Black Tank Pipe Hanger Broke

I have just purchased my second rpod, first one was a 2016 179. My second one is a 2021 196. On my 179 the “bracket” between the frame and the black water drain pipe clamp broke and I drug it on the highway until I noticed it, by then the valve was half gone and some of the pipe. Fortunately I was empty and was able to get parts to fix it when I reached my destination. I temporarily held it up. When I got home I made two new brackets out of 1/8” x 1” mild steel flat bar one for gray and one for black water drains. The original brackets were made from 3/64” thick material (cheap), so my new brackets are more than twice as thick. I never had another problem with it. Needless to say I Checked my new rpod as soon as I got it home and made new brackets for it. They have added a nylon back up strap for “suspenders” from the factory but I feel much safer replacing the thin ones that came on it. Easily made brackets with a bench vise and hacksaw.

How is the flat part attached to the round rod? Is it welded? It looks great. I have not had any problems either since changing the cheap hanger for my homemade one. Yours looks a lot nicer though.

I have a 2017 180 that I had to redo the hanging bracket on. There is a recall on 2018-20 models.

Okay. Thanks. I don't have the capability to weld stainless steel. I have a Harbor Freight welder that uses flux-core wire. It works okay on regular steel, but won't work on stainless steel since there is no way to connect up shielding gas.

The biggest problem with the hanger is the weight of the black water pipe when it is full. That tube has some weight bouncing up and down. If the valve had been installed right as the pipe exits the tank with an extension handle, then the pipe would ordinarily be empty unless the valve were leaking. The pipe would be much lighter and the original style hanger might have been sufficient. I'm surprised it took this long for a recall to happen. Too bad it doesn't include all RPod models that have exhibited this problem, to include my 2016 RP179 which had the hanger fail twice before I made my own hanger.