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Open Roads Forum  >  Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)

 > How hard is it to add a 2nd fresh water tank?

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SJBM

Utah

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Posted: 08/20/10 06:34am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I tried to do a search, but wasn't very successful.

I was just curious if any of you have added a 2nd fresh water tank, and how would you rate the difficulty level? I was kind of studying my water system, and to me it didn't look like it would be that difficult. Any input appreciated. I would like to have the extra capacity.

Does anybody know of a good place to purchase additional tanks, and roughly how much they might cost?

1fastdad

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Posted: 08/20/10 07:23am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

If you have room under your bed and your bed doesn't move I have seen them put in there. They have to be above the pump mounting and vented to the outside and have a way to drain it.

nosticks

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Posted: 08/20/10 07:25am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I have not added one to my 5er, but have added two to my cruising boat in the past. I used two 26.4 gal. Plastimo bladder tanks and put them on a selector switch. This allowed me to balance the load side to side, also they fit into unusual places, just watch that you have enough room for expansion when they are filled. Another advantage of the bladder tanks is that you do not need a tank vent. If you want a single tank, they have larger bladders.

SJBM

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Posted: 08/20/10 08:01am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

1fastdad wrote:

If you have room under your bed and your bed doesn't move I have seen them put in there. They have to be above the pump mounting and vented to the outside and have a way to drain it.


The pump is currently above the current tank. I don't see why you couldn't add another tank like is already under the trailer now, but just T in connections for the fill, vent, and pump? Is there a reason this would not work? I have plenty of open space under my trailer to fit another tank.

lampooner

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Posted: 08/20/10 08:07am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Another possible place is under the dinette seatimg. I did this years ago to a 1973 Open Road MH, "for you old timers", whrn we lived in AZ. There was plenty of room and easy access to the outside to add a fill tube and vent. You also need to be able to connect it to the input side of the pump. Or if need be add a new pump & hose and just pump water when needed into the existing tank.


Lampooner

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SJBM

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Posted: 08/20/10 08:20am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Thanks for the replies so far. I'm really only looking to add another tank under the trailer similar to the existing one. I was just curious if there are any reasons this could not be done? The other ideas are good, but I need all the storage space I can keep, and mounting under the trailer (like the current one) is just conveniently out of the way (and doesn't waste any usable space).

Just wondering if there is any reason I couldn't add similar tank to stock one and T off the current connections (fill hose, vent hose, and pump hose)?

12thgenusa

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Posted: 08/20/10 09:38am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I don't see any reason why you couldn't do as you suggest. If you interconnect the tanks as close as possible to the bottom of each tank you would only need to tee into the vent line of the original tank. The levels would self equalize as you fill and pump out of the original tank, assuming the interconnect is large enough to keep up with the flow from filling and pumping. There would also be no need for level sensors in the second tank. If you tee the pump lines instead of interconnecting the tanks, I would suggest adding a selector valve instead of a tee so you could choose which tank and not require a second pump. The only limitation would be space and structural considerations. Also consider the effect on your GVW and loading if you plan to travel with both tanks full.


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ibmer

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Posted: 08/20/10 11:57am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

i am currently thinking of this mod myself and have not decided to do it yet. My current tank takes 120 pounds off my tongue weight when full since it is 8 feet behind the axle centerline. You can certainly add another tank and if I do it will be toward the front of the trailer. Just beware of load porblems if you put it in the wrong spot. Where is your current tank and how large is it?

hershey

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Posted: 08/20/10 08:43pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Something to consider and perhaps it isn't an issue to you: Do you have enough gray/black capacity to hold the additional water? Just thinking out loud.
I have a 90 gallon fresh and 45 gallon black and gray so there would be little need to add more fresh because even by moving some of the gray to the black when boondocking, I still have to seek a dump station before I run out of fresh water.


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SJBM

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Posted: 08/20/10 10:48pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

ibmer wrote:

i am currently thinking of this mod myself and have not decided to do it yet. My current tank takes 120 pounds off my tongue weight when full since it is 8 feet behind the axle centerline. You can certainly add another tank and if I do it will be toward the front of the trailer. Just beware of load porblems if you put it in the wrong spot. Where is your current tank and how large is it?


My current fresh water tank is 45 gallons and is located roughly in the middle of the trailer. I was thinking of putting the 2nd tank about two bays forward from the stocker. I have some room in the next bay over, but my slide runs along that bay and limits me some on space. The next bay forward is pretty much open. My trailer (2009 Keystone Hideout 30SRS) is kind of a mix between a regular travel trailer and a toy hauler. It has a side drop down door in the back to load an ATV. So it is built a little more stout to hold more weight. So I wouldn't think adding another tank would affect me that much.

I have been considering my grey and black tank limitations. I haven't been too worried about the black tank, but a little worried about the grey tank capacity (38 gallons). I thought of looking into adding a 2nd grey tank as well (or just dumping some if I'm off in the boonies). I haven't had the trailer long, but as a precaution I have been carrying extra 5 gallon jugs of water in the back of my truck. I just thought it would be nice to avoid this and just have an extra tank already built into the trailer.

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