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04-21-2018, 05:23 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
2007 31' Classic
Bend
, Oregon
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 76
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Holding tank drain valves
Is it necessary to remove the belly pan to replace black and gray water valves?
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04-21-2018, 05:36 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2002 30' Classic S/O
Fleming Island
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,673
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It depends on the trailer. Several people have, and I plan to, cut an access hole around the valves and make a cover to fill the hole when I'm done. If you can see the valves through the rod holes and are careful you can probably cut without hurting anything. But the sensor wires for the tank gauges may be in the same area. Clearly it is safer to pull the pan unless you are sure you won't hurt anything. There is already a small access hole in my pan so I plan to just enlarge it.
Al
__________________
“You cannot reason someone out of a position they have not been reasoned into"
Al, K5TAN and Missy, N4RGO WBCCI 1322
2002 Classic 30 Slideout -S/OS #004
2013 Dodge 2500 Laramie 4x4 Megacab Cummins
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04-21-2018, 05:39 PM
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#3
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2 Rivet Member
2007 31' Classic
Bend
, Oregon
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 76
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Al and Missy
It depends on the trailer. Several people have, and I plan to, cut an access hole around the valves and make a cover to fill the hole when I'm done. If you can see the valves through the rod holes and are careful you can probably cut without hurting anything. But the sensor wires for the tank gauges may be in the same area. Clearly it is safer to pull the pan unless you are sure you won't hurt anything. There is already a small access hole in my pan so I plan to just enlarge it.
Al
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Thanks for the info. Is the pan mounted using screws or rivets?
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04-21-2018, 05:43 PM
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#4
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4 Rivet Member
2000 30' Excella
Toledo
, Ohio
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 493
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I cut a hole in mine about a 2'x2' square . did it last year used a grinder with a abrasive wheel , makes a clean cut unlike a nibbler . easy job if you don't mind laying on your back . I left the wheels on and put blocking under the tires to get enough room to work .
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04-21-2018, 05:44 PM
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#5
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2 Rivet Member
2007 31' Classic
Bend
, Oregon
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 76
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Quote:
Originally Posted by woodfox45
I cut a hole in mine about a 2'x2' square . did it last year used a grinder with a abrasive wheel , makes a clean cut unlike a nibbler . easy job if you don't mind laying on your back . I left the wheels on and put blocking under the tires to get enough room to work .
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Thanks
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04-21-2018, 07:20 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1995 25' Excella
xxxxx
, xxxxxx
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 2,351
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I bought a set of electric shears at Harbor Freight to cut my hole. I made a cover plate from a street sign from the local recycler. Airstream should have put in an access panel in the first place, especially since in the owners manual they tell you cutting a hole and not dropping the pan is how they service the valves.
My valves are in front if the axle. I raised my jack as high as it would go. Then, I lowered the stabs as far as they would go and put blocks under them for a safety net. I had plenty of room to work.
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04-21-2018, 07:58 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,119
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Airstream accessed the valves on my trailer by cutting a hole in the pan. I cut a hole in the one I did with the Harbor Freight nibbler. It is a thick tough piece of metal and everything falls into your face. I put the cover patch over the hole on with screws. Airstream uses rivets. All in all the job went pretty well. When you drill down there you need to be sure to have a positive stop on the drill bit.
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04-21-2018, 08:08 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2002 30' Classic S/O
Fleming Island
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,673
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jfowler218
Thanks for the info. Is the pan mounted using screws or rivets?
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My 2001 Safari had a polyethylene pan. It had steel straps around it screwed into the frame with hex head bolts. My 2002 Classic has a steel pan flange bolted (presumably into the frame) with hex head bolts.
Both already had access panels cut into them. The Classic access opening is not big enough to drop the valves so I'll enlarge it.
Al
__________________
“You cannot reason someone out of a position they have not been reasoned into"
Al, K5TAN and Missy, N4RGO WBCCI 1322
2002 Classic 30 Slideout -S/OS #004
2013 Dodge 2500 Laramie 4x4 Megacab Cummins
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04-22-2018, 06:45 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,669
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Then fabricate a galvanized access cover.
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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