Single Woman and the Tab

Haibike

Hello.  New to the forum.  I actually thought I posted this already but do not see it so I will try again.

I currently have a Sylva Go and love it.  I am a widow and with my daughters off to college, I am camping alone with my dog.  I usually camp in the North Carolina mountains and do not normally use campgrounds (60%).  I am probably silly but I am just not feeling safe on my own.  I have been looking at a Tab Sofitel S.  Quite the departure from the "roughing it" Sylvan Go.  

My biggest concern is whether or not I can handle it on my own.  With the Sylvan Go, I can push it around into the garage and even in a campsite.

Can a woman nearing her 60's handle the Tab?

Nomad

Welcome HaiBike - There's quite a few single gals - both older and younger than you - doing just fine on their own with their T@Bs. Hopefully they'll see this post and chime in with specific experiences.

jbug10

Hi HaiBike, I am 61 and have had my T@b now for 3 years.  Wanting to feel safe while camping on my own is the reason why I decided on a T@b instead of a popup.  I like the idea of being able to lock the door.  My first choice of campgrounds are either state or federal because those feel safer to me and they are always the best anyway.   While the T@b has handles for moving it around, I really cannot get much movement using them and I am strong.  Once you get the hang of backing your T@b you will have no problems getting it to go where you want it to go.     They pull easy and are easy to hook up and handle.  You will love a T@b.  In fact, I am heading out tomorrow to camp 3 days on Beaver Lake in NWA.  Can't wait!

mickietucs

Hi HaiBike - I'm 66, solo and although have only been out with my T@B 2x's so far, I'm planning on going full-time when I retire in April. I've traveled solo a lot and have felt safe (in quite a few countries). Just like at home, I take the same precautions no matter where life takes me (not out at night and very aware of my surroundings). As far as handling the trailer, I'm learning little tricks to hooking up/unhooking, backing up, etc. (thanks to all on this forum). I've never tried to move it and am a tiny woman so probably couldn't --- but as June said we'll get the hang of it and be on our way! Welcome and perhaps we'll see you with your own T@B one of these days. Michele

Nomad

I think that if you're on a smooth concrete or asphault pad, both men and woman could move the T@B - probably depends on how far you want to move it but definetly enough to hook on or shift around some. If on gravel or something I'm not sure anyone but the hulk could move it much.

jkjenn

Haibike said:

Hello.  New to the forum.  I actually thought I posted this already but do not see it so I will try again.

I currently have a Sylva Go and love it.  I am a widow and with my daughters off to college, I am camping alone with my dog.  I usually camp in the North Carolina mountains and do not normally use campgrounds (60%).  I am probably silly but I am just not feeling safe on my own.  I have been looking at a Tab Sofitel S.  Quite the departure from the "roughing it" Sylvan Go.  

My biggest concern is whether or not I can handle it on my own.  With the Sylvan Go, I can push it around into the garage and even in a campsite.

Can a woman nearing her 60's handle the Tab?

You could always go to a dealer and try it out! Most are on concrete or hard gravel.

Verna

63 here, solo camper with my Shih Tzu and I spent last winter in a 5x10 teardrop in Arizona. I traded up to a T@B when I got back so I could have an inside bathroom for wintering in AZ and the other camping in between. I typically camp 4 to 5 months a year, for most of my adult life (off and on), and normally solo. I have only had trouble once, and I stood up to the man and he ended up walking away.

As I've said before, walk softly, carry a good sized walking stick to use for 2 or 4 legged problems, for creepy crawling reptiles or whatever, but mostly to help you with hiking and walking. If you choose to have "sonething else", know the laws, take a class, be familiar with it, and be serious about wanting to protect you and yours. Above all, do not advertise the "something else". You know it and that's all that is needed. 

But, remember 99% of all people are super people, just like yourself. Have fun, enjoy, get a T@B, and enjoy a lot less in setting up and more time to enjoy the outside.

Yes, you can do it by yourself. I've camped in the T@B for a month this summer and it's easy. Don't let some if the questions intimidate you. You get used to putting the stabilizers down, hooking up the necessary utilities for your campsite and you're slerping off the ground. And actually I have not had a paved campsite yet, so I've never moved the T@B once I back into a campsite. My driveway slants towards the street and I refuse to try to move it here!

Cyclonic

Haibike said:

Hello.  New to the forum.  I actually thought I posted this already but do not see it so I will try again.

It seems the original post was living in moderation limbo for some reason.  I have deleted it as this one is the one that is being responded to.

As for a response, the many fine ladies on the forum already seem to be doing a great job of that.  My wife can handle the T@Bpole on her own, but, as she would tell you, that is really what she has me for  

Wanderoo

I'm a single woman, age 61, and I can handle the T@B with NO problems.  It is very doable to hook up, to tow, and to park (still learning how to back up).  I don't manipulate the tongue at all, as far as moving it around once you are parked, so I can't comment on that.  I do feel very safe in my T@B, and generally camp by myself.  Seriously, I feel safer in campgrounds than I do in my own apartment.  Go for it -- you will not regret being a T@B owner. :) 

jkjenn

It should be noted that you can completely use the T@b without having to move it by hand. There are very few times that I have wheeled it around at, all, but hand and it was mostly to check out different angles to position the trailer. My T@b sits on a little stone patio, at home, so there are times I will scooch it one way or another or I will pull it one way or another a few inches to hook it up to the TV, but overall, most movement is done connected to the TV.

That being said, the last campsite I was at had a concrete pad and I wheeled it around for the best view. I tried it several different ways until I was happy.

Haibike

Thank you all for your comments.  I am glad to hear it is definitely doable for me. I went to the dealer again yesterday and sat in a Sofitel Max S for about 30 minutes exploring. Sales staff never even noticed me.  I felt very comfortable and could definitely see myself using a T@B. 

Verna

And, I was able to move my T@B very easily on concrete this afternoon. I couldn't believe how easy it was to move. I look forward to having a solid surface campsite so I can move the T@B for the best view as Jenn and others had been able to do. 

ChanW

I stayed at a "campground", with a nearly paved site, where I turned the Tab around, oh it must have been 390 degrees, before I realized that the best view was really pretty much the first position.

I kept telling myself that the other people at the sites around me weren't laughing at me, they were jealous at how easily I could turn my camper... B-/

jkjenn said:

It should be noted that you can completely use the T@b without having to move it by hand. There are very few times that I have wheeled it around at, all, but hand and it was mostly to check out different angles to position the trailer. My T@b sits on a little stone patio, at home, so there are times I will scooch it one way or another or I will pull it one way or another a few inches to hook it up to the TV, but overall, most movement is done connected to the TV.

That being said, the last campsite I was at had a concrete pad and I wheeled it around for the best view. I tried it several different ways until I was happy.

jkjenn

ChanW said:

I stayed at a "campground", with a nearly paved site, where I turned the Tab around, oh it must have been 390 degrees, before I realized that the best view was really pretty much the first position.

I kept telling myself that the other people at the sites around me weren't laughing at me, they were jealous at how easily I could turn my camper... B-/

jkjenn said:

It should be noted that you can completely use the T@b without having to move it by hand. There are very few times that I have wheeled it around at, all, but hand and it was mostly to check out different angles to position the trailer. My T@b sits on a little stone patio, at home, so there are times I will scooch it one way or another or I will pull it one way or another a few inches to hook it up to the TV, but overall, most movement is done connected to the TV.

That being said, the last campsite I was at had a concrete pad and I wheeled it around for the best view. I tried it several different ways until I was happy.

I had to keep trying different positions to get a giant bush out of the view. I probably spent 15 minutes moving it around, lol. At least I was there for about a week to enjoy the view.

ChanW

I was trying to get the other "campers" out of my view. It was one of those campgrounds (the kind with 10 feet between each site)...

Nomad

Since I'm rarely on concrete/asphalt - I find it amazing at how easy it is to get the T@B into a scenic view position with the TV. Might take a near jacknife but it can be done. The harder part is getting the TV back into that weird position for the hookup.

Haibike

One more question.  With an S, assuming I have a small table connected to a Lagun pedestal, can a mountain bike be put in the T@B while traveling?

Ratkity

I don't think a mt bike would fit or stay secured as the trailer bounces around unless you took the front tire off and mounted the bike on a fork bracket attached to a stationary (mounted) 2x4 so the bike faces rearward (approx where the Lagun table is being attached by MikeM). Even then, the rear wheel could bounce a bit with the trailer and you could end up damaging your front forks. With all trailers, imagine how an earthquake feels. That's how much shaking your camper is doing as it goes down the highway for 6-8 hrs at a time (less if I'm driving ). With all the bicycle transporting I've done, I still don't really trust bike racks, but many of the new ones from Thule or Yakima seem pretty sturdy. YMMV

Corbinpilo

Lady campers may be interested in a new podcast called Girl Camper. The host has talked about the LG T@B and interviewed the general manager of Hadocy RV in Columbus. Hadocy hosted a Camper College for women. 

Among other topics, each episode the host dispels reasons why women think they can't camp solo 

If interested find it in iTunes or any podcatcher software. 

Chris C 

Michigan_Mike

I've hauled them coast to coast on the rear of a Little Guy without major incident until my last trip out to Idaho from Michigan where the woman's support bar failed, but without losing any bikes.  I just picked up an Arvika bike rack and believe that is the safest means (between car & trailer) of safely transporting bikes, as opposed to the back of any RV or trailer.  

TABaker

I camp solo most of the time.  I am able to move my T@B by hand when on concrete or asphalt.  I do have a pneumatic jockey wheel, though.  The only time I move it is to take advantage of a view.  I park on a concrete slab at home, and can completely turn it to face the other direction.

Nomad

Mike - Have you traveled with that rack yet?

cbarnhill

Hey Haibike: I'm 67 and travel alone. The T@b is easy to maneuver by hand on pavement (as long as it is not on an incline). I have a narrow carport and it was a requirement for me. I'm still trying to master backing up. This picture shows me after pushing my new tab into my carport 45 minutes after purchasing it. You'll love it. 

Michigan_Mike

PXLated said:

Mike - Have you traveled with that rack yet?

I haven't, but it's as solid as a rock.  They make a telescoping arm that attaches to the trailer jack tube and then up to the top bar on the rack that runs around $50 and stabilizes the rack.  I use a small ratchet strap and installed an eye on the frame that accomplishes the same thing.  I like the rack and know it's safer than hanging something off the rear as I did with my LG units.This is going to make life better and a lot less stressful traveling long distances.  

Tabaz

Bike Rack - I too have struggled with finding a location to put my mountain bike. I found the best location is in the tow vehicle (Ford Expedition). Fold the second row passenger seat down, take the front wheel off, turn the fork so the handlebars are aligned with the frame, secure the handlebars with a small lashing strap, roll the bike into the vehicle on the rear tire, secure the bike (and front tire) to the 2nd row seat belt brackets (at the top and bottom) with another lashing strap, and finally, put a small piece of foam under the front fork to protect the vehicle carpet.  Works great and keeps the bike upright and next to the passenger side windows - using a minimum amount of cargo area.  I realize this solution only works with sufficient ceiling height in the tow vehicle.  I'll post some pictures if anyone is interested. 

Ratkity

Nice looking bike rack, Mike! Haven't seen that one yet.

larrygon

cbarnhill said:

I have a narrow carport....

I noticed you chained your carport to your T@B. Are you worried someone will steal your carport? 

Wanderoo

Mike -- Did you get the extra long travel trailer bracket (that clamps onto the frame of the T@B) for the bike rack or just the regular one?  I like the bike rack a lot.  Too bad there are no dealers in Colorado or Arizona.  I might have to order from the Utah dealer.

Nomad

Beth - Think the Teardrop Shop (LG) carries those bike racks - Think that's where I first saw them.

pcaddy

cbarnhill -- LOVE your picture!  I think that is how we all felt after pulling it home the first time and unhooking on our own!!  

jkjenn

@cbarnhillthat's an awesome picture!