mudmaker
Iowa
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Joined: 10/15/2006
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Has anyone tried this? I like the looks of a particular FW thats for sale but the tanks are not insulated. Just wondering how difficult it would be to build more frame and enclose them so they wouldn't freeze when we use it in cold weather. They do hang down below the frame a bit so I guess bolting on frame extensions and some sort of insulating sheets would work.
Has anyone else ever done this?
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Hi,
There is a reason that my new motorhome came with the tanks inside the basement storage compartments, because the old class C motorhome had them below the frame, and they scraped on the driveways when going in and out of gas stations.
I don't want to remember the times I had to repair the black water tank - and now is lunch time.
I would skip that one, and look for one with the tanks mounted a little higher, and out of the way of rocks, curbs, and parking bumpers.
Good Luck,
Fred.
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Homer
Northwest Ohio
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How about having some insulating outfit blow foam insulation over the tanks? Just a thought.
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bukhrn
Lanexa, Va
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Why not just get one with an Arctic Pac, (if it doesn't already have it).
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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Insulating the tanks will have little effect unless there is some heat to insulate from the cold. If your furnace ducts run through that area they can add some heat to the belly or you can spend the money to add heating pads to tanks and plumbing but just covering the belly and depending on heat leaking down from above, while better than nothing isn't much help. Good luck / Skip
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smkettner
Southern California
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I plan to add ultraheat.com pads to my exposed tanks. Website says that alone is good to -11F. Probably perfect conditions like no wind but that is good enough for me.
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mudmaker
Iowa
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I understand the woes of the low slung rv. Our current one sit very low to the ground and it drags all the time. The FW, however is already much higher.
I would also plan on splicing into a heat line and pumping some furnace air into the compartment.
I have looked at what some companies call enclosed underbellies and it is little more than just a thin sheet of expanded plastic screwed on from side to side. I would hope to do a little more than that.
I like the spray on insulation idea. Would still cover it though the keep the weather out.
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smpowers
Northern part of the peoples republic
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Our fiver does not have insulated tanks but does have a "plastic" covering over the underbelly. My "cheap trick" has been to put a lightbulb near the tanks when in cold areas....it has worked on a weeklong trip to Colorado when the temps were down to 8 degrees at night.....
Sandra Michael & Ella
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RCMAN46
NorthWest
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On my 5th wheel a 26RK Cruiser it is not the tanks that concern me. It is the drain valves which are remote from the tank. There is about 2-3 feet of pipe from the tank to the valve. This area is always full of fluid even when you may think the tank is empty. Not much mass to prevent freezing even at 30 degrees.
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