A busnut friend, Steve Capito, has a clear water holding tank out of a Monaco. It doesn't work for him, as it's too long. Well......... it would be for me too. :(
BUT....... Jerry Lieber taught a few of us how to plastic weld at the Cincy bus Rally and I was wondering if anyone knew what kind of plastic a Monaco tank was made of and if it could be welded?
Thanx guys,
Chaz
I don't know for sure on a Monaco, but a lot of plastic holding tanks for RVs are polyethylene.
I tried to get my polyethylene tanks welded and I found someone who could do it, but he said the welds would probably crack as polyethylene doesn't weld well.
I have a 100 gallon tank, not installed yet. I would like to cut it into 60/40 IE black and gray.
The tank is gray no markings or manafacture name. I bought it for $ 100!... it is new! can someone tell me what materiel it is made of and how to weld it back to make 2 tanks...
Tanks in advance........ Ken
Ken
Why even bother - I'm a big fan of combined black/gray tanks -
FOR ME - THEY ARE:
More efficent - (no more guessing the ideal percentage split for black/gray - it all one anyway
Flush better / fasted (wet stuff moves better)
less maintenance - only one tank
less hassel to install
Pete RTS/Ddaytona
PETE...........Thanks..I will consider that Idea.........Will save me a lot of work & sheckles.
I went the same route as Pete with a single tank with a shower bypass if I ever need it ... never have. The single tank I have is 160 gal's. and 150 gal potable, 10 gals for beer and pop, LOL. Works great like Pete stated.
Ron
I would guess that it depends on the way you use them. When I am parked for a long time in a campground or rv park I like to let the gray drain continuously. Jerry
OK, OK, OK....................... Black tank/grey tank vs. combined tank. = your opinion vs. my opinion. This has been argued and argued and argued. I personally want the versatility of a grey tank and black tank setup. The reasons are numerous on both sides!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I want to put the grey on top of the black and have the option of draining either one seperate or draining the grey thru the black to clean it out. Or while boondocking- be able to let the grey flow.
BUT........does anyone know what a Monaco tank is made of??!!??!!??!!??!!??
Thanx,
Chaz
I have 90 fresh, and 90 grey/black, with a grey bypass just upstream of the combined tank. I didn't think I'd use it too much, but I was very wrong.
Jay
87 SaftLiner
Monaco may not have used the same tank manufacturer for all models and probably switched suppliers over the years depending on the best bid. I believe Monaco also has plants in various states that may not use the same suppliers. I would guess yours came from a Monaco plant in Indiana since you are so close.
Someone may have a Monaco and know what their tank is made of, but your tank could be completely different.
Thanx Belfert.
I wonder if there is a definitive way to tell by looking at it or the color or (?).
Tomcat, the grey bypass sounds pretty cool!!!! Might just be the ticket if I have to just use one tank. (It's crunch time right now and I may have to make concessions) I think I could pull that off pretty easy. Any suggestions on the best method?
Thanx,
Chaz
http://www.zoto.com/site/#USR.jsbird69::PAG.detail::5df7deae1066ed4c552609c2e9a84034 (http://www.zoto.com/site/#USR.jsbird69::PAG.detail::5df7deae1066ed4c552609c2e9a84034)
Chaz,
This pic is looking rearward towards the frame that now holds my combined tank. The white 3 inch stub hanging down is a straight drop from the toilet. Working uphill from there, you'll see the grey/red greywater bypass valve. All the grey plumbing (kitchen/shower/lav) feed in from there.
Jay
87 SaftLiner
Chaz, It's really difficult to tell what type of plastic you have. With luck, and by law after a certain date, there has to be a recycling mark on the tank.
This "Should" be a triangle made of 3 arrows chasing each other, but may only be letters instead.
The seven standard types of plastic are:
1 - Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) {Soda Bottles and Mylar film}
2 - High-density polyethylene (HDPE) {Milk Jugs, gas cans, plastic tanks, etc.}
3 - Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) {Any kind of vinyl, including seat covers to water pipe}
4 - Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) {Plastic Food Containers} Lighter and melts at lower temp than HDPE
5 - Polypropylene (PP) {Luggage and trim moulding in cars}
6 - Polystyrene (PS) {Styrofoam}
7 - Other resins, like acrylonitrile butadine styrene (ABS)
From what you describe, it sounds like it's HDPE. (Translucent, hard, high melting point), unfortunately, there are some differences in the ingredients in even the same types of plastics. Given that, if possible, you may want to sacrifice part of your tank to make your own welding rods so you'll be sure of having the right type of plastic to make your weld, otherwise you risk having a weak weld or even blowing holes in the plastic trying to make dissimilar plastics work together.
Good Luck,
Dallas
Call Monaco and ask them.
There must be a mfg's name, number or logo somewhere on the tank?
try this site
http://www.texloc.com/closet/cl_plasticsid.html
Chaz,
There is a post on the board somewhere that outlines the process for building your tanks from ABS sheets. You use you table saw to cut the sides to near perfect size/fit and glue the stuff with ABS cement. You can reinforce the seams with strips and put in baffels and set freeze bumps in the bottom. All the fittings glue on and are readily available in a frightening variety. Ever heard of a ABS joint leaking? I mwean one that was even remotely glued! I will do this because it isn't that costly but mainly because I can make the exact dimension I want....precisly. I also expect to stack my grey and black tanks over the fresh water tank and I will heat the fresh using the water heater in the winter using a simple return line to the tank from the that has the valve to run the hot line till hot water arrives at the faucet to avoid wasting water. There was mention that the plastic suitable for drinking water was like ten times as expensive and PVC. I plan to drink bottled water and use the fresh tank for washing and sewer so I won't be worrying about the safe stuff.
I am looking forward to building these tanks...maybe this winter. Any info would be appreciated.
John
Thanx Tony!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now how cool is that??!!??!!
Chaz
If you want seperate tanks (and I agree with that philosophy), can you divide the single tank? That's what I did but mine is fiberglass on plywood. I made a single tank of about 120 gallons and divided it 60/40 gray/black.
Len
That's a good thought Len, but this tank is only 60 gal. I'm thinking if I end up just using one tank, I am do like Tomcat did. I think that is a good middle of the road idea.
John,
I have welded plastic at a bus rally and really liked it. (I'm a regular welder by trade also) But the cost is just WAAAAAAAAAY out there! Finding tanks and making them work is going to have to be what I do for now. But if you don't mind the expense, building your own is very cool!
Chaz
I have no idea what your budget is, but RV Surplus/Salvage in Elkhart has 105 gallon tanks for $160 (price as of Apr '06). They can be shippied, but probably not real cheap.
RV Exit also has these on Ebay, but the cost is $274 shipped. They used to be $225 shipped in Apr '06. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Waste-Black-Water-Holding-Tank-105-Gallon-RV-H2O_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50073QQihZ007QQitemZ170141100221 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Waste-Black-Water-Holding-Tank-105-Gallon-RV-H2O_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50073QQihZ007QQitemZ170141100221)
Thanx Belfert.
I have a surplus place about 2 hours from me in Montpelier IN. (Ickes) that I got a 100 gallon tank from for 100.oo (?) a few months ago. I know it was a good deal. My second option was to get another one of those and do the grey water dump option upsteam like Tomcat.
By the way, Hey Tomcat, would it be better to have that bypass valve vertical as opposed to horizontal so as to not have water in it when it's shut?? (freezing) Just a thought.
Thanx for the insight,
Chaz
http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=582.msg4419#msg4419
>
Check these out. ;)