Tab 320 S Boondock 2021 water pressure issue when dry camping

Happy_Camper2

We had a strange thing happen. I filled the tank of fresh water and had running water before we left town. We traveled from Texas to Colorado. I had enough water to wash my hand. We found some water on the floor of our camper when we arrived. 

The tank still shows full but no water is coming out of the faucet. What can I do? Any explanation for the water on the floor?

Grumpy_G

Basics check: Nautilus levers set to "dry camping" and water pump turned on ? Is the pump running continuously and no water ? Or no noise/no water ? 

Happy_Camper2

Dry camping, pump on, no water. I can hear the pump. 

Sharon_is_SAM

You need to prime the pump.  

Happy_Camper2

I primed the pump before I drove out here. Do you think I need to prime it again?

the other issue I discovered is that I can’t seems to get water out of the fresh water out valve at the back of the camper. 

Happy_Camper2

So we fixed the fresh water drain and drained to 3/4 full in case that was the issue. There appeared to be mud dobber action back there. 

Happy_Camper2

Ok and depressurization was the answer. Not sure if it was altitude or what but that got us flowing again!

Happy_Camper2

Well, we ended up not having water at all during this camping trip.  I was able to repressurize once and get it flowing when in Colorado and then water drained out and we lost pressure.  Oddly enough, we got back to Texas after the trip and I pressurized again and got the dry camping water flowing again.  Does anyone have an explanation for what could be going on when we are in high altitude?

Sharon_is_SAM

Happy_Camper2 said:

Ok and depressurization was the answer. Not sure if it was altitude or what but that got us flowing again!

I am wondering if a plugged fresh tank air vent would prevent flow.  Can you locate the vent and make sure it is not occluded.

pthomas745

@Happy_Camper2 Not sure if there has been any discussion before about "high altitude" pump issues.  There have been hard to diagnose things like small cracks in a pump fitting that might be hard to spot unless you disconnect the fitting, ect/

The pumps do have an adjustment for the "shutoff" pressure of the pump.  There are also threads about disassembly of the pump and look at "check" valves, etc.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/5588/pump-problems/p1

Happy_Camper2

Thank you both for your comments! We are back in this 110 degree heat.  My husband is planning to get under the trailer to look for more mud-dobber activity that could plug a vent, @Sharon_is_SAM.  Will let you know what we find.

@pthomas745, thanks for the link!  Will read and try to understand this.

Happy_Camper2

By the way, I forgot to close the loop on this.  There were mud dobber nests that my husband cleared out.

Sharon_is_SAM

@Happy_Camper2 - do you remember where exactly you found the mud daubers?  This is significant as you had a very odd presentation with water not flowing.

Happy_Camper2

Hi Sharon_is_Sam, my husband got underneath the trailer (not me) and he seems to recall he found a couple of spots in drains pointing down on both the right and left sides of the trailer.  Unfortunately, he doesn't remember anything more specific than that.  He had to use wire to scrape out the mud because it was inside the drains and not just on the surface.