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Old 07-02-2021, 08:30 PM   #1
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Huge tank support problem! Need help please!

Ok, I just happened to look under my trailer and saw what is in the picture! This is a brand new trailer out for the fourth time now and hooked up to water and electrical at the moment. What is it and how do I fix it?

I have a forest river 178BHSKX
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Old 07-02-2021, 08:32 PM   #2
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I would guess it's your fresh water tank that has broken its supports.
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Old 07-02-2021, 08:35 PM   #3
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You may need to undo the cover and see if you tank bracket has broke or come loose. If you are handy you may be able to fix it. It looks like your fresh water tank has fallen. Good Luck.
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Old 07-02-2021, 08:38 PM   #4
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not unusual... many reports of tank support failures... good thing it did not fall out on the highway...
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Old 07-02-2021, 08:43 PM   #5
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IF it's the water tank, drain it. Push it back in place and maybe you can use something like this to brace it.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Superstr...1-10/202443314

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Superstr...10EG/202714274
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Old 07-02-2021, 09:17 PM   #6
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You said it's new, ... it's under warranty, drain the water to get rid of the weight and then take it to your dealer or call mobile service, FR should take care of that, ...
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Old 07-02-2021, 09:27 PM   #7
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It happens many , many times > Dealer will take weeks or months to fix . You can do it yourself in several hours and a trip to Tractor Supply or Home Depot . By some quarter by two strap or something that you like . That is the first alteration that I make .
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Old 07-03-2021, 08:33 AM   #8
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Holy Horrors

I agree with all that's been said. What I would like to see is a better picture of your frame. In the picture you posted it looks to me like there is frame damage at the right hand edge of the picture OR it is just the way the light is hitting it. I'm thinking possibly the when the water tank let go it twisted the frame member with it. I would really like to be wrong.

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Old 07-03-2021, 08:44 AM   #9
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You say you are hooked up to water at your site. Does the sagging tank have water in it? If so I would look to see if you have your water hooked up to the city water inlet on your rig or is it hooked up to your tank fill connection. Also you might want to search the forum for "city water filling fresh water tank".
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Old 07-03-2021, 09:27 AM   #10
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Read this
https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...ly-212330.html
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Old 07-03-2021, 09:55 AM   #11
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Kind of wondering if hose is hooked up to fresh water fill and tank has expanded from pressure. Should have an overflow valve but maybe not.

I have seen a tank expand from overpressure (no pressure regulator) and they can get really big.
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Old 07-03-2021, 10:06 AM   #12
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tank epansion ? extra air comes out of filler opening Via vent or fill opening. I put c channel across my frame to keep tank up. drill and bolt .
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Old 07-03-2021, 10:24 AM   #13
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You should get it fixed under warranty, but you'll be out of service for weeks, if not months, IMHO. I agree with other posters that you should be able to fix it with some angle iron and bolts.
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Old 07-03-2021, 11:25 AM   #14
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Like others, it looks like the fresh water tank either had poor supports or the Mfg. forgot them, completely, no surprise either way though you might want to check the gray and black water tanks. Best to let the dealer do this but that could take a long time. Unfortunately we read about this a lot and I, too had problems like this on a new TT back in 2003 we bought. Being handy it was easier for me to permanently fix the problem than bring it back to the dealer. Did you fill the fresh water tank up before you left? Coupled with poor roads can be a disaster for poorly secured full tanks. It was also mentioned if you attached the city water to the fresh water inlet instead of the spot for city water then turned it on... could be but it should have an overflow on it unlike gray and black water tanks. No matter what, when you or the dealer secure this make sure any venting or other plumbing attached is checked out since this could've had an impact on them, too. Wish you luck, sorry for your troubles and let us know how you make out please...
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Old 07-04-2021, 05:31 PM   #15
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We have a 2021 Coachmen Spirit 1943 RB, the fresh water tank is 49 gallons.

Last trip was a 4 night dry camping site so we started with a full fresh water tank. I noticed both supports under the underbelly enclosure was bowed in the middle a good inch or more. The ends of each are simply fastened to the frame I Beams with two Tek screws on each end so it all is a future fail point in my opinion.

Attached is a photo of one of the two channel cross pieces. My plan is to get a beefier steel support, then will simply put it next to each one. I’ll be relying on what a local steel shop recommends, have them cut to the outside dimension of the flange of the I Beam, then bolt them onto the outside flange with lock nuts and locktight. Yes, I could@ have warranty deal with it but it’s not worth driving to the dealer 80 miles away.
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Old 07-15-2021, 06:24 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ggrimm01 View Post
You may need to undo the cover and see if you tank bracket has broke or come loose. If you are handy you may be able to fix it. It looks like your fresh water tank has fallen. Good Luck.
The supports are usually underneath the bottom cover.
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Old 07-15-2021, 07:22 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rolland View Post
We have a 2021 Coachmen Spirit 1943 RB, the fresh water tank is 49 gallons.

Last trip was a 4 night dry camping site so we started with a full fresh water tank. I noticed both supports under the underbelly enclosure was bowed in the middle a good inch or more. The ends of each are simply fastened to the frame I Beams with two Tek screws on each end so it all is a future fail point in my opinion.

Attached is a photo of one of the two channel cross pieces. My plan is to get a beefier steel support, then will simply put it next to each one. I’ll be relying on what a local steel shop recommends, have them cut to the outside dimension of the flange of the I Beam, then bolt them onto the outside flange with lock nuts and locktight. Yes, I could@ have warranty deal with it but it’s not worth driving to the dealer 80 miles away.

Use square tubing. Much stronger than the U channel. Also add a few more spaced evenly under the tank.
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Old 07-16-2021, 06:40 AM   #18
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that's y I don't carry water .the trailer is made light weight so they use the thin medal to keep the weight down . so if u have a 30 gal tank the weight u r carry 240 lbs and that water is moving around and bouncing on the straps.I been camping over forty yrs.never carry water.I have a couple gal of water if needed
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Old 07-16-2021, 12:35 PM   #19
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Sad to say but it is a common occuarance. Mine happened 6 months after we purchased the trailer and had two local trips with it, yes it was full but it should be made to handle that.....notice I didn't say engineered!

I almost took it back to the dealer but then realized that their repair will be to "restore to new"...well new didn't work the first time, so....No.

I added 1/4" steel angle iron along both long sides and used the same across as braces.

it's been 2 years and many local and a few long trips and no issues, yes while full.

Another thing to remember, if a tank swell down it may have also swollen up. Check the floor area above the tank.
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Old 07-16-2021, 01:15 PM   #20
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