2024 Micro Minnie Water Tank Issue?

[fishon002]

We are planning to buy a 2024 2108DS in a couple months, curious if the water tank dropping issue was corrected in the 2024s.This was the issue where the braces that support the 31 gallon water tank in the Micro Minnie's would flex if you towed with a full tank of water, and tank would drop. I don't want to tow the extra weight, so I will not tow it full often, but I am curious if it was corrected in 2024. Thanks

 

[Marine359]

The issue was not the bar would bend. The issue was that the tapping screws, two on each side would work themselves out, and the whole assembly dropped. The only way to find out if the problem has been rectified is to go look at a 2024 model, or wait for an answer here from someone who has bought one. I seriously doubt Winnebago has fixed the problem. I don’t think it’s on their radar until someone files a lawsuit because an accident was caused by a dropped tank. To comfort you, this shouldn’t be a big concern because it’s highly unlikely to affect you if you’re always on paved roads. It’s the boondockers who go off-pavement that have the problem. And, there is a DIY fix that can be installed before going off pavement.

 

[fishon002]

I meant "Flex" not "Bend" I corrected it above. There will be times, not many that I am on rougher roads.

I have looked at the 2024s in person. Well, to see it on a new one you have to remove the underbelly insulation, is why I ask.

Here's a fix I found: video:

 

[Marine359]

Tank mounting on newer Micro Minnie’s is different than 2022 and prior years. In 2022 and earlier the tank brace was a single piece of angle iron the traversed the distance between frame rails, and was connected to the rails using two small tapping #crews on each side. I don’t know when they made the switch to the new brace system. On older units, The brace was mounted under the coroplast. So when I made my repair, there was no need to remove or cut the coroplast. One would think that after the redesign, the engineers would have gotten it right. But, noooo. Same problem. But now the repair is even more difficult.

 

[fishon002]

Tank mounting on newer Micro Minnie’s is different than 2022 and prior years. In 2022 and earlier the tank brace was a single piece of angle iron the traversed the distance between frame rails, and was connected to the rails using two small tapping #crews on each side. I don’t know when they made the switch to the new brace system. On older units, The brace was mounted under the coroplast. So when I made my repair, there was no need to remove or cut the coroplast. One would think that after the redesign, the engineers would have gotten it right. But, noooo. Same problem. But now the repair is even more difficult.

Thanks, What year is yours?

 

[Marine359]

We had a 2021b which was a mid-year redesign that carried forward to 2022.

 

[fishon002]

Would love to hear from 2024 Micro Minnie owners.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

One would think that after the redesign, the engineers would have gotten it right. But, noooo. Same problem. But now the repair is even more difficult.

Stupidity tends to be a habit, not a once-off event. They made those changes for a sleeker, more marketable look, not to actually fix the problem.

My 2022 (manufactured in August 2022, if I'm not mistaken) does not have any visible bracing below the corrugated plastic - everything is hidden behind it. I'll definitely be opening it up sometime this spring/summer to reinforce the water tank properly.

That video above shows a decent (not great) fix; certainly a starting point for repairs. Unfortunately the guy is insufferable, and managed to convey only 30 seconds of useful information in the entire 13 minute blah-blah-fest. Ugh.

 

[Sky-WO]

Dropping Fresh Water Tank

I have a 2021 1700BH Micro Minnie trailer. I've noticed that the underside coroplast is sagging near the axle when the fresh water tank was full. Apparently the fresh water tank is beginning to drop, like other owner's are reporting. There is a single angle-iron piece crossing from side-to-side apparently to reinforce the tank mounting, but this seems to be now deforming. Attached are a few photos. What is the best way to make this repair? I could replace the existing angle-iron and add additional cross-members. I could attempt to lift everything up with some temporary braces and run steel straps across the underside from frame rail-to-rail. I trailer on some rougher dirt roads so I need a proven fix. Thanks for any suggestions. Ed, Tucson, Az.

 

[Marine359]

Run two steel super struts side to side. They must be big enough that you can fit bolts through the holes. Affix to frame using large ubolts. Nylon locking nuts on the bolts. You’ll need to jack the existing angle iron in the middle if it is deformed. Good you’re doing this because if you use your MM off pavement very much, the tapping screws that hold the angle iron to the frame will eventually fall out and the tank will drop to the ground. Happened to me.

 

[fishon002]

We ended up waiting to purchase, so I am still curious if the water tank bracing was improved for 2024 & 2025.

 

[Sky-WO]

re. water tank falling out

Thanks Jim for the suggestions. I was thinking along the same lines of adding bracing. I found a Youtube video which shows the problem. The fellow made a film of showing details of the failure and how he did a home repair. I'd guess my 1700BH is built the same way. There is likely a piece of OSB between the two cross frames on each side of the tank that has failed. Amazing that Winnebago would believe that a piece of OSB is a safe way to support a water tank. I think I will replace the existing angle-iron with a new piece of channel. Here is the Youtube link:

 

[Marine359]

We ended up waiting to purchase, so I am still curious if the water tank bracing was improved for 2024 & 2025.

You can look back in prior posts. I think I read that they changed the bracing in model year 2023, but new owners say it didn’t fix the problem. If you’re planning on going off pavement, adding your own bracing is good insurance. Probably will never fail if you stay on pavement.

 

[Sky-WO]

I checked with a couple of RV repair shops in Tucson. Rough cost of contracting the repair is $1200.

 

[Marine359]

This is something that can be done easily DIY.
About $40 of stuff from a big box.
And you’ll need two jacks.
Of course, if you’re dim witted like me, you’ll forget to empty all the water out of the tank before jacking..

 

[Sky-WO]

Yes, I know. I'm living in HOA heaven and have no place to work on it. If I attempt a repair in my driveway or the street the Gestapo will notice. The trailer is parked in the dirt. I'd like to replace the existing 1.5x1.5" angle with heavier 2"x2" angle, and add a 2nd angle on the far side of the axle. I'd tap threads into the frame to bolt the angles on. I'd then bolt 3 steel 2"x3" channels between the two angle pieces to hold the tank in place. It will require a floor jack on a hard surface to lift the steel braces and tank into place for fastening. The materials are maybe $100 tops. I'm thinking about it....

 

[Thindirtline]

I installed two more self tapping screws into each end the angle iron on mine. The existing ones were still tight. I am going to buy two more angle iron supports and just screw them in next to the existing one. Very simple and inexpensive.

 

[Sky-WO]

I had the bottom coroplast removed to view my 2020 1700BH water tank. The tank was supported only from the top edges, thus the bottom of the tank sagged like a water bag when full. It looks like W. used various techniques to try to address the issue. On my trailer all they did was run an angle-iron across the bottom outside of the coroplast, which was inadequate. Other trailers seem to have some OSB board under the tank, also inadequate. I had a sheet of painted plywood placed below the tank and two 1/4" thick iron straps run from frame-to-frame to support the plywood. This should stop any water tank sag. On my particular design running a few angle irons below the coroplast side-to-side would likely be a sufficient repair. I'll post the before photos with this note and the after/repair photos with the next post. Winnebago: What are you doing? Quality is required, or you will lose market share.

 

[Sky-WO]

1700BH Water Tank Repair

A sheet of painted plywood was placed below the tank. Two 1/4" thick iron straps were run from frame-to-frame to hold the plywood and water tank up.