Fresh water tank sagging

[babock]

I am going to do the bracing on my trailer as well. One thing I am likely going to do is leave a little gap for the tank to expand onto the support bar. What I am worried about is the tank expanding UP and contacting the floor.

[CaptnJohn]

“What we recommend is that you only have enough water in your tank to get you to, or near your destination and then top off. Reason being that each gallon of water weighs 8+ pounds which puts a full tank at over 350 pounds. The supports easily hold this load, but this issue is while traveling, that if your tank is full and you encounter any bumps that force multiplies the stress on the tank support brackets. Hope that makes sense.”

I would have replied "that makes no damn sense at all!".

[olgeezer2]

I have a 17- 25FKS, and your pics are exactly what I have, and with just 15 gallon of water, one of the members bent. Really shoddy. As a temp fix, I went to Menards and bought a set of ratchet hold downs and placed them under the tank, between the I- frame members of the trailer frame, up next to the tank, and tighten them tight. Used a bottle jack to bend back the support member, (5/16" x 1 1/4 angle) "not heavy enough". Will put in 2 new heavier supports under ea angle, maybe 1/4" angle at a later date. Straps will stay in

[HangDiver]

Originally Posted by olgeezer2

Will put in 2 new heavier supports under ea angle, maybe 1/4" angle at a later date. Straps will stay in

Thats what I did.... added 1/4" thick 2" wide angle iron to the existing supports.

[18CrewDually]

Anyone doing this themselves, as you can see in my pic above in post #9 my straps (3) were still intact but the tank is so thin and pliable it actually "bubbled" between the straps out the bottom.
Just keep an eye on it if you're not putting in a center crossmember from the left to right I-beam like I did.

[dmdomokos]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

“What we recommend is that you only have enough water in your tank to get you to, or near your destination and then top off. Reason being that each gallon of water weighs 8+ pounds which puts a full tank at over 350 pounds. The supports easily hold this load, but this issue is while traveling, that if your tank is full and you encounter any bumps that force multiplies the stress on the tank support brackets. Hope that makes sense.”

I would have replied "that makes no damn sense at all!".

I got the same answer with one added suggestion, carry a 30gal bladder in the back of my truck and fill the trailer when I get there. Mine broke as well, FR paid for the upgraded steel and components to beef it up, but not the labor. I tow full all the time now with no worries.

[Daniellekristopher]

Thanks for the replies. I have add two braces. Each going left-to-right. carbon steel. 4” wide. 1/4in thick. Photo attached.

I have also purchased a 60 gallon foldable bladder for back of my truck. It sit perfectly between the tailgate and hitch. Also got a 340 GPH 120v transfer pump. I carry 50 gallon in the bladder and about 20 gallons in the fresh tank (as low as I can get out of the tank before the pump starts to vibrate violently). It’s working out great so far.

[babock]

Originally Posted by Daniellekristopher

Thanks for the replies. I have add two braces. Each going left-to-right. carbon steel. 4” wide. 1/4in thick. Photo attached.

What model trailer do you have and how many gallons is your tank?

Do you see any sag with those 1/4" plates?

I was going to use 1/8" angle iron brackets on mine to save weight.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by babock

What model trailer do you have and how many gallons is your tank?

Do you see any sag with those 1/4" plates?

I was going to use 1/8" angle iron brackets on mine to save weight.

Trying to save weight is what got the manufacturer in trouble of them sagging to begin with. Saving weight for the repair shouldn't be a consideration.

[babock]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Trying to save weight is what got the manufacturer in trouble of them sagging to begin with. Saving weight for the repair shouldn't be a consideration.

1/8" angle can actually be a lot stiffer than a flat piece of 1/4" and it's way more substantial that the light weight brackets that are in there now on mine.

I may also use 1/8" thick square tubing and weld up brackets on the ends. I do a lot of welding so creating something custom is not an issue.

[Brother Les]

Originally Posted by 5picker
Trying to save weight is what got the manufacturer in trouble of them sagging to begin with. Saving weight for the repair shouldn't be a consideration.

Originally Posted by babock

1/8" angle can actually be a lot stiffer than a flat piece of 1/4" and it's way more substantial that the light weight brackets that are in there now on mine.

I may also use 1/8" thick square tubing and weld up brackets on the ends. I do a lot of welding so creating something custom is not an issue.

Ditto.... angle iron or square tubing, better than flat across that span underneath the unit....

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by babock

1/8" angle can actually be a lot stiffer than a flat piece of 1/4" and it's way more substantial that the light weight brackets that are in there now on mine.

I may also use 1/8" thick square tubing and weld up brackets on the ends. I do a lot of welding so creating something custom is not an issue.

Just my opinion, but 1/8" angle iron would be plenty strong, as long as it is angle. Two or three pieces.

[CT Sound Shooter]

Daniellekristopher,

I had the same exact problem with my 2018 Cherokee Grey Wolf.

I had my fresh water tank custom reinforced so that I should never have this prob again.

Check out the FRF links below:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...me-148722.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...nk-152686.html


Good luck and happy trails,

CTSS

[Mistye]

We have a Cardinal 3850 RL 2015. While traveling on the freeway today the fresh water tank broke free and fell tearing out the underbelly. By the time we made it to the shoulder the underbelly and tank have friction holes ground through them both! We had to cut free the tank from the lines and disconnect the electrical and cut off the dangling ruined underbelly. With cars and semis flying past on the freeway. We pulled free the tank and had to put it in the 5th wheel until we could get somewhere safe. We usually don’t even travel with water but I purposely put less then a third of a tank in because we were going to cover a lot of miles.
This trailer has had several issues and to have this happen! I am furious! We bought this trailer to replace an 18 year old Avion so we could travel with comfort and not the issue of an aging rig! What a joke! .

[doc73]

Unfortunately a seemingly popular issue..

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by doc73

Unfortunately a seemingly popular issue..

And it seems to spreading from the Roo/Shamrocks and the Mini/Micro-Lites to other brands!

[Mr. Dan]

I had the problem with my 2015 Wildcat. Fortunately (?), mine didn't fall out while traveling; it just dropped down from the weight of water while I was sanitizing my tank - no travel involved. I found my "sag" while looking for a gray tank valve issue!

[HangDiver]

Originally Posted by Mistye

We have a Cardinal 3850 RL 2015. While traveling on the freeway today the fresh water tank broke free and fell tearing out the underbelly. By the time we made it to the shoulder the underbelly and tank have friction holes ground through them both! We had to cut free the tank from the lines and disconnect the electrical and cut off the dangling ruined underbelly. With cars and semis flying past on the freeway.

Wow!

[Havasu Bill]

Wow!!!
Were there flat bar supports between the angle iron framing that supports the outside of the tank? From the picture it looks like there were. I have 2 pieces of flat bar that act like bed slats for lack of a better description. I felt secure with them...but maybe not?

[Mistye]

There was three flat bar between that fell with it. I looked at them and it doesn’t appear to to have any beading where they would have been welded in place.. They look as if just placed there for weight and gravity to hold them. Obviously that didn’t work. I’m going to have a new tank and welded brackets put in and some additional bracing. I ‘m worried about the grey and blacks tanks. Going to check those and brace and support as needed!