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06-29-2020, 02:47 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Posts: 15
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Freshwater tank Damage from road debris.
Hello everyone, need some advice on repairing fresh water tank. Left Phoenix today to go to Show Low AZ for some cooler weather. 1 hour into the trip and debris on the road flew up under trailer first hit wires ripped out for the camera on trailer 2nd hit: right side jack bent 180 degrees upward the debris 3rd hit: bounced back under trailer hitting fresh water tank just enough to put a hole that drips 1 drop a per second. That is one amazing peace of debris.
Anyway first campground with no water to hook up we knew that but now I need help on how to repair the hole in the plastic tank?? Told the wife give me piece of gum I’ll tape it good to go. No gum we don’t chew gum. I duct taped it but it all leaked out when we arrived. Any ideas ? Or new tank? I will put something to cover that tank 24ga sheet metal or something!!
__________________
![[/SIGPIC[SIGPIC]](/attachments/signaturepics/sigpic132848_4.gif) ]Jeff T
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06-29-2020, 08:21 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: x
Posts: 12,423
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You might give some of that flex seal tape a try I have not used it but they say is will seal most anything and stick in wet areas. What are the odds of hitting something like that agin?
__________________
Retired Navy
Jake my sidekick (yellow Lab) 10/04 - 05/20
2017 RAM 2500 CC 4X4 Cummins Diesel
2016 Flagstaff 26 FKWS
AF&AM & El Korah Shrine of Idaho
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06-29-2020, 08:35 AM
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#3
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Brake is on left
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: USA
Posts: 1,095
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HDPE is hard to get anything to stick to. It is made to withstand oil, gas, diesel, chemicals and a host of other things (except debris strikes  ). There are some bonding epoxy that do an ok job for a while but the tank will flex and break it loose over time. However.... fortunately it can be welded! You can get a kit and do it yourself or take it to a shop. Most RV/ trailer shops around here can do it. If you DIY, practice on some scrap HDPE first.
https://www.harborfreight.com/plasti...ent-96712.html
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06-29-2020, 09:37 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 318
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I have not used this but it looks promising and the video shows where to find HDPE that you could try to weld if you go that route. Good luck. Please share your repair.
__________________
John
2003 1500 Avalanche 444,000 miles
2011 Rockwood ROO 23SS
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06-29-2020, 10:21 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,054
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaDog
You might give some of that flex seal tape a try I have not used it but they say is will seal most anything and stick in wet areas. What are the odds of hitting something like that agin?
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This fix i used is perfect. Go to rv dealer supply or ebay. Buy black tank sealer, comer in a small can with a brush. Purchase a piece of fiberglass cloth. cut in a med square 3 or 4 inches . apply sealer , cloth , press in to sealer , sealer again , let dry Repeat sealer ,cloth sealer. Be sure tank has no water in it .
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06-29-2020, 10:24 AM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Posts: 15
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Thank you everyone for your thoughts on this issue. I am going to try and repair it before I replace it. I will follow up with the results. Still having fun camping, brought enough bottled water for this trip who needs a fresh water tank!!!!!
__________________
]Jeff T
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06-29-2020, 10:29 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,054
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffy
Hello everyone, need some advice on repairing fresh water tank. Left Phoenix today to go to Show Low AZ for some cooler weather. 1 hour into the trip and debris on the road flew up under trailer first hit wires ripped out for the camera on trailer 2nd hit: right side jack bent 180 degrees upward the debris 3rd hit: bounced back under trailer hitting fresh water tank just enough to put a hole that drips 1 drop a per second. That is one amazing peace of debris.
Anyway first campground with no water to hook up we knew that but now I need help on how to repair the hole in the plastic tank?? Told the wife give me piece of gum I’ll tape it good to go. No gum we don’t chew gum. I duct taped it but it all leaked out when we arrived. Any ideas ? Or new tank? I will put something to cover that tank 24ga sheet metal or something!!
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He said plastic tank! not metal. never seen a metal water tank in a rv. READ WHAT IS WRITTEN .
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06-29-2020, 10:31 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,054
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plastic tank not metal. READ MORE CAREFULLY.
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06-29-2020, 11:35 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 328
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas ho
plastic tank not metal. READ MORE CAREFULLY.
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Uhh Plastic welding.. it does exist. Btw Hdp is plastic. Read more carefully.
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06-29-2020, 11:57 AM
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#10
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Brake is on left
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: USA
Posts: 1,095
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Quote:
Originally Posted by REL
Uhh Plastic welding.. it does exist. Btw Hdp is plastic. Read more carefully.
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Kinda like those little M&M guys when they meet Santa. Lol
Been there and welded it. Well, not HDPE but ABS. It is not by any means difficult but it does require patience and a relatively steady hand.
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06-29-2020, 01:56 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 28
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We have had good luck with this in the marine environment.
3M™ Marine Adhesive Sealant Fast Cure 4200FC is a one-component, medium-strength, moisture-curing, gap-filling polyurethane that delivers strong, flexible bonds to aluminum, wood, gelcoat and fiberglass. It forms watertight, weather-resistant seals above and below the waterline. In addition, its flexibility allows for dissipation of stress caused by shock, vibration, swelling or shrinking.
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06-29-2020, 01:58 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Central NC
Posts: 77
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I believe he meant a shield to protect the tank in the future.
__________________
05 Cummins 3500 dually 2014 Blue Ridge 3025RL
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06-29-2020, 02:07 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5,712
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Neighbor did that on his 5ver two years ago. Chunk of a Leaf spring went thru tank. LARGE HOLE to fix. He cut piece of old water jug and epoxy. Then I think it was Fiberglass patch about 2" larger than the first. Lastly he covered the area with Eternabond tape about 4" larger than the last patch. Overkill ? maybe, but not a drop in two years and the patch is solid.
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06-29-2020, 02:14 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 2
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Plastic welding works. Help my son fix a large gash in his Hobie Kayak. An unscrupulous person sold it to him, via one of the sale apps. He found the gash on his first trip, when the boat half sank. The seller had done some serious rigging with fiberglass, duct tape and and some other goop. The gash was located in a very hard to get at location. But after some You Tubes, a visit to Harbor Freight for the plastic welder, and the purchase of a blue Lowe’s (HDPE) bucket (matched the kayak color) we completed the repair. We did practice the welding skill before the repair. It was incredibly successful, many trips into the river and some into the Atlantic and have seen no leaks.
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06-29-2020, 04:23 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 8300 Feet - Rocky Mountains
Posts: 2,475
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While you're ordering parts (jack, coroplast, etc.), buy a new fresh tank. They're cheap. While you're installing it, make sure it's adequately supported. This would be a good time to reinforce the mounts that carry it. Water weighs 8.3 pounds per gallon. Let's assume you have 50 gallons of freshwater capacity. Deduct 6 gallons for the hot water heater. 44 x 8.3 = 365 pounds...in a plastic tank that may only be supported around its perimeter or with sheet-metal "angle iron".
You may be able to "weld" the tank, but by the time you get it "welded", you may as well have a new one unless you 'know someone'. There are no adhesives that will repair it. You'll waste a ton of money on things that don't work. Ask me how I know.
__________________
Jim & Renee
2020 Jayco Jay Feather X-213
previously 2014 Forest River/Rockwood HW 277
2006 Ram 1500 4WD Crew with Firestone Airbags
Every weekend boondocking in the National Forests or at Lake Vallecito.
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06-30-2020, 01:29 AM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Posts: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bucky53
I believe he meant a shield to protect the tank in the future.
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[emoji1303]
__________________
]Jeff T
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06-30-2020, 03:45 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 7,053
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I have read where people have successfully used Eternabond tape to repair minor leaks in their tanks. It’s worth a shot.
Bruce
__________________
2016 Rockwood Windjammer 3029W Diamond Edition
2015 Chevy 3500HD LTZ 6.0 Crew Cab 4x4 Long Bed 4.10:1 SRW
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06-30-2020, 06:00 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
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Here i sone more down and dirty fix. Since the drip is so small you could possibly get one sending unit for the level system.
They are basically a rubber seal with a bolt through them.
https://www.amazon.com/RecPro-Screw-...a-786362947846
Drill the hole, plug in the sensor, tighten it up and it shoud be sealed for the life of the camper.
Fast, easy cheap, Perfect 
This fix is dependent on the hole being small enough to be covered by the sensors rubber flange. If it is any larger then the fiberglass or plastic welding would be the best option.
Might be able to find this at an Auto Parts House...
https://www.amazon.com/RecPro-Screw-...a-786362947846
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
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06-30-2020, 06:24 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 7,053
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DouglasReid
Here i sone more down and dirty fix. Since the drip is so small you could possibly get one sending unit for the level system.
They are basically a rubber seal with a bolt through them.
https://www.amazon.com/RecPro-Screw-...a-786362947846
Drill the hole, plug in the sensor, tighten it up and it shoud be sealed for the life of the camper.
Fast, easy cheap, Perfect
This fix is dependent on the hole being small enough to be covered by the sensors rubber flange. If it is any larger then the fiberglass or plastic welding would be the best option.
Might be able to find this at an Auto Parts House...
https://www.amazon.com/RecPro-Screw-...a-786362947846 |
You could also use a bait well plug/drain:
https://www.amazon.com/Shoreline-Mar...7PV1Q9HM21FHJE
Bruce
__________________
2016 Rockwood Windjammer 3029W Diamond Edition
2015 Chevy 3500HD LTZ 6.0 Crew Cab 4x4 Long Bed 4.10:1 SRW
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06-30-2020, 06:33 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nomad297
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Isnt that designed to be pushed into a tube in the drain, instead of a thin piece of plastic like the sensors?
It is larger in diameter to be sure and might work if the hole or crack were too big for the sensor fix
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
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