The fresh water tank in our ATC Toy Hauler had slowly developed a sag in the bottom over the past two years of living in it full time.
At first, I didn’t realize the sag was not normal. That is, I thought it was designed with a rounded bottom. But then, when I first took delivery of the trailer two years ago, I never looked at the water tank. So, I don’t know what it originally looked like.
However, after having met other ATC Toy Hauler owners, I discovered their tanks were completely flat on the bottom. That led me to worry that our water tank could soon bust open.
ATC was pretty good about covering the tank under warranty. I had requested they send the tank to Toppers and Trailers Plus, an ATC dealer and service center in Mankato, MN.
After we notified Toppers and Trailers Plus, they did one better and sent a guy to ATC’s headquarters in Nappanee, IN, and had him pick it up (along with other parts they were waiting for) and bring it back.
Toppers had me tow the trailer into their Le Sueur location.
While we waited, Sash and I took a drive into the town of Le Sueur for lunch. A place generically named, “The Bar & Grill” seemed to be calling our name. A crusty old guy who owned the place served up a bottle of Grain Belt and told us the building his establishment is located in was erected in 1852, during the middle of the Civil War. Sash and I talked business about the upcoming ATC Toy Hauler Rally while we masticated a pastrami sandwich and a pizza.
When we returned to Toppers and Trailers Plus, they were still a couple hours away from finishing up. Meanwhile, they offered me to use their pressure washer to wash my pickup truck. Pretty nice of them, I thought.
Once they had the job done, they noted the old tank was so heavily bulged, it now held about 120 gallons from the original 100. That probably explains why I was getting about four to five weeks of use on a full tank.
From what I’ve learned about the RV manufacturing industry is that builders don’t build them for full time use. They build them for vacations, to be used maybe ten to twelve outings a year maximum. But ATC doesn’t build water tanks, they buy them from a wholesaler. Those tanks are not meant to be filled to the top every two or three weeks and carried across the United States for 10,000 miles a year.
Toppers and Trailers Plus did us a favor by also adding an extra cross bar under the water tank. Hopefully that will help keep the bottom flat over the next two years.
The Bar & Grill
130 S. Main St.
Le Sueur, MN 56058
Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/efQ9jAWgiDqYg7y9A
Toppers and Trailers Plus
510 Doppy Ln.
Le Sueur, MN 56058
Website: https://www.toppersandtrailersplus.com/
That’s gotta be infuriating.
“Hey, you could live in this thing… Oh, wait. we didn’t think you were actually going to LIVE in this thing.”
Right? To their credit however, ATC has listened to us over the past couple of years and used our experiences into adjusting their designs. And you know Sash, she never gives up.
Hey Steve,
I just found your site as we were looking for info on Salida Colorado. Great job and info on the area.
Interesting info on your ATC trailer. We have a 2017 Livin Lite. Luckily we bought used…. Feel sorry for people who paid full price and had to make repairs.
Livin Lite went out of business and later became ATC. We have problems with our water tank sagging as well. SADLY.. I see ATC has not upgraded to ANGLE instead of FLAT stock under their water tanks. THIS would have alleviated the problem…. completely….. for all of us.