2020 TAB 400 - Crazy leak using outdoor shower

grsiepka

Hi all. Was out camping over the past weekend. Doing some cleanup as we were packing up things I decided to use the outdoor shower hose thing to rinse off a couple things.  We were dry camping so I just using the water in the tank and the water pump. 

I had the water pump on, I pulled out the shower hose, turned on the faucet tap (hot water if it matters) and then pressed the switch at the end of the shower nozzle to let water flow. 

When I got done using the water, I just turned off the water at the nozzle, the taps were still open.  Got distracted for 5 minutes until i heard water running outside the camper. 

What I saw was water dripping (like a lot of water) coming out from under the black tray under the camper on that side. 

Once I turned off the tap, the water eventually stopped leaking. I'm guessing there's a mixing valve that the shower hose is attached to that is leaking? Disappointing being that its the first time using it and this trailer is pretty new still. But where would I begin looking for that leak? Am I going to have to remove that panel that is screwed and caulked in to get to it? Or do I pull the bottom panel off? I didn't see anything obvious on the inside where that connects to.  

Denny16

If you are close to your dealer, you can make an appointment for them to take a look at this issue.  The shower valve assembly is in the TaB wall in the washroom behind the fold down sink.  You might gain access to the valve connections from the removable panel below the sink, when it is folded up, but it appears not, this is the trap access panel, here is a shot behind the sink unit:

So looks like you need to remove the outside shower unit or perhaps you can see the connections from under the closet area?  I think removing the outside shower unit is the quickest way to check it for leaks.
cheers

Cheers

webers3

Similar thing happened to me on the 320, I think the 400 uses the same exterior shower fixture. I didn't turn off the shower with the knob, replaced the nozzle in the fixture and closed the compartment door. The compartment door triggered the nozzle switch and I heard the water running out of the nozzle, when I opened the compartment door there was quite a lot of water that poured out, I suspect that if I didn't catch it in time the compartment would start to fill and eventually the water would pour inside through the hose opening.

vhollow

I have a 2018 400, purchased new.  The same thing happened to me. Plus, water was trapped in the belly pan under the trailer, and came out later in odd places, making me think I had another leak. I removed the exterior panel tightened the visible water plumbing connections, which may not have been properly tightened during the build, and that solved the problem. Recaulking the panel was easy. If you tilt your trailer to drain out one back corner, you can avoid having to remove the belly pan. The driver’s side rear worked for me.

grsiepka

Yep ok thanks for the replies folks. I'll probably tear into that thing over the weekend, would rather fix myself than waiting 6weeks to get into the dealer. 

Tabulating

2018 Tab 400. 

Just to second the above thoughts, the hose on our outdoor shower was cross threaded on the the mixing valve.

There have been a few of us to have this happen.

To fix it, I removed the outdoor shower panel.  You really can't get to the guts of the shower panel any other way.

There are four square drive screws holding it in and caulk. The bottom of the shower panel was not caulked on ours. So I pried from the bottom of the panel and it popped free.

The fault was obvious on first inspection.  With the panel hanging on the outside of the camper, I turned on the one of the valves to show my wife.  

This is an unfortunate QC problem for whomever is installing the outdoor showers at Sugarcreek. Tsk. Tsk.

Bill

rickw51

2020 Tab 400
Loaned my trailer to my son-in-law and his father for an antelope hunt out in the desert in E. Oregon a few weeks ago.  They used the outside shower several times (a lifesaver for them as the temperatures were in the high 90s) and then noticed the leak.

I read these posts and then conducted the trouble-shooting to identify the leak at the outside shower faucet.  The issue was simply that the hose fitting was loose at the mixing point ... a simple fix.  Tested it and re-installed.

BTW. NuCamp did not respond to my queries about this but this forum is GOLD.

And, yes, the hunt was successful.

Thank you all.

Rick

Horigan

@rickw51
Now that you've removed the sealant to pull the mixing assembly, you may want to upgrade the hose to a kink-free stainless covered hose.  Way easier to use.

https://www.amazon.com/Singing-Rain-Kink-Free-Flexible-Stainless/dp/B092CR46PV/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=rv+shower+hose&qid=1630027178&sr=8-9

Mellow_Yellow

@SusanD - is this the same geyser you experienced?

SusanD

@Mellow_Yellow Yes, it is. The screw at the mixing point on the outdoor shower was totally loose.  It also explains why I had anti-freeze inside my trailer after winterizing it.  I may eventually change the hose type but for now, problem solved. 

rickw51

@Horigan The stainless hose is a good idea.  The one you referenced on Amazon ... are the fittings the same as at the faucets?  Can the shower head be adapted to this hose or is a new one required?

Horigan

@rickw51
I'm not sure about faucets.  I know they work for shower installations, similar to the shower in the bathroom.  You could remove the interior shower hose and see if it fits a faucet.

PNWTab400owner

Thanks everyone for your input on this leak issue. I ended up finding the same cross threading problem on my 2020 Tab 400. My leaking problem started when I fully extended the hose. I made a mistake though when leak testing it after the repair as I didn’t screw on the white plastic valve retaining nuts before I pressurized the valve body and one of the two on/off valves shot it’s core across the driveway and I got soaked. Took awhile to find the inner spring and rubber piece and to reassemble it all.  Seems fine now and does not leak. 

Tabinator

New owner of a 2018 T@B 400. Was testing out all of the systems when water started leaking from the floor near the black tank discharge pipe. Came to this forum and found the answer immediately. Sprayer hose on the outside shower was threaded crooked. Thanks for the super easy help. Will be coming back for more 

markath

Same outside shower hose leak.  Unable to detach white box and not willing to force.  Can anyone recall where the hose attaches to the mixing unit? Photos? Can I carefully enlarge the opening at the back of the white box and get at the threaded junction to tighten or change hose. 

KismetKrush

@grsiepka I see you live in Tempe. Tom's Camperland is dead right now-brent the head of repairs in mesa is confused about their lack of appts, so you could get in fairly quickly if you wanted too. But with all this help it sounds like you are on your way...

pthomas745

@markath, what trailer and what year do you have? 

qhumberd

markath said:

Same outside shower hose leak.  Unable to detach white box and not willing to force.  Can anyone recall where the hose attaches to the mixing unit? Photos? Can I carefully enlarge the opening at the back of the white box and get at the threaded junction to tighten or change hose. 

Here are some photos from my work on the outdoor shower 

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/16114/quick-disconnect-for-the-outdoor-shower-a-success#latest