Under Belly

[eightydo]

Has anyone removed the under belly of there unit. There are some rivets that I need to remove.( Water leaks when I fill fresh water tanks )
How did you remove the Rivets?
I am posting two pictures that show the rivets.

[Camper2b]

Originally Posted by eightydo

Has anyone removed the under belly of there unit. There are some rivets that I need to remove.( Water leaks when I fill fresh water tanks )
How did you remove the Rivets?
I am posting two pictures that show the rivets.
Attachment 1154
Attachment 1155

They are a pita....we had to use a crowbar to pry in between the barrier and frame. I'm sure you could us a die grinder... there's no simple way. Maybe someone else has some ideas. As far as the leak, it probably a loose hose clamp on the fill hose. Hopefully that simple..

[eightydo]

Originally Posted by Camper2b

They are a pita....we had to use a crowbar to pry in between the barrier and frame. I'm sure you could us a die grinder... there's no simple way. Maybe someone else has some ideas. As far as the leak, it probably a loose hose clamp on the fill hose. Hopefully that simple..

That's what I am hoping ( lose clamp)
Did you replace rivets or install screws?

[Camper2b]

I used screws. Also be careful, there is a foil barrier between the under belly material and frame. Good luck.

[nmroper]

Originally Posted by eightydo

Has anyone removed the under belly of there unit. There are some rivets that I need to remove.( Water leaks when I fill fresh water tanks )
How did you remove the Rivets?
I am posting two pictures that show the rivets.
Attachment 1154
Attachment 1155

Havent tried removing one yet, but i was planning to drill them out and replace with screw.

[Camper2b]

Originally Posted by nmroper

Havent tried removing one yet, but i was planning to drill them out and replace with screw.

Drilling them out! Let us know how that goes. Those appear to be shot through the frame. I'd like to see the tool they used to do that.. maybe theres a removal tool, I like to see that too. These aren't your typical pop rivets as you shall soon discover. Goog luck... take pictures we ALL LOVE pictures

[sundancer 87]

Drilling rivets is the easy way for removal, however, these are a little different. Even centered punched it would be difficult to be on one's back trying to keep the drill centered.

I'd simply grind the heads off the rivets. Less chance of poking holes in the material and knuckles.

[nmroper]

Turns out dutchman is now using hardened nails to attach underbelly material to frame. According to tech at Windish they either grind the head off or use a sawsall and reinstall with self taper in a new location? I should be validating this in next 2-3 weeks when i drop the underbelly to inspect and insulate.

[eightydo]

Thank you every one for your input.

[eightydo]

I got after the leak. I found lose clamps on fill lines. The rivets are nails that look like they were put in with a powder actuated nail, to remove them I used a air hammer with chisel end. Like prior post said I am going to use self tapping screws. Here are some pictures of the leaks.

[eightydo]

This is the tool I used to remove the nails. I would let the dealer do it next time because the underbelly looks like it was installed before the drain line were installed it's a real bear.

[prm99v6]

Just as a tip for anyone messing with their underbelly. Landscaping spray foam is black. I ordered some from Amazon to fill in some gaps in my underbelly and didn't want to have a yellowish foam sticking out since the factory stuff was black.

[hddecker]

Originally Posted by eightydo

Has anyone removed the under belly of there unit. There are some rivets that I need to remove.( Water leaks when I fill fresh water tanks )
How did you remove the Rivets?
I am posting two pictures that show the rivets.
Attachment 1154
Attachment 1155

Did you check the clamp at the filler neck? A whole lot easier to pull that off to check, than dropping the belly pan, if that happens to be the source of the leak.

You may be able to see the top of the tank as well and verify the leak is there. With luck you may even be able to reach down to the tank from the filler neck opening.

Just a thought.

[eightydo]

Originally Posted by hddecker

Did you check the clamp at the filler neck? A whole lot easier to pull that off to check, than dropping the belly pan, if that happens to be the source of the leak.

You may be able to see the top of the tank as well and verify the leak is there. With luck you may even be able to reach down to the tank from the filler neck opening.

Just a thought.

That was my first check when I noticed the leak.

[eightydo]

Originally Posted by prm99v6

Just as a tip for anyone messing with their underbelly. Landscaping spray foam is black. I ordered some from Amazon to fill in some gaps in my underbelly and didn't want to have a yellowish foam sticking out since the factory stuff was black.

I am going to use Fire-stop foam when I reinstall. waiting for weather to cool down when I took it off yesterday it was 100º

[DesertRat]

Originally Posted by eightydo

I am going to use Fire-stop foam when I reinstall. waiting for weather to cool down when I took it off yesterday it was 100º

Only 100 we had you beat my 8 degrees here around Palm Springs Ca..

[eightydo]

Originally Posted by DesertRat

Only 100 we had you beat my 8 degrees here around Palm Springs Ca..

That was at 10 am but did not get 108 like you.

[D and C 12 voltage]

Also make sure that the fill hose does not dip below the bottom of the water tank. Ours was like that and we could only fill the water tank about third. I end up cutting off 18 inches of hose and putting in support clamps to the floor. So when I fill its downhill all the way.

[Moogal78]

To those that have removed their under belly, did you map out where certain service items are located (ie. sewer slide valves)? I would like to cut access panels out of my under belly that can be secured with D-Zeus fasteners for routine maintenance, but don't want to remove my entire under belly. Also, if any of you have tank heaters, which tanks were they on? I have three tank heater switches, but one fresh tank, two grey tanks, and two black tanks (Voltage 3895). I think it would be too much to hope that each tank has one, and the switches are for fresh/grey/black.

[kaycha]

Get several old small standard screwdrivers, gentle tap between nail head and washer developing a small space, then use a small 6-12 inch crowbar; done. Throw away the screwdrivers (tip gets chewed up).