T@B Trailer

neato

It would look good behind a VW

Visited the T@B this weekend and loved it, but was shocked by the pricetag of $14,000 for what amounts to a tiny playhouse on wheels.

I like looking at the T @ B, but think its way over priced, and low on features. But its a step in the right direction, maybe someone else can build something a little more practical along these lines.

We got one for ours for $9,000 + tax/license. Still a little too much for what you get, but we truly love and enjoy our T@B! We love to camp (in comfort), but can’t see ourselves hauling something almost as big as our house…

T@B is just comfortable and small enough for our liking! We see ourselves keeping it for a looong time! We added a small microwave and a portable water heater (for showers), and now it’s perfect and has everything we need…..

Yes it’s overpriced, but it’s the only travel trailer I can tow with my Subaru Outback 4 cyl. I miss having a travel trailer and I don’t want to go buy vehicle to be able to tow one. It’s a great little trailer with great looks and is actually a great price when you compare it to a new Airstream at over $30K. There’s room to add to it like some others have, we’re looking forward to our purchase!

I just bought one. I think people are missing the high calibre of technology on this thing. The chassis and braking system is superb (both by AL-Ko of Germany). The aluminum skin is long-lasting. The windows and doors are high quality, european style. I have seen many for $10K with furnace, 3 way refer, and even one at that price on rvtraderonline.com with a/c. This puts it in only about 1-2K more than a casita or scamp 13 foot trailer— and those are smaller and have smaller beds. I just towed my T@B 800 miles behing a Suzuki XL-7, and I could maintain 60 mph up mountain highways. The T@B at 15 feet weights the same as the 13 foot Casita. I like it.

We needed something narrow & light for Baja adventures and thought we wanted an A-frame until we saw the T@B. The interior, ease, & storage just blew the A-frames away. And prices are comparable. We love ours after many nights camping in it w/2 dogs. Huge bed. Add a $70 porta-potti & you’re self-contained. This is the simple RV for tent & van campers. I go camping (like, in the woods!)& don’t want to be in an asphalt lot in a motel room on wheels. The T@B is so much FUN!

I agree that it is overpriced. My wife and I saw it and immediately we were drawn to it. The bright colors really appealed to us. It made you think of the beach or some just plain fun. However, it’s not much camper for the price. In NC they wanted around $13K for it. I was thinking it should have been around $5K MAX. We went and looked at A-liners, but the pricing on them is just as bad. I hope that someone can bring this type of line for those of us with subarus and saabs (towing capacity 2000lbs and below). More importantly though, I hope the price is as catchy as the camper!! I even looked at the teardrop line, but I just don’t think it would meet our needs. There isn’t even room enough for a table or chairs. Maybe in a few years we’ll be able to afford a used T@B.

I have a T@B got it in Feb 04. we love it miss a toilet but otherwise it get us out to enjoy why we went camping in the first place.
We are in our 60’s have been camping about 45 years in all kinds of units.
Looking for the brave to make a driving trip to Alaska in May of 2005. We went in 03 can’t wait to get back. We live in Florida and would like to find other T@B owners. RAY

Does anyone know who manufactures the custom awning for the T@B?

Mine came with an awning that I don’t plan to use. Make me an offer. steve@mofam.com

Debra:
Just saw your inquiry — we’ve been on our first outing in our new T@B! The awning is made by National Tent & Awning, Inc.Firethorne Drive, Goshen, Indiana 46526. It is not as automatic to put up as a large roll/pull-down awning on a big camper, but it is very nice once it is in place. It follows the curve of the camper, arching from front to back down to about about knee height! It comes out quite a ways from the camper and gives ample room to cook and sit a couple chair underneath. It is a bright orange/yellow floral pattern. We found that it immediately traps heat up underneath on a warm day and bugs in the evening, but it kept us dry in downpours of rain. It also held up to wind and storms. Otherwise, we just downscaled from a large camper, and think the T@B is the answer to our dreams of cooking outside and sleeping comfortably inside.

Just pulled my T@B-2 3500 miles through Colorado, Wyoming,Montana,Idaho,Oregan and Washington to my son’s home in Vancouver B.C. I easily tucked it into his off alley parking place, where he parked a Volvo. This is another great aspect of the T@B, the many uses in this case a Father in law apartment.
I got the 2004 T@B-2 With frig,furnace and power vent in Denver for $9900.00

Always wondered what the T@b stood for; possibly: “Thor at Bristol”(Indiana)?

According to Dutchmen, T@B stands for “Taking America Back” as in going back in time to less complicated days. In Europe the original trailer is made by “Tabbert” and is also called a T@B.

Got mine six weeks ago and absolutely love it!

There’s a very active T@B user’s group on Yahoo at: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/… , come on by and visit for awhile.

Bob T

i think they are great i ve looked for awhile. I want to sell them i love them
wiljo11@msn.com Anyone seen any used ones. I miss the bath. I want to know what the lowest price is anyone has seen. email me joe

I want to travel now that I am retired. Can a Subaru Baja pull one of these T@B trailers ?

I am thinking of starting to camp and travel alone and saw a T@B at at used lot for $8900.00. (The Tent or Popups seemed unweidly for one person) I thought that was high. It seem from your notes it is about right. Is it easy for one person to use?

You can have a portable shower (outside use) with heater in it! Use the Coleman water heater + shower spout + pop-up changing room. Around $260. altogether. It will solve the problem of not having a shower. And it’s still portable and easy to transport!

Still thinking of purchasing a T@B and would consider one for $9000. It’s good to see that others have arrived at the same price. Now to get my hands on one…

Just Purchased the T@B T1 or T16 for $8995.00 in Southern CA. Alittle small, but we cook outside, great sleeping for 2 people. Very Cute and everyone at the Campgrounds wants to know where to get one!!!! Holly holly0047@yahoo.com

Has anyone purchased the TENT for the T@B Trailers? I have an awning, but the Factory in IN told me that there is a tent that fits into the same grove as the awning. I can’t find it anywhere on the net. My email is: holly0047@yahoo.com

A new T@B YAHOO! group has been formed.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/…

Bought our new T2 on ebay last weekend from dealer in Rochester, NY. Paid $6700. Camped in Alleghany State Park on the way home. Wonderful! People were almost wrecking, rubbernecking as we drove the interstates. Great fun! Now for the customizing to make it truly our own.

I’m looking for a used T@B….can not afford the retail price. Any leads would be appreciated!

Thanks!
Kent

We just saw our first T@B in Michigan. Now we want one. Preferably used. Anybody know where to either find the best deal on new one in this neck of the woods or a good used one?

Used is unlikely. Since they have been out only 1 year and under 800 were sold nationwide, you won’t find many used. The posting above indicating a purchase of a T2 for $6700 is LESS than the only used T@B which sold on eBay. A year-end close out is probably the only way to get a T@B and save money.

The tab is neat. I have been looking into them for awhile now. what is stopping me (or slowing me down) is that I want to retro fit it with a rear hatch to get a motorcycle in. sounds crazy I know, but has anyone attempted such an undertaking?

Mike

I am also trying to find out if some sort of a tent can be purchased that can be attached to the T@B. I am interested in buying one, but have a large dog and given the lack of floor space…. Am considering not buying AC - how well does the “power vent” work?

1) I don’t think you could cut the back and load a motorcycle. The floor is not at all level near the back, and the integrity of the whole unit would be compromised. Better to start from scratch and design something specific to your needs.
2. The vent is very powerful, but in a hot enough climate you’d miss the a/c.

hi i just bought mine execpt for the sales talk and a great desire for a teardrop large enought for my 6ft.plus height i belive i will do a lot of camping even with high price has basic needs except shower and rest rooms i would like know where in louisville ky. the location of campgrown any know let me know ok happy camping bill

Hi: My tab is less than two weeks old. Bought it on a close out in OKC for $5900. I have wanted one for about a year now and I was there to see the recently opened Camping World store. When I saw it, I was just curious about the price so I asked. When the salesman told me they were closing them out and quoted me the price I said I’ll take it. A couple days later at the pre-delivery inspection I was really surprised when I learned it has all the options except air conditioning. Bringing it home to Lawton (100 miles) it pulled great and was not affected by anything, 18-wheelers et al. It did turn a lot of heads though and drew comments at the tool booth. It is really a get up and get out of here vehicle and the quality is unbelievable. The window construction and ability to open to the open air with the retractable screens and shades is great. I can get away from here in a fraction of the time it takes to hook up the big trailer. It is very impressive. Oh, the quote was a mistake, they really want $5999 but let it go for $5900. There may be a few more end of year closeouts across the country if people look real hard. Bill

The headliner on my T@B2 is
buckeling. The dealer said they may have to replace the
top of the trailer (the whole
thing) does this sound right?
Anyone had this problem?

norman, several people are having this problem: check out the Yahoo group “tabtrailers”, there have been many discussions on this problem, and one other owner is having the whole roof replaced, others are having repairs instead (re-gluing)

I live in southern California, but will take delivery of a T@b out of state if the price is right. Does anyone know of a close-out deal on a new one in their state? Thank you for your comments.

My T@B and two others from my dealer are on thier way to the factory for top replacement, after the one sent to the dealer was found to be delaminating.

To Norman Williams -
Who is your dealer and where is he located?

Our headliner has a couple of places that seem a little loose and I injected glue with a syringe. So far not a big problem.
Re: the price is too high. The reason my wife and I got a TAB, is because it is beautiful to look at and it has high quality components. Maybe one of the reasons we like it is that It is influenced by the German Bahaus design and we had met in an art class with a teacher from the Bahaus. I would hate to see it cheapened and made to look like most of the other trailers that seem to be designed by drunken Howard Johnson architects.
We got the air conditioner, a porta potti and we have had a ball We also love to look at it just sitting under the trees at home.

I took my T@B to the dealer so as to not void my warranty.This is a common problem,(headliner buckling)
a bit to common,German desing
built in Ohio.At this price there should be zero defects.
Norman Williams

I am interested in purchasing the TAB T16. I live in Boulder, Colorado. Anyone know of a good deal in the Denver area?

Karene,
I just bought mine at Ketelson Camper’s in Wheat Ridge. They have a few models in the lot.

I was unsure about a T@B. Was driving thru Mississippi and saw a dealer. Stopped and had to have one. Got a 2005 for $8500. Pulled T@B to our home in Wyoming without any problems. Sleeps great. Cant wait to go camping. I think we will love it. Does the Ice box keep ice pretty good. Did not get the fridge.

My wife and i are going to take a look at the T@B this weekend. Can anyone give some insight on financing options, what terms (months) are available. Does the convential 10 year financing apply? Also, any insight on a final negotiating cost would be great. We’re looking at the aluminum model, with most options the dealer has it priced at $12,800. THoughts?

Hi,
my wife and I just took delivery on our 2004 Orange Crush with a/c, fridge, awning and we love it. It stays in our car port and either her or I or our two kids have slept in every night since. My 10 year old daughter and I took it to our Mini (as in Austin,Morris,Cooper) club meet and slept in it there. Everybody wanted to tow it. The Mini weighs 1300 lbs, the new 2400 lbs, both did it fine. Although I would use a classic Mini, the New Mini can take all the way.
Our headliner too is sagging across the center.
- The awning is made is Denmark, not Indiana, and is award winning- for its looks.. We haven’t tried it yet. My wife is now gone on a 4 day trip by her self and her T@B. She dosen’t drive a stick and refused to tow our 21 foot camper (which rotted away), but called from the state park 200 miles away and said it was very windy and rainy but the T@B was a breeze! She loves it!

One more comment about the bubbling headliner. I’m not sure shell is put together in the US. The aluminum/blackfoam/plywood skin is manufactured in China, then sent to Holland or Germany where its assembled as a body, attached to the alloy AL-KO frame (which means ALbert KObert and is one reason for the cost/ the wheels and then shipped to the US for customizing for the US market. I’m afraid to let them tear mine apart should it be necessary. I have waited too long to finally (honestly) find a camper that is meant to use outdoors.
Bo/

Go to the factory web page to see how the top is assembled in Goshen IN. My top was replaced and I’m pleased with the result.
The best part is they left the logo off (at my request)

Norman

Thanks Norman,
I will try to find the address. I am trying to join the Yahoo group tabtrailer, but Yahoo cant sign me up “at this time” for two days, error 999, any ideas? I want to talk TAB with people to try to meet and maby organize something locally. We camp in Florida State parks 10 times a year and don’t know if we can make it to SD, although we’ll try.
Bo/

Does anyone have any information on the T@B XL? It is the big brother to the T@B. Has a bathroom/shower and additional space.

Thanks

Rob

The XL is a beautiful thing,unfortunately it is only available in Europe. It is 20ft long,has a bathroom on one side kitchen on the other, bunk beds in the front,and a T@B-like U-shaped booth in the back. The interior is comparable to an Airstreem. It sells in Germany for about 20,000 euros.I have a link I can forward to a web address, same thing with the T@B factory photos. Norm