[Bernie]

Dawn dish washing soap and H2O.

From what I’ve read here on PC aluminum is a BAD choice for any holding tank. I prefer plastic, but some prefer stainless. It’s not a matter of IF, it’s a matter of WHEN an aluminum tank will leak.

Jon?

[Dick]

If you expose aluminum to anything acidic it will corrode.

If you expose aluminum to anything alkaline it will corrode.

If you doubt me put a few drops of muriatic acid on some aluminum foil, or get a little drain cleaner (which is usually lye based) and see what happens in each case. Obviously if the PH moves a little up or down from 7 the result will not be as clear as the demonstration above, but the result is the same over time.

Aluminum is highly reactive and except for Liberty holding tanks I am not aware of a single product used by the plumbing industry that is made of aluminum. If you want to extend the life of your aluminum tank do not put any chemicals in your plumbing system, and flush and drain your tank often when you are done using the coach.

I will tell you that I bought my 2006 Liberty in 2012. I replaced my aluminum tank in 2013. I was unaware until I removed it for replacement how bad it was. I was a few hundredths of an inch away from a failure of the large flange that the main drain was connected to. It had all but been eaten away. But what was worseI found that before I bought the coach a fitting had already been repaired or replaced so in the short time since the coach was new the corrosion process had been going on.

[Archived]

Jon,

Did you replace your holding tank with aluminium?

Mark

[Harry]

Yes sir that is a fact. The only thing a Liberty tank can’t hold is your crap.

Later

bv

[Bernie]

Mark,

I replaced my tank with an identical tank, but made of 16 gauge stainless steel. It is about 1/2 the thickness of aluminum which is about 1/3 the weight of stainless so I had a gain of about 30 pounds in the tank weight. I eliminated the weight gain by removing the stainless steel doors you have to open after you open the bay doors.

[AL]

thanks Jon, I guess my buddy that does stainless steel forming and welding will be building me a tank in the near future so that I can just put myself at ease and So my crap will run downhill (But not necessarily in as discussing fashion as would I had a tank leak. )

lol

[AL]

Jeff replaced my aluminum holding tank last year and it was already showing signs of corrosion pretty badly. It was only about 5 1/2 years old to boot. I am sure it was not at the point it was going to fail right away, but I don’t want to have to deal with that kind of mess ever, so out it went. When you add in all the others that have been changed out, and Jon’s near disaster with his, it boggles the mind as to whey they still use aluminum.

[Reagan]

Jon and Mark: What was the cost of replacing the waste holding tank with stainless? Are your fresh water tanks aluminum?

[Tim]

Mike, Jeff stocks SS replacement tanks…judging by the scrap pile at any given time…pretty brisk business. Geo.

[Archived]

Dick,

That is a question for Jeff. I have a real great daughter with a 165,000 square foot metal fab shop so as soon as I realized my bus had an aluminum tank she made me a stanless steel replacement for free.

You are not going to enjoy that kind of pricing.

I did the install myself and it was (or would have been) a one day job, but I also did other projects in the water bay such as a thermostatic control over the engine coolant heating of the HW tank and a back up water pump so it was spread over a few days. Not difficult, just a lot to remove and then put back in.

As you can see old aluminum tanks can be repurposed, this being a shooting bench up in the woods.

New tank

Paper thin large fitting at bottom of old tank, Upper fitting had already been replaced prior to my purchase of the coach and it was already showing signs of severe corrosion.

[Tim]

Can you or anyone explain the logic in continuing installation of an aluminum waste holding tank in Liberty coaches which in a short time every single one will fail ? Marathon coaches which I have owned for 7 years and participating in Prevost forums for that entire time never heard of a single failure.

As I understand and correct me if I’am wrong ….Still installing the aluminum tank.

[Archived]

Please post the answer to that question when you get it.

[Jerry]

Anybody know what kind of tanks are in my 05 Royale?

Roy

[Archived]

Jon,

In my early carrer I sold industrial sparyer machines up to 3300 gallons.

The smaller ones – (1200 gallons) were all poly taks. No idea why they would choose aluminum.

We started buiulding Stainless tanks afterward – now over 4000 gallons.

You will see these under thier new name out and about on the road side4s spraying a green slurry that is called Hyroseeding.

https://www.epicmanufacturing.com

Luckily, My friend owns the company (and my bus is stored in his building to boot lol)

Of course building a new tank would not be free, but at least I have good place to perfrom the swap on my own. with an unlimited supply of flanges, fitting, banding machines, etc…

Jeff, Can I get a stainless tank price? maybe I just purchase and have shipped to Delaware?

Mike

[Kirby]

I really don’t belong in this conversation because I don’t want anyone thinking I am selling stainless steel tanks because my daughter’s company is making them. But everyone should be aware that if you are not going to use your existing tank as the model then you absolutely need to at least speak to Jeff because there are expensive pitfalls that could be encountered if you make them from drawings supplied by anyone in the original supply chain.

Some tanks in use are not made to drawngs completely. Some holes have been relocated or modified and you should be aware of what potential changes you might encounter.

Regardless of who makes a replacement tank, make certain all bottom and vertical welds are done on both the inside and outside and whatever you do make sure nobody grinds and polishes the welds, The only weld joint that does not need two side welding is the top of the tank.