Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Keep the water inside the pipes, tanks, and sinks
User avatar
Mark
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 177
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:03 pm
B190 Year: 1997
WBCCI: 0
Location: I get my mail in Carson City, NV

Re: Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Post by Mark »

Aw, dang! The gray water tank is too big! I measured it wrong!

Anyone want to buy a tank?
If it ain't fun - it ain't done!
User avatar
skater
Site Admin
Posts: 2569
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:00 am
B190 Year: 1991
WBCCI: 13270
Location: Annapolis, MD

Re: Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Post by skater »

Mark wrote:Aw, dang! The gray water tank is too big! I measured it wrong!

Anyone want to buy a tank?
Oh no! No way to shoehorn it in?
1991 Airstream B190 - bought, 2005; sold, 2011; bought 2017
1995 Airstream Excella 30' trailer

WBCCI #13270, Washington, DC Unit
User avatar
Mark
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 177
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:03 pm
B190 Year: 1997
WBCCI: 0
Location: I get my mail in Carson City, NV

Re: Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Post by Mark »

Well, if it was the fresh tank, it would be lower that I'd have wanted but still high enough, I'd have lived with it. It's the gray tank and is at the very back of the rig and is ending up no higher than the old gray tank. It hangs about 6 inches below the trailer hitch so any movement up in the front, causes it to pivot down to the ground and drag. Additionally, the drain has to be that low and I've already scraped it off on the ground once.

Dang!
If it ain't fun - it ain't done!
jb1rd73
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 152
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2014 9:30 am
B190 Year: 1994
WBCCI: 0
Location: Vail Valley Colorado

Re: Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Post by jb1rd73 »

Sorry to hear that Mark, damn the tape measure Gods and their trickery 8O
User avatar
Mark
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 177
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:03 pm
B190 Year: 1997
WBCCI: 0
Location: I get my mail in Carson City, NV

Re: Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Post by Mark »

I know, I'm bummed.

I was almost thinking of cutting the top of the tank off, taking out a 2" strip and then gluing the pieces back together, using the 2" strip as a band around cut. It's the top of the tank, so it's not load bearing and and there must be some sort of glue that would hold well. Maybe the very same glue they use to for the fittings. The finished tank would have less capacity, of course. But anyway, that's not what I did, I ordered another tank.

I found some sheet rubber that had adhesive on one side that I wrapped the freshwater tank in. I'll do the same for the gray tank. It's more for protection from the elements than anything else but it might keep the tanks from freezing for a bit in cold weather. I'm going to warp the gray tank as well.
Freshwater-Tank-in-rubber.jpg
Freshwater-Tank-in-rubber.jpg (108.57 KiB) Viewed 15508 times
Eventually I'm have a local metal shop weld up a removable "tray" to sit each tank into that is bolted to the frame.
A buddy of mine did his this way.
Skot's-tank.jpg
Skot's-tank.jpg (89.09 KiB) Viewed 15508 times
If it ain't fun - it ain't done!
User avatar
Alaskan
Site Admin
Posts: 814
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:00 am
B190 Year: 1999
WBCCI: 0
Location: Alaska and Washington

Re: Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Post by Alaskan »

Prior to 1997 the tanks are completely different, both the fresh water tank & black/grey water tanks are under the rear 1997-2000.

From what Mark has described I think his tanks were probably original, the fresh water tank on the 1997 is as low as he describes.....and, within a metal box. Those pictures show how low to the ground that tank is just behind the rear end...

As seen in a previous thread I'd done on drain-modifications...these pictures show how low to the ground that tank is just behind the rear end...

http://www.b190.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=488
User avatar
Mark
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 177
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:03 pm
B190 Year: 1997
WBCCI: 0
Location: I get my mail in Carson City, NV

Re: Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Post by Mark »

Alaskan, I think you are right, the tanks I took out looked a lot like the ones in your photos.

I like your new drain setup. I though I might point it straight down like your's.
If it ain't fun - it ain't done!
User avatar
Alaskan
Site Admin
Posts: 814
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:00 am
B190 Year: 1999
WBCCI: 0
Location: Alaska and Washington

Re: Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Post by Alaskan »

yep...its a lot easier to deal with and It won't get knocked off that way either...

Also....if ya noticed I put a small brass garden-hose fitting on the gray water discharge.

Thats for draining that tank with a very short section of hose..."anywhere' if ya know what I mean... !
User avatar
Mark
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 177
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:03 pm
B190 Year: 1997
WBCCI: 0
Location: I get my mail in Carson City, NV

Re: Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Post by Mark »

I was able to easily modify my black tank drain yesterday simply by replacing the valve set up. I'm planning to drain the black and gray tanks separately and was trying to figure a way to get the black tank drain higher up so it could never drag on the pavement. I wanted it higher since I plan to be off road a little bit and didn't want to have to worry about it getting hit by a rock or something. I was under there looking at it and realized that if I merely unscrewed the whole gig where it attaches to the valve I could eliminate the whole elbow that hangs down so far.
Black-Drain.jpg
Black-Drain.jpg (119 KiB) Viewed 15414 times
I found a fitting that screws on to the valve on one side and accepts a cap on the other side. Easy Peasy!

My Gray tank (which I received the other day and fits perfectly) is going to drain separately. I bought the fittings shown in Alaskan's thread. It'll work fine but It sticks out a bit due to the fittings I have to use to get it up to 3". If I had seen that thread sooner I would have had them put a 3" fitting into the gray tank rather than the 1.5" fitting. It's no big deal really, but the whole thing sticks out from the tank a few inches more than I'd like.
If it ain't fun - it ain't done!
User avatar
Alaskan
Site Admin
Posts: 814
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:00 am
B190 Year: 1999
WBCCI: 0
Location: Alaska and Washington

Re: Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Post by Alaskan »

I did a post on this subject back in January 2010...
http://b190.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=488

Image

For a short section of garden hose....

Image
User avatar
Mark
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 177
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:03 pm
B190 Year: 1997
WBCCI: 0
Location: I get my mail in Carson City, NV

Re: Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Post by Mark »

I guess my tanks must have been original, they look just like yours.

Yes, that is pretty much what my gray tank outlet is going to look like. Can't wait to get this job done!
If it ain't fun - it ain't done!
User avatar
Mark
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 177
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:03 pm
B190 Year: 1997
WBCCI: 0
Location: I get my mail in Carson City, NV

Re: Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Post by Mark »

My tanks were installed today but not really how I would have liked them.

They holding the tanks in via two metal, 2" wide x 1/4" thick straps. I have the tanks wrapped in 3/8" rubber with adhesive on one side. One buddy doesn't like all the weight of the tank on two straps and I was concerned about rocks bouncing around under there and puncturing them.

Your opinions? Is this good enough?
Tank-1.jpg
Tank-1.jpg (148.06 KiB) Viewed 15367 times
Tank-2.jpg
Tank-2.jpg (136.48 KiB) Viewed 15367 times
If it ain't fun - it ain't done!
User avatar
skater
Site Admin
Posts: 2569
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:00 am
B190 Year: 1991
WBCCI: 13270
Location: Annapolis, MD

Re: Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Post by skater »

That's basically how fuel tanks are mounted. Those straps look pretty beefy to me; I think they'd hold just fine. As for the rock issue, I think pretty much all of these have tanks exposed in the back and I can't recall anyone ever saying they got a hole in one from a rock. Still, you could probably fab up a steel mesh or something that would mount on the bolts of the bracket if you're worried about it.
1991 Airstream B190 - bought, 2005; sold, 2011; bought 2017
1995 Airstream Excella 30' trailer

WBCCI #13270, Washington, DC Unit
User avatar
Mark
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 177
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:03 pm
B190 Year: 1997
WBCCI: 0
Location: I get my mail in Carson City, NV

Re: Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Post by Mark »

Thanks, Skater,

I thought of the fuel tank analogy but didn't know exactly how they were protected.

Skot, my welder buddy in So. Cal., offered to weld up a couple "cookie sheet" we could slide under the tanks after loosening the straps a bit. I may go that route just because I can.

I was also thinking that I'll see what happens to them on my upcoming trip to Colorado and Yosemite. I just may let it go as it is.

On the plus side, I have water running in the rig now! The gray water drain from the shower pan is going to be tight to plumb but I think it's doable.

Cheers, and Thanks again,
If it ain't fun - it ain't done!
User avatar
Mark
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 177
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:03 pm
B190 Year: 1997
WBCCI: 0
Location: I get my mail in Carson City, NV

Re: Replacing the Fresh and Gray Tanks

Post by Mark »

It's done!

It's plumbed and doesn't leak! It's wired and and it works!

I'm done with it!

The shower pan drain. It was tight. It might not be pretty but it does the job.
drain.jpg
drain.jpg (151.51 KiB) Viewed 15343 times
If it ain't fun - it ain't done!
Post Reply