TAB History

Calldon

To make a long story short, I've owned a 32-foot 1986 Argosy since 1997 and lived in it full time for many years. But I wasn't on the road. As I've gotten older I've decided, to see the USA I want something small and convenient, not a 32-foot trailer. I thought about a Casita and also a Little Snoozy.

Lately I've been looking at the tab 320. For the price I think it makes more sense for me. Of course I still have time to change my mind. I recall looking at the Tab several years ago and was not impressed, too much money and too little product.

So my question is, hasn't TAB been owned by two or three companies? And if I recall, the quality control what's not always very good. It seems the current company, nucamp seems to be doing better with it. How did the tab start? What company invented it or built it at first? Was one person behind it or a group? How many owners have there been and what happened for them to keep changing hands?

So can somebody give a little history of the Tab trailers and why now is the time to buy?  

Inquiring minds want to know before we invest over $20,000 in an RV.

Sharon_is_SAM

The TaB caravans originated in Germany by the Tabbert family.  Dutchmen acquired the rights to produce the TaB stateside around 2001 and I believe the first American TaBs are the 2004 models. 

Pleasant Valley Trailer Company (PVT) started out as a boutique teardrop manufacturer in 2005.  Then in 2010, PVT acquired the TaB rights from Dutchmen and I think started production with a 2011 model.  PVT distributed the TaBs through Little Guy Worldwide until April of 2017 at which point, the recently launched PVT - nuCamp company took over distribution to it's dealers.

So, other than the Dutchmen model years from 2004 thru 2010, TaBs have been made by PVT.  They have evolved along the way and even with Little Guy, had a strong reputation for quality and service.  Joe Mullet is the original and current owner of PVT.  Scott Hubble worked in the front office of Little Guy before the split and is now the CEO of nuCamp.  

I think that all RVs have made progress, but PVT/nuCamp really has taken advantage of a lot of things that make sense for a light weight teardrop.  Since 2016 no wood in the floors, they and Airstream were the first companies to use the Alde heat system (which is great), they took advantage of new synthetics (Azdel), and they use real wood cabinetry instead of cheap fiberboard.  As far as quality control, I am not sure who you are comparing them to, but relative to other manufacturers, their warranty repair rate is very, very low.  And more importantly, if there are problems, you will not find another company that extends itself to keep their customers happy.  Seriously, another member had a replacement trailer towed from Ohio to Florida by the CEO  over the Christmas holiday.  You won't see that anywhere else - guaranteed.  

In addition to their TaGs and TaB 320s, the company added a popular truck camper line and then the TaB 400 that answered the question of having a separate dining area from the bed.  They have announced and previewed the new "Avia" - their 25 or 28 feet long, very contemporary RV.  They continue to grow and improve and follow their owners needs.

nuCamp has reported they will never go public, so satisfaction of shareholders is not a question.  If corporate ethics is a concern, you will like that their Amish and Mennonite workforce honors the company philosophy "I am second".  The front office is open to constructive criticism and understands that their owners have good insight to what a camper should be. 

Yes, the trailers are expensive relative to a lot of other light weight trailers, but if you are only comparing costs, you are not comparing apples to apples.  You owe it to yourself to visit the factory if you can.  We stopped in this past summer for a part on the way to an event and the CEO came out of his office and gave us a tour.  What a hoot!  

Good luck with your decision!  We feel like we hit the jack pot with our TaB purchase.

Mouseketab

and why now is the time to buy?  

Inquiring minds want to know before we invest over $20,000 in an RV.

This is not a confirmed fact yet, but if you like the birch look of the 320 cabinets, now is for sure the time to buy. There have been rumors floating around that either in the 2020 (June 2019) year or 2021 (June 2020) year, the 320 T@Bs will also go to the style of wood in the Cirrus campers and the Tab 400s.

jkjenn

Mouseketab said:

and why now is the time to buy?  

Inquiring minds want to know before we invest over $20,000 in an RV.

This is not a confirmed fact yet, but if you like the birch look of the 320 cabinets, now is for sure the time to buy. There have been rumors floating around that either in the 2020 (June 2019) year or 2021 (June 2020) year, the 320 T@Bs will also go to the style of wood in the Cirrus campers and the Tab 400s.

I will be happy to see that. I know some absolutely love the birch look, but I prefer the Euro style, better. Some equate the birch with higher quality, but in truth, engineered materials can have every bit the quality and be lighter weight.

Plus, I bet long-time factory workers are ready for the change!

I really hope the new 320 has that nice looking cabinetry we see in the Aria.

ScottG

I thought there were a few years in there where T@Bs were not made. Between the time that Dutchman dropped the line and--once it was clear Dutchman would not bring it back--Little Guy/Pleasant Valley acquired the rights and began their own production.

Can anybody confirm? Are there any model years out there that don't exist?

Sharon_is_SAM

I think 2010 and 2011 are questionable.

ScottG

That would be consistent with the timeline described in this article from late 2011.

ScottG

History buffs might find this old thread interesting as well!

jkjenn

Sharon_is_SAM said:

I think 2010 and 2011 are questionable.

There were a few made in 2010, including a handful of bathroom prototypes. I had family look at a 2010 for sale when I was buying...and there were even fewer T@bs for sale.

Mouseketab

From what I remember, Dutchmen stopped production in September 2009, which would mean the last Dutchmen's were 2010's. There were some dry bath models, some models put on T@DA frames, and some with weird cabinet configurations. They were just using up whatever parts they had. In 2011, Pleasant Valley put out a few prototype T@Bs, but I think the first "real" production year from Pleasant Valley was 2012.

ColleenD2

We were at the factory in October and I think the first step is going from solid wood to birch composite and that is happening this year. And back in May 2018 we were told if we didn’t want the eurostyle we better get a 2019. I think with their new router capabilities, they are headed that way. Personally, I HATE the look.

Mouseketab

Wow, just read through this again. We were all fooled. Not Euro style at all, just darker stained birch.

webers3

One of the design features that attracted me to the T@B was the bright interior, the planned dark wood interior is not Euro Style, it's a style of just another run of the mill RV with depressing dark wood interior.

Sharon_is_SAM

Found an article with some TaB history:https://rvbusiness.com/little-guy-worldwide-reintroduces-tb-trailer/