Saturday, May 1, 2010

The Sun is Shining... Buuuut.... There are still some Clouds...

Got Hooked up 'bout noon... moved the rig 'bout 10'... pulling it off the leveling blocks...

When the rig went from level... to Not... got about a gallon or two of ... uh... sewage!, come spilling out of the seams of the belly pan... What the ???

Now, That, ain't supposed to happen!

Considering that the slide motor seems to be failing, it wouldn't bring the slide in, without a 'helping lil' shove'... this run wasn't starting out well.

Well... with the seams dripping... I shoved it into gear and took off, rolling down the dirt road, headed for the pavement... stopped at the asphalt to check... and ... no leaking... ???

Ran on down the road 15 miles or so, to a dump station, still no more leaking, and emptied the tank... and then just kept on rolling to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. (which don't have the full hookups... but do have water/power/and a dump station)

So... what do I figure is goin' on?

We'd filled the black... really full... I just figured on hitting that dump station on the way out... I'm guessing it was 'filled' clean up to the top of the tank... and however they built the seal, where the pipe enters the tank... It is no longer sealed. Which would allow, fluid to leak out...if the tank was filled to the brim...

When the rig was 'level'... that fluid just accumulated in the center of the slightly sagged belly pan... As soon as the rig went 'off level' it allowed that fluid to run out the seams on the side... I'm also guessin'... sitting level another couple days... without pumping... I would have found the 'seepage' anyway... yuck...

Bottom line? I've got another 'rebuild' to do... ASAP! all the belly insulation is going to be contaminated up in there and will require removal and replacement, as well as cleaning everything else in the area...

Lesson learned? I'm guessing this is the fullest we've ever gotten the black tank... I'll likely not 'push the envelope' again... hoping to hit a dump station in a 'few days'... and thinking we've got a 'bit' more room.

... and another good reason for using Forest Service outhouses... or the fuel station facilities!... when the opportunity presents! :o)

Today? ... the sun is Shining... Heidi is running... I'm writing... and looking forward to the fun... stripping that belly... One... More... Time.

Take Good Care
Brian

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3 comments:

Rex Kusler said...

The Donner Party never had this sort of problem.

Unknown said...

Just ewh. At least a seal will be cheaper/easier to replace that a cracked tank.

Brian said...

:o) ... or... I could just dump every other day! :o) ... aw what the hell... I haven't had to muck out a barn in a long time! :o)

Got up this morning... and the furnace wouldn't lite up! aaaaarrrrrghhhh! What now?... Uh... maybe just flip the propane tank? :o)... I think I've kinda got "gunshy" down to an art!