=Rambling= slightly older TAB 320S vs. Other Options = = does go down the rabbit hole = =

MuttonChops

From time to time I've shared my seeming endless search for a post 320S RV.

I've seriously investigated many Travel Trailer Brands and even expanded the what-if-search to a few Class-B Vans, small Class-A's, and a couple (black tank) slide-in campers including the nüCamp 820.

What drives this is a one part wish for 'something new' after all, as a Baby Boomer I've been conditioned to change/update/upgrade/buy by our consumer driven capitalist economy for decades.  A style of business that offers 'what we have' not by any means what you 'want' products.  The second part is concern for how long the 320S will be comfortable and safe . . .  now 7-years old with nearly 50K towing miles.  Plus, at times it's smallness can be frustrating.

Then I take a trip, like the 2K miles towing with 3-weeks of sleeping in the 320S just completed in Sep/Oct.
It was so darn comfortable!  The Alde Heat with HW is wonderful. One can recline and relax watching television or while reading a good book.  The kitchen has everything except headroom and there is a black tank wet-bath with the SeeLevel Monitor System.

And that / those features are my problem.

When the 320S fails me there is no nüCamp product to fall back on as a replacement.

Today's 320 has the cassette toilet.  Yes, many folks view that system in a positive light.  I do not and won't expand on why here.
Today's 320 has ducted Air Conditioning with the unit taking up major storage space . . . so a Microwave can be in the old AC location.  I don't want/need a Microwave.  While the accurate SeeLevel has been replaced in all models with a useless KIB sensor system.

Today's 360, which I had hoped would be my next RV.

Has that darn cassette, ducted AC, and a marginal usable kitchen.
It at least has keep a nearly the same 320S feel with one recline/relax seating for TV watching or book reading.

Today's 400 has a black tank and usable kitchen but a questionable (for me) dinette design.
That said, of the TAB options it maybe the least difficult to 'adjust' to my needs.

These TAB limitations got me to look at the Cirrus 820 slide-in.  A nice unit indeed. Has nearly everything on my wishlist . . . dinette not ideal, could be 'adjusted'.  So I've investigated the what is really required to have one.  Well, while advertised as a F350/C3500 compatible camper . . . that is only if you either keep it dry and load camping gear or have it wet and don't load camping as it's weight is so near standard configuration F350/C3500 trucks that there is no spare payload; most of those you see on-the-road are running well beyond the truck's GVWR and/or axle ratings.  Also these slide-ins (all brands) have near zero storage - - yes, they have good internal dry goods/clothes storage but zero camp site set-up / equipment storage {like the current 320S}.  Add in the cost & maintenance of a full-size low MPG truck with the high MSRP of slide-in campers it becomes quite a financial investment.

= = = = =

After fighting myself with all of this for several months . . .

The other day a deposit was placed on another mid-size truck tow vehicle & everyday vehicle.
Plan now is to enjoy the current 320S . . . it's few wort's and all . . . but with a newer tow vehicle that shouldn't tow big trailers and can't handle slide-ins so my what if'ing will be more limited.  A big part of that purchase was driven by 'my reaction' to the size of a full-size pickup truck today needed for a slide-in,  gosh they are big.  Many have cargo bed side-tops that reach my shoulder height - - - they are massive.  If they are too big, no way will a Class-A or super-C fit my lifestyle.  So I will soon have a new tow vehicle to play with.

Of course, you know I'll still keep looking for an after 320S trailer . . . it won't last forever!