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Topic: 05 Bulkhead and Water Tank Leak (Read 817 times) previous topic - next topic

05 Bulkhead and Water Tank Leak

I have waited to see if she would post her experience but not having seen it, here goes (she is very busy in travel)
 
Five years ago we had an 05 and had a fresh water tank failure. A replacement tank was found.  Forgot about it until this.....

Some months ago I met a nice lady with a new to her 05 that had a fresh water tank develop a small leak. I gather it had leaked minor enough that water remained in the tank such that the leak could be tolerated.  However that leaked water worked on the bulkhead at the utility bay flap door area.  fortunately the water did not get to the rear full bulkhead across the rear before it was discovered and damage and repairs were limited.

The tank had a "foot" on it, an extension of the tank at the bottom beyond simply a cube tank. Could that casting to give a bit more volume have been a weak spot in that tank?

Here is this clever lady's solution to the inherited problem.  Fearing that design might be weak, not proven, and faced with trying to find someone to cast a new plastic tank, she asked MOT to build a simple cube tank of stainless.  They did.  That should solve it!

 In any case, an overflowing or leaking tank into the bulkhead can be damaging if it is allowed to continue

Congrats to her innovative approach!

Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: 05 Bulkhead and Water Tank Leak

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Michael & Jackie –
...Five years ago we had an 05 and had a fresh water tank failure. A replacement tank was found.  Forgot about it until this.....
Hi Mike - can you provide a bit more info about this?  What floor plan (length, tag etc.) did your and her 05 have?  Wondering if it was a design or placement or other issue?  We have never had a leak in our 05 but are curious.

The selected media item is not currently available.

Mark & Mary Benko
Former coach: 2005 U295 3823
Jeep Cherokee, Honda Fit

Re: 05 Bulkhead and Water Tank Leak

Reply #2 –
Hi all,
I had the water tank leak in my 05 36' 270 with a 112 gallon water tank. I think it was repaired before and leaked some on and off until it failed completely.
A replacement was unavailable.
My choices were a much smaller generic tank that would fit in the space or a custom tank.
I did not want to pay the cost and shipping for a plastic tank, so Aubery contacted a local manufacturer  and we had a stainless 316L tank made.
I now have a beautiful leak free water tank!

And yes, I did modify the tank and remove the "foot" section. The leak was a crack in that 90 degree bend.
Kathy
05 36' U270

Re: 05 Bulkhead and Water Tank Leak

Reply #3 –
I had 2005 270, two slides

(P.S. for Mark.....I think you have a 295 38 ft?  Mine, being a two slide 36 ft 270 perhaps had a different fresh water tank?  Just wondering as you are thinking about yours.)

I knew her name only as Kathy...enjoyed being with her in Nac.  Bless her, she had go Florida and back while she had tank built, Aubrey Lee at MOT was her help as I recall in getting tank built.

The analysis and repair idea though were all her's.  I hesitated to post her name without permission and not know how to find her to get that!  So glad she happened upon this thread....she and I both wondered, a design or molding flaw or just happenstance of this failure.

Probably just one of those things unless others report a couple more episodes. 
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: 05 Bulkhead and Water Tank Leak

Reply #4 –
I believe it is a structural flaw. But I'm not an engineer.

When the tank was full, the top of the "foot" ballooned. I would think that is a great deal of stress placed in the 90 degree bend by 900 lbs. of water.
It certainly added unnecessary complexity to the manufacture of the orginal tank for about 8 gallons of additional water.
I think these tanks where only used in the 270 to allow room for the water heater.
Kathy
05 36' U270

Re: 05 Bulkhead and Water Tank Leak

Reply #5 –
Thanks Kathy and Mike for all the info.  6 years on the road (half timers) traveling with 75% fresh water over some really bad roads and no problems, leaks or other issues with our fresh water system.  Oh, and one other item - 97K.
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Mark & Mary Benko
Former coach: 2005 U295 3823
Jeep Cherokee, Honda Fit

Re: 05 Bulkhead and Water Tank Leak

Reply #6 –
@kathyg

Could you give us a general estimate of what it cost to have a tank like that fabricated?  $1000?  $2000?
Robert
Build # 5304
1998 34' U270 Cummins 6CTA8.3

Re: 05 Bulkhead and Water Tank Leak

Reply #7 –
The estimate for a plastic tank was $1700 to $1800 plus shipping from Indiana or California.

The ss tank in 316L with 2 baffles  was $2400.
Kathy
05 36' U270
 

Re: 05 Bulkhead and Water Tank Leak

Reply #8 –
One drawback to a stainless tank is that tank level sensors like SeeLevel uses will not work on a metal tank.  If it costs $600 more to get a stainless tank i would have to consider it.  Make sure it has all of the connections you heed and a few spares and get it pressure tested for 24 hrs.

I always wondered why the three tanks don't sit in a pan that drains to the outside like they use on washing machines or water heaters on the second floor.  Leaks get trapped and go down the drain not into,the floor structure causing rust.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN