Service tanks plastic?
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Warranty, Service and Recall Bulletins
Forum Discription: Have a warranty or service experience to share?
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=6308
Printed Date: 11 Jul 2025 at 12:14pm Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Service tanks plastic?
Posted By: Appocalexx
Subject: Service tanks plastic?
Date Posted: 25 May 2015 at 9:22pm
So after looking underneath the 179er I was kinda taken back that the 3 tanks for fresh, gray, and black water are all plastic. New to the TT world, it seems that these are kinda flimsy and weak, is this a norm for TT or is it bc these TTs are on the low end side of manufacturing. To add to this, I noticed that from the dealer my tank is about 3/4 full and when I inspected underneath I am able to push up on the water tank just to see if could and it moved quite a bit. maybe just me but I would think that these tanks would need to be a lil more heavy duty and especially covered with the kind of enviroments that these TTs see around the nation. I was thinking of adding some metal bracing or even a skid plate type madofication to the underbelly of the RPod eventually. Has anyone else had these thoughts or is it just me?
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Replies:
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 25 May 2015 at 9:53pm
I don't think flimsy is an issue, but I don't know what the standards are. What did you expect them to be made of? As for being able to push up on the bottom of the tank, there is only a few inches of water in a tank when it's full. The depth of the water is all you're pushing against, not the volume.
I don't recall anyone reporting problems with strength. RPods are not off road trailers and at least statistically, your are highly unlikely to need skid plates to protect the tanks. You're more likely to scrape off the stabilizer jacks before you damage the tanks.
TT
------------- 2010 176
FJ Cruiser
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 25 May 2015 at 10:05pm
Yup, normal on all campers - the plastic and the slight bowing of the water tank.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Appocalexx
Date Posted: 25 May 2015 at 10:57pm
roger that thanks for the info,but why couldnt this thing be an off road TT its single axle and not too top heavy, obviously no give with the axle set up but still should able to do some small trailing? the stabilizers is another issue i find to be replaced and prolly sooner than later. When I pulling this off the ferry I was inches away from taking those things off the trailer, if it didnt have the 4" blocks on the axle i would have for sure taken them out the first 10 min of having the trailer on the TV lol. I was looking at replacing them with some that the Jaycos come with
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Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 26 May 2015 at 3:42am
Originally posted by Appocalexx
why couldnt this thing be an off road TT its single axle and not too top heavy, obviously no give with the axle set up but still should able to do some small trailing? |
"Off road" means different things to different people. The trailer isn't constructed to take the bouncing and twisting of much real off-roading, at least as defined by most 4WD folks. Just the ball hitch would be a problem, and it doesn't take a huge bump to launch the microwave oven from its spot. Even with the axle risers, it's low. You are right, you'd pretty much have to lose the stabilizer jacks. It's too heavy, too top heavy, and it's too tall, too wide and too long to deal with many off road situations. But, as I say, it all depends on how you define "off-road". There are some places you could take a pod that aren't paved.
TT
------------- 2010 176
FJ Cruiser
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 26 May 2015 at 7:50am
My Airstream has plastic tanks. They ARE in an enclosed underbelly, but that is because it is built as a 4 season camper, and the underbelly is heated.
Agreed that "off road" is subjective.. but if you are going anywhere with the pod that needing skid plates or axle clearance is a real concern, you have the wrong camper. They do make some popups that are designed for that, and at least one company makes an expandable in Australia that is designed for severe duty. It's about 3/4 the size of a pod and costs $70k.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXbsK18NaRU - Fun Linky
Not as fun a http://www.livinlite.com/off-road-campers.php - Linky , but an option.
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Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 26 May 2015 at 8:10am
Great video!! That is quite a rig!!
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 26 May 2015 at 4:54pm
I like the stabilizer jacks.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 26 May 2015 at 5:30pm
I bet that Conqueror has Outbound's poop cannon mounted in a turret! 
------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!
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Posted By: johnmaci
Date Posted: 26 May 2015 at 7:32pm
That Nissan puts my Pathfinder to shame
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Posted By: Appocalexx
Date Posted: 26 May 2015 at 9:50pm
adding skid plates and bigger axle, and possibly moving some pipes around is all good fun, so in time im sure things will start to get done with the pod but we will see. Hopefully i dont take out any scissor jacks anytime soon. But i wil be replacing them with different stabilizers regardles, prolly the Atwood stablizer jacks.
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Posted By: Appocalexx
Date Posted: 26 May 2015 at 9:53pm
Also its not so much that i want to take this thing on some crazy trials, but it would give me a piece of mind when taking it through some rougher terain, keeping in mind to respect the limits of the trailer and truck.
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Posted By: Appocalexx
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2015 at 10:30pm
Originally posted by techntrek
Yup, normal on all campers - the plastic and the slight bowing of the water tank. |
bringing up this thread again but what is slight bowing to everyone else. I will try and get a pic later if someone else can elaborate or show some pics as well. Ill show you mine if you show me yours  but no really bc this thing looks like a saggy beer gutt and dont want to come on day and have it bust open. thanks again. Alex-
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Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2015 at 6:53am
There is a European camper that has a stainless steel fresh water tank and I think there may be others. I think that makes sense for health reasons, I am not sure about the current plastic used for the fresh water tanks if it is toxic or not over time. Stainless is known to be safe and plastics have a history of not being safe. Perhaps the plastic being used has been tested and considered safe but I still have concern of the possibility of it being toxic. I know stainless would add to the cost and weight of a camper but that would be my preference if I had the choice.
------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019)
2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014)
Middle Tn
2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab
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Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2015 at 8:43am
I know almost nothing about the different types of plastic and which ones, if any are toxic. I know billions of gallons of bottled water and soft drinks that are packaged and stored for months in plastic bottles kill very few people and the ones they do kill rarely die from plastic related issues. Plastic is the container of choice even for Perrier Water. I'm not too worried about the toxicity of the pod potable water tank.
Sagging might be another question. Again, I haven't studied the issue, but I have seen pics that make it look like at least some tanks could be better supported. That's a simple issue to address with some self-tapping screws and some strapping.
TT
------------- 2010 176
FJ Cruiser
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Posted By: johnmaci
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2015 at 9:20am
Originally posted by johnmaci
That Nissan puts my Pathfinder to shame
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Still makes me want to cry  So many awesome vehicles that never make it to our shores. Same went for the differences with the Mitsubishi Montero vs the Mitsubishi Pajero.
We are happily living with our wanna be SUV and TT for now, but planning on selling everything within the next 5 yrs (when I finally retire) and getting some real off road adventures. This year we're attending the Mid-Atlantic Overland Festival in PA, and starting to plan our next purchase  http://www.overlandfestival.com/event-info/
Cheers!
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Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2015 at 1:22pm
Originally posted by Tars Tarkas
I know almost nothing about the different types of plastic and which ones, if any are toxic. I know billions of gallons of bottled water and soft drinks that are packaged and stored for months in plastic bottles kill very few people and the ones they do kill rarely die from plastic related issues. Plastic is the container of choice even for Perrier Water. I'm not too worried about the toxicity of the pod potable water tank.
Sagging might be another question. Again, I haven't studied the issue, but I have seen pics that make it look like at least some tanks could be better supported. That's a simple issue to address with some self-tapping screws and some strapping.
TT
| We drink bottle water at home and when camping in plastic bottles and yes there are many different plastics and most likely the plastic used for the fresh water tanks is safe. But working in retail and knowing how many items that are recalled and pulled off the floor from being sold because of safety issues. Sometimes it has been items because of food and beverage packaging that is not safe. Sometimes I kind of wander if the plastic used for the fresh water tank is it safe when the plastic is exposed to a lot of heat. They say that water bottles should not be left in a hot car because the heat reacts with the plastic and becomes toxic. If I felt the water tank was that unsafe I would of replaced it so I am not that concerned just a thought and wanting to know why they have stainless steel tanks.
------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019)
2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014)
Middle Tn
2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab
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