SoCal T@bbers Loving our 320S

DigPolo

My wife and I decided it was time to get back out in our T@B. We spent the weekend at San Clemente State Beach under clear blue skies. It was an epic weekend. Sunsets were spectacular. This was our third time spending the night in our 320S and the first time at an actual campsite. We had no sewer /electrical so our “Boondock” Edition was tested. Here is what we documented for future trips. 

1. We filled the fresh water tank entirely before we left home Friday afternoon. We did run out of water by Sunday morning using the water for toilet flushes, washing hands and an occasional dish wash. We will be purchasing a 6 Gallon jug to fill up the water tank when necessary.

2. Both the Black and Gray Water Tanks were only partially full. The exact amount I do not recall. I will check today the exact number.

3. We packed pretty light so storage was really not an issue. We are thinking of getting two shallow plastic bins that will fit under the bed for our dirty clothes. We do sort of cheat because a lot of the food and clothes/jackets, etc are left in our Tacoma. We just grab what we need when we need it.

4. Still unsure where we want to put the table while we sleep. Possibly just leave it hooked up to the outside. 

5. We never used the inside Lagun table because we had our outside picnic table. It was nice sipping our coffee in the morning facing towards the beautiful Pacific Ocean while sitting on our bed.

6. The main thing was I never took the time to understand the Alde Heating System. It was in the mid 40’s at night (I know...”quit complaining!” I spent the last 2 days watching videos on running the system. Yesterday I played around with the key pad system and it looks like all is good for a trial run. I also removed the back panel to access the Glycol, which is barely above the “Min” line. It is the pink solution. 

7. The solar panel worked perfectly. The battery never dipped below 12.4 during the 2 1/2 days. Sun from sunrise to sunset helped too.

8. Looking forward to trying the hot water heater and inside heater this evening. 

9. Overall experience A+. We could not be more happier and stoked on our T@B. 

Sharon_is_SAM

@DigPolo - who put pink solution in your glycol tank?  Did you recently have your Alde serviced?

DougH

@DigPolo You're scaring us with the report of your rear Glycol reservoir tank having pink stuff, since the T@Bs used to use this yellow stuff with a bit of a green cast to it:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BDWQXM2

...and only recently are starting to change over to a light blue fluid on the latest model.

  

Pretty sunset though...

ckjs

Erm, our 2018 CSS also has red/pink glycol.

DigPolo

@Sharon_is_SAM @DougH . What was I thinking?! It is a blue color hint. I kept seeing “Change the pink color every 5 years” so that is what I blurted out. It is definitely NOT Pink. Sorry. It looks like the light blue for sure.

DougH

@DigPolo Whew... that's a relief.  I also have to carry extra water when dry camping.  The 9 or 11g fresh tank always feels so small.

@ckjs Maybe there's more than one official color... I'll leave it to the nüCamp experts.  The -50F pink RV antifreeze is also PG, just like the light blue or the yellow / green stuff... however with the Alde internal aluminum heat exchange fins, my impression is the Alde special PG nontoxic heat transfer fluid has a 7.5 to 8.5 pH, or higher than normal so that as it slowly degrades over time, as all high temperature heat transfer fluids do, it won't go acidic as quickly and eat up the inside of the Alde. There may also be some conditioners in it besides just the PG and distilled water mixture. Alde used to say don't ever accidentally put the pink stuff in.  But maybe some dealers or in one model year they found a glycol based heat transfer fluid that was red/pink in color.  Or....... somebody messed up and put the wrong fluid in yours. 

Century makes a yellow green and a red though...

https://www.centurychemical.com/products/rv-marine-products-holding-tank-deodorizers/century-transfer-fluid/

Sharon_is_SAM

@DigPolo - Did you buy your TaB from a dealer?  Can you ask what glycol they used in the Alde?  Yours should have the bright chartreuse green of Century Transfer Fluid fame.  Alde just recently started using the Rhomar brand for 2021 models made starting 1/4/21.  

DigPolo

@Sharon_is_SAM Unfortunately we did not buy our T@B from a dealer. It was on the lot of Mike Thompson RV in Orange County. I will get a better look at the exact color this afternoon. 

@DougH We will definitely be bringing extra water on all future dry camp trips.

Thanks 

AirBoss

Nice report...nice pic!

How far in advance did you book San Clemente SP? 

DigPolo

@AirBoss Thank you. We booked it on Tuesday of last week. Just got really lucky. 

AirBoss

No kidding! That park usually has a months long waiting list.

Nothing like an A+ trip!