Today is the day!

JFriedLand

Good morning! I’ve been lurking on the boards for a few weeks and today is not only my 50th birthday but also the day I pick up my new T@b 320 CS-S! I’m frankly terrified because I’ve never done anything like this before, but I think it’s time. I’m a cancer survivor, I raised three kids, and I’ve lived and traveled all over the world in almost two dozen countries but seen very little of the US. It’s been years since I’ve backed up a boat or dragged a trailer so this is all pretty much going to be a brand new experience for me but the people at Princess Craft in Round Rock have been wonderful and I’ve learned a lot here and from the Sisters on the Fly I’ve met in my area who own T@bs. I will be traveling on my own with my two little dogs so I really appreciate the tips for solo travelers. Unlike just about everybody else here, I don’t have a fancy new tow vehicle but rather my old dependable Suburban. It’s 22 years old, but I bought it new and personally put the 156,000 miles on it, take excellent care of it, and I love it so much it’s like a part of my soul so I really don’t want to drive anything else. Also, I think they look great together. I’m about to head out now and will send pictures when it’s really, finally mine. Thank you from San Antonio! - Julia

Sharon_is_SAM

Julia welcome and congratulations!  You can do this - steep learning curve, but the forum is an excellent resource.  Park it in your driveway and get to know all the systems before venturing out.  Can’t wait for the pics!  

Homebodyatheart

@JFriedLand welcome to the Tab family, and Happy Birthday Julia! What an exciting day for you, and your pups. My 2017 320S is my first trailer, although I grew up with a tent trailer. You can do this! I second the suggestion to driveway camp first. Try every system, every outlet, everything. There is a learning curve and your first year can seem overwhelming, but if you keep asking questions here and camping you will be an old pro! There’s a saying on this forum “pictures or it never happened!” Enjoy your new journey! 

jgram2

@JFriedLand See the USA in your T@Bvrolet! Welcome-this is exciting!

dragonsdofly

@JFriedLand, welcome to the forum, the t@b family and congratulations on your trailer! There are adventures waiting. Happy t@bbing!

dsfdogs

@JFriedLand congratulations and Happy Birthday!! I recently turned 55 and also travel solo with my two dogs. This was my first year. Scary, exciting, emotional...As the other ladies said, I spent time going through the whole trailer and practiced in my garage. I printed out the plumbing and Alde diagrams and compared. I can't say enough how this forum helped as the manuals are not complete, so spend hours here if you can, reading. Good luck!

jkjenn

Happy birthday and congratulations, Julia! Take a deep breath, know that you will make mistakes, need to repair things in your new rolling earthquake, from time to time, and be prepared to enjoy!

I wish we had Princess Craft, up here in Western PA!

DougH

Congratulations!  We got ours from Princess Craft too. Good people. The TX state parks pass is a fair deal to find camping after you driveway camp a couple times, if you want the luxury of heated showers near your site. There's an official app out there that describes the 95 TX state parks (most with RV camping).  Then UC Public CG can help find all the free or really cheap utility, corps of engineers, and other RV sites for weekend trips from a SA home base. See you out there in 2019...

Marceline

JFriedLand said:

Good morning! I’ve been lurking on the boards for a few weeks and today is not only my 50th birthday but also the day I pick up my new T@b 320 CS-S! I’m frankly terrified because I’ve never done anything like this before, but I think it’s time. I’m a cancer survivor, I raised three kids, and I’ve lived and traveled all over the world in almost two dozen countries but seen very little of the US. It’s been years since I’ve backed up a boat or dragged a trailer so this is all pretty much going to be a brand new experience for me but the people at Princess Craft in Round Rock have been wonderful and I’ve learned a lot here and from the Sisters on the Fly I’ve met in my area who own T@bs. I will be traveling on my own with my two little dogs so I really appreciate the tips for solo travelers. Unlike just about everybody else here, I don’t have a fancy new tow vehicle but rather my old dependable Suburban. It’s 22 years old, but I bought it new and personally put the 156,000 miles on it, take excellent care of it, and I love it so much it’s like a part of my soul so I really don’t want to drive anything else. Also, I think they look great together. I’m about to head out now and will send pictures when it’s really, finally mine. Thank you from San Antonio! - Julia

Your Suburban will be a great tow vehicle. You probably won't even feel the T@B back there. Welcome to the club.

N7SHG_Ham

Roll on with that old TV, mine is a Dodge Ram, new in fall of 2000 (2001), almost to 300k. Both of us can probably out tow most on this forum AND best thing is much simpler and long ago paid for!! A good condition maintained old vehicle is far more economical long term. I have been told by more than one shop to hang onto mine, newer ones are way more maintenance pits due to electronics and complex systems. You pay the bank, the mechanic or both, no free rides!

ColleenD2

Congratulations! You’ve got this! Today is the first day of all the best days to come.

JFriedLand

Thank you so much, everyone! We had a smooth ride home, which is quite a feat if any of you are familiar with the I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio. The guys at Princess Craft installed a new hitch and brake controller for me and the Suburban was great. I agree with you @N7SHG_Ham about paying the bank or the mechanic. Fortunately we have a great mechanic and haven’t had too many problems with the truck, though a few years ago we had to make the hard decision of whether we wanted to invest in some serious repairs or get a new car. I was still driving a bunch of kids around all the time for carpool and extracurricular activities, had a giant family dog and at the time it was worth roughly nothing due to high gas prices so we invested in repairs and I’m so glad we did. 
So,I hope I resized these small enough, but here are the first pictures of my T@b! In one it’s hooked up to the Suburban getting ready to leave the lot and in the other it’s in my driveway. I haven’t unhooked it yet (though I unplugged it from my battery) because tomorrow I’m taking it to the high school to practice backing up. 

Obiru

Congratulations! I’m kinda in the same boat, er RV. I just bought a 2018 T@B 320. First time RV but I’ve towed boats for many years. Find a place where no one is looking LOL to practice backing up. It won’t take long for you to get the hang of it. Good luck and again congrats!

Bayliss

A BIG CONGRATS @JFriedLand.........my wife and I are right there with you.  We recently picked up our white 320 S Boondock Lite, which we are pulling with our white 2007 Toyota Tundra.  Still haven't had a chance to take it camping, but hope to soon.

Good idea to go practice backing  up your new camper.  I have done the same.  You may already know this, but if not, the best backing up trick I learned many moons ago is this:  First, place your steering hand at the bottom of the steering wheel.  If you want the back of the camper to go "left," simply move your hand from the bottom of the steering wheel to the left.  If you want the back of the camper to go to the "right," move your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel to the right.  You still may have to pull forward and realign your camper, but knowing this trick made my life so much easier, especially when I was backing in a travel trailer and 5th wheel.  (The T@B is a piece of cake after that.)  Also, I have found it easiest, when possible, to back a trailer/camper into a camping/parking spot in a direction from the driver's side of the tow vehicle (i.e., turning the back of the trailer into the campsite from the driver's side) - - - it provides you with the best visibility.  Enjoy!

Tabmann400

@JFriedLand,  Congratulations and welcome to the Tab family.  You have a matching Tab 320 and towing vehicle!  Awesome!  

ontheroad

welcome...congrats and Happy Birthday!...awesome combo! 

siroiss

Hi! I am a newbie too.  I bought a 2005 t@b together with a 2004 BMW X5 last fall and knowing little about either set out for Florida to settle my dad's 'mobile home park estate'.  (Diabetic cat in tow) - 1 year post cancer diagnosis.  Ok, contrary to wise advice I had no driveway camping experience before setting out.  Yes, there were mishaps -- forgetting to put the oil cap back on the bmw and getting 'turrible' computer warnings, blowing out a window on the trailer because I didn't latch it, not latching the overhead fan in a windstorm.  But I did it.  I traveled through S.A. and had fun getting to know a cousin there.  This country is AWESOME.  Best of luck to you!

Photomom

Congrats and welcome!

SOTF #10038, we have a nice group of sisters in WNY, if you ever make it to our area let me know!