Thread: Water tank woes

Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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

Originally Posted by 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.

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

Originally Posted by LRD414

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...

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

Cheers Ean

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.

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

Originally Posted by 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

That's why I always fill mine.