Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > General RV Issues
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-15-2017, 08:08 AM   #1
plocklin
Member
 
plocklin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: DFW area Texas
Posts: 45
Water Tank and Tank Mount Failures

I have read on other forums that if you tow with water in your Fresh Water Tank the supporting structure will sag, bend and fail. Albeit this topic was talking about Forrest River trailers some members claimed that ALL trailers have this problem.

I recently purchased a 2007 Keystone Cougar 306BHS and am currently inspecting, repairing and upgrading. I read through the Keystone manual shortly after the purchase and remember a recommendation to “drain all water tanks before towing”. After discovering the water tank failure blog I looked back through the manual and could not find where I read it.

It seems logical to me that you would want to fill your fresh water tank before you travel to your destination so you will have water when you arrive. Therefor if there is a potential support failure on these makes and models I would like to remedy the problem before the failure takes place.

I am reaching out to Keystone owners to ask the following questions so I can learn from those who have already experienced.

1. Do you travel with water in your fresh water tank?
2. Have you ever had failures (sagging, bending or braking) of your fresh water tank support structure?
3. What model of trailer do you have and where is your fresh water tank located?
4. Have you noticed a difference in towing with your Fresh water tank full vs. empty?
5. Do you use water in your tank(s) to balance the load of your travel trailer?

I thank anyone who would answer any of these questions that apply to you.


__________________
plocklin
Old dog

New tricks
plocklin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2017, 08:26 AM   #2
Javi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,456
Quote:
Originally Posted by plocklin View Post

1. Do you travel with water in your fresh water tank?
2. Have you ever had failures (sagging, bending or braking) of your fresh water tank support structure?
3. What model of trailer do you have and where is your fresh water tank located?
4. Have you noticed a difference in towing with your Fresh water tank full vs. empty?
5. Do you use water in your tank(s) to balance the load of your travel trailer?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Currently a '15 Cougar 333MKS, at the rear of the trailer capacity 76 gallons.

4. Of course... it is roughly 600 pounds when full.. although normally I don't fill it... Usually I keep 20 to 25 gallons in the tank...

5. Not currently, with a dually I no longer have to think about such things..

However in the past with other trailers such as the Passport 2890RL it was so light in the front end because they moved the axles forward trying to make it 1/2 ton towable that the only way to comfortably tow it was with at least 30 gallons of water in the tank which was in the front of the trailer... without it that trailer flopped around like a fish out of the water...
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
Javi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2017, 08:41 AM   #3
Ken / Claudia
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Fruitland
Posts: 3,357
1 yes

2 No

3 Current trailer see below. Past 7 Rvs owned I carried water in tanks. 4 No

5 No


I carry water because dry camping there is not water. Also I use the toilet not public rest room at rest stops. In my Keystone booket it lists the water as cargo and considered in the GVWR of the trailer.
__________________
2013 24RKSWE (27ft TT) Cougar 1/2 ton series SOLD 10-2021
2013 Ford F350 4x4 CC 6.7 engine, 8 ft bed, 3.55 rear end, lariat package
Retired from Oregon State Police in 2011 than worked another 9.5 years as a small town traffic cop:
As of 05-2020, I am all done with 39 years total police work. No more uniforms for me.
Ken / Claudia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2017, 09:08 AM   #4
Ruko
Member
 
Ruko's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Posts: 59
1. Yes
2. No
3. Thor Tahoe Toy Hauler, tanks were directly over the axles.
4. Yes it was balanced and pulled better with the tanks full.
5. Yes


We mostly dry camp and rarely camp in a campground with water so we almost always travel with full tanks. Have never had a problem. I pulled our previous trailer with a Ram 1500. It was a bumper pull toy hauler so the axles were set back farther in order to balance the trailer better with cargo in the back. If we pulled it empty there was way more tongue weight and it squatted the truck more and the front of the trailer sat a little low. If we filled the tanks and put the Rzr in the back the truck and trailer sat nice and level.
__________________



2013 Fuzion 342
2015 Dodge Ram 3500
Ruko is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2017, 09:25 AM   #5
Tbos
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Solomons
Posts: 3,874
Water Tank and Tank Mount Failures

Always have water in FW tank when I tow. Have never had an issue.


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2016 F350 CC DRW
__________________
Tom
2019 Alpine 3651RL
2016 F350 CC DRW
Tbos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2017, 09:40 AM   #6
busterbrown
Senior Member
 
busterbrown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 1,659
Quote:
Originally Posted by plocklin View Post
I have read on other forums that if you tow with water in your Fresh Water Tank the supporting structure will sag, bend and fail. Albeit this topic was talking about Forrest River trailers some members claimed that ALL trailers have this problem.
This may be a topic of discussion on some forum thread, but I highly doubt an accurate depiction of fresh water tank support failures in the RV industry. My guess that out of the 100's of thousands of new RVs sold each year and millions of used RVs currently in service, the number of fresh water tank failures (for whatever reason) is incredibly small and irrelevant. Many people partial or completely fill their tanks prior to travel to their camping destination. I know I do. You just don't hear about tanks sagging or breaking free from their mounts or straps. It just doesn't happen with any predictability.

And if it did happen to a measurable amount of RV owners, warnings and cautionary literature (per the manufacturer) would be part of the walkthrough process.

So,

1. yes
2. no
3. Bullet 308BHS
4. yes
5. yes
__________________
2017 Keystone Bullet 308BHS in Saddle.
2017 RAM 2500 Laramie Mega Cab 4x4 Hemi 6.4L
2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali (SOLD)
Hensley SwiftArrow Control Hitch with 1000 lb Spring Bars
Me, DW, (3) little DS's, and 1 rambunctious Boston Terrier

busterbrown is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2017, 09:48 AM   #7
14george
Senior Member
 
14george's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 1,271
1. Yes
2. No
3. 24 mk frount of axle
4. No
5. Yes about 20 gallons

By the way welcome to the fourm
__________________
Navy 1980-1984
14george is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2017, 10:05 AM   #8
SummitPond
Senior Member
 
SummitPond's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Northeast Florida/Southeast Maine
Posts: 784
1. Do you travel with water in your fresh water tank?
Yes

2. Have you ever had failures (sagging, bending or braking) of your fresh water tank support structure?
No

3. What model of trailer do you have and where is your fresh water tank located?
19FBPR; See the attached image for 43 gal. tank location (red arrow next to bed)

4. Have you noticed a difference in towing with your Fresh water tank full vs. empty?
I've never completely filled it up, but no, I've noted no difference.

5. Do you use water in your tank(s) to balance the load of your travel trailer?
No
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	19fbpr water tank location.jpg
Views:	348
Size:	44.5 KB
ID:	12309  
__________________

Now: 2019 Winnebago 2500FL w/e2 WDH;Sold: 2015 Bullet Premier 19FBPR (shown)
2012 Ford F-250 Lariat Super Duty Crew Cab (gas 6.2 L, 3.73 gear ratio 2WD, 172" WB)
SummitPond is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2017, 10:19 AM   #9
sourdough
Site Team
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,601
1. Yes. About 20-25 gallons

2. No

3. 319 RLS. Located in the rear.

4. No. Only use about 20-25 gals.

5. No.
sourdough is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2017, 11:02 AM   #10
canesfan
Senior Member
 
canesfan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Tidewater Area Virginia
Posts: 1,271
1. Yes
2. No
3. In my sig - over the axles.
4. It adds close to 1000lbs if I fill it. Might get a little less fuel mileage. Don't notice anything else.
5. No

There have been threads on other RV forums over the years about this. I think most of it is mythical, just like many other things. Somebody's uncle's brother's niece knew somebody who heard somebody telling someone in the checkout line at the grocery store it happened to their neighbor's daughters dog. As was mentioned in a thread somewhere, sometime, about this, how many fresh water tanks do you see lying along the highway? I see lots of stuff, never a fresh water tank though.
__________________
2014 Raptor RP300MP w/ Rear Patio Party Deck, Folding Side Ladder, 6 Point Level Up, Carlisle Radial Trail HDs
2004 2500HD D/A CC SB - TTT Mirrors, Prodigy BC, 18K Pullrite Superglide, NEW Fuel Injectors 11/2015 (ouch)
canesfan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2017, 03:03 PM   #11
66joej
Senior Member
 
66joej's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: radium hot springs bc
Posts: 2,007
^^^^^ I agree with the above posts. I do the same.
Welcome to the forum from Radium Hot Springs BC.
__________________

2018 Ram 3500 6.4 Harvest Edition
2018 Cougar 27RESWE
66joej is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2017, 03:57 PM   #12
CaptnJohn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Ocean Isle Beach
Posts: 1,431
Op read the FR forums and there are FR models that have had FW tanks bulge. More than a few have dropped while parked and others going down the road. This seems to a limited number of models. FR manuals suggest towing with empty liquid tanks including FW.

1. Do you travel with water in your fresh water tank?
Yes, full 60 gallons.

2. Have you ever had failures (sagging, bending or braking) of your fresh water tank support structure?
NO.

3. What model of trailer do you have and where is your fresh water tank located?
Cougar 5er ~~ 303RLS FW tank all the way to the rear.

4. Have you noticed a difference in towing with your Fresh water tank full vs. empty?
Not in towing but scales show a little lighter pin weight.

5. Do you use water in your tank(s) to balance the load of your travel trailer?
NO.
__________________

2022.Montana 3855 BR
2019 F350 6.7 4X4 DRW
CaptnJohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2017, 04:38 PM   #13
MattHelm21
Senior Member
 
MattHelm21's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Sussex, NJ
Posts: 471
We always travel with full fresh water tanks when going to races and don't intend to change this with the new trailer.

1. Do you travel with water in your fresh water tank?
Yes, full 110 gallons.

2. Have you ever had failures (sagging, bending or braking) of your fresh water tank support structure?
No but only 650 miles on the trailer so far(most with the full tank).

3. What model of trailer do you have and where is your fresh water tank located?
See my signature for model. The tank is located just forward of the axles

4. Have you noticed a difference in towing with your Fresh water tank full vs. empty?
None but it does add about 300 lbs more to the pin than my sticker says.

5. Do you use water in your tank(s) to balance the load of your travel trailer?
NO.
__________________
2016 Fuzion 414 Chrome
2016 Ford F450 Super Duty King Ranch
MattHelm21 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2017, 04:45 PM   #14
66joej
Senior Member
 
66joej's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: radium hot springs bc
Posts: 2,007
Welcome to the forum from Radium Hot Springs BC.
I see your question has been answered so I will leave it at that.
__________________

2018 Ram 3500 6.4 Harvest Edition
2018 Cougar 27RESWE
66joej is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2017, 07:32 PM   #15
plocklin
Member
 
plocklin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: DFW area Texas
Posts: 45
By the looks of the responses you are correct. The problem seems to only be with Forrest River travel trailers. So far I am very pleased with my Keystone Cougar.

In case anyone is curious, the thread I am referring to is recent:
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ng-131021.html

Many members posted pictures showing the defects. But again, these are not Keystone trailers.
__________________
plocklin
Old dog

New tricks
plocklin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2017, 09:58 PM   #16
trucker LOU
Senior Member
 
trucker LOU's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Diego CA
Posts: 194
When first filling of water tank when 2010 Springdale was new,while draining tank after sanitize I observed bulging tank. I added a drain line so did not have to crawl under to drain,also 2"X1/8 angle iron cross brace under tank.I should have used 1/4" as the 1/8" has sagged a little. I have towed the Springdale a little over 120,000mi and tank hasn't fallen out yet. The 2 pics B&A taken into sunlight are a little hard to see detail,but give a look at the fix.----Lou----
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	thanks 09017.JPG
Views:	407
Size:	82.2 KB
ID:	12310   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1060.jpg
Views:	512
Size:	156.6 KB
ID:	12311  
trucker LOU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2017, 05:17 PM   #17
plocklin
Member
 
plocklin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: DFW area Texas
Posts: 45
Smile

Quote:
Originally Posted by MattHelm21 View Post
We always travel with full fresh water tanks when going to races and don't intend to change this with the new trailer.

1. Do you travel with water in your fresh water tank?
Yes, full 110 gallons.

2. Have you ever had failures (sagging, bending or braking) of your fresh water tank support structure?
No but only 650 miles on the trailer so far(most with the full tank).

3. What model of trailer do you have and where is your fresh water tank located?
See my signature for model. The tank is located just forward of the axles

4. Have you noticed a difference in towing with your Fresh water tank full vs. empty?
None but it does add about 300 lbs more to the pin than my sticker says.


5. Do you use water in your tank(s) to balance the load of your travel trailer?
NO.
Thanks,

I believe my FW tank is just aft of the back axle. I will have to remove the panel to verify. I will check my tongue weight with and without water.
__________________
plocklin
Old dog

New tricks
plocklin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2017, 05:28 PM   #18
plocklin
Member
 
plocklin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: DFW area Texas
Posts: 45
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattHelm21 View Post
We always travel with full fresh water tanks when going to races and don't intend to change this with the new trailer.

1. Do you travel with water in your fresh water tank?
Yes, full 110 gallons.

2. Have you ever had failures (sagging, bending or braking) of your fresh water tank support structure?
No but only 650 miles on the trailer so far(most with the full tank).

3. What model of trailer do you have and where is your fresh water tank located?
See my signature for model. The tank is located just forward of the axles

4. Have you noticed a difference in towing with your Fresh water tank full vs. empty?
None but it does add about 300 lbs more to the pin than my sticker says.

5. Do you use water in your tank(s) to balance the load of your travel trailer?
NO.
Quote:
Originally Posted by trucker LOU View Post
When first filling of water tank when 2010 Springdale was new,while draining tank after sanitize I observed bulging tank. I added a drain line so did not have to crawl under to drain,also 2"X1/8 angle iron cross brace under tank.I should have used 1/4" as the 1/8" has sagged a little. I have towed the Springdale a little over 120,000mi and tank hasn't fallen out yet. The 2 pics B&A taken into sunlight are a little hard to see detail,but give a look at the fix.----Lou----

MattHelm21,

Definitely got some sag there but not as bad as the FR models on the thread I mentioned. I attached a couple of pics from those members.

I need to inspect all of my tanks anyway to tighten or repair the tank level /sensor wires. I expect to have a good report on the support structure.

Thanks,
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Tank Bulge fm Rear sm.jpg
Views:	562
Size:	31.2 KB
ID:	12319   Click image for larger version

Name:	tank falling out.jpg
Views:	329
Size:	46.9 KB
ID:	12320  
__________________
plocklin
Old dog

New tricks
plocklin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2017, 05:40 PM   #19
BuxCamper
Senior Member
 
BuxCamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Bucks County, PA
Posts: 281
Yikes!

-- Mark
__________________
-- Mark

I used a multi-billion dollar government satellite navigation system to look for a rubber chicken in a tree!

2017 Bullet 248RKS towed by a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 5.3L V8 W/ AFM
BuxCamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-02-2017, 03:59 PM   #20
Frenshmen11
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Tolland
Posts: 4
I fill my tank every time , but I can tell you I am in Canada now with a tank about to fall out. Drained the tank and installed a strap to keep it in for now. I can see a cross member hanging down. The tank is for fresh water and if I am on the road it should start out full. And I don't drain my black water all the time either so that would be one more to tank I'm going to have to check
Frenshmen11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
tank, water

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:13 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.