Plastic holding tank question...

[Chaz]

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

[belfert]

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.

[pipes]

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

[RTS/Daytona]

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

[pipes]

PETE...........Thanks..I will consider that Idea.........Will save me a lot of work & sheckles.

[prevost82]

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

[Jerry32]

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

[Chaz]

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

[TomCat]

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

[belfert]

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.

[Chaz]

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

[TomCat]

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

[Dallas]

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

[gus]

Call Monaco and ask them.

There must be a mfg's name, number or logo somewhere on the tank?

[Tony LEE]

try this site

http://www.texloc.com/closet/cl_plasticsid.html