Water tank help needed (1 Viewer)

[Reallyretired]

The water tank on my 3 year old Rapido 999M has developed a split. This was caused by one of the 'feet' of the tank being missing, probably from new, which caused it to bear on a bolt head anchoring the seat belt post.

I have tried repairing it without success, and Johns Cross parts department tell me they cannot order this part (for reasons not entirely clear to me - Peter do you know?).

So far this has cost me £45 for a local caravan repairer to come out and attempt to repair it, another £40 for a roll of Endurobond tape to attempt repair and another £100 for a tank from C.A.K. which doesn't fit.

The manufacturers in France appear to be shy about their contact details.

Help needed as I now have a £60k motorhome which I can't use :help::help:

 

[Terry]

Hi I have done a successful repair using pipe - solvent weld ( plumbers use it on soil pipes - from screwfix or plumbing merchants )then covered it all with a 2 ins bigger flat plastic patch :thumb: belt and braces type thing
terry

 

[Terry]

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/14295/Plumbing/Solvent-Weld-Waste/Solvent-Cement-250ml
terry
expensive from here but gives you the idea --more like £3 :thumb:
edit drip a bit onto your tank and the flat plastic cover sheet to see that it sticks to both types of plastic

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[acting_strange]

You can buy flat plastic from any good modelling shop

 

[Reallyretired]

Thanks for this. I will have to try it as tank is polyethylene rather than the ABS the soil pipes are made from. Also unfortunately the spilt is not flat, goes round an angle.

 

[acting_strange]

there is a way of gluing/repairing polythene as well....let me know if you need to discuss it....again it comes from my modellling...

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[acting_strange]

Found this..
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[Terry]

You can buy plastic angle :thumb:
terry

 

[Mixter]

While im sure these tanks can be repaired - and im all for not shelling out if i can possibly help it, im not sure about 'bodging' a mobile tank in a MH. If it was static somewhere, maybe? But, with the water sloshing around, and the bumps and vibrations going on, i dont know if id be totaly confident the repair was going to hold, as the consequences of 10 or 20 gallons of water spilling out all over the van dont bear thinking about.

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[Reallyretired]

there is a way of gluing/repairing polythene as well....let me know if you need to discuss it....again it comes from my modellling...

Any help welcome. I would prefer to get a replacement tank if possible but may have to attempt another repair.

 

[acting_strange]

Have a look at this and let me know your views..this is one way..

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[welsh winger]

Have a look in yellow pages for a firm that does plastic welding, radiator repairers are a point of call.

Then you have a perminant repair.

Nick

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[Terry]

While im sure these tanks can be repaired - and im all for not shelling out if i can possibly help it, im not sure about 'bodging' a mobile tank in a MH. If it was static somewhere, maybe? But, with the water sloshing around, and the bumps and vibrations going on, i dont know if id be totaly confident the repair was going to hold, as the consequences of 10 or 20 gallons of water spilling out all over the van dont bear thinking about.

You have to make sure the glue will stick to both tank and patch :thumb:I have also used Ecoseal 502 - like Sikaflex- to seal a hole in a 5 gallon tank in which to pour diesel in with a ali patch screwed to it No idea how long that lasted as it was only used 2 days until a new 5 gallon container was acquired but it got us out of a fix at work :thumb:
terry

 

[CG235]

Found this..
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Last bit of the video states not suitable for drinking water containers...

 

[Glynn]

We use tanks in our industry and see here

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There may be just what your looking for.

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[Reallyretired]

Thanks for your help.

The Rapido tank is a very strange shape as it fits around the metalwork of the seat belt anchorage. As a result a standard tank will not fit in the space unless it is very small.

 

[Peter JohnsCross MH]

I have tried repairing it without success, and Johns Cross parts department tell me they cannot order this part (for reasons not entirely clear to me - Peter do you know?).

Hi,

We do not have any facilities to order Rapido parts direct from Rapido as we are not appointed agents for them, if we need Rapido parts we would order them from Caravannes Rapido, Wokingham 01189-9791023, suggest you give them a ring.

Peter

 

[Reallyretired]

Hi,

We do not have any facilities to order Rapido parts direct from Rapido as we are not appointed agents for them, if we need Rapido parts we would order them from Caravannes Rapido, Wokingham 01189-9791023, suggest you give them a ring.

Peter

Thanks Peter, the reason was not explained to me. I have emailed Wokingham and also Rapido in france, hopefully with results after the weekend.:thumb:

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[Peter JohnsCross MH]

Thanks Peter, the reason was not explained to me. I have emailed Wokingham and also Rapido in france, hopefully with results after the weekend.:thumb:

Dunno about email, best to ring them and ask Paul.

Peter

 

[xplor]

Rapido 999M Water Tank Split

Hi,
We have just encountered the same problem with our 4 yr old Rapido 999M. Can you tell me what the outcome was with yours? Is there anyone that knows a mobile plastic welder repairer in Reading/Wokingham area? We were just setting off on a weekend break when the water started leaking everywhere. have taken it ti Caravannes Rapido in Wokingham and they are going to try a resin repair but are not sure that this will work. They are going to try this out in the hope that it will work so that we can go on a 3 week holiday next week. They have rung Rapido in France who cannot provide a replacement for 9 weeks!

Does anyone else have any ideas should this resin not work?

 

[aba]

the one thing i have found that seems to work in most things is the fiberglass body filler the stuff with strands in.
you can get from most car accessory shops.
don't know if i would like to drink from it though but it should hold water to get you out of the poo short term.

alternatively silicone sealant and cling film just make sure its set before putting any water in it.

maybe petro patch may work also as petrol is thinner than water and it works on fuel tanks.

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[pappajohn]

contact details for Rapido motorhomes (wokingham)

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[656]

Try THIS Sticks like S**T to a blanket and can be applied under water co if you can get to the crack from the inside, you can apply this there and on the other side of the crack. At just under £7 worth a punt. Available from ASDA and other JML outlets. B&Q do a similar product.

HTH

Dave

 

[Reallyretired]

We tried all sorts of things, none worked. Tank was eventually replaced and Rapido contributed to the cost as it may have not been properly installed.

For a while I used an aquaroll externally like a tugger. The pump has enough suction to pull water up from the aquaroll.

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[Jaws]

Why not simply weld it back up ??
Simple as anything, free ( well the pedant would say maybe 1 p or so ) and can be done by anyone with some basic simple instruction

Can you solder ? If you can solder you can plastic weld

 

[rainbow chasers]

See how you get on wit rapido with the number peter gave you. As a temp fix, there is an all purpose leak fix that can be bought at DIY stores - if you want I will get you the name (in the shed!)

If you want confidence on it working - I used some to repair 4 cracks on the top of my 1960 Land Rover's radiator which developed a leak whilst at a show as a 'get me home' bodge.

That was over a year ago - and the truck is used daily - no leaks since! The pressure and heat that a radiator goes through certainly gives this stuff the thumbs up:thumb: Tried and tested.

ABA - Fibreglass (along with other automotive plastic fillers) is porous, so would seep. All these fillers are the same - and the reason why Gelcoats are added to your motorhome as well as boats!

 

[BriantheSnail]

Depends where the leak is top middle or bottom. Geocel The Works could be a solution for the top. It will weld but you will need a filler rod and a Leister type heat gun.

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[Jaws]

Depends where the leak is top middle or bottom. Geocel The Works could be a solution for the top. It will weld but you will need a filler rod and a Leister type heat gun.

Or simply use a pair of tin snips, cut a sliver off the neck or similar place, and use a weller 120w soldering iron
If you wanna neat finish use a Black and decker paint removing heat gun to smooth it all out ( as you may have guessed I do a LOT of plastic welding !! )

 

[pappajohn]

Or simply use a pair of tin snips, cut a sliver off the neck or similar place, and use a weller 120w soldering iron
If you wanna neat finish use a Black and decker paint removing heat gun to smooth it all out ( as you may have guessed I do a LOT of plastic welding !! )

depending on the type of plastic to be welded, electrical tie-wraps make good filler rods.

 

[Jaws]

Good point P J :thumb:
They are usually PMD though.. I suspect most water tanks will be nylon based though have seen a variety to be truthful
Hence my suggestion of snipping a bit off.. that way you know for sure you have got the right material :thumb:

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