Grey tank removal

[Susandm]

Can someone tell me how the grey tank under kitchen sink is held in place?
I have an 08 keystone outback fifth wheel. This is my "tiny home". It is a permanent structure on my land hooked up to a septic tank. The tank is clogged up and leaking, smells terrible! I want to just remove the tank and bypass it, as it's not needed. I've got the pipe coming out of the tank unhooked, and realize I have to cut the pipes going into the tank but I don't see how it's held in place. I don't see any straps, bolts, nothing. It's got to be secured under there somehow!
Thank you!

[Martian]

Typically there will be two removable brackets on either the ends or sides of the tank that hold the tank up. Might look permanent but they are not.

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by Susandm

Can someone tell me how the grey tank under kitchen sink is held in place?
I have an 08 keystone outback fifth wheel. This is my "tiny home". It is a permanent structure on my land hooked up to a septic tank. The tank is clogged up and leaking, smells terrible! I want to just remove the tank and bypass it, as it's not needed. I've got the pipe coming out of the tank unhooked, and realize I have to cut the pipes going into the tank but I don't see how it's held in place. I don't see any straps, bolts, nothing. It's got to be secured under there somehow!
Thank you!

You might want to reconsider removing the tank. How did it clog if it’s the kitchen gray tank? Too much grease or food particles? Did you leave the drain open all the time?

You can clean it, and save yourself lots of extra work.

[Susandm]

It does look permanent! I'll crawl under there and look again, thanks for your reply

[Susandm]

It's not completely clogged. I disconnected the outgoing pipe and was able to stick my hand in and I felt lots of gunk. The sink never clogged, it was the smell and water dripping from underneath that started this whole mess. The actual tank is leaking. So instead of trying to repair something I don't need, I was just gonna take it out

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by Susandm

It's not completely clogged. I disconnected the outgoing pipe and was able to stick my hand in and I felt lots of gunk. The sink never clogged, it was the smell and water dripping from underneath that started this whole mess. The actual tank is leaking. So instead of trying to repair something I don't need, I was just gonna take it out

If the tank is broken and leaking, a sawzall might be the answer. My tanks in my ancient Cougar sit on L brackets that can be unbolted and pushed out of the way and the tanks then come out if disconnected to the drains. Another tip, don't stick you hand in a tank as it is likely to be somewhat disgusting.

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by Susandm

It's not completely clogged. I disconnected the outgoing pipe and was able to stick my hand in and I felt lots of gunk. The sink never clogged, it was the smell and water dripping from underneath that started this whole mess. The actual tank is leaking. So instead of trying to repair something I don't need, I was just gonna take it out

Where is the leak? If it’s at the valve or where the valve assembly goes into the tank, repair is less than $50 and a lot less trouble than removing the tank.

[Susandm]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

If the tank is broken and leaking, a sawzall might be the answer. My tanks in my ancient Cougar sit on L brackets that can be unbolted and pushed out of the way and the tanks then come out if disconnected to the drains. Another tip, don't stick you hand in a tank as it is likely to be somewhat disgusting.

Sawzall... Exactly what I was thinking. Cuz I've been back under there and I see absolutely nothing holding that thing in. So I'm about ready to just start taking it out piece by piece

[Susandm]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Where is the leak? If it’s at the valve or where the valve assembly goes into the tank, repair is less than $50 and a lot less trouble than removing the tank.

It's somewhere on the top. And I'd just rather get rid of it, one less thing to fall apart, clog up or leak.

[Susandm]

Just an FYI. There were not any bolts, clamps holding that gray tank underneath my kitchen sink. The lips of the tank just went over the top of the braces in the bottom of the trailer. I could not wedge it out got so mad I indeed got the sawzall and cut a hole through it, connected my PVC pipe, done. Hope I never have to crawl under there again!

[sasteve49]

We have lived fulltime in our 2010 Cougar 5th wheel, going on 12 years.
Grey water tank blocked up with calcium/soap chunks. Some rock hard.
Spent about 5 hours under trailer trying to drain and clean before fixing crack.
Still gunk and chunks coming out of the crack and pipe where I removed the valve. Dumbest installation of valve ever! 4 screws put in from tank side, si when removed nuts, could not remove bolts as up against tank! Had to bend bolts to get out!
Anyway, have decided to remove tank and patch galley drain directly into main drain without tank.
Not really necessary anyway.
A Cougar 318SAB 5th wheel.
Anyone done this removal before?

[Susandm]

Yes I did it. I could not get the tank out the way it was put under there made it nearly impossible. I ended up getting my sawzall and just cut it out. Kind of lost my patience with it but it works, lol

[sasteve49]

Thanks Susandm!
I already thought about doing that as also lost patience. Sucks the way that they install these things...
Tomorrow I will get back under, cut back the undercover and figure it out.
Decided that I don't teally need a holding tank for the kitchen anyway so will just run out and join into the existing drain.
Thanks for responding!

[chuckster57]

Waste tanks are usually held in place by a bracket on the lips. One is probably welded but one is held in place by screws through the frame from the inside. You take the screws out, move the bracket and the tank will come out. Done 100’s of tanks on numerous different brands and they are all the same. Motorhomes can be different, sometimes they stack a gray on top of a black tank, in a compartment.

[sasteve49]

Ok, thanks for that info. Will look for the bolted frame bracket.
Cheers
Steve.