Clamshell or regular model that is the question

scottdickie

I am interested in buying a T@B trailer but am not sure if I should get the clamshell model or a regular model. I like the clamshell model but am hesitant because I would like the kitchen area to have a cover with screens and be somehow accessable to the side screened in area. Any comments or feedback would be great, thanks

gilbutler

There are pros and cons for both options and I think it becomes a matter of personal taste.  I originally favored the side galley, but my wife was strongly in favor of the clamshell's outside galley.  We have the clamshell (surprise!) and are more than happy with it.  My concern was weather impacting the effort to cook outside, her concern was smells and cooking vapors on the inside surfaces.  She argued that we spent 30 years tent camping without indoor cooking.  I do like the outside galley and wouldn't want to change now. I've thought about enclosures for inclement weather as an option to just eating cold cuts or driving to someplace for food if necessary, but it's a rather low priority concern so far. Good luck with your decision (I think you will probably be happy with either option).

scottdickie

Wow, similar conversation in my house. What do you mean by side galley? Do you set this up yourself? thanks for your thoughtful input. by the way did you buy the side tent that fits the trailer?

gilbutler

That was a typo.  I meant inside galley.  Sorry about that. We haven't found the need for tents, etc. and are still too new to jump on anything until we judge our needs better.  .

XPADREX

We were originally going clamshell... ...but once I sat in an S, I was done. The interior seating area/bed6 seemed to be more usable than the front bench in the CS. We can still cook outside to avoid smells (my concern about, say, frying inside) through the use of a portzble grill hooked directly to the front propane tank. The upside for us is the ability to wake up, have eggs and toast, and never have to walk outside. I also wanted a 3 way fridge, for boondocking.

That said, I could enjoy either, truly.

judymac

...and we had the same discussions. Our dealer received 3 new T@G's and about 1 block from their business we pulled off the road to have yet another discussion regarding galley location. We had talked about those issues of odors and heat from cooking indoors. Our adult daughter tends to influence my husband, particularly thinking this Little Guy may someday be theirs. LOL Our decision was based simply on this: we love grilling and sitting outside. I am saving my $ for the nice screened tent to protect me from mosquitos and overflow for guests. Therefore, inside galley for us. Good luck with your decision and thankfully there is no right or wrong answer. My problem is where to set my coffee pot. LOL

scottdickie

It is great to get this much feedback and so many good ideas. I have always cooked outside and enjoy it. I like some of the modification or hybrid ideas put forth. There are some good ideas on how to modify trailers including an idea about accessing your coffee pot on YouTube that judymac may find interesting. I to do not see the back bench as a very good use of space. I think a small table would be a good idea, I have seen this in some European models.

Wanderoo

Truly, it's a personal choice.  I have a T@b S Maxx with cooking facilities inside.  I still cook outside a lot.  For me, it is more of an issue of opening up and closing of the clamshell tail. I didn't want to hassle with that.  I also am NOT a morning person.  I want to have my coffee and "wake up" without having to go outside, open the clamshell, and be visible to all camping neighbors.  Again, it's a personal choice.  As someone said, there is no right or wrong.  I am just happy that LG makes a variety of models to fit all of our personalities, and I am happy with my choice.    :x

radren

The clamshell model comes with the 2 way fridge and that one doesn't seem to have nearly the problems of the 3 way fridge. 

jkjenn

For what it's worth, if you are cooking inside and runt he exhaust fan, there is not really a problem with smells. I have browned ground beef a couple of times with the screen door open and the exhaust fan on and it took the aroma right outside. I probably would not do this in serious bear country, however. On longer trips, I take my Coleman stove/grill combo along as well.

judymac

Great responses and I want my T@B now! Getting excited. ScottDickie, do,you have time to be more specific on the coffee issue? We use a Keurig @home as we seldom drink more than 3 cups total. I don't know how many amps a little single serve would pull. I don't think I could use the old campfire pot and make coffee drinkable. Ideas would be appreciated. Perhaps I need to post on another forum.

Nomad

Coffee - I just use a teapot and a French Press as I need the caffeine.

tabou

We 've been traveling with a Clamshell along the east coast for 30 days .we did love the kitchen outside for the space But we took our meals under the canopy on the door side of the trailer .with 8 x13 " we did have a grand diningroom For the rainy mornings we bring the espresso coffee maker inside . Your all right it's really a personnal choice , for us it's surely a clamshell

scottdickie

There is a gentleman on YouTube that shows some of his modifications. He has 2 videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzDm5QmSdKo shows the coffee maker sliding shelf. Both are good. No wright or wrong when it comes to T@B, models, some bias maybe. Wish the same rules applied when I was in school. We just use a stove top espresso maker and a stove top milk frother when camping.

Wanderoo

Since I have propane, I make my coffee with a little ceramic percolator that I've used for umpteen years when I was tent camping.  I don't think you can buy them anymore.  It's made by Corning Ware and cleans up super bright.  No black residue on the bottom.  I get the pot & coffee all set up the night before, and when I wake up all I have to do is light the stove.  No amps used.  Sweet.   

judymac

ScottDickie, my husband watched this same video with bedding ideas. Love the modifications but not ready for that, YET

Montalaskan

I'll resurrect this because that question is one the wife and I are pondering right now. Initially, she had put her foot down. We were getting the S.

"Must. Have. Kitchen. Inside. (And potty.)"

But then we went and checked out the S on the lot and a couple of CS-S models. For some reason, to me, the CS-S felt roomier on the interior, probably because the bench is lower than the kitchen in the S. Of course, the bed is about 15" less wide, or with the S, could be used more north/south than east/west.

So I was utterly shocked when she said, "I think I like the clamshell better." (Just when I was starting to come to the side of the S. Hilarity ensued. Actually, mostly confusion.

There was a lot of talk about "what about bugs" and "it rains a lot in Alaska" and such. And yet today, she reiterated the clamshell is her favorite.

The way I see it, there are two drawbacks to the clamshell: 1. Smaller bed. 2. Smaller fridge.

The drawbacks of the S for me are: 1. No bench (perfect dog perch/bed.) 2. Felt tighter. 3. Seemingly less storage space (could be just perception)

So we waver on. Or at least I do. Although it seems like it'd be perfect for a web designer to get a CSS.

Nomad

Going on three days of on/off rain and there are two other T@Bs in the canyon besides me (first T@Bs I've seen anywhere in 3 months on the road). Both are clamshells. Haven't seen them with the kitchen open for the three days and there cars have been gone a lot - presume they're running into town to eat.
I've run into just enough weather that's I'm glad I bought the Max-S.
Tonight, 60% chance of rain but I don't care, I've got a nice sundried tomato basil sausage pasta dish ready to go :-)

Bgkirk

We love our clamshell and outdoor cooking etc.  We would be jealous of PXLated in a rainstorm, particularly if we could smell the pasta dish.  For the rain we tried to maximize the options for cooking inside by removing the clamshell bench and replacing it with a S model counter and sink with the stove and refer removed.  We have a small backpacking propane stove for cooking on the counter inside if need be (with appropriate precautions).  Just another option to make it more/less confusing.  

Orygun

I love my clamshell specifically because it feels more like camping to me. I'm not a morning person, but stepping outside into the fresh air, and making the coffee(french press, of course) while listening to a little music and the chirping birds is wonderful. I live in the Pacific NW, and weather doesn't stop me from cooking outside, unless the wind is blowing hard. Also, my dog's bed is the front bench. 

Lisa33

I switched from a 6x10 Silver Shadow to a T@DA with bathroom and indoor kitchen.  I bought the SS instead of a T@B at the time (2012--before the Clamshell was an option and before the S was an option) because I wanted to be able to cook outside and have it be closer to tent camping without rocks in your back while sleeping.  My son and I spent about 12 weeks on the road that first summer with the SS, so I got a good deal of time in experiencing life without a shower and indoor kitchen.  So much so, that by November I was buying a T@DA and selling the SS.

I love, love, love having the bathroom and the kitchen inside.  I can't imagine going back.  I can still cook outside all I want over a campfire or on a camp stove.  I can also use the campground facilities for the bathroom and shower if I want.  It is so great to be able to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, grab a cup of coffee first thing in the morning and to shower when boondocking, all in the privacy of my trailer.

mawebb

We considered the clamshell as there seemed to be more room inside, but then we thought about wanting to make tea at night and not wanting to have to go outside to do so. If I had known about substituting the bench for the counter setup as per Bgkirk, then it might have been a consideration. I also considered wanting to access the fridge for a cold beverage and again, going outside to do so seemed a bit inconvenient. We have the "S" and are very happy with our decision. In terms of the fridge, a two way as an option would be great. Compressor based fridges are far more efficient than absorption models. Just look up the details on an ARB fridge and you will be impressed. 

thedarksideoftheTaB

BGKirk we have a clamshell, but certainly would have loved to have this option!! The counter and storage much better for us.  Can you tell me how you got this? We were not given an option when we purchased. 

skwhee

Hi, thedarksideoftheTaB,
We also have custom cabinetry in our Clamshell. We enlarged the Wardrobe and added drawers to the right of it (losing the bench and space above the bench). Basically we just asked if it could be done and were pleased to learn it was possible. It was a bit more expensive and added time to the wait from order to delivery but it was very worth it. The factory is willing to work with you on custom orders!

Bgkirk

thedarksideoftheTab answered your question above.  The factory is fantastic to work with and will try to get you what you want. I have had 4 different RV's over the years from tent trailer, camper, 2-5th wheels and now the T@B.  By far, the T@B is the best built RV I have owned and a great company to work with.

Not sure how close you are to the factory "thedarksideoftheT@B", but it would be possible to have it retrofitted, I think.  I know it would have been better to have the option from the beginning....

Sgtjohn

We bought a 2015 T@B S with all the stuff and if I had it to do over, I would not want the bathroom because it is only suited for a small child in my opinion-but the wife like it and complains about not having a closet.  But in a bind, I will appreciate the bathroom!  We had a Casita a few years ago and nearly froze to death because of the "carpet insulation" which was glued to the walls and that's it!  The T@B is very well insulated and will keep folks warm in the coldest of weather with the aide furnace.  That furnace is highly recommended by not only me but many Tabbers.