New owner of a 2020 T@B 400 BDL

MischiefBrewing

Hey all!

I've found so many answers on this forum so I decided to join.

Received delivery after a smooth online purchase process and have been accessorizing and testing it for about 2 weeks now waiting for camp sites here in Vermont to open up.

I'll start with some problems I'm having and unable to find answers online for while waiting on the dealer service to get back to me.

1. Water pump priming issue: I found 2 threads talking about people with this same problem but none had definitive "solved" answers in them.  When not hooked up to city water, the pump pulls water out of the CW tank but seems like it's drawing in as much air as it is water and sputters continuously and never reaches full pressure to shut off.

I've tried hooking to city water and clearing all air from the lines, but when unhooking and switching back to pump, it goes back to sputtering within seconds.  I've removed the draw line at the pump and blown into the tank and hear it bubbling, so the line reaches into the water fine.  There is no debris at all in the filter and no kinks in any of the lines.  Totally baffled and frustrated by this.

2. Front window screen doesn't fold itself back up to close all the way.  Haven't played with it much, but seems like the springs are a little weak.

3. Installed the Takonsha P3 brake controller on my 2017 toyota tacoma TRD sport.  Hooked up the T@B and went out on the empty road to set the power levels.  Hit max power (14) and still couldn't get the trailer to lock up.  Saw a thread somewhere that the trailer brakes need to be adjusted.  It's been too miserable out to crawl under it but hoping it's an easy adjustment, anyone done this?

That's it for problems, now here's a little of what I've found out that might help others doing searches...

1. For a 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport with 265/65/17 tires and no lift, the T@B 400 BDL sits near level on a hitch with no drop.  The 3" drop hitch I had left the wheel on the jack very close to the ground, which would be bad with the dirt roads I end up on to get to some of the white mountain camping sites.

2. Mirror extenders are worth every penny:  I have a pretty small driveway space for storage and the tacoma, being a pretty narrow mid-sized truck can't see around the T@B very well. 

3. Read the 3-star reviews on Amazon to understand how the product really is.  5-stars are nice but don't tell you much and are sometimes bought by companies and 1-star are downright depressing and likely 1-off manufacturing problems (unless there are a bazillion of them).  The 3-star reviews are the people who don't like something about it, but are likely still using it.  This is how I decided on the sewer line, fresh water hose, tea kettle, and all the other "additional costs" this trailer has brought.

Can't wait to get to a campsite!

dragonsdofly

@MischiefBrewing, although the owner of 320, plumbing is plumbing. The pump sputtering is indicative of air entering the lines somewhere. There is either a split line or loose fitting somewhere in the trailer's plumbing lines. Although a bad gasket at any of the faucets can cause this, it is extremely unlikely. I'd begin at the fresh water tank and check all seals and lines from the fresh tank to the water pump. Since water is thicker than air, it is sometimes hard to detect a leak because the water isn't dripping visibly, only air is taken in when the pump engages. Until of course, the leak gets worse and the leak becomes visible or detectable. Our resident experts will chime in soon. Good luck with this. -Denise

DougH

@MischiefBrewing ; WELCOME!  Like @dragonsdofly I have a 320, but have frequently had difficultities priming the water pump.  I follow the forum suggestions doing everything you already tried (checking the filter, blowing air down through the intake tube in case of debris, checking the tightness of the connections to the pump).  I usually also try filling the toilet when pump is first on. That seems to help due to the proximity and lower height than the pump. Once primed (80% of the time), I can be fine for a couple weeks, or until the next time I drain the tanks. I've been told to consider replacing the water pump, but haven't bothered to yet.  Eventually (60-90s) I get enough pressure, even on the occasional days when it isn't enough to automatically turn off the pump.

Adjusting the brakes is easy and I have the same brake controller.  You could try flipping the P3 manual brake lever when on gravel first to see if it locks up then... to at least know if the brakes are close to correct.  If not, jack up a wheel, use a flat head screwdriver (though you can buy a drum brake adjustment tool) to rotate the drum tightness screw by flipping it up on one side and down on the other (as I remember it) until it barely scrapes or slows the wheel as you turn it, then back off slightly.  Once done you'll rarely have to do it again.  I've only done it twice, once after the dealer repacked everything, but forgot to adjust the brakes. Another time when it was pulling to one side a little when braking.  There's a thread or two with full descriptions and even pictures.  Or at least that's the 320 process.

UPDATE:  Forgot to mention I use a tire/toy inflator to push air through intake line to the pump.  And most important, I slowly fill the toilet for the first 20 seconds the pump is on when first pressurizing.   P.S. not an expert, but love my T@B.

MuttonChops

@MischiefBrewing ;  Welcome to the Family

Water Pump Pressure:
= 1 =   How long do you wait before giving up?
       My pump takes forever (5-10 minutes) to reach pressure, then need to run taps to
      bleed air, and pressurize again before it is 'normal'.

= 2 =   My pump also gets stuck/confused and can't detect pressure.
       Have found a quick open/close of sink cold water tap will get the pump to stop.
       This problem most often happens after filling an empty fresh water tank.

Sharon_is_SAM

@MischiefBrewing, will the pump suck if you remove the intake tube and try to draw water from a bucket?  If it does, the pump is good and you may either have a crack in the plastic filter housing or you may have a fresh water outlet obstruction.

MischiefBrewing

 Found it! Cracked filter housing. 

Sharon_is_SAM

 Please let us know how you repair this.  It would be a good part to keep on hand.

Denny16

good job, that was a hard one to spot.
cheers

MischiefBrewing

Since the dealer refuses to return my calls and I'm going boondock camping this weekend, I decided to pull a screen from my basement sink faucet and connect the CW tank hose directly to the pump without the pre-filter with the screen at the connection.  System works perfectly and it gives me time to harass the dealer into replacing the part.  I was thinking of trying to JB weld the crack but it goes all the way through the threads so it isn't likely to work.  Super glue isn't water proof so also not an option...

falcon1970

Except for the part of the crack across the threads, you might try smearing several overlapping layers of "Amazing Goop" across the crack on the outside of the fitting.  Goop is available at Lowe's, Home Depot, and most hardware stores.  It may be labelled as "plumbers" Goop or some other trade but it is all the same stuff.  Smear it well across the crack and use several layers.  You can use a hair dryer to "skim over" the surface and then apply another layer.

crohrbacher

You can get another filter on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083BKXJM1

ChrisFix

@crohrbacher
That looks like a good spare part to order!

Bayliss

@MischiefBrewing said "The 3" drop hitch I had left the wheel on the jack very close to the ground, which would be bad with the dirt roads I end up on to get to some of the white mountain camping sites."

If I am understanding the above statement correctly, it sounds like you are towing while the wheel on the jack stand tube is still attached.  You should remove that wheel while towing.  That will eliminate it possibly scraping the ground, plus avoid  losing the wheel while towing.

Denny16

You  could try contacting nuCmp Warranty dept directly, advise them the dealer is not responding and they might arrange to get the part sent directly to you.  Send them the photo also.
cheers

MischiefBrewing

Bayliss said:

@MischiefBrewing said "The 3" drop hitch I had left the wheel on the jack very close to the ground, which would be bad with the dirt roads I end up on to get to some of the white mountain camping sites."

If I am understanding the above statement correctly, it sounds like you are towing while the wheel on the jack stand tube is still attached.  You should remove that wheel while towing.  That will eliminate it possibly scraping the ground, plus avoid  losing the wheel while towing.

Was actually referring to parking it in the driveway.  My TV back wheels drop half a foot from the front that makes it so I can't even get the wheel on most times.  And to make things worse, I scraped on a rock last weekend on a nasty dirt road on the way to a free site that bent the bottom of the jack and now the wheel won't even go on.  Frustrated I can't lift the jack any higher, it's the lowest part of the vehicle when towing...

Sharon_is_SAM

Take a look at the Jack E Up.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/137530#Comment_137530

ChrisFix

Or Ultimate Jack as another option...
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Jack/Ultimate-Jack/322-RDJ-2K.html

TNOutback

I would be careful about using any kind of crack weld unless it is approved for drinking water contact.  If you are having problems getting the attention of your selling dealer, is there another dealer you’ve tried to contact for parts?  As suggested above, you can shoot an email to warranty and/or customer service at NuCamp.  They are really good at responding to customer issues.

The front window screen is also a bit fiddly on mine.  Hard to explain, but while pushing up the screen, I “work” the folds of the screen with my fingers to get them to lay down neatly instead of billow out.

DenisP

I would check West Marine or other marine online store for the pump filter as a possible source. The pumps are pretty common. 

Dutch061

It is a standard shurflo item that can be sourced from most anyplace that sells RV stuff or Amazon as previously mentioned.

tabiphile

Dutch061 said:

It is a standard shurflo item that can be sourced from most anyplace that sells RV stuff or Amazon as r=previously mentioned.

Yes...available off the shelf at most RV retailers...Camping World, that sort of thing. 

ChrisFix

Yes, it's $10 on Amazon - I ordered one (and already received it) just to have it as a spare, as it seems to be a frequently broken part. I watched Paul the Airforce Guy do a walkthrough of the 2021 T@B 400...and he specifically points out where that part is and says that it often cracks!

MischiefBrewing

I finally got response after an angry email to service and one's being drop shipped by Thursday.  Their sales team is overwhelmed right now so that's why I've been neglected.  Heading out Friday again to enjoy nature in southern VT