Rear convector fins are loose

Cmjmnew

In looking for the source of a leak at the back of my Tab 320 I can feel with my fingers the radiator fins from under the plywood at the back of the rear storage compartment. They are loose and can be easily wiggled. Is this normal? Or should they be fixed to some structure? Does anyone have experience with those glycol tubes leaking? Are there joints back there that can become loose?

pthomas745

What year is the trailer?  The convectors are held to the trailer with very small screws.  One of them could have been worked loose over time.  The "fins" on the convectors are very thin aluminum, and do have some flex in them.  Just lifting the convectors from their spots can cause them to move and shift a bit, and they can easily be pushed back into line. 

Depending on the year of the trailer, and the condition of the hoses and the possibility of the hose ends having some corrosion, there have been owners who wound up with leaky hoses where they connect to the convectors.  We have lots of information about the convectors and hoses and the various things that happen in the corrosion thread linked below.  So far, most of the corrosion issues seem to be specific to earlier years of the Alde, but we are still learning.

If you are seeing what you suspect to be a leak, there can be several sources in the back of the trailer that might cause a leak.  The tail lights can leak, etc.

So, the year of your trailer is important, and some pictures of what you are seeing would help.  If you have a "black light flashlight", the Century glycol that was installed in the trailers before Dec 2020 will show up under a black light, so you can be able to sort out if the leak you were seeing is the result of the Century glycol, at least.  (I do not know if the "new" glycol shows up with a black light).

This is the "Corrosion of the Alde Convectors" thread, a page that will show you what the convectors look like and some "worst case" examples of what the corrosion might do.  Also, pictures of the convectors and how they attach to the walls.

Let us know what year your trailer is.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/13226/corrosion-of-alde-convectors/p23

Cmjmnew

Thank you pthomas745!  Oops thought I included the year in my post. It’s a 2018. The blacklight tip is brilliant. I will see if I can borrow one. 
The hoses are loose enough that I think they would rattle around while going over moderate bumps. 

Wondering if I can access the hoses by removing the rear bins. Looks to be just a few screws after the lid is off. 

Thanks for the link, too

pthomas745

I had to take the "bins" out in my 2017, and there are a couple of threads that describe the process.  The lid comes off.  The "bins" are held in with 7 screws: two on each end, and three on the inner "front" of the bins.  The "inner front" screws will require a short screwdriver.  I bought a small 90 degree bit holder ratchet that did the job.  After you get the screws out, the bins lift out...but you have to tilt them as you lift to have them clear the curved ceiling and make it over the front rail.  Easier to do than explain.  It is a bit exasperating, but after taking it out and putting it back in twice (the second time to practice!) it is not too hard. Here is the link to the comment from Brian Z who showed us how he did it in his 2018.  From the "Corrosion of the Alde Convectors" thread linked above.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/167199/#Comment_167199

Cmjmnew

Thanks pthomas745. So there was no glycol leak. For anyone else with this issue: the two screws that held the forward convector (there are 2 parallel sets) had torn the thin aluminum flange that held them in place. I got two 1”diameter hose brackets (clamps) and screwed them to the trailer at each end of the convector. I had to cut two small pieces of 3/4” plywood to go between the glycol hose and the plywood they screw to. Forgot to take photos, duh.