Improper fresh water tank mounting

[ADR]

Having pulled my underbelly off so the frame cracks could be welded I noticed the fresh water tank was the type that is supposed to hang from the edges like the black and grey tanks do.
Well LL mounted it flat on 3 cross supports crushing the center drop section that channels water to the low point where you should draw water out.  They put the outlet elsewhere though so several gallons are left in the tank.

1st- diagram of tank
2nd -pic of trough
3rd- pic of where outlet is supposed to go in center of trough not in corner
4th -pic of pressure treated 1/2 plywood raising bottom of tank off center channel

[Merlin]

Good solution. You're sure handy with doing all the remedial work on your camper. BTW, my fresh tank was installed with the hangers, but the hangers were reversed, so the drain was on the high side. I shimmed it up with wood window shims and put a length of closed cell foam where the tank contacted the front axle. Nor perfect, but it's much better.

[Apollo]

The outlet on my tank is also on the side so I plan on adding a blind tank fitting to the bottom so 100% of the water can drawn out.

[Merlin]

The outlet on my tank is also on the side so I plan on adding a blind tank fitting to the bottom so 100% of the water can drawn out.

I eventually want to do that too. Post up what you do and what you used. 

[ADR]

Well well....was struggling with tongue weight since we are switching up tow vehicles..*
I stated earlier they mounted the water pickup in the wrong spot and finally got around to actually measuring the amount of water.

The tank is 26 gal and I can only draw 18 out because of that tap off mounted too high.

My fresh water tank is forward of the axle so I have been carrying 65lbs of water I can't even use adding to tongue weight...

I'm first going to remove the tap and see if I can somehow insert a piece of plastic or copper tubing in it that is bent down to the bottom of the tank.    The catch is it will have to be perfectly sealed to the fitting to prevent sucking air when the tank level is below the fitting.

Stay tuned! 


*Switching to a 4Runner which has a 500 lb tongue weight limit- I started this at over 600 lbs!  Got rid of the 130lbs of golf cart batteries off the tongue and went to a LiFePO4 mounted inside at the very back under the fridge. 
Now to find unuseable water is also a contributor.....

[DavidM]

What is your current tongue weight after you moved the batteries. Our 2013 16TBS has only 275 lbs on the tongue with a single Group 27 battery and a 5 gallon propane tank. A little less than the recommended 10% but it works.

Mine has tandem axles and maybe yours is the newer 16TBS that has single. That will definitely increase the tongue weight because the fulcrum is farther aft with the single axle.

David

[ADR]

I'm at 530 now-  after I added 10gal to the "empty" tank, which turns out had 8gal of water I couldn't pump out so I really had 18gal.
After I get rid of the 65 lbs of inaccessible water I think I'll be under 500.

The tongue weight on my single axle TBS16 is shown as 430 with a empty weight of 3210.  I think they definitely blew it on the balance calculations.   I'm betting those weights don't include the 2 40lb actual weight LP tanks but may include the 75lb spare tire under the front, since it comes with the trailer.      No reason for a trailer that grosses 4400lb to have 600lbs of tongue weight.

I'll probably start traveling with, say, 10 gals of water instead of the full 26 like I used to.

I also carry a pair of EU2000's on the rear so that is about 120lbs counterbalancing but they are closer to the axle than the hitch is so they don't remove that much weight from the hitch.