Hello I posted this over in the 5th wheel forum and got one good reply but led into some more questions lol figured its not 5th wheel specific more of a general question. Regarding the above pkg on my traler. It indicates heated tanks. There is no switch inside the trailer to turn these heat pads on... any thoughts on how to see if this is even installed on my trailer? Also where would one look to see where hot air is ducted to the under carriage?We bought the trailer new in 2013 and for the life of me cant remember what the salesman explained and I never even thought about it until chatting with a buddy about his heated tanks.Thanks to allDave

Not being familiar with your RV, do you have a sewage bay on it?My 'so-called' heated tanks is nothing more than they took the heating duct in the bedroom and split it. Half goes to the bedroom and the other half goes into the sewage bay. It comes out high on the one side of the wall of the bay. I.E. 'heated' tanks. :R

we have a switch in the kitchen area to turn on our tank heating pads. Normally if you have a heated bay, you don't have the pads.

My "heated underbelly" is minimal insulation and a 1 1/2" flexible tube hanging down the side right next to the furnace. Impressive..At least I can say it has heat.B.O.

Put a remote reading thermometer in the bay. Turn on the furnace. If the temperature rises then the bay is being heated via forced air.

As others have said, "heated tanks" quite often means merely that they are (minimally) enclosed and insulated and there's a small duct from the furnace into that space.So long as you use the furnace for heat (as opposed to, say, electric space heaters), this is generally sufficient to keep them from freezing in at least moderately cold weather use, and certainly far better than tanks hanging exposed to the elements. It might not be sufficient for 20 degrees below zero weather. Not many mass-market RVs are set up for bitterly cold weather from the factory.

Heated tanks/under belly? | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

steiny93
Explorer
Sep 30, 2015
our heated tanks are run by a row of unmarked switches near the tank indicators
Ductape
Explorer
Sep 30, 2015
Our previous TT had both the heating duct from the furnace run through the basement plus electric tank heating pads with switches.

Two different things entirely.
CabinetmakerII
Explorer
Sep 30, 2015
We have "Enclosed and heated underbelly" on our unit... We are full timers and occasionally encounter freezing weather. The only problem we have had is freezing the fresh water side of things. I took down the belly pan and installed electric heat tape on the supply line from the fresh water tanks (we have 2 - 50 gallon tanks) to the water pump. Now when colder temps are forecast, I plug in the heat tape and disconnect the water hose from the spigot.
Oaklevel
Explorer
Sep 30, 2015
I do not think you tanks are heated ....... It says heated underbelly. Does not specifically say heated tanks.......... Its a poor play on words.
dbcoop
Explorer
Sep 29, 2015
Thanks guys. Its interesting, im going to have to investigate this further. Although I saw no area to see into the underbelly to visually see where the ducting enters, it looks sealed off. Ill keep looking.

Thanks again

Dave
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Sep 29, 2015
DrewE wrote:
As others have said, "heated tanks" quite often means merely that they are (minimally) enclosed and insulated and there's a small duct from the furnace into that space.

So long as you use the furnace for heat (as opposed to, say, electric space heaters), this is generally sufficient to keep them from freezing in at least moderately cold weather use, and certainly far better than tanks hanging exposed to the elements. It might not be sufficient for 20 degrees below zero weather. Not many mass-market RVs are set up for bitterly cold weather from the factory.

Our 5er had enough ductwork to keep the tanks from freezing; but in our case, the pipes leading to the main dump tube were still exposed.
stickdog
Explorer
Sep 29, 2015
I know the duct from my furnace runs down directly over the enclosed dump valves.
Goostoff
Explorer
Sep 29, 2015
Mine have a switch mounted right below the tank monitors as you walk in the door.
tatest
Explorer II
Sep 28, 2015
That description is usually referring to tanks installed in an enclosed space that is heated by the furnace.

Heating pads are more often used on tanks that are installed in an enclosed, insulated space.
mlts22
Explorer II
Sep 28, 2015
My "heated tanks" on my TT consist of a duct that blasts warm air on them, and nothing else.

My next rig is going to at least have the tanks have heating pads, as well as some form of insulation, even if it is just a layer of Reflectix. This is definitely not -20 below weather... but it will keep the tanks operable if at a CG and the weather is in the 20s (as cold spells do get in Texas.)

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Heated tanks/under belly?

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