Water tank woes

[Chops]

Have had issues with the water tank (80Lts) in the Coorong Camper since just after we first picked it up. They said they pulled it out, checked it, and everything was fine. Tank wouldn't fill properly, and the water comes out tasting fowl to put it mildly. Have tried cleaning it with vinegar as well as a "Tank Cleaning" product several times, but all to no avail.
So the other weekend, I bit the bullet and pulled it out myself in order to try and see what the problem may have been.
The only thing I noticed that I didn't like, was the rust on the gauge that's inside the tank,,, rather unusual I would have thought,,, being stainless and all :mad: The other thing I noticed which I'm unsure about, is the use of solder through the joins, but I wouldn't expect that to be an issue, as Gal tanks have had this for years.
So, having cleaned it out, testing it before I put it back in, giving it a quick test upon filling it four days later, finding nothing wrong at those points, felt good about it.
Camping last weekend up at Avoca (Amphitheatre), go to make a coffee,,, and ahh crap,, same **** different day. :mad:
So now, I'll be replacing it with a brand new one.
Don't know at this point whether I should try another stainless one, or whether I should go plastic.


Any thoughts gentlemen,, ooh, and ladies :D

[Homestar]

Yeah, that's been weird ever since you've had it. The plastic tank in the caravan only starts to taste funny if the water sits there for weeks, but fresh water in it each time is fine. That's decades old, so my experience says go plastic. :D

I'm sure others will have other thoughts. :)

[Mick_Marsh]

Solder?

Sounds strange to me. I hope they used a silver solder and not lead.
Maybe the solder is leeching into the water. If it were mine, I'd use a plastic tank with suitable protection from stones.

[Rextheute]

What are you using to fill it ?
A garden hose will make it taste like ... We'll never mind it's tastes like garden hose .
Get a food grade hose and try it .
Also rinse the tank with either vanilla essence , I carb of soda or cheap option ...red cordial .
In my experience steel , whether stainless or not will taste " funny " plastic is a safe bet .

[LRD414]

My stainless tank has never tasted funny but always filled using food grade hose. However I am changing to plastic due to leak issues at spot welds. Plastic can also taste wrong if incorrect plastic used.

Scott

[Chops]

I did wonder about the type of solder used, but this is the first time I've ever had taste issues with stainless, but I have had it with plastic. That being said, it has been a long time since I've had a bad taste from plastic, but then again, I generally only have the bottled water especially these days.
Is there a better type of tank to get, or will most RV/Van places just have the right units?

[rangieman]

My camper has a plastic tank and when we bought it new in 2011 our water the first time we used it tasted like Polystyrene:eek:

We flushed it a couple of time`s using the bi- soda trick and all good since.

I never leave water sit in the tank when it is not in use ;), Although i do use a garden hose to fill it with no strange taste so that is myth busted at our place:)

[Narangga]

Can't throw any definitive light on your tank issue although lead in the solder may be a possible one. What about the actual lines/pipes/hoses? I would assume that it wasn't caused by the pump.

As a tank cleaning product I have never used anything but citric acid (usually powder but on occasions actual lemon or lime juice). However our 2 x 60L poly tanks on the Adventure were never a problem and were filled by the closest garden hose for over 10 years.

The Kimberley only has 1 x 70L tank and so I have been investigating additional options. Send a PM and I can give you every website link in Australia. :D

[PhilipA]

Funny I have met several people in my travels who have had camper trailers with stainless tanks that have split open, usually at the baffles.

The theory told to me by one is that the weight of water causes the sheet to flex , work harden then crack, which calls into question the practice of using stainless for water tanks regardless of how attractive it is in theory.

On the other hand my bog stock 65 litre plastic tank soldiers on, although one did wear through after about 12 years including lots of off road and had to be replaced for the princely sum of $85.
Regards Philip A

[DiscoMick]

Yep our plastic is 14 years old and fine, but I keep it empty when stored and flush it regularly. Just use a garden hose to fill it.

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

[Chops]

Thanks Dale, but I'm not sure I want "every" website link for tanks in Aus, I'm sure there's quite a few :eek:

Philip, it's funny you should mention fatigue and cracking. Every time I've managed to fill it, even when it was out of the trailer, it pops quite loudly, and I have a small leak too, although I haven't located it yet. In this case, I would suggest it's been made of materials that are just to thinner gauge. If it were made correctly to start with, they wouldn't need bash plates to protect them.

Im thinking plastic will be the go.

[Chops]

Yep our plastic is 14 years old and fine, but I keep it empty when stored and flush it regularly. Just use a garden hose to fill it.

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

Mick, to be quite honest, I don't think a garden hose is or could be the issue at all. I've filled just about every tank I've ever had from garden hoses and never had a problem, and of course at our age, have drunk straight out of them. The only time it ever tasted bad was when you didn't get the old water out, or it had been in the sun for a while,, and no like hot water from a hose.
If I were to have a hose hooked up for some time, say in a van park or something, then I'd look at getting a "fit for purpose" hose.

[Ean Austral]

I flush our camper trailer tanks with Milton , the stuff they use to wash out babies bottles, just buy a packet of tables and put as many in as you like , fill and let it sit overnight then drop the water and refill.

Never had funny tasting water since but they are plastic tanks not S/S.

Cheers Ean

[LRD414]

Funny I have met several people in my travels who have had camper trailers with stainless tanks that have split open, usually at the baffles.

The theory told to me by one is that the weight of water causes the sheet to flex , work harden then crack, which calls into question the practice of using stainless for water tanks regardless of how attractive it is in theory.

This is exactly what has happened to me, twice.
Baffle spot weld lets go, leading to pin hole in tank sheet and a slow'ish leak.
Thicker gauge & better welds would fix the issue but this adds weight/cost/etc.
Plastic tank being fitted this week.

Cheers,
Scott

[Narangga]

This is exactly what has happened to me, twice.
Baffle spot weld lets go, leading to pin hole in tank sheet and a slow'ish leak.
Thicker gauge & better welds would fix the issue but this adds weight/cost/etc.
Plastic tank being fitted this week.

Cheers,
Scott

Kimberley have done away with SS tanks for similar reasons.

Interesting that everyone else seems to park their camper/van with empty tanks. I've always parked mine up with full water tanks. Never had an issue but then how would I know after drinking water from all sorts of sources across Arnhem Land... :angel:

[Ean Austral]

Always leave my tanks full, easy enough to empty them before refilling .

Cheers Ean

[Homestar]

I always pull the bung on the tank before leaving the campsite. Less weight to drag home for nothing and I just refill it from the hose before heading out again. Tank is dry most of the time.

[Ean Austral]

I learnt long ago from our boats being tied up for months at a time during our coded season , that when we left tanks empty they would sweat and that would cause mould to grow inside the tanks, we would have to open thenm, get inside and clean then each year. Keeping them full during those times found we open them every 3 yrs for survey and they are a lot cleaner inside.

This is why mine are always filled when we park up the camper when it's not being used.

Cheers Ean

[Narangga]

I learnt long ago from our boats being tied up for months at a time during our coded season , that when we left tanks empty they would sweat and that would cause mould to grow inside the tanks, we would have to open thenm, get inside and clean then each year. Keeping them full during those times found we open them every 3 yrs for survey and they are a lot cleaner inside.

This is why mine are always filled when we park up the camper when it's not being used.

Cheers Ean

That's why I always fill mine. :BigThumb:

[austastar]

Hi,
Is there any clear plastic tubing in the circuit??

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/11/539.jpg
Look at the algae buildup in my filler pipe.

I ditched all the clear tube and replaced it with green line ag. pipe.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/11/540.jpg

Use the single barb joiners and slip an O ring into the joint, along with some teflon tape to keep it in place.
cheers

[Chops]

Keeping tanks full, and letting no light in has been explained to me before on several occasions. On the farm, we always had the tanks covered, although we had several other reasons to do so as well.

[Homestar]

I learnt long ago from our boats being tied up for months at a time during our coded season , that when we left tanks empty they would sweat and that would cause mould to grow inside the tanks, we would have to open thenm, get inside and clean then each year. Keeping them full during those times found we open them every 3 yrs for survey and they are a lot cleaner inside.

This is why mine are always filled when we park up the camper when it's not being used.

Cheers Ean

That makes sense up there where even silica crystals would go mouldy... :D

[Narangga]

That makes sense up there where even silica crystals would go mouldy... :D

Would??? - DO! :(

[Blknight.aus]

you may need to flow purge the tank.

put a fill of miltons in it and then hook up a cheap pump and let it circulate the full tank (from outlet back to the filler) for 24 hours.

flush with fresh water and repeat.

flush with fresh water, fill and see what it tastes like.

in most cases where plastic tanks taste funny after they've been given a clean out its actually the filler pipes and discharge pipes that are flavoring the water.

if the miltons only makes a slight improvement hit the thing with a good chlorine dose then flush drain and do the miltons thing.