How Many Tanks Have Failed?

[JandC]

I don't think there has been a poll on this subject, at least not recently. But there seems to have been a lot of posts recently on the subject.

Model/Year?
Which tank(s) failed?
Did they drop down, and if so could you see them sagging underneath?
If they didn't drop down, did they just start leaking?

08/22/14 UPDATE/SUMMARY:


From responses posted, it looks like 10 black tanks failed and 18 gray. As you can see the oldest model year that reported a tank failure was 2002, and the newest year posted was 2013. It seems like more gray tanks fail than black. I don't think any conclusions can be drawn from this very small, hit and miss sampling reference holding tank failures. Over 800 forum members read the topic and related 28 tank failures, some with multiple tanks failures on same unit. So does that possibly mean that for every 100 Montana units on the forum 3.5 out of 100 will have tank failures?

2002 Models: 2995, 3655 (1 black and 3 grays)
2004 Models: 3650, 3685 (2 black and 1 gray)
2005 Models: 348, 3670, 3400 (2 black and 1 gray)
2006 Models: 3000, 3400 (2 black and 3 grays)
2007 Models: 3000 (3 black and 4 grays)
2008 Models: 2955, 3400 (3 grays)
2009 Models: 3400 (2 grays)
2013 Models: 3402 (1 gray)

[Loui]

Model/Year? 3685fl/2004
Which tank(s) failed? Black tank
Did they drop down, and if so could you see them sagging underneath?
If they didn't drop down, did they just start leaking?

Cracked at a corner right near the outlet.
I was able to use JB weld epoxy patch to make a repair.
That was 2 years ago so far it has held.

[Art-n-Marge]

Model/Year? 3500RL/2006
Which tank(s) failed? Propane tank
Did they drop down, and if so could you see them sagging underneath? does not apply
If they didn't drop down, did they just start leaking? valve failed, couldn't refill. Occurred second time I tried to refill.

Oh, I'll bet you meant the grey, black or fresh water tanks....

[Rob Walters]

2008 3400RL Gray (Galley) Tank, no sag, cracked just under the outlet. Repaired with ABS repair kit last year. No further problems so far (knock on wood).

[1retired06]

Since our first Montana bought new in 2002, we have had one grey tank failure, split at the seam, discovered when the tank dumped into the underbelly. Repaired myself. That is it.

[Art-n-Marge]

1retired06 - what kind of repair did you do for a tank that split open at a seam?

[WeBeFulltime]

2008 3400RL and 2012 3585SA = zero tank problems.

[steelpony5555]

My galley gray tank split open sitting in a camp ground. Was empty for the trip there and gushed out in a couple minutes when it got almost full. Tank replaced under extended warranty.
2006 3000RK

[1retired06]

quote:Originally posted by Art-n-Marge

1retired06 - what kind of repair did you do for a tank that split open at a seam?

My 2002 was the unit that failed. Bottom seam down the center of the tank. I first rough sanded, then covered the entire seam with fiberglass patch, sanded and did a second patch, and then covered the entire patched area with Eternabond tank tape, the kind with metal finish on one side. Was not aware of the plastic weld kits at that time. But my solution was still in place and working when I sold it in 2005.

[richfaa]

06 3400 two gray, two black, One galley. They all split or separated at the inlet..13 3402 have a leaking gray and leaking galley now.They appear to leak at the top. We do not travel with any tank near full. The two tanks on the 13 3402 sprung leaks while sitting on out winter lot.

[Champ_49]

Although not a Montana, had a gray tank on a 2011 split on top. Only time it would leak was when it got full. It was the shower tank and when it got full it was also time to empty the black tank. Replaced under extended warranty and no longer fill the tank as I think by filling them like I was, was to much. Now close the gray tank valve a couple days before black tank should start to fill and that gives us the needed flush with the gray tank.

Dave

[RRman]

Gray tank (Bath/Shower) got overfilled a few times (standing water in the shower) and starting leaking when full. About a year later it just started leaking. Cracks along the bottom edge and at the outlet. Black Tank overfilled when flusher hose was left connected and Y Valve at spigot developed a pinhole leak. Tank cracked at outlet before water came out /up the toilet. Plasti-mend fixed both successfully so far.

[Alwims]

2004/3650RK Grey tank replaced under extended warranty 2 years ago. Black tank split close to outlet. Bought plastic welder at Harbor Freight Tools and welded her shut last year.

[akf15e]

2009 3400RL
Galley tank.
Didn't drop; cracked and started leaking slowly.


Last year we started noticing a funky smell while at the beach. Turned out to be the galley tank had cracked, Fixed at the dealer with a patch which has held so far.

[mtheo]

The black tank failed. At the top corner away from the outlet and on the poorly supported side. Patched and re-enforced the tank support. Hopefully with the better support not sagging side there won't be enough strain on the corner to cause an other failure.

[lunalonestar]

Black tank. Leaked at the junction where the sewer pipe from the toilet joined the tank. Keystone replaced the tank for me (even out of warranty) while at the National Rally in Goshen.

[bbnkansas]

2008 3400RL
Gray (bath/shower) tank
Tank did not drop down
The tank developed two leaks within the last 2 months. One is a small crack on one of the bottom ribs stemming off the tank drain outlet and the other is the junction of the drain pipe and the tank outlet drain. We have an extended warranty, therefore, we are replacing the tank. Not sure what caused the leak...I think the leak started after we overfilled the tank once...I have no proof that is the cause though. If it was the result of "overfilling"...other than excess weight in the tank, I do not understand why overfilling caused the leaks.

[richfaa]

Are these holding tanks or not. Where in the book can we find that we should not fill them to capacity or not travel with them full? Yes we filled a gray tank here on our lot to clean the waste hose after a black tank dump and the tank burst. It was not over filled. We were not traveling on the road. We were standing still and had been for 3 months. Two tanks failed in this manner. What excuses can we make for the holding tanks not holding.

[Tom S.]

On the 06, which went to Alaska and back, we had no failures. So far, knock on wood, no failures on the 13. I think some of you have too much iron or lead in your water.

[Buffpilot]

2006 3000RK zero, always fill till full, except when traveling.