Supporting Grey Tank

[tgregory13]

Can a holding tank shaped like the one in the attached picture be supported or hung by the 2" lip around the top or would you also need to support the bottom of the tank somehow?

[Safari Tim]

I just finsihed putting mine in with straps across the bottom. I used two 1/8" x 1" flat bars in the middle and two 3/4" x 1/8" angle iron on the sides.

These things get really heavy when full and the plastic ones may even bulge out.

I think mounting supported across the bottom is the way to go.

Here's a photo of mine so far.

[tgregory13]

well after a snooping around all of the SOB trailers at my storage place i found out that is exactly how they support them... they either had 2x2 angle iron or 2x2 tubing to support the grey and black tanks... must be some thick plastic.....

that didnt take long to get in Tim.... nice job!

[Safari Tim]

Thanks Todd.

I'm a little confused.. as usual!

Which way did the SOB's mount their tanks?

[tgregory13]

Tim take a look at the picture where they show you measurment C. see how you have about a 2" flat spot on both sides (kinda like a T) before it drops down to form the tank? Well they ran angle iron of tubing across the frame rails that support the tank from those flat spots....

here i did one up in paint.... the red boxes is your angle iron or tubing.... maybe that helps.... i was supprised to see them hanging there like that but, they were all pretty much the same and i looked at about 15 of them..

[tgregory13]

Originally Posted by Safari Tim

I just finsihed putting mine in with straps across the bottom. I used two 1/8" x 1" flat bars in the middle and two 3/4" x 1/8" angle iron on the sides.

These things get really heavy when full and the plastic ones may even bulge out.

I think mounting supported across the bottom is the way to go.

Here's a photo of mine so far.

your drain for the shower looks like it enters the tank what will below the waterline when the tank fills up.... how do you keep it from flowing back to the shower?

[geezernbabe]

I put in a new black tank. I called the factory that made it and they said that people mount that type of tank all the time from the lip. Mine just has the lip down both long sides so I used 2" angle covered with 1/8" rubber strips glued to the angle. It feels real good but when I build the cover on the bottom I may put something there to help but I will see.

[balrgn]

Hmmmm Been thinkin of puting a gray in my 73..... Nice work!

[Safari Tim]

Originally Posted by tgregory13

your drain for the shower looks like it enters the tank what will below the waterline when the tank fills up.... how do you keep it from flowing back to the shower?

I'm hoping that since the tank is vented at the top, up through the floor, and the fact that the tub is higher than the tank, it will allow it to fill w/o backing up.

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by tgregory13

your drain for the shower looks like it enters the tank what will below the waterline when the tank fills up.... how do you keep it from flowing back to the shower?

the bottom of the shower is on top of the floor; the tank is beneath the floor; therefore, the top of the tank is lower than the bottom of the shower. water will seek its own level, so it WILL go into the tank, even if the pipe doesn't enter at the top. (as long as the top of the tank is vented, so air on the top can escape). The shower may drain slower as the tank fills...but it will drain.

so, is that a stock tank in your drawing? make/model# dimensions? Andre is going to put a grey tank in my 73, too, so he needs to know which one to buy.....

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by Safari Tim

I'm hoping ....

It will. I did the experiment with my blue-boy...I had it slung in my spare tire carrier, and ran a hose (piece of pex pipe) from the sewer outlet all the way up front to the blue-boy, where it entered at the bottom of the blue boy. It worked. and I didn't even notice any slowness in the draining. I decided that the whole thing was just too low to the ground for my taste, and generally more trouble than it was worth.

proof of concept, though. you can fill a tank from the bottom, as long as whatever is draining is above the top of the tank.

[Safari Tim]

Originally Posted by chuck

proof of concept, though. you can fill a tank from the bottom, as long as whatever is draining is above the top of the tank.

Great!

I actually started the grey tankology thread and discussed it there before I ordered it.

I was still a little worried though. Thanks for the info on your test!


Todd...

The tank you're looking at is proabably strong enough to hang from the side. I don't think the Al-Rite tank I had made would be. However you mount it, I would make sure you can remove it from below for servicing.

[tgregory13]

here you go chuck....
Save at RV Partscenter - RV Parts and Supply

call the 800 number real nice guy named chris runs the phones... tank was about $50 cheaper than anywhere else that i could find.... i need to save some money for the custom black tank that i will have all-rite make

[tgregory13]

Originally Posted by chuck

It will. I did the experiment with my blue-boy...I had it slung in my spare tire carrier, and ran a hose (piece of pex pipe) from the sewer outlet all the way up front to the blue-boy, where it entered at the bottom of the blue boy. It worked. and I didn't even notice any slowness in the draining. I decided that the whole thing was just too low to the ground for my taste, and generally more trouble than it was worth.

proof of concept, though. you can fill a tank from the bottom, as long as whatever is draining is above the top of the tank.

good deal! i was thinking about doing some kind of T off of the main drain instead of drilling another hole in the tank if it was possible to fill from below the water line...

[Chuck]

certainly cheap enough...but alas, it is just a tad too big in 2 of those dimensions. I'll poke around and see if they have one thats just a little bit smaller. (frame rails are 24" on center...24.5=too big).

[Fyrzowt]

proof of concept, though. you can fill a tank from the bottom, as long as whatever is draining is above the top of the tank.

Yes, it will work. (As you just explained)

This is for the same reason that a pump that is 150' deep in a well doesn't have to pump 150' of head pressure. Only the difference between the water at the surface and the height where it exits the pipe.

Or, hold your garden hose ends up off the ground. Pour water in one end (slightly higher), it will flow through the hose and rise back up and flow out the other end.

Clear as mud??

[balrgn]

More pics you guys! Pah Lease

[tgregory13]

Originally Posted by chuck

certainly cheap enough...but alas, it is just a tad too big in 2 of those dimensions. I'll poke around and see if they have one thats just a little bit smaller. (frame rails are 24" on center...24.5=too big).

I need to replace a couple of crossmembers anyway and i have the trailer completly apart, so for me its no big deal to make the room to fit the tank. for a buck and a half i'll move the frame crossmember

[Safari Tim]

Here are some more pics of my grey tank.

The first one is the kitchen sink drain into the top of the tank. The left side of that tee goes up to the roof to the vent.

The next pic is the lines under the trailer running to the tank. The line on the left is from the tub and bath sink into the tank. The missing one on the right is to the dump valve.

The last pic is the tub and sink drains tying together and running toward the grey tank.

[tgregory13]

well now that i think i have the grey figured out what is needed to make the fresh water tank work.... i know the fill will hit the tank, thats the easy one but, how does the pump attach and work along with the water lines coming out of the tank... any of you guys have any photos of that?