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That sag is what kills tanks. It will break the inlet pipe or split the tank around the inlet pipe. We are having a flex inlet pipe and unde the tank s trapping added when our two leaking tanks are replaced.....But as folks here like to say. It is a minor or minimal problem.
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Old 05-09-2015, 03:45 PM   #4
oldelmer1
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On our last day out, I flush the black tank real good, then I lift up the front of the camper using the level up. I am amazed at what comes out when I do this. I let the flusher run for a couple of minutes then close the valve and open the shower tank.

Then lower the level up, and do the same for the galley tank.
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Old 05-10-2015, 01:15 PM   #5
waynemoore
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I have never looked at how the tanks are installed and just what holds them in place. But would it be posable to reinforce the supports with say marine plywood? Or additional straps?
Well I guess I had better clime under there and take a look. Maybe I can do something to make sure that I don't have any problems. At the very least I would have an idea of how they are installed.
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Old 05-11-2015, 02:57 AM   #6
ReneT
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I had the same issue with my Montana High Country so one day I decided to pull down the belly. I ended up by shoring up the bottom side of the tanks with planks and 2" X 4"'s. I also put another cross member across the bottom side to also help support the tanks.
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Old 05-11-2015, 03:32 AM   #7
richfaa
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This is what was ordered .....

296265 - Tank - Holding - 28" x 70" x 8" - End Drain (HT 543)

169237 - Tank - Holding - 24 x 63 x 9 – RH (HT 541)

**both must be from Amerikart**



303728 - Crossmember - C-Channel - 1" x 2" x 1" x 68" - (12 ga) – HTXM (support bars)



240219 - Valve - Term - Abs - 1 1/2" H x 1 1/2" S - w/72" Cable

240223 - Valve - Term - Abs - 3" H x 3" S - w/72" Cable

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Old 05-13-2015, 01:41 AM   #8
Chip
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Which tanks are they?
Who is repairing?
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Old 05-13-2015, 03:53 AM   #9
richfaa
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Chip ..black and galley our dealers is doing the repair. Those part numbers are for OUR model Montana and may be different another model.
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Old 05-15-2015, 05:23 AM   #10
richfaa
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Very good news.. The parts ordered by our dealer arrived on time by UPS and a visual check by the service dept verifies that ALL the parts are there and they are ALL the correct parts .Again Steve Holmes and Nicholis Cotner at Keystone were very helpful it making sure this happened. Appointment May 18 for repair.
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Old 05-16-2015, 10:14 AM   #11
bigred715
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Good luck Rich. My trailer still in shop waiting to get hubs turned for installing new brakes. The service manager said he only strapped the galley tank on both ends and said it was too restrictive to put any in the middle. Said the tank needed room for expansion and was arguing about the expansion joint in drain line. We talked about that at the first when I mentioned it was recommended by the Montana forum. Said he would talk to tech about that. Beginning to have doubts about my dealer who I bought from. They replaced the last galley tank and did not strap or put the expansion joint at that time. He said this new galley tank has much wider flange around top and should not move around. We will see.
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Old 05-16-2015, 01:12 PM   #12
richfaa
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He is right about needing room for expansion. When the strapping is installed the tank will not sag so the liquid that was in the sag has got to go somewhere. It will push the liquid in the tank up therefore the need for the flex tube at the inlet. I will never let the tanks fill again as a caution. We will dump every three days and leave the galley/gray tanks open except to fill them maybe 1/2 full before we dump the black tank.
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