Oversite on my part could have been bad
I am rather attentive to maintenance on our 2016 Adventurer 38 Q, and spend a lot of time working on it. Its my retirement hobby and it keeps me off the streets.
Over the 7 year we've owned it I regularly keep an eye on rust, primarily I stalk it around the compartment framing where it seems to crop up.
But I missed something that was somewhat visually hidden and I had not been paying attention too. I visually check around the sides of propane tank , especially whenever I turn the propane valve on and off.
I have been working on another maintenance project that requires me to access the rear of the water heater compartment. While crawling around to access that area today I noticed severe flaking and bubbling of the paint on the bottom of the propane tank- not visible except if one is underneath looking up at it. The amount and depth of rust I found was shocking. Much was hidden by loose paint on the tank that I wire brushed off. I was surprised at how deeply pitted the rust was- more than surface rust-especially on a pressurized tank full of propane!
Most times when doing my regular rust patrol I find surface rust and I treat it with Permatex rust coatings followed by a couple coats or Rustoleum.
It was pretty easy to see how this damage occurred. The tank sits directly behind the dually rear wheels on the drivers side thus catching lots of spray and road debris flying up from the wheels. Over time the paint coating simply gave up, and bubbled leaving water trapped between the tank and the paint.
Based on what I found this had apparently been going on for a long time.
I've worked, treated and painted the area, but rest assured I will be spending lots of time keeping an eye on this area. I know this is not the end of maintenance for this area.
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Joe a/k/a "Americanrascal"
2016 Winnebago Adventurer 38Q +tow dolly
8th RV to sit in our driveway in 40 years
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