Broken Black Tank

[kdmac]

I can't believe this! I came home today from a walk out to the end of the jetty and I faintly smelled the "stink". I went into the bathroom to see if it reeked in there and it did not smell at all. I noticed that it was at just one point in the trailer...so it dawned on my that it is coming up through the "heater vents in the floor" so that can only mean one thing.....the black tank has leaked into the underbelly insulation. Sure enough, I go outside and hear the "drip drip" and it's coming from the lowest place on the black tank. I could see the outline of moisture on the underbelly covering about five ft in diameter.

I have wintered at this park and Friday was my last day; have reservations elsewhere as I head slowly south for the summer. Now, I have to have the trailer worked on. I am going to try to take this in my stride...since I am retired I have nothing but time. The trailer has a two year warranty and I bought it in December. I am afraid of the horror stories I have read about people trying to get things fixed under the warranty and finding out they won't for one or another lame reasons.

Anyone have any advice for me? I am not even sure how this is done. Do I take it to the local RV repair and let them handle the warranty issues for reimbursement? I am not paying anyone.

[retiredhappy]

Call the manufacturer and ask them how and who do you deal with on warranty. Some shops want you to pay and YOU deal with the reimbursement.

[Forestgal]

Could it be that it cracked during the winter when the temps got below freezing? Are you able to see that it's a leak along a seam (which might be warranty-able)?

Good luck, KD. Dealerships are not honoring warranties with so many manufacturers going belly-up. If you can get the recommendation for a good shop who might honor the warranty that might be the better way to go.

Keep us posted, and we'll keep our fingers crossed for you.

Laura

[AlmostThere]

No advice, but will be interested in how this works out, Kathy. Good luck.

[sharon]

Boy, that stinks!! LOL! Sorry, just couldn't help myself. After dealing with warranty issues more than a few times, call the manufacturer. They usually have tech support that can point you in the right direction. Whether that will be covered under the trailer warranty or the tank warranty or even covered at all remains to be seen. If it did indeed freeze this winter doubt if any warranty will cover it. They would file that under owner neglect. Trust me, if there's a way they can weasel out of it, they will. Good luck.

On edit: I sure wouldn't say ANYTHING about freezing, tho. Let them figure it out. It might slide right past them.

[Acadianmom]

If you can't get it covered under warranty maybe it could be covered under your insurance some kind of way. I have never even read my insurance policy to see what would be covered. I took an insurance class in college and the teacher told us that if something isn't excluded it is considered included. That information served me well when my husband had a motorcycle accident and our insurance company didn't want to cover him. Sharon is right, they will all try to weasel out of paying.

Martha

[kdmac]

I am expecitng the manufacturer to weasel out just like all warrantie folks do unless your one of the big buck people...they seem to garner a different reaction out of these situations. I spoke with the warranty gal at Crossroads and she will need a cause, estimate and course of action before they decide to cover or not...and you know they will find a way to weasel out.

Freezing was not the issue, there wasn't those kind of temperatures here this winter. It's very mild on the coast. Had frost on the pumpkin a time or two but never low temps enough to freeze the tank. I am assuming it is poor quality material for the flanges and/or shoddy craftsmanship...My TT is a lightweight $22,000 unit, just not high-end like beefier more expensive units...I treat this TT like a blow-glass snowflake...I am very careful of everything...knowing it's just not like the big-boys.

..I would appreciate any prayers from those of you who are prayers, I would like to keep my savings untouched. I know stuff happens but it's only a 4 months old and I didn't expect a major issue so soon.

[sharon]

Glad it wasn't a freezing problem. If it is a flange, cracked pipe or defective tank, they will almost have to cover it.

Oh honey, I can't believe you said you didn't think you would have a major problem with a new rv! Boy, could I give you an earfull, and we ain't talkin' cheap rv here, either! Do you have about an hour?? LOL!
Good luck and keep us in the loop.

[kdmac]

Glad it wasn't a freezing problem. If it is a flange, cracked pipe or defective tank, they will almost have to cover it.

Oh honey, I can't believe you said you didn't think you would have a major problem with a new rv! Boy, could I give you an earfull, and we ain't talkin' cheap rv here, either! Do you have about an hour?? LOL!
Good luck and keep us in the loop.

What I meant by "not having major problems with the new rv" was related to "time", geez, the honeymoon hadn't even started and I am at the repair shop...I knew there will be fixes but the third day after I bought it I had it in repair for a broken hitch pin...Although, come to think of it, my last little Trail Lite traveled all over the freakin country and never once, had an issue...not one single thing went wrong with that sweet little trailer...I sold it to my ex-husband; should've kept it.

[Forestgal]

My TT is a lightweight $22,000 unit, just not high-end like beefier more expensive units...I treat this TT like a blow-glass snowflake...I am very careful of everything...knowing it's just not like the big-boys.

Not to appear like I'm wagging my finger at you, but I think you've nailed it with the statement above. So many of the smaller "not high-end" travel trailers just aren't meant to be lived in full-time. Their frames seem to be more flexible at some level, creating more opportunities for things to come loose or maybe in your case, crack.

That's NOT to say that they can't be traveled in for extended periods of time. But think about it ... you've been in your trailer longer (more than 90 days, right?) than most people would use theirs over a year's time. If you put it in those terms, having a problem at this point doesn't seem so unreasonable.

If I were in your shoes I'd find a really good repair shop, get it fixed, and then deal with the manufacturer. It's your home & needs to be put right so you can move on.

Keep us posted.

Laura

[kdmac]

[/quote]
That's NOT to say that they can't be traveled in for extended periods of time. But think about it ... you've been in your trailer longer (more than 90 days, right?) than most people would use theirs over a year's time. If you put it in those terms, having a problem at this point doesn't seem so unreasonable.
[/quote]

Yes, that is exactly right. When I chose to go fulltime my 1/2 ton truck was paid for and I couldn't see buying a new one. I didn't want to deplete all my savings on a $70,000 dollar truck and a $50,000 or more RV, there just wasn't anyway to do that. So, I had to go lightweight to accommodate the truck and the finances, So both are paid for. But, with that came the awareness that I can't use this trailer to travel as I always have, taking it into back country and up roads less traveled like I would prefer; instead I have to park it in RV parks for long stays in areas that I want to explore and use it as a home base and just do trips from there to explore the area.
I have a four-year plan....once I turn 62 and can collect SS plus my pension, things will change; God willing.

[Bethers]

I'm going to bet that the black tank in your TT is the same one in more expensive units. BUT - it sounds like it had a weak spot from the get go and it just finally let go. Kind of like the fridges and microwaves, etc are the same - although the bigger the unit, the larger the fridge. Now, the cabinetry, etc, is cheaper. Floors cheaper, etc. Then again, I saw the identical linoleum in a very expensive 5th wheel as in my little Class C. I'll hope they had a better undercoating - but you never know.

Good luck on the repairs.

[sharon]

Yeah, Beth, you're right on that one. In fact, there's probably only one place that makes the tank, possibly 2. Just sounds like it might have come loose where the dump pipe joins the tank. Not sure if they glue that or use some kind of fitting. I'm thinking glue, but who knows. Guess she'll find out! LOL!

And time wise? I had a major flood in my new rv about 3 hours after I picked her up....

[Rufflesgurl]

Had warranty issues on my MH also and they usually paid - then the mfg. (Monaco) went out of business. I still got some coverage on a very huge issue 1-1/2 yr. ago and was thankful for that. Hope you can find a repair facility local for you and then try to get reimbursed. It is your home after all. Good luck Rv manufacturers are not the easiest people to deal with that's for sure.

Linda