2011 Keystone Fuzion 405 Water Tank Support System Failure
THE FRESH WATER TANK SUPPORT BRACKETS AND SECURING 3/8 SELF-DRILLING ½” TO 1” TAP SCREWS FAILED. ALL (5) BRACKETS FAILED. ONLY (2) TAP SCREWS ON ONE END OF THE (2) OUTBOARD BRACKETS REMAINED INSTALLED. THOSE SCREWS WERE BACKED OFF A TIGHTENED POSITION BY APPROXIMATELY 1/8” TO ¼” POSITION. THREE (3) SUPPORT CHANNEL BRACKETS ARE BENT IN THE MIDDLE TO A PERMANENT POSITION BY A 2 1/2" TO 3” DROP IN THE CENTER. THE (2) SUPPORT BRACKETS AT BOTH ENDS OF THE TANK SUPPORT SYSTEM DIPPED MARGINALLY.THE BOTTOM OF THE FRESH WATER TANK IS PERMANENTLY DISTORTED ON THE BOTTOM BY APPROXIMATELY A 3” DIP. THE BRACKETS ARE MADE OF 1/16 THICK STEEL CHANNEL SPANNING A DISTANCE OF 60 5/8.” THE BRACKETS & MOUNTING SCREWS ARE NOT SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO SUPPORT A LOAD MAX OF 830 LBS. OR LESS IN EITHER A STATIONARY OR ON THE ROAD CONDITION AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE FAILURE. THERE ARE NO WARNINGS IN THE KEYSTONE OWNER’S MANUAL THAT ADVISE THE OWNER THAT THE RV SHOULD NOT BE PLACED IN MOTION WITH A PARTIALLY FULL OR FULL TANK OF FRESH WATER. ON OCCASION, WHEN TRAVELING, THE FRESH WATER TANK HAS BEEN PARTIALLY FILLED TO BETWEEN THE 1/3 AND 2/3 WATER LEVEL AS NOTED ON THE WATER TANK MONITOR PANEL. HOWEVER, THE MOST CONCERNING SITUATION WOULD BE A CATASTROPHIC FRESH WATER TANK SUPPORT SYSTEM FAILURE WITH THE RV IN MOTION, A TANK OF WATER BREACHING THE UNDERCARRIAGE COVER, (SEE OTHER NHTSA Compliant FILED 7/29/13), THAT COULD RESULT IN COLLATERAL DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PERSON. KEYSTONE CLAIMS THAT THE SUPPORT SYSTEM FAILED DUE TO OVER FILLING THE WATER TANK. IF KEYSTONE BELIEVES IT IS POSSIBLE TO OVER FILL THE FRESH WATER TANK, KEYSTONE SHOULD HAVE DESIGNED A TANK THAT WOULD PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF OVER FILLING THE FRESH WATER TANK, I.E. PRESSURE RELIEF PLUG ON THE TANK OR AN OVERFLOW DRAIN LINE, ETC. I AM THE FIRST AND CURRENT OWNER/OPERATOR OF THIS RECREATIONAL VEHICLE (RV). PICTURES AVAILABLE. Keystone was advised of the failure Feb. 12 and 16,2015.
