Fresh water tank replacement

Rocky Mtn marmot

Advanced Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2015
Posts
81
Location
Southwest Colorado
My freshwater tank on my 2010 185FBS is showing cracks at the corners where the flange of the tank goes into the steel framing, and is leakingvthere. It also has a bad case of algae growth, that although killed with bleach, the particles keep clogging the faucet strainers. I am considering replacing the exposed under belly tank with a long narrow 36 gallon abs tank from etrailer. This tank will fit in the storage compartment without infringing much on storage space and is 72"x16"x8". I would place it on it's 8" side and secured.. so I only loose 8 inches of the compartment width. Placing it inside will keep it from freezing when I camp in cold weather in thr rockies. I am wondering if anyone else has done this.
 
So you are going to put it into the storage compartment that runs across the width of the trailer? I think this is a great idea. But how will this keep it from freezing -- is the compartment heated?

Moving the water tank up from underneath will slightly affect your center of gravity, but I bet you will not even notice the difference.

If the compartment is toward the front of the trailer, that will also increase your tongue weight, I think. Also not a big problem.
 
Acquiring a tank that will fit in a different location than the original is great as long as you have the space to do it.
I have discovered finding an exact size replacement fresh water tank for my XT276 is IMPOSSIBLE!! No one seems to have one so had to repair it which was also difficult as the tanks are made of a poly plastic (same plastic milk jugs are made of) and no glue of any type will stick to it.
It requires a special 'repair package' .. the repair location has to be heated and special product applied along with fiberglass cloth. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
 
36 gallons @ 8.31 per is 300 pounds. Make sure the floor is gonna stay happy. Also you can put 1" Styrofoam under and behind it to help shield it from the cold surfaces. Just a thought.

Alan
 
Last edited:
Water tank

I ended up removing the tank and plastic welding the little crack after drilling little holes at each end. I used p-tex ski repair sticks which are polyethylene like the tank. Reinstalled, filled with water.....no leak. Time will.tell if it holds during the camping season. Also used power washer to clean most of algae from inside of tank.

If I had mounted a tank inside the storage compartment it would have been right over a steel frame cross piece.
 

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