Overdrive Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 I am doing a bit of pre-season maintainence at the moment, one item I had on my list of to-dos was to investigate the appearance of pieces of polystyrene foam under the rear seating. It appears the water tank has a 1" movement fore and aft and side to side, and this is destroying the polystyrene foam it sits on. The tank itself is not fastened down at all, and appears to rely on weight of water and plastic brackets screwed into the floor. I think I can prevent the tank moving by using some wooden battens once I have replaced the polystyrene. I have not removed the tank yet (next thing to do), but I just wondered how other vans tanks are secured, or are they ? David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayjsj Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Hi, My inboard water tank is built into the back of the kitchen unit and held in place with wooden battens. (mind you it would be a hell of a job to change it.) and it doesn't move. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
How Much Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Ours had movement as well. Im surprised they dont break off the connections or something when moving about.. I wedged it up with polystyrene blocks, as there was really nowhere to get any battens in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Our water tank appears to be held in place by straps - you may be able to fit some luggage-type straps to secure yours (?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brambles Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Mine just sits snuggly held by the metal frame of the seat but one end is retained in position by a wooden batten screwed to to floor. Wondering if someone has added the polystyrene foam below tank on yours as not seen such before as floor is insulated. Maybe without the foam the tank would be held by the plastic brackets you mentioned!!! I dunno. Just use wood screwed to floor. However looking at mine through the access cap I can see patches on the bottom which look like they could be double sided tape. Maybe a temporary measure until builder puts wood batten in place at end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Hi David I would ensure the Water Tank is secure. Not sure what size/capacity your tank is, but current 7 series Rapido's have 100 litre Tanks. So 100kg unrestrained in an accident or if you have to brake in an emergency, potentially a lot of damage. Try to have a look at other Rapido's at Dealers to find out how they are fitted or contact Rapido UK for info. http://www.wokinghammotorhomes.com/html/contact_us.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 They should be precisely located in position to stop any movement and securely fastened down by restraints. Frequently timber provides the location and ratchet straps the fastening. C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayjsj Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 I thought European vans were supposed to be 'well built ' ? having an unrestrained water tank in the seat bed box doesn't sound 'well built' to me. OR am I being 'picky' ? Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overdrive Posted March 23, 2011 Author Share Posted March 23, 2011 I agree Rayjsj it has suprised me, compared to many vans the Rapido always seems 'over engineered' in places. I don't believe this is an age problem - we have had the van 4 years and it all looks original and would consider it 'made that way' without DIY modification. Last night managed to drain the tank, now empty it has a suprising amount of movement. Peering underneath it with a torch and mirror I can see 2 pieces of high density foam had been stuck to the bottom of the tank, and one has totally disintegrated due to the movement. It's an 80 litre tank if it broke loose it could cause a lot of damage, restraining it with straps seems a sensible idea, if there were some metal framework to fasten it too. I think some wooden battens and some polystyrene sheets wedged down the sides should prevent any movement. The only thing that I can think of that causes the fore and aft movement is our use of the van on holiday in Italy up and down steep roads (1:4) on a daily basis. Although it would move under heavy braking and acceleration, but I don't do that in a motorhome! Thanks for your comments and suggestions. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
How Much Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Breaking a tap or connection off whilst full would cause enough water damage, thats before it hits you on the back of the head whilst emergency breaking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Have you tried approaching Rapido, or even better Wokingham Motor Homes, reputedly the most helpful and knowledgeable Rapid dealers in the UK? What you describe, sounds very wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Having ownd a Rapido in the past I'm very surprised about this, I wonder if the tank has been replaced by a previous owner hence why it doesn't fit snugly now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overdrive Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 Brian - no I have not approached Wokingham Rapido yet, I am still working so may speak to them Saturday. Mel B - no all as I say looks original. There are no tell-tale signs or the tank having been out before or replaced. No odd marks, extra screw holes or marks on the tank nothing like that. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Having never really thought about it before,I think I'll take a look at ours'. I must say I'm not impressed with plastic tanks being held in place by wooden battens though! ..I could imagine the tank eventually getting rubbed through,with even the slightest bit of vibration or movement. :-S Rubber-backed steel straps or webbing straps,would be my prefered method... Edit: just been out and checked ours' and to be honest,I can't see how our's is fixed down :-S but it's rock solid and there's ample clearance around it(..I'm guessing the tank may have some "moulded in" fixings?),either way,well done Chausson.. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Peter used to have a Rapido 710 so maybe he'll be along and tell you how his was fixed when he's 'awake'! :D I might have to give him a poke with a big stick to wake the grumpy old 'bear' up! :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Hi Mel, thanks for the prod. I did read the thread last night, but did not notice it was a Rapido 710F. Our tank did not have any polystyrene insulation fitted. So I covered it with a Fibreglass jacket. Maybe someone has retro fitted it. I did not notice any movement with our tank, as I did not try and move it. I don't see any problem with fixing battens or slab polystyrene to retain it better. It is located under the nearside rear seat and is quite a close fit in it's compartment. There is not a lot of clearance at the front, so it shoud be easy to stop forward movement with Polystyrene. This should be adequate as there is a reinforced wall directly in front of it. Rearward movement is not as much a problem, unless you can accelerate at breakneck speed, or get a severe shunt in the rear. My personal view is that there is not the slightest danger that the tank is going to break free and damage the van, as there is nowhere for it to go. But for peace of mind you could consider the suggestions above. If you need any more info on these vans feel free to ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overdrive Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 OK here is a picture of the tank insitu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overdrive Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 OK here is a picture of the tank insitu. To the right is the front of the van, you can see the side of the wardrobe, and the feed pipe for the water inlet, a piece of wood fills the gap between the tank and the wardrobe side wall. So under heavy braking and steep hills the tank has nowhere to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overdrive Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 OK here is a picture of the tank insitu. To the right is the front of the van, you can see the side of the wardrobe, and the feed pipe for the water inlet, a piece of wood fills the gap between the tank and the wardrobe side wall. So under heavy braking and steep hills the tank has nowhere to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 So, as I said. Not the problem you at first thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overdrive Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 Here is a picture at the back of the tank with it pushed as far forward as it will go, away from the 2 plastic brackets screwed to the floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overdrive Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 Here is a photo with the tank pushed back against the plastic brackets away from the wardrobe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overdrive Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 This is a photo of the remnants of the foam ejected from under the tank, and the sealant that I have removed from the bottom of the tank which once stuck the foam to the bottom of the tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Looking at that,personally I'd be seating it back down onto some cheap rubber car mats(..in case you need to lift it out again) and then slotting a rubber-faced 2" or 3" batten in front of those plastic lugs(..so they don't rub). Then I'd be just screw/bolt down some lashing eyelets,so that the tank could then be secured down with a couple of cheap ratchet or luggage straps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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