'84 Excella axle/water tank belly pan rust

[jman84]

I'm a newbie to the forum but I have gotten much help and ideas before joining and just want to say you folks are great! I just purchased an '84 Excella 31' trailer and I am working on the outside first. I don't have any pic's yet but I found a rust through at the rear corner of the pan that is directly under the potable water tank. After reading other threads, it appears that drain plug leaked (thanks john hd!) and was neglected for awhile. The black metal pan is bolted to crossmembers fore and aft of the axles. Question is: does the pan support anything like the water tank requiring removal and welding/bracing or can I just kill the rust and fabricate an outer skin to seal the area. Please help or direct me to another thread because I couldn't find one quite like mine. Thanks.

[DEITZ645]

Jman84,
Congratulations on getting your Airstream.

After you are sure it isn't leaking anymore, I think you can just get rid of the rust and fabricate an access panel. Just don't put anymore extra holes in the tank when you attach the new access panel. I don't think you will have to drop the tank enclosure.

A year or two ago I had to drop the tank enclosure on our '06 to fix a plumbing coupler issue due to my inexperience and stupidity. I used a hydraulic floor jack to support it until I removed all the bolts and used the jack to lift it back up when I secured it again. When I dropped it the tanks stayed in place, but I don't remember how they were supported.

[jman84]

Thanks for the reply and welcome. I ordered a service manual but it won't get here by the weekend when I'm planning to work on it. The rust holes go up the side of the pan near the petcock. The PO was a 76 year old who just went to RV parks and didn't even have a tank fill cap or the access door closed! With the rain we get here it probably suppiled the leak w/ a steady supply of water to rust out the pan and he couldn't bend that low to notice. If it doesn't provide support for the tank I may unbolt to drop the corner down enough to fabricate a piece and use the bolts to secure the perimeter and sheet metal screws under the pan. I will try to post pics and details along the way. Thanks again for your help.