Everywhere I see folks saying how easy it is to remove the passenger side bench to gain access to the water tank, yet I don't see it. Yes, the upper screws should be easy to get to, and exactly two of the floor screws should be workable, but how in double hockey sticks do you get anywhere near the rest of the screws, next to the water tank. I can see someone marked the screw locations with arrows on the inside of the bench, but my hand, nor a drill extension could get anywhere near them. Does the bench flex enough once the upper screws are out that you can bend it for access?
I'm not the handiest person on the planet, but I have managed to build a shed, roof my house, and add a bedroom upstairs, but I had some room to work. I just don't see how it's so easy to get this bench out. The opposite side should be a piece of cake in comparison.
First time taking a bench out is slow going until you see where Scamp puts things, but not difficult. Not sure why you don't have room to access the front floor screws.
As you can see in the above pic with the bench removed, the white outline is the edge of the bench and there are approx 3-4 screws along that front edge of the bench that go through a 1x into the sub floor. You can see there is plenty of room to reach them between the water tank and front edge line of the bench. I use a long power screw driver and never have a problem accessing those. Then there are about 8 screws around the top of the bench on the outside wall of the trailer that are exposed with no access issues.
As with anything here is the one and only hidden catch. There is usually one or two screws at the under side of the front end of the bench that go into the fiberglass cabinets. You only know they're there once you've removed the benches and discovered they hid those on you. Never had any issue accessing them, but caught me the first time when I didn't know they put screws into the closet and kitchen cabinet.
The first time you pull the benches after getting the screws out you have to break the caulk loose and loosen them from the wall. Once they have come out once they come out much easier in the future. There aren't that many screws to remove inside the bench, just the floor screws on the front edge and the hidden one at the front end. The rest are on the top along the wall.
I'll try to upload some photos of what I'm presented with. I can get my arm back to within about 4 inches of the first screw next to the tank, but I have to come in from the front (tongue) end of the tank. Only have about an inch between the top of the tank and the edge of the access hole - not nearly enough to reach down from the top. Also cannot get in from behind the tank, same 1 inch opening. No way I could reach the back most screw.
The outside side of tank - seems like a lot more room on this side of the tank than on the other side or on your photos.
The inside side - not so much room, but enough if I could get my hand down from the top
The front end - is it normal for the overflow hole to be offset from the tank?
I'm wondering if this tank has been moved from original location. You can see that I could have access to the metal strap screws on the outside side of the tank. Might I have to move the tank, but the drain will have to be disconnected.
Wow, looks like that's a bigger water tank than I've had on my 13's. (Look at my tank up top) Wonder if someone super-sized it? I think if you take the top screws out and all the floor screws you can reach, then find and remove the secret screw(s) at the front of the bench that go into the closet, you'll be able to pull the top of the bench slightly up from the wall and get some room to get access to the remaining floor screws. Be very gentle so you don't snap off the 1x. Once the bench is off, I would see if you can push the water tank over as far to the outside wall and re-anchor it, so you have some room. If you're replacing the tank, you might want to see if that's not the correct tank and get one that isn't so massive.
Thanks a lot, yeah, if I can get the bench loose, it appears there is only one screw that I can't reach.
Would there be a problem with just cutting these screws if I can getr a hacksaw blade under the bench lip. The heads are burried so deep into the 1X that I cannot even see what type they are. When re-attaching, I could just drill some new pilot holes into the flooring and attach with new screws. If I do get this bench off maybe I'll try to at least move this tank over some, to give more room to work in there.
Yes, if you can slip a blade in from the front of the bench and cut the one floor screw, it would work. The new screws don't need to be in the exact positon on the 1x as they were so just move the new one over a half inch when you reinstall. They are just wood deck screws so you just need a small pilot hole in the 1x.
Definitely looks like you have room to move that tank over a few inches closer to the outside wall which should solve the access to the floor screws.
Thanks Greg. This is getting a bit more involved than I had planned. Will probably wait until nicer weather since I don't have an indoor place to work on it. Moving the tank will involve re-working the drain as well.
Again, thanks. I feel better at least knowing I'm not crazy.
I replaced the original interior water tank with an exterior one mounted underneath the floor behind the axle.
Everywhere I see folks saying how easy it is to remove the passenger side bench to gain access to the water tank, yet I don't see it. Yes, the upper screws should be easy to get to, and exactly two of the floor screws should be workable, but how in double hockey sticks do you get anywhere near the rest of the screws, next to the water tank. I can see someone marked the screw locations with arrows on the inside of the bench, but my hand, nor a drill extension could get anywhere near them. Does the bench flex enough once the upper screws are out that you can bend it for access?
I'm not the handiest person on the planet, but I have managed to build a shed, roof my house, and add a bedroom upstairs, but I had some room to work. I just don't see how it's so easy to get this bench out. The opposite side should be a piece of cake in comparison.
I must be dense...
Hi Lyle,
First time taking a bench out is slow going until you see where Scamp puts things, but not difficult. Not sure why you don't have room to access the front floor screws.
As you can see in the above pic with the bench removed, the white outline is the edge of the bench and there are approx 3-4 screws along that front edge of the bench that go through a 1x into the sub floor. You can see there is plenty of room to reach them between the water tank and front edge line of the bench. I use a long power screw driver and never have a problem accessing those. Then there are about 8 screws around the top of the bench on the outside wall of the trailer that are exposed with no access issues.
As with anything here is the one and only hidden catch. There is usually one or two screws at the under side of the front end of the bench that go into the fiberglass cabinets. You only know they're there once you've removed the benches and discovered they hid those on you. Never had any issue accessing them, but caught me the first time when I didn't know they put screws into the closet and kitchen cabinet.
The first time you pull the benches after getting the screws out you have to break the caulk loose and loosen them from the wall. Once they have come out once they come out much easier in the future. There aren't that many screws to remove inside the bench, just the floor screws on the front edge and the hidden one at the front end. The rest are on the top along the wall.
Run into any issues, keep asking....
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale
Thanks for your reply Greg.
I'll try to upload some photos of what I'm presented with. I can get my arm back to within about 4 inches of the first screw next to the tank, but I have to come in from the front (tongue) end of the tank. Only have about an inch between the top of the tank and the edge of the access hole - not nearly enough to reach down from the top. Also cannot get in from behind the tank, same 1 inch opening. No way I could reach the back most screw.
Well, let me try the upload again. They went somewhere, but apparently not in my post.
Here are a few more pictures.
The outside side of tank - seems like a lot more room on this side of the tank than on the other side or on your photos.
The inside side - not so much room, but enough if I could get my hand down from the top
The front end - is it normal for the overflow hole to be offset from the tank?
I'm wondering if this tank has been moved from original location. You can see that I could have access to the metal strap screws on the outside side of the tank. Might I have to move the tank, but the drain will have to be disconnected.
Lyle,
Wow, looks like that's a bigger water tank than I've had on my 13's. (Look at my tank up top) Wonder if someone super-sized it? I think if you take the top screws out and all the floor screws you can reach, then find and remove the secret screw(s) at the front of the bench that go into the closet, you'll be able to pull the top of the bench slightly up from the wall and get some room to get access to the remaining floor screws. Be very gentle so you don't snap off the 1x. Once the bench is off, I would see if you can push the water tank over as far to the outside wall and re-anchor it, so you have some room. If you're replacing the tank, you might want to see if that's not the correct tank and get one that isn't so massive.
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale
OK, good I'm not just being totally dense.
Thanks a lot, yeah, if I can get the bench loose, it appears there is only one screw that I can't reach.
Would there be a problem with just cutting these screws if I can getr a hacksaw blade under the bench lip. The heads are burried so deep into the 1X that I cannot even see what type they are. When re-attaching, I could just drill some new pilot holes into the flooring and attach with new screws. If I do get this bench off maybe I'll try to at least move this tank over some, to give more room to work in there.
Lyle,
Yes, if you can slip a blade in from the front of the bench and cut the one floor screw, it would work. The new screws don't need to be in the exact positon on the 1x as they were so just move the new one over a half inch when you reinstall. They are just wood deck screws so you just need a small pilot hole in the 1x.
Definitely looks like you have room to move that tank over a few inches closer to the outside wall which should solve the access to the floor screws.
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale
Thanks Greg. This is getting a bit more involved than I had planned. Will probably wait until nicer weather since I don't have an indoor place to work on it. Moving the tank will involve re-working the drain as well.
Again, thanks. I feel better at least knowing I'm not crazy.
Lyle
Pages