Forum Discussion
RedLionCookie
Apr 11, 2019Explorer
Update....
Last weekend I finally got around to pulling the coroplast down and investigating what caused the failure. The tank sits on two pieces of angle iron that run from side to side. The angle iron is bolted into the frame with self taping screws, three on each side. The angle iron is 1/8" steel and extremely flexible.
The the tank appears to have come off the lip of the back brace and dropped. I came out on the left side, but not the right. (if that makes sense) Essentially 3 of the four corners were still in somewhat in place. Because the metal was so light it twisted and bent. There were 3 safety straps also attached to the rails similar to what you would find on a gas tank. The straps are made from very low gauge tin and simply ripped and pulled loose when the tank fell. (Not much of a safety measure.
To fix the problem I removed the 6 self tapping screws from the brace and removed it. The three failed straps were also removed. (I threw all of this away). I took the bent up brace to a welder and for $80 he made me a new brace form 3/8" angle iron. (This one isn't bending!) I put the new brace in place, drilled out the self tapping holes and replaces the screws with 6 nuts and bolts. I didn't bother to replace the safety straps.
I filled the tank up with water and so far so good. This weekend we will hit the road and hopefully the tank doesn't "hit the road"!
Thanks for all the words of advice and encouragement. This site is awesome!
Last weekend I finally got around to pulling the coroplast down and investigating what caused the failure. The tank sits on two pieces of angle iron that run from side to side. The angle iron is bolted into the frame with self taping screws, three on each side. The angle iron is 1/8" steel and extremely flexible.
The the tank appears to have come off the lip of the back brace and dropped. I came out on the left side, but not the right. (if that makes sense) Essentially 3 of the four corners were still in somewhat in place. Because the metal was so light it twisted and bent. There were 3 safety straps also attached to the rails similar to what you would find on a gas tank. The straps are made from very low gauge tin and simply ripped and pulled loose when the tank fell. (Not much of a safety measure.
To fix the problem I removed the 6 self tapping screws from the brace and removed it. The three failed straps were also removed. (I threw all of this away). I took the bent up brace to a welder and for $80 he made me a new brace form 3/8" angle iron. (This one isn't bending!) I put the new brace in place, drilled out the self tapping holes and replaces the screws with 6 nuts and bolts. I didn't bother to replace the safety straps.
I filled the tank up with water and so far so good. This weekend we will hit the road and hopefully the tank doesn't "hit the road"!
Thanks for all the words of advice and encouragement. This site is awesome!
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