Tried backing the trailer up at the cottage (in the dark) (by myself) and ran over a beautiful piece of very pointy driftwood!
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| The evil pointed driftwood! |
Instantly I knew I did an OH OH!
I heard the gush, even in the dark I know I punctured the black tank.
Crap, literally!
So, I parked it for the winter, along with a 3"x 4" piece that I found on the ground.
So, this consumed my whole winter as to how to fix this, I knew taking it to an RV dealership would cost a HUGE amount of money.
So, in the spring time I brought it back home and it was time to inspect...
WOW, not only did I have a 3" x 4" hole, but I also had a 4"x8" piece missing! Must have came off when I was bringing the trailer home in the spring.
Not to mention, I had multiple cracks along the bottom!
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| Take note of holes already drilled at end of cracks |
Now what am I going to do?!
I was suppose to be going camping in 3 weeks.
So, google was my savor again. I am giving kudos to TrailerDayz. Part#1.
It was very difficult to take video since it was so tight under there, but basically I followed this.
TrailerDayz - Black water tank fix
I patched the tank, with a ABS slurry and fiberglass screen.
Here is what I did...
Supplies:
- MEK (started with Acetone, but this is much better)
- ABS pipe
- glass gar
- fiberglass screen
- cheap paint brushes (you will go thru one each time you apply)
- GLOVES!
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| The 4" piece of ABS is what I THOUGHT I was just missing... |
Making your ABS Slurry
So, I followed some videos I saw on how to repair a black tank, but making the slurry not to may people out there posting on this.Keep it simple...
I spent far to much time doing this, and getting blisters, so cut to the chase and do this...
Circular saw, cut ABS pipe in 1/2" rings, if you can make thinner, quicker it dissolves.
Take tin snips and cut into pieces. I started smaller, and then got fed up and really there is no need if you have time to let these pieces dissolve.
There really is no formula to amounts and solvents.
But do make sure you have a glass jar.
Put pieces into jar and pour MEK in it. Then let it sit, shake, stir and check.
May take a couple of days for large pieces to dissolve. You will have to paint it on, so not to thick, but not runny.
So either add more ABS or more MEK.
Clean area
Sand area and clean with vinegar.Cracks
Drill a hole at the end of each and every crack. This will prevent it from cracking more.
Next, was to start the gluing process, in hindsight I should have used my ABS slurry from the beginning. I also used a syringe like TrailerDayz used. But, just using the ABS yellow cement seemed to have worked pretty decent.
So, this now becomes a repetitive process of wiping down with MEK to clean and soften, then "paint" on the slurry.
Start with smaller pieces of fiberglass screen and build apon it.
I found that if you apply the slurry, place your screen on then apply more, you can work it in with your fingers. That seems to have created a very good bond.
As you can see in the video, I have already done multiple layers of screen and slurry, to the point that I was able to test it!
It worked!
And I have also gone camping, and with a full tank, had no issues!
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