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bhutch74ly · 02-02-2012, 09:38 PM

Hello group! I recently purchased a "basket case" 74 Tradewind Land Yacht 25' in Arizona. Thanks to the desert climate, the frame, other metal parts, and subfloor are in very good shape. However, the black water holding tank and most of the other plastic components are brittle and/or broken and need to be replaced. The existing black water tank is about 42Lx 6W x 13D and was made by El Monte Plastics. It appears to be polyethylene. The tank has 3-4 large cracks including one that goes all the way to the bottom so I don't believe it is repairable. El Monte no longer carries this tank and I haven't been able to find one. I have found some blank tanks at several on-line companies that should fit but I would appreciate suggestions regarding the best tank material (ABS, Polyethylene, Polypropylene, etc.) and what is the best way to install fittings in a tank blank? One more question- when I removed the galvanized pan under the belly there was a flexible pipe/hose connected (dog eared) to the galvanized pan. Is this the A/C condensate drain??? I can't figure what else it could be.

Any ideas/suggestions will be appreciated.

Flynavy · 02-03-2012, 08:07 AM

Can't tell you on where to find a new tank, but if your old tank is factory it should be polypropylene. Milky white color, more or less translucent. Only way to repair these is to weld. I hear there are some fabricators that will spin new fittings on blank tanks.

The tank inside the galvanized pan is the gray water tank. Shower, sinks etc. The flex pipe is a heat duct which comes off the duct located under the roadside bunk.

FreshAir · 02-03-2012, 08:32 AM

Inlandrv.com

Neil.

bhutch74ly · 02-03-2012, 08:50 AM

Thanks a bunch. Being a Louisiana native I suppose I was not thinking about freezing holding tanks!!! Also, thanks for the info on the tank material. I would like find a replacement tank in the same or similar translucent material because the upper half is visible by opening the vanity door. I don't plan on installing sensors if I can see the contents in the tank by opening the door.

waynemuhl · 02-13-2012, 06:03 PM

Need some help, Where do I start removing the black tank? The toilet is gone.

**Aage** · 02-13-2012, 07:19 PM

If you have a full (rear) bath model, it goes something like this:

wayneelan · 02-17-2012, 03:59 PM

Another problem is how do you get in the under skin of the Aristream?

wayneelan · 02-17-2012, 04:09 PM

Also another question, How are the tanks connected? Are they connected together? I am new to the RV world of plumbing.

wayneelan · 02-17-2012, 04:12 PM

Where do I get a copy of the Manual that these pics come from?

**Aage** · 02-17-2012, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayneelan

Another problem is how do you get in the under skin of the Aristream?

You will need a drill to drill out the "mushroom" rivets that hold up the belly. You won't need to take it all off, but a good chunk of it. You never said: DO you have a rear bathroom model?

If you don't, the instructions above are completely wrong.

**Aage** · 02-17-2012, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayneelan

Also another question, How are the tanks connected? Are they connected together? I am new to the RV world of plumbing.

Again IF it is rear bath, they are both connected (glued) to a single drainpipe that you can see inside the "trunk". They each have a guillotine-style shut-off valve.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayneelan

Where do I get a copy of the Manual that these pics come from?

Well, sometimes you see them on ebaY, sometimes your dealer has them in stock to sell (that's where I got mine), or failing that, I believe that Airstream has a service that might still offer them to the public.

They often have errors, but I still think they are worth their weight in gold.

bhutch74ly · 02-17-2012, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynemuhl

Need some help, Where do I start removing the black tank? The toilet is gone.

What length is your trailer? The type of tank and method used to remove the tank vary depending upon the length of the trailer. The procedures for removing the tanks in my 1974 model 25' rear bath trailer were quite a bit different than that described in another post. I had to remove my vanity and the plastic cover for the toilet and then remove the black tank from above. I would have had to remove much of my subfloor to remove the black tank from below. Let me know if you have a 25' model and I will provide additional info.

**Aage** · 02-17-2012, 06:37 PM

wayneelan
New Member

1974 27' Overlander
Houston , Texas
Join Date: Feb 2012

If you're talking about Wayne, it looks like he has a 27-footer. As I recall, the Service Manual groups the 27 through 31 footers for 1974. I can tell you that my 31' unit's black tank came out from beneath the TT.

bhutch74ly · 02-17-2012, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aage

wayneelan
New Member

1974 27' Overlander
Houston , Texas
Join Date: Feb 2012

If you're talking about Wayne, it looks like he has a 27-footer. As I recall, the Service Manual groups the 27 through 31 footers for 1974. I can tell you that my 31' unit's black tank came out from beneath the TT.

Thanks. I hadn't noticed that Wayne's description shows that his trailer is a 27' Overlander. The 1974 Service Manual groups the trailers by International vs. Land Yact series; not by length. The tanks are supposed to be removed from below on the Internationals and from above on the Land Yachts.