In Between Trips

ybakos

Hi, newbie TAB 320 CSS owner here and long-time lurker. We just received our TAB and have brought it home... and of course I have some questions maybe someone kind can advise me on!

1. The dealer put some water in it to test out all the plumbing, etc. It will be a few weeks before its maiden voyage... should I drain the grey water, fresh water tank and any water lingering in the nautilus system and/or the alde? (Is it the "draining" part of the winterizing instructions that I should follow?)
2. In between trips, the Tab will sit in the garage. If it's about three weeks between trips, do I need to a) drain all the water thoroughly and b) leave it plugged in to keep the battery charged. ? (Or do I turn the battery cutoff to "off" and just be sure things are charged up before the next trip? And just "minimally" drain the freshwater?)

I'm having trouble picking through past threads to understand how to keep things in good shape between trips that are only two-three weeks apart.

What do ya'll do?

Thanks for any advice!

Mouseketab

I just pull mine in the garage and plug it in.  I leave the fridge on all the time. I empty the tanks and the portapotty before leaving my last morning at the campground. (Full hookup campsites). I wash the linens a day or two after getting home and then remake the bed. I empty the fridge a day or two after getting home. Since it's in the garage, I put the windows on "crack" mode and close the screens. I leave the camper door open and close the screen. Especially since yours is new, it will help with the offgassing of glues and what not in the camper. I also pull any dry food that critters might like and bring it in. I leave spices and hard sealed containers in the camper.

ybakos

@Mouseketab
When you say "empty the tanks," do you just open the outer freshwater drain valve or do you do more than that?

Thanks for the ventilating tips, that is what I am thinking of doing too.

Mouseketab

Well, let me say, that mine is a little different as it is a 2007. I only have a removable 5-gallon freshwater tank which I dump out before leaving. I don't have a grey water tank except for a small portable one. I also have a portapotty that holds some fresh water. I empty ALL of them before going on my last drive home. If I were to have regular tanks like you do, I would probably empty all of the tanks before heading home also. I know many folks who open their freshwater tank drain, and let it run as they are driving. Of course they dump their grey and black tanks at a dump station or right at the campsite sewer.

Denny16

I empty the freshwater tanks when I get home, let it drain out over the grass field.  The gray and black tanks I drain before leaving the RV camp, or drain at a RV approved dump facility (some gas stations, like Chevron have them), or at home into our septic system.  I leave the tanks empty until our next planned trip, then refill the fresh water tank.  

That said, I do leave a one gallon solution of Happy Camper holding tank treatment in each tank, to keep it fresh smelling.  With a 320, you will,have a cassette toilet instead of a black tank.  Follow the manual instructions for caring for the cassette system.  You can get an Americanizer adapter for the toilet cassette to make dumping it easier.  For this adapter see: https://www.thefitrv.com/rv-tips/cassette-toilet-adapter-solution-the-americanizer/
For an earlier discussion about the cassette toilet see:
https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/165652#Comment_165652
Cheers

ybakos

Thanks for the ongoing discussion. Tell me, when you say "empty the freshwater tanks," do you do anything other than open the exterior drain valve? I'm trying to get clarity on "how" to drain between trips vs an extensive draining like what is done for winterizing.

Denny16

OK ybakos, I just open the drain valve and let the tank drain, then I open the galley taps and shower and open the low point drains to clear the water lines.  After the water has drained out, I close the taps and tank drain.  

In preparation for a next trip, I do a sanitize partial (around 10-12 gallons) fill of the tank with beach, drain, rinse and drain again, then fill the tank.  I also attach the city water connection and pressurize the water lines, opening the taps to bleed out any air, this also fills the hot water tanks in the Alde system.
 Cheers 

Sharon_is_SAM

@ybakos - in addition to emptying your fresh water tank, you must drain the Alde tank.  The fast way is to open the yellow Safety/drain valve or just open the low point drains which will also drain your plumbing.  Opening a tap will prevent any vacuum effect and allow the Alde to fully drain.  Open your valves and raise the tongue to expedite the drain.  You don’t want any water sitting - stagnant water risks bacterial growth.  If you are using chlorinated water as opposed to well water, sanitizing at the beginning of the season is enough - more frequent if a year round camper.  Can you provide a photo of the current CSS plumbing under the galley sink.  They have standardized everything so much, I am not sure where the Alde drain is now located!

(There is probably some residual water left in the Nautilus harness - why else would they require you to blow it out before winterizing.  I suspect the quantity is enough to be a hazard with a freeze, but, not too much of a concern in between trips.)

Regarding the battery, assuming it is the standard, lead acid battery provided by most dealers, you can leave it plugged in and your converter will keep it charged.  Make sure to use a surge protector / EMS.  The other option is to charge it up, then turn off the battery switch to prevent parasitic drain. Then, check the voltage at intervals and recharge as necessary.  Don’t rely on the nuCamp provided monitor - use a multimeter or even a plug in 12 V voltmeter.

Deb55

In between trips, I empty all the tanks--fresh and wastewater. I also leave my camper plugged in during camping season between trips because I like to go hang out there, and be able to use the AC, have a cold beverage, or listen to music.