Should my water and holding tank support beams be bowed?

[VTPete]

Regarding my '96 Roadtrek: The beams that support my fresh water tank and holding tanks all seem to have a bow to them. The middle of these support rods/posts seem to be lower by maybe an inch or so than where they're bolted on. Either they're designed this way or the weight of the tanks have bent those support rods over the years.

Any thoughts?
-Pete

[Ron J. Moore]

I am no authority, but I would say they have used the same pattern for years on the RT; the water capacity hasn't really changed. You say all of them are evenly bent leads me to think it is a design feature. Maybe if you could look where it bolts together, maybe it will show some signs of strain to bend it. Ron

[MikeK5117]

Pete, I have asked a similar question about a damaged support on my front water tank, and have since then learned enough to be dangerous on the subject, lol.

Not sure if yours is the same, but on mine, the outside end of the supports also ties into the running boards and works as a support for them. It is connected using 2 screws into the fiberglass. I would think if yours are un-naturally bowed, then this connection to the running boards would have gotten pulled away or at least loosened in such a way you can tell that its wrong.

Other than that, sorry, can't be a lot more help. Mike.