Water tank bracing?

[Minozzy3]

So I’m under my rv and find the belly has been opened. I decide to look at the 2 issues I have.
Anyway I noticed the 2 “c” channel braces for the fresh water are bent rather badly. My question is. Are they supposed to be straight or bent. I’ve looked at other units and all seem to be bent.
Should I leave alone or straighten and stiffen?

We wont even talk about the mess of poorly planned and or designed tank system.

 

[Lloyd S]

On mine the c channels are rather light material. Shortly after we got the camper, I reinforced them both by adding a piece of square tube in the c. Then bolted the whole works to the frame.


Mine weren't bent, and I wouldn't think they are suppose to be either. That's pretty light material they put there with the hoped of supporting 50 gals. of water bouncing down the road.

 

[dagst1]

On mine they were bowed where the tank had sagged for lack of a better word. I replaced them with 3 pieces of 2" heavy wall angle iron bolted thru the frame. The tank isn't going anywhere now.

 

[Lloyd S]

I found a couple pics of the bracing. It's not as heavy as what dagts1 used, but it hasn't moved over the years.

I also have a square plastic fence post under the tank that is used for storing the sewer hose. I suppose that supports quite a bit to.

 

[dagst1]

I went with that size because we always have the tank full when we leave. And with all that bouncing around i wanted to make sure that it stayed where it was. Also it was left over from another project.:whistling:

 

[Aceallenk]

I have 2 lengths of 2''x3/4'' C-channel probably 3/32 wall added under my fresh water bolted to each frame I-beam, and each c-channel have a bit of a bow. It's not an issue, that tank is going nowhere. Remember my 30 imperial gallon full weighs 300 lbs, those 2 channel are attached with a total of 8x 1/4'' grade 5 bolts, and would need a sheer force of probably 20 tons to rip them from the trailer, ''not happening'' !!!!

 

[mossyoak1957]

I did a quick fix on my tank to take some load of the two metal bands holding it up just but two ratchet straps across it from both sides of the frame,when I get time I'll do it right.