Winterizing a T@B 400 by nüCamp featuring Creed

Verna

https://youtu.be/dqeXO-SHRcU

Sharon_is_SAM

I might have missed it @Verna, but did Creed instruct to flush the toilet to get antifreeze into the toilet valve area?  

Verna

yes, he did. 

[Deleted User]

I didnt find the video very helpful since he basically just read from the checklist. I would just like to say that I only put 2 gallons in the fresh water tank and I had more than enough to run antifreeze through the entire system. You dont need 4 to 5 gallons! I used another half gallon to pour down the traps. There is still antifreeze in the freshwater tank after I finished so I cant imagine why he is saying to our 4 to 5 gallons in the tank.

Sharon_is_SAM

Maybe because there is a remnant of water left in the tank after draining and it will dilute the antifreeze less if you use more antifreeze?  The tank holds 30 gallons, but is listed as only 22 gallons usable.

tphaggerty

So, I don’t see the separate Alde drain shut offs (the yellow ones) on my 2018 400. I’m 2000 miles away, will have to look again when I get back. Anyone else not finding these on their 400?

N7SHG_Ham

@tphaggerty they should be there. A single one if you have an Alde 3010 without the flow and if you have a 3020 with the flow then two of them. Depends on build date what you have. I have a 2019 with two of the yellow valves, should be pretty obvious through the outside access door on the driver side.

DenisP

I have a 2018 400 with a 3020 without flow and have one yellow valve which is accessible through the “Alde access door”. The 400 was built March 2018. So there is another variant. 

tabiphile

If you are pulling antifreeze through the pump it's SOP to flush the terlet to pull antifreeze through the valve. The pour another glug down the hole for good measure. A couple gallons usually does the job. 

Sharon_is_SAM

So, I may have missed this, but how do 400 owners fully empty their fresh tanks?  

The 30 gallon tank has 22 usable gallons and I assume the pump starts sucking air with multiple gallons left in the tank.  So, my point above is, if you add only a couple of gallons of antifreeze, it will be diluted by the water - less diluted  if you add 4-5 gallons.  

I guess the work around is to place the AF after the fresh tank and/or pump.

Verna

I drove about 20 miles with the pitcock open on the fresh water tank and there was still some left. I parked level and it took a couple more hours for it to quit dribbling. 

tabiphile

Sharon_is_SAM said:

So, I may have missed this, but how do 400 owners fully empty their fresh tanks?  

The 30 gallon tank has 22 usable gallons and I assume the pump starts sucking air with multiple gallons left in the tank.  So, my point above is, if you add only a couple of gallons of antifreeze, it will be diluted by the water - less diluted  if you add 4-5 gallons.  

I guess the work around is to place the AF after the fresh tank and/or pump.

Assuming that you disconnect the tank and draw only antifreeze it's not an issue. As @Verna notes the tank can be further emptied with some amount of hijinks.

peterjoce400

About those yellow Alde valves. We have a 2019  400 with 2 valves and easy access is thru the side hatch.  The other family 400 is a 2018 and there is only one valve and it is best accessed by lifting the bed over the Alde unit on the inside of the trailer.  BTW when we got our 2019 we didn't have any yellow valves and only after back and forth with the dealer and NuCamp did we determine they had been removed by the dealer (dealer thought they were a troublesome non necessity) before delivery. NuCamp ensured they put them back post haste. While this year I put the AF in the tank, I like how on You Tube, Mandy (using her vodka), simply unscrewed the intake hose between the tank and the pump and sucked the vodka (AF) with the pump intake in a pot. I'll be doing that next winter.  

Horigan

Sharon_is_SAM said:

So, I may have missed this, but how do 400 owners fully empty their fresh tanks?  

The 30 gallon tank has 22 usable gallons and I assume the pump starts sucking air with multiple gallons left in the tank.  So, my point above is, if you add only a couple of gallons of antifreeze, it will be diluted by the water - less diluted  if you add 4-5 gallons.  

I guess the work around is to place the AF after the fresh tank and/or pump.

The drain valve behind left tire empties the entire tank.  The 22 useable gallons is what the pump can draw, but the drain empties from the bottom of the tank.  Driving around with the drain valve open should drain it pretty good.  I don't think you need any AF in the tank since freezing of any water left inside won't hurt anything, especially if you leave the drain valve open.

Sharon_is_SAM

Ok, so the pump and fresh tank drain do not come off the same T like the 320s? Where does the pump enter?