Forum Discussion

Marsland's avatar
Marsland
Explorer
Jul 01, 2013

Water Tank Leak (my fault)

Well this is embarrassing :o :M ! But I need some advice on water tank repair.

This is my story. In my exuberance to make my TT more cold weather protected I dropped the underbelly (coroplast) and after checking out the tanks, connections, duct work, and everything else I proceeded to put in a layer of Reflectix. Not much more insulation but more than it had to start with.

Now the fresh water tank rests on the passenger side frame rail and extends to close to the other side. Well on the passenger side the manufacturer used short screws to attach the coroplast to the frame below the tank. I knew that :R cause I took it apart!!! But in my haste to put everything back together I forgot and used a long screw. (expletive deleted)(expletive deleted)(expletive deleted)!!!!!!

My question is (finally) can this hole in my tank be repaired with a reasonable chance of success or should I swallow hard and purchase a new tank? If it were exposed I would more than likely try to repair but being covered I don't want to unbutton everything more often than I have to.

Thanks,
Richard
  • mhardin's avatar
    mhardin
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2013
    I'd just use a screw with a rubber gasket and flat washer between the tank and screw head. I've done that on metal tanks before with no problems. It should work on the water tank, too. Keep it easy and simple.

    Mike
  • I_am_still_wayn's avatar
    I_am_still_wayn
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2013
    WOW! Sorry about your goof up. It will sucks when you can't blame someone else.

    There is a procedure to actually "weld" a repair to the tank. Before I tried any home remedies, I would call the manufacturer and find who their vendor was for the tank. Then call that manufacturer for suggestions for a repair.
  • brulaz's avatar
    brulaz
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2013
    Assuming the tank is polyethylene, I'd heard that poly can only be fixed with welding/heat.

    But now there's some epoxies that will work. G Weld has been mentioned, but 3M DP8005 might be better, dunno.
    3M DP8005

    Any other glues would be a waste of time IMHO.

    I'd get a matching poly screw (avail on web), dip it in epoxy and screw it in the hole. Then cut it off.
  • hammer21661's avatar
    hammer21661
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2013
    Not familiar with the g flex but every thing else west makes is good. How about a screw and some silicone type sealant?
  • Fire19's avatar
    Fire19
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2013
    I have repaired many plastic tanks with a soldering iron and a gallon milk jug. Just cut the milk jug up in to a 2"square and with a wide soldering iron just keep going over the pathches and keep adding them on there till you build up the area.
  • NanciL's avatar
    NanciL
    Explorer II
    Jul 01, 2013
    I would use West Systems "G" flex epoxy.
    Any West Marine store carries it.

    Don't use any old epoxy. Many of them are not compatable with poly material

    Call West Systems up and they will advise you.

    Jack L
  • WoodGlue's avatar
    WoodGlue
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2013
    I've seen tank repairs being done with a small piece of a gallon water jug (the flexible kind of frosted jug) with a liberal amount of superglue - and well, you get the idea. I'd go over the area with several layers of patches, each one getting a bit larger than the last.

    If it works, great news! If not, then maybe a new tank?

    WoodGlue

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