Fresh Water Tank Bracing

[BobMc]

This is my first post so hopefully I am in the correct place. I own a 2014 310 Fuzion Fifth Wheel and have a question on the fresh water tank supports. I noticed mine are curved, not straight across (see photo attached). Before I attempt to straighten these supports and look into beefing them up I would like to know if they are supposed to be bent in this manner from the factory? Your urgent help with this matter is very much appreciated. Thanks!

[JRTJH]

Hmmmmm

It looks to me like they all three are "bent the same" so I'd suspect (although not for certain) that they are intentionally formed in that shape. I'd think that if they were bent from weight or ??? that they wouldn't all three be "bent the same amount"...

Guessing, if they were straight, they'd cut into the tank when it was filled, being bent, the tank can expand to ride "along the bulge" with less chance for wear to damage the tank... That's a guess, nothing that I can validate with any "Keystone information"...

Hopefully someone with a similar trailer can confirm the shape of their supports.

[BobMc]

Thanks for your input I don’t know either. There is also a forth support on the left edge that you can’t see in the photo and it is perfectly straight. I can’t say for sure but I don’t think it bulged that much before. All inputs on this question are welcomed.

[5J's]

It looks like they are square tubing. If that is the case it should be easy to tell if they were bent by a machine.

[BobMc]

Thanks for your input the braces are “U” shaped with the open end down. I can’t see any marks to confirm they were machine bent or not.

[5J's]

C channel is not typically a structure that is intentionally bent. I'd venture to say it's not meant to be that way. Maybe someone with the same model will chime in.

[sourdough]

Hopefully someone who has had one apart will chime in. The bent supports almost look identical but can't really tell but could have been intentionally bent. The last one doesn't look that way (sort of hidden behind the back brace) so can't really tell for sure. Can you tell anything from the position of the tank where it rests on the bent supports vs other areas? Does it look like it has dropped or sagged?

[JRTJH]

Typicallly, when a C channel or U channel bends, the two "legs" will deform, either bending inward or split from the extra length they take on. It's a "puzzler" for me, hopefully someone with a similar trailer will chime in and "solve the mystery".....

[BobMc]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Hopefully someone who has had one apart will chime in. The bent supports almost look identical but can't really tell but could have been intentionally bent. The last one doesn't look that way (sort of hidden behind the back brace) so can't really tell for sure. Can you tell anything from the position of the tank where it rests on the bent supports vs other areas? Does it look like it has dropped or sagged?

Thanks for your input. The more I look at the tank and support bracing I think the braces should be flat not bowed. I believe that over time the weight of the water 60 gallon while traveling has bowed the supports.

[LHaven]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Typicallly, when a C channel or U channel bends, the two "legs" will deform, either bending inward or split from the extra length they take on. It's a "puzzler" for me, hopefully someone with a similar trailer will chime in and "solve the mystery".....

That's what I would expect. If this is a deformation, I've never seen one this clean.

Can the OP locate any printed markings on the tank itself, like a model or manufacturer? Looking up the model would tell you whether the bottom is supposed to be flat or bulged.

Where is the freshwater drain on this tank? If it's not at the lowest point, that would be one indication that the bulge is not intentional.

[BobMc]

Great point on the drain. The drain is located on the bottom of the tank on the right side end at midway point. I am not able to completely drain the tank due to the low spot in the center of the tank. Couldn’t see any identifying marks on the tank. Probably on the top side ��. Thanks for your input.

[Lee]

Hi,

My TT also has a 60 gal FWT (51 actually) and it uses flat straps to support it. As you can see in this picture they also have a "bow" in them.

[BobMc]

Thanks for your input with photo. I see you have a slight bow and I can understand that with flat straps supporting the tank. Mine is bowing considerably more dropping approximately 5 inches in the middle with the U shaped channel.
I removed my supports today and found out the angle iron that runs from side to side that the support ribs attach to toward the front of the tank had broken lose where it was welded to the frame. This allowed the weight of the water while traveling bend my supports and caused the excessive bowing. I am in the process of repairing the angle iron where it was welded to the frame then I will install new slightly beefier support ribs that will be flat, not bowed. Thanks everyone who responded to my request. I appreciate your help and suggestions.

[JRTJH]

Document your repairs with lots of photos and post them here. Sooner or later someone else is going to have the same problem and having your experience to review will make life simpler for the next owner looking to solve a problem !!!!!

[BobMc]

Will do, going to round up parts tomorrow then hopefully start repairing on Tuesday. Will keep you updated.

[BobMc]

Update on sagging water tank. Completed repair today see photos attached. Total cost for materials $280. Steel channel and angel iron $150, Nuts, bolts and washers 3/8" grade 8 $30. Rubber, Gorilla tape, paint $50 and corrugated plastic board 2 sheets 4' X 8' from Home Depot $50.



#1 Ribs and tank support angle iron removed.
#2 Empty tank no ribs.
#3 New support beams 3/16”, 3” channel. and 3/16” 2”X2” angle iron tank support (not in photo).
#4 Rubber pads on new channel.
#5 New ribs and tank support installed with full tank of water.
#6 Completed project with new corrugated plastic board installed.

#1 Ribs and tank support removed.
#2 Empty tank no support.
#3 New support beams

3/16

”, 3” channel and

3/16

” 2”X2” angle iron tank support installed.
#4 Rubber pads on new channel.
#5 New ribs Installed with full tank of water.
#6 Completed project with new corrugated plastic board installed.

[notanlines]

It simply couldn't look better! I'll bet you sleep better tonight knowing it's done right....

[sourdough]

That is an excellent job and looks great! Hopefully the new bracing will hold and not bow like the last ones.

Edit; thanks for sharing the pics. They will help someone I'm sure.

[BobMc]

Originally Posted by notanlines

It simply couldn't look better! I'll bet you sleep better tonight knowing it's done right....

Thanks I sure will, pleased with the way it turned out. The original beams were 1/8 inch strip steel bent into channel 2 inches wide. The new beams are 3/16 inch 3 inches wide channel. Same with the tank cross member support 3/16 inch 2X2 angle iron. All bolted in place with 3/8” grade 8 bolts and lock nuts instead of tack welded to the frame. Much stronger now and will probably out last the rest of the camper.

[JRTJH]

Looks like an excellent result. Thanks for sharing the photos. No doubt, someone will find them useful "sooner or later"... Thanks again.