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Topic: Fuel and Propane tank bay (Read 614 times) previous topic - next topic

Fuel and Propane tank bay

Starting tomorrow to remove my propane tank on this 96 Unicoach.. Start by saying the front as well as rear bulkheads have been "reworked " ... evidence of drilling and new looking bolts the width of the coach suggest that.. I do have some rust on the very bottom of the forward metal wall that I aim to address.. The rust goes from the floor up about 3 to 4 inches.. The entire front wall is steel.. My question is what is DIRECTLY behind that sheet of steel.. Obviously the front bulkhead is in close proximity but is that the next structure behind the steel wall? I can guess this to death but need to hear from someone who has been in there on a Unicoach.. I can hit the metal after scrapping rust off with a pointed hammer and it feels solid.. Hope to grind out the bad metal then prime and paint would be my hope.. I don't think the wall is crucial as far as weight bearing but I would like to know what is directly behind it.. I've taken the loader bucket off my tractor and hope to take a hay Speer and lift the tank out but obviously it won't be wham bam and done.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Fuel and Propane tank bay

Reply #1 –
Pretty sure it's thin steel, maybe  3/16", then metal framing behind it, going inward. Then a skin of fiberglass inside. Foam in between

I slept since one of my factory tours.

Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Fuel and Propane tank bay

Reply #2 –
Probably be ok to leave it alone but I can't be satisfied knowing it's there.. The only rust I know of and it needs to go.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Fuel and Propane tank bay

Reply #3 –
I suspect in the coaches life it was driven with a faulty door gasket , letting water spray inside from the passenger side steer tire.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Fuel and Propane tank bay

Reply #4 –
Dub,
Read bulkhead blues

Most likely, it is not a structural strength problem.
Open, clean, preserve, install removable inspection ports as well as extend and close off the vent ports behind the air bags with SS wool to strip out any water spray that tries to intrude the space between the inner and out bulkhead, metal "skins".
HTH,
Neal
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Neal (& Brenda) Pillsbury
'02 U320 SPEC, 4200, DGFE, Build #5984
'04 Gold Wing
'07 Featherlite 24'
'14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
MC #14494
Exeter, NH & LaBelle FL
Quality makes the Heart Soar long after Price is Forgotten

Re: Fuel and Propane tank bay

Reply #5 –
On our 99' The front and rear bulkheads are one layer of sheet metal, 16 gauge (about a 16th of an inch) or maybe 3/32" max. There are vertical pieces of ¼" angle iron welded to either face of it on the outside edges and more towards the center on the side of the bulkhead facing the tires. The basement side of bulkhead walls are just plan sheet metal, except that the rear bulkhead adds ¾" of sheet styrofoam insulation faced with FRP,  I assume to help keep the fresh and waste tanks tanks from freezing. Here is a picture of the rear from underneath (before I welded additional steel reinforcement while fixing the bulkhead) and one picture after I finished the repair.
Don

Quote from: Dub –
Starting tomorrow to remove my propane tank on this 96 Unicoach.. Start by saying the front as well as rear bulkheads have been "reworked " ... evidence of drilling and new looking bolts the width of the coach suggest that.. I do have some rust on the very bottom of the forward metal wall that I aim to address.. The rust goes from the floor up about 3 to 4 inches.. The entire front wall is steel.. My question is what is DIRECTLY behind that sheet of steel.. Obviously the front bulkhead is in close proximity but is that the next structure behind the steel wall? I can guess this to death but need to hear from someone who has been in there on a Unicoach.. I can hit the metal after scrapping rust off with a pointed hammer and it feels solid.. Hope to grind out the bad metal then prime and paint would be my hope.. I don't think the wall is crucial as far as weight bearing but I would like to know what is directly behind it.. I've taken the loader bucket off my tractor and hope to take a hay Speer and lift the tank out but obviously it won't be wham bam and done.
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Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Fuel and Propane tank bay

Reply #6 –
I searched for that post today because I remembered it vaguely from 8 years ago.. Thanks for posting it.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Fuel and Propane tank bay

Reply #7 –
 I think the basement bulkheads (think basement endcaps) are like firewalls on most automobiles.

They consist of one layer of sheetmetal, but on our coaches, they are flat and have vertical angle iron battens and the heavy ¼"x3"x3" transverse angle iron beams across the bottom through which the basement floor structure is attached via the 17 or so Rolok fasteners. I looked for pictures, but a quick search through my photos came up with what I posted above. I probably have more, but my photo library organization is not what it could be... :o
Don


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Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Fuel and Propane tank bay

Reply #8 –
Got the drawers out pretty good start.. Appreciate the input fellas.
Dub McBride 1996 270
 

Re: Fuel and Propane tank bay

Reply #9 –
Good progress .. rust area was  2 inches high the length of the bay.. toughest part was getting myself in the bay where the propane tank was . I took an air driven needle descaler and made relatively short work of getting the rust off and into shiny metal.. shop vac up the mess and blow out with air then 2 coats of permatex rust inhibitor.. Tank came out pretty easy with a spear on the front of my tractor.. Going to clean up the bay floor better and paint the propane tank then put it back in.. I was pleased to see the rust no deeper than it was but it needed stopped and I believe I have. Going to address the vents where the spray gets in as shown on the post by Neal..
Dub McBride 1996 270