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Battery power issue solved 2021 tab 400 BD

Hello all,
I wanted to share a little info because I thought our camping trip was going to be a bust as we lost battery power completely ( only worked on shore and vehicle). Battery power was out. Knowing this might be a fuse/breaker issue. I could not find any breaks until I saw the attached device. I can only assume I must have hit the little yellow button putting stuff away, and the little yellow lever dropped. After pushing it back up, I got power again. This saved our boondocking trip in the Rockies.

Kevin_K

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Re: Another 2018-2019 Tab 400 tongue weight question

lkc001 said:

Thank you so much! Is there a reason you decided to go with a WDH instead of airbags or Timbre springs?

I tried Sumo springs and those helped a bit. The primary reason I went with a WDH (with sway control) is because that is what the Toyota Highlander manual said to do (have sway control) if towing over 2000 lbs. It was more a CYA move than to address any short comings in towing. I do like the towing experience more with the WDH, but it was fine without it, though I suspect I likely had reduced steering control (light front axle) without it. The Highlander has struts in the rear, so airbags were not an option.

Horigan

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Re: What's running my battery down?

If: you like to camp without hookups, and you have the 2 way fridge, the best bet would be a 100 amp hour lithium battery. Your "original" battery was most likely an "80 amp hour Group 24" battery. From that battery, you could draw 40 of those amp hours routinely. But running a lead acid battery below that number of amp hours too many times, or allowing it to stay in a low state of charge, will lead to a shorter life. But: you made it for three years, so you must have been doing something correct! And, the 200 watts of solar helped support your battery also.

A 100 amp hour lithium would let you more than double your "usable" amp hours, from the 40 in your lead acid battery to about 90 amp hours in a 100 amp hour lithium. There are several lithium batteries that are now the same basic size of your "Group 24" battery and will drop right in.

You will need to make sure your Victron solar controller is re-configured to handle the charging parameters of a lithium battery. Same thing with your Zamp solar controller.

You will read about "non-compatible" converters in the Tabs that will not "completely" charge a lithium battery. My 2017 will only charge my lithium to around "85 percent". I do have a separate lithium charger, but over 99 percent of the time I just let my solar keep my lithium charged.

Many owners have been helped by reading and watching Will Prowse. His videos and battery recommendations are extremely helpful (at least they were for me) and the page is mentioned many times here. Here is the review of the LiTime Mini mentioned above.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR5MkFRSucc

Here is the Will Prowse battery recommendation page.

https://www.mobile-solarpower.com/lithium-batteries.html

Welcome to the Forums. Ask questions! This can get confusing. Once your husband sees how nice the lithiums are, he will want one, too!

pthomas745

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Re: Crack in Trim - How serious is this?

@Gellog, it is easy. Although the below photos are from my 2018 T@B 320 S, it should be the same, or very similar, as yours. Just remove the outside (driver's side screws), which may be all you need to gain access to the area for insertion of the trim. However, you may have to remove some existing caulking/sealant in the area where the handle attaches, AND possibly also remove the handle, to gain full access to the metal track. On my trailer, there is no vinyl in the track, because nuCamp had changed to the plastic trim over that metal track (see last photo.) You will need to re-caulk any areas where caulk has been removed. Also, it would be a good idea to put a small amount of caulk/sealant in the screw holes before replacing the screws, to prevent water intrusion. Hope this helps.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/zn/8emw6ln04yv1.jpeg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/vd/4l6iiuks5nhg.jpeg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/xh/doa53q6y33xb.jpeg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/ea/gw9o0zf2knp8.jpeg

Bayliss

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Re: Another 2018-2019 Tab 400 tongue weight question

So, not quite exactly what you're asking for, but last summer I weighed our 2022 T@B400 Boondock with the following:

Full fresh tank
Probably a 3/4 full propane tank
Assorted leveling blocks in the front tub
Jack-It Wing bike carrier with:
1x Trek Marlin 5 (about 40lbs)
1x Trek Townie GO 7D Step-thru e-Bike (about 50lbs)
All of our usual camping gear that goes in the camper including food in the fridge

and our tongue scale reported almost exactly 500lbs
Our tongue scale is a Sherline scale.

Jay_and_Kat

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Re: questions on 2017 Tab 400

@lkc001 Another hint on the "model year" will come from the "build date". The gray sticker on the driver's side of the tongue. "Usually", like MuttonChops mentioned, the 2018 is the "start" of the 400 model. There are more than a few owners mentioning they have a "2017" 400. They may be mixing a "build date" with a "model year."

pthomas745

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Re: Renew Alde air cushion

Thank you @dsfdogs, that's helpful. I'm glad you mentioned that you lift the yellow flappers (plural) because I also have two, one obviously to drain the Flow.

Bill&Suze

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Re: Renew Alde air cushion

Sickerly said:

“Pre-Nautilus trailers empty the hot water tank through the normal water drains or the Alde pressure relief valve. Post-Nautilus trailers drain the hot water tank through the Alde pressure relief valve only.”

This is important to note. Those with the Nautilus must use the yellow valve under the seat!

Sharon_is_SAM

1 ·

Re: Very Odd Problem- Right Taillight

In getting our 2018 Tab 320S ready for the season, our left back turn signal and brake light did not work. As the countdown to travel was on and we sought forum advice, we assumed it may need replacing, we ordered a new one, the Kaper II L15-0021 Red LED Trailer Turn Light, from Amazon.

Preparations were made and further tests conducted. Taking the old one apart and checking it for rust and loose wires, it looked as if replacing this may not prove difficult.

While waiting for its arrival, we sought advice from someone we trusted. We took our unit to Sunwest RV Centre here in Courtenay on Vancouver Island, where we purchased this, and spoke with Erik Vierstra, the service warranty advisor. He went over a series of procedures to see if we could isolate the problem. In order, he is what happened:

1. As the tow vehicle lights all worked, he advised tracking the problem from this on back. He tested the brake/light connector. No problem was found.

2. Next, Erik recommended using dielectric grease (as was suggested by ericnliz in 2017) on the brake pins. I purchased a very small tube of this from Lordco Auto Parts and applied this using Q-tips without success.

3. Just prior to travel, the replacement light arrived and there was no time to install this. As a last ditch effort, I decided to give the dielectric grease a final try. This time, I cleaned deeper and much more thoroughly – it worked!

We all lit up and had a great holiday.

Hope this helps others enjoy one too.

Cheers,

Jim

TabulatorJim

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