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Where is the Alde Expansion Tank?

leenscottfl
leenscottfl Member Posts: 254
in Heating/Plumbing & Winterizing
The user manual shows an expansion tank used to determine the glycol level and to top off the system with glycol. For the life of me I can't find such a tank. Searched the forum, went to YouTube and to Alde website and no dice. Can anyone tell me where the elusive expansion tank is supposed to be?
Scott, Orange Park, Florida...2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara... 2015 T@B S Maxx "Buttercup".
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  • jkjenn
    jkjenn Member Posts: 6,417
    edited April 2015

    This is not at all, intuitive. In the rear of the T@b, behind the bench set and below the overhead cabinets is a little shelf. There might be a thumbhole in it. You have remove the screws that are holding it down. The tanks is on the drivers side in that little area.

    This thread has some good tips re: removing the shelf.

    2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

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  • leenscottfl
    leenscottfl Member Posts: 254
    You are right. Not at all intuitive. But there it was, in the one part of my T@B I hadn't gone into yet.

    Once again I would like to thank you jkjenn for helping me with this as well as all the other T@Bers who have shared their hard won wisdom here for we newbies to learn from.
    Scott, Orange Park, Florida...2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara... 2015 T@B S Maxx "Buttercup".
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  • Photomom
    Photomom Member Posts: 2,217
    I have a late 2016 T@B S and cannot find the Alde expansion tank! The back shelf area is quite different from earlier T@Bs. There is a shelf that lifts up but there is nothing under it but a storage compartment. It seems like the tank "should" be somewhere around where the charging station is but there doesn't seem to be a way to get there. 



    Has anyone with a recent T@B managed to find it?


    John and Henrietta, Late 2016 T@B S Max in Western New York
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  • Ratkity
    Ratkity Member Posts: 3,770
    Look in the little door behind the potty (if you have the bath). 
    2017 820R Retro Toy Hauler from 2015 Tabitha T@B from 2009 Reverse LG Teardrop (but a T@Bluver at heart)
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  • Photomom
    Photomom Member Posts: 2,217
    There is nothing in the compartment behind the toilet but the water pump.

    I did find it. You have to remove the side panel (teensy square head screws). Heaven help me when I have to add fluid.



    The level is right at minimum so looks like I should order some.
    John and Henrietta, Late 2016 T@B S Max in Western New York
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  • Verna
    Verna Member Posts: 6,876
    @Photomom, since you gave me the idea to put the storage area in the rear, I have discovered that you can hold a mirror along the back wall next to the reservoir, to see the glycol level. But first, take a Sharpie and color the hash marks and min/max designations on the tank, then wipe off the excess. You can see the level much easier than craning your head to try to see it. 

    I'm using one of those mirrors that is magnified on one side and normal on the other side. 
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
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  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Ratkity - It's in different places depending on the model.
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  • Ratkity
    Ratkity Member Posts: 3,770
    PXL, I noticed that. BTW, I am not only ziptie-impaired, but I am Sharpie impaired. If your hands aren't as steady as they used to be, a little rubbing alcohol can get off errant Sharpie marks if you happen to make your Alde overflow look like a 4 year old's art project! LOL. :blush:
    2017 820R Retro Toy Hauler from 2015 Tabitha T@B from 2009 Reverse LG Teardrop (but a T@Bluver at heart)
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  • Verna
    Verna Member Posts: 6,876
    Ratkity said:
    PXL, I noticed that. BTW, I am not only ziptie-impaired, but I am Sharpie impaired. If your hands aren't as steady as they used to be, a little rubbing alcohol can get off errant Sharpie marks if you happen to make your Alde overflow look like a 4 year old's art project! LOL. :blush:
     =) 
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
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  • Justjudy
    Justjudy Member Posts: 75
    Thank you to all of you in the forum! I have been stressing about the glycol level in our Alde system, but couldn't even find the expansion tank. Now it's been found, the level has been checked, and all is well. Thank you, thank you.
    Larry and Judy. 2015 T@B S M@xx. Silver with black trim. Bell@. Towed by a 2005 Toyota Tacoma.
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  • allenb
    allenb Member Posts: 2
    So where is the infamous expansion tank on my new tab320s?
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  • 4ncar
    4ncar Member Posts: 1,072
    edited November 2019
    allenb said:
    So where is the infamous expansion tank on my new tab320s?
    Exactly where the photos above show. Driverside, behind the side panel next to the shelf, below the speaker.
    TV- '16 Chevy Colorado LT Crew Cab-DuraMax
    2018 320S Outback
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  • Bayliss
    Bayliss Member Posts: 1,496
    @allenb, just remove the two screws from the panel and slide the panel toward the front of the trailer.


    2019 T@B 320 S Boondock Lite; 2025 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4x4
    (Alde: 3020; Refrig: Isotherm Cruise 65 Eleg; Battery: BB 100Ah LiFePO4; Solar: Renogy 220W Portable Suitcase w/ Victron SmartSolar MPPT 75/15 Controller; Victron BMV-712 Battery Monitor w/ Shunt; Pwr Cntr: PD-4135KW2B; EMS: PI-HW30C)
    Greg & Marlene (Tucson, AZ)


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  • allenb
    allenb Member Posts: 2
    Thx for the info, folks!
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  • marjamr
    marjamr Member Posts: 26
    it's not there on the 2021 320S. I've looked in every removable panel I can find and in every cupboard..still no tank.
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  • falcon1970
    falcon1970 Member Posts: 758
    ALL--
    Once you manage to find the expansion tank, marking the "Max" and "Min" lines with a sharpie is a big help.  In addition, the Century TF fluid will fluoresce under UV light.  That makes checking the level a lot easier.  Lowe's carries a Craftsman UV flashlight.
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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    edited June 2020
    OK, per nuCamp Customer Service, the 2021 320 and clamshell model Alde glycol expansion tank is located in the bathroom, on the wall under the sink, behind a white panel that is held on with 4 white, plastic buttons.


    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • marjamr
    marjamr Member Posts: 26
    Sharon,
    I did contact Tech Support and they emailed me back with that information. I found the panel. My panel only has two screws at the bottom holding it on covered by the plastic buttons. The plastic buttons threw me off when I was doing my search. my tank is filled almost full with glycol and it's impossible to read the max and min lines as they are on the side of the tank facing the front of the trailer and you can't get your head into that space. I can feel them with my hand but can't see them. might have to try a mirror. in any event, the glycol is a little above the max level I'm sure. Hope that's OK. 
    It's cold here in North Central PA and I turned the Alde on via electricity and warmed the camper to 60F. The tank got pretty warm. I expect that's natural.
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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    @marjamr, you can either use a very clean turkey Baster to remove the excess glycol, or run the Alde for a while and see if the level drops.  If there is some air in the lines, maybe the glycol will displace it.  I think the biggest risk is from the gurgling that may push some glycol out the overflow tube.  You may want to check that the Alde pump is set to about 1.5 - they have been known to come from the factory set too high leading to a lot of noise from churning in the tank.  The pump is set low on the Alde boiler.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • BywaysNW
    BywaysNW Member Posts: 71
    On my 2021 320 Boondock, got the two screws out of the panel behind the toilet and under the sink, but the panel is caulked in. Does that mean the glycol tank isn't there or that it is there and NuCamp doesn't think I need to check it?
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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    You do need to check it, but first you need a thin, plastic putty knife to cut that bead of caulk.  

    Can you take a picture?  The factory needs to know about that.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • BywaysNW
    BywaysNW Member Posts: 71
    edited June 2020
    Photo in bath of 2021 320 S Boondock shows factory-caulked panel covering glycol tank with screws removed.  Manual says to check glycol level in tank. Factory hides tank and seals it off.
    A side note on ergonomics:  Nucamp uses screws that require a square screwdriver, not something in most toolboxes. I happen to have one that fits, but NuCamp has also chosen to use different sizes of same nonconsumer-friendly square driver in other locations, including back panels.  I will have to put on a mask and brave my hardware store to get behind those if that's where the tank is.

    Edited for photo size.


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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    Pick up a #1 and #2 square headed screw drivers (Robertson).  Used almost exclusively in the TaBs.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • BrianZ
    BrianZ Member Posts: 1,770
    Thanks for sharing the interesting photos, @Sharon_is_SAM.  Nice to see that NuCamp has now provided easier access to the fresh water line check valve connection just inside the outer wall.  Owners of these newer models should be aware that this has been a problem area for leaks on older models.  Simply check the thumbscrew connector collar periodically & hand tighten clockwise.
    -Brian in Chester, Virginia
    TV: 2005 Toyota Sienna LE (3.3L V6)
    RV: 2018 T@B 320S, >100 mods 
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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    @BrianZ - I didn’t even notice that fresh water connection, but you are right - much more accessible.  
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    NuCamp Customer Service has been alerted regarding the Alde access panel caulking.  
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,431
    Yes, the inside panel with the cutout should be caulked, but not the removable access panel.
    cheers
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
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  • mntrails
    mntrails Member Posts: 144
    That's what I figured too in order to keep water from getting to the edge of the panel.  I had to caulk the joints of the inside panel.  The outside access panel was also free of caulk.
    2021 T@B 320S Boondock - 2018 Toyota 4Runner
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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    What inside panel?  
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • MuttonChops
    MuttonChops Member Posts: 1,930
    BywaysNW said:
    . . . bath of 2021 320 S shows factory-caulked panel covering glycol tank with screws removed.  Manual says to check glycol level in tank. Factory hides tank and seals it off.

    Tend to be a glass-half-empty guy which was helpful in a career of Manufacturing Engineering where planning for the worst outcome kept things running smoothly.

    Anyway, @BywaysNW discovery just re-enforces my wish NüCamp's newer models had Cassette/non-Cassette toilet options.  Continue to strongly dislike these two piece porti-potti solutions - - really hope my present unit lasts for decades.
    '18 320 S,  pitched axle, 3020HE; PNW based
    TV: '17 Colorado V6 Z71 4x4, Tow Package, GM Brake Controller
    TV: '25 Canyon AT4
    Adventures:  58   Nights:  405  Towing Miles 50,180
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