Hello! New member from Texas

Tommie · March 2024

Hello,

I have read many posts on this forum before I decided to join. My wife and I are looking at buying our first hard sided trailer. Previously we were tent campers, and camped in a pop up for a while after that. Our youngest son has left the house for college and we have some friends with kids in college also who are building a place for their RV in the Crystal beach area and have invited us to use their place once it is finished also. This has sparked up our interest in buying an RV, and we have looked at a few different floor plans etc.

My wife requires a shower and toilet, I am fine with something compact, she wants something with more room than I want. Our current tow vehicle would be a 2009 Tacoma V6 Prerunner double cab short bed. It is a great truck and its only flaw is Toyota's horrible paint quality.

Here is a short list of what we looked at so far:

Tab 320 S
Tab 320 CS-S
Tab 400
Little guy mini max
Geo Pro 15 TB
Bushwhacker 15fk
Hard sided pop up (2x) one was an Aliner the other was a Rockwood with a bath.
Casita has also been on the consideration list, but we have not looked at one, and the used prices are nuts.

My wife's favorite has been the Geo Pro 15tb. My favorite has been the Tab 320 S. I am 6'-6'1" and she is 5' 4" and we have a large body hound dog mix with short legs who may also join us on some trips. I like the Tab 320 because it is smaller, (height and width) and I would feel better about towing it with my Tacoma. She says the Tab 320 is cramped, and makes her feel claustrophobic. I told her about my trailer size and towing concerns, and that we only need a place to sleep, some A/C, and a bathroom (her main concern).

I know it may be a long introduction post, but let me know if you have any comments about trailer selection, or how to convince my wife to stay tiny.

Thanks,
Tommie

P.S. if anyone is in the Houston area or within a few hours of Houston who has a Tab for sale, let me know.

pthomas745 · March 2024

Welcome! Understand, we are going to be seriously biased towards the Tabs!

The first question, though: what is the tow rating for your Tacoma? This will have a big influence on the Tabs on the list. Discussions about the 320 models usually center on a tow rating of 3500 pounds. Some quick answers in this thread, and there are many more.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/14792/tow-vehicle-options-for-320-cs-s

Here are a lot more threads discussing this.

https://www.google.com/search?q=tow+rating+for+a+320+site:tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com&client=firefox-b-1-d&sca_esv=98989144458a5fc8&sxsrf=ACQVn0_IOaWaGIy44jjCGtaWpbWCILGx3A:1710518107662&ei=W2_0ZbyHKM6hkPIPoI-xyAM&ved=0ahUKEwj8oMHB0PaEAxXOEEQIHaBHDDkQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=tow+rating+for+a+320+site:tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiNXRvdyByYXRpbmcgZm9yIGEgMzIwIHNpdGU6dGFiLXJ2LnZhbmlsbGFjb21tdW5pdHkuY29tSKVJUJgKWPJEcAR4AJABAZgBd6ABkA6qAQQzOC4xuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIAoAIAmAMAiAYBkgcAoAfbDQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

The 400s will require a higher tow rating. This thread has a discussion of the 400 and vehicles, and one of the first responses is from an owner with a 2015 V6 Tacoma. So, dig into your car specs and see how these numbers match up.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/8306/tow-vehicle-for-tab-400/p1

And, another "compilation" of threads mentioning tow vehicles for a 400.

https://www.google.com/search?q=tow+rating+for+a+400+site:tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com&client=firefox-b-1-d&sca_esv=98989144458a5fc8&sxsrf=ACQVn08rNI2oixHkj4_XKagZ64a7oKucPQ:1710518118675&ei=Zm_0ZaXtKJ7ekPIP6tiEQA&ved=0ahUKEwiluOHG0PaEAxUeL0QIHWosAQgQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=tow+rating+for+a+400+site:tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiNXRvdyByYXRpbmcgZm9yIGEgNDAwIHNpdGU6dGFiLXJ2LnZhbmlsbGFjb21tdW5pdHkuY29tSLg0ULUeWPgucAJ4AJABAJgBNqABwgKqAQE3uAEDyAEA-AEBmAIAoAIAmAMAiAYBkgcAoAe7Ag&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Mickerly · March 2024

If you enjoy the outdoors and camping outside, the 320CS is difficult to beat; a beautiful galley and a lot of cloths storage space for a trailer this size. We primarily use state parks. The park comes with a shower. For traveling, a week or more at a time, I would recommend the 400 or a LG Max. The 400 has a spiffier lavatory, but the Max has more storage. Both have very small kitchenettes. Casita is in Rice along I35. They have several models and you can normally walk in and get a tour.

We're at the stepping past the outdoor camping to the traveling for several days point. We are considering keeping our CS for weekends and camping. Then adding a trailer with both a dinette and bed for traveling.

Good luck. However it comes out, let us know what you decided.

sailgeek · March 2024

Don't have one for sale as we just bought ours last month, but we are in the Houston area. Seabrook to be more specific. Bought a 320S last month from Princess Craft RV in Austin. We narrowed down to the 320S and a Rove Lite 14. The Rove Lite was probably a little more spacious, and I could stand up in it (6'), but the build quality on the NuCamps were much more obvious. Our requirements were the same, bed, bathroom, and in Texas AC. My wife is 5', and she was more concerned I would find it cramped, but I love the trailer. Sure, only one person can be up and moving at any given time, but that is the case for any small trailer.

We tow with a 2016 Chevy Colorado v6. Similar, midsized truck. We downsized from a 17' Viking that was over 3200# dry. Didn't have any trouble towing it, but the gas milage was terrible. Usually less than 10mpg. Get closer to 14-15 towing the 320.

Princess Craft in Austin has some well priced 2023 - 320S and 400's. Holiday World is the Nucamp dealer in Houston, their selection is not as good.

Tommie · March 2024

Thanks for the replies.

@pthomas745, My Taco has the towing package so it is rated at 6500 lbs (I don't know who came up with this number, a real number would probably be 1/2 of that).
The wheel to wheel sleeping position in the 400 is a major negative in our book. We both like the tongue to tail sleeping arrangement.

@Mickerly, I think we will be focused on state parks also, those were the main focus with tents and the pop-up too. I could do without the bathroom, or give a portable toilet a try, if it is a weekend trip I am not that picky. I understand why my wife wants a bathroom though. I think most of our trips will be weekend or less than 5 day trips.

@sailgeek, glad you found one! Is it new? I feel like you had many of the same concerns that I have. Thanks for sharing your insight.

We looked at a used 2018 today, I am not sure if this is "the one" or not. I'm trying to work my way through the dealers prices and add ons etc. Buying used, I would feel better talking to the owner and not a salesperson.

Binghi · March 2024

With your Taco I would go for a 320 rather than a 400 if you go with NuCamp. The 400 puts up a lot of wind resistance with its tall profile. That is more troublesome than the weight increase in my opinion. We originally towed our 400 with a VW Touareg, but then switched to a Ford F150. The T-reg was too slow uphill. Its tow rating was 7700 pounds for what that’s worth, which probably is not much.

elbolillo · March 2024

We love our 400. Tow it with a ‘21 Honda Pilot. Tows like a charm. No problems with mountains. We love that we don’t have to setup the dinette/bed like in our previous 320. And even thought the bad in the 400 is narrower, the length is great and we sleep well in it.

Sharon_is_SAM · March 2024

@Tommie - the CSS sleeps wheel to wheel and will be snug with your height. The 320 S would be better.
The 320s does allow you to escape the heat and sleep inside, but I think most folks otherwise spend a lot of time outdoors. If your wife thinks it feels cramped, she has probably already made up her mind. Get something more spacious, otherwise you will be selling it in a short time.

sailgeek · March 2024

@Tommie Yes, it is new. Princess Craft has a few new 2023's still in stock.

Mickerly · March 2024

We moved up from tents to renting a small teardrop (Silver Shadow), we got spoiled with a kitchen that didn't cover the table, air conditioning, and staying dry in the rain.

We had looked at the regular 320 and determined it to be too small. The 'CS has advantages. You gain the dresser inside. Great storage for clothes and a surface to bring in a toaster oven or hot plate on those rainy days. The galley is a wonderful 6 feet wide, larger than most RVs. This means you can cook and prep at the same time. The table easily moves outside. The down side is the bed is a little short of 6ft. Being a little over 6ft tall, I can't stretch out except on the diagonal. I rarely sleep straightened out, so it isn't a problem for us.

The '400 gives a more length to the bed, a dinette, and a great lavatory. Compared to the 'CS you loose half the galley, all the dresser, but you can eat inside. The '400 isn't an upgrade from the 'CS; it's a sideways move with a different purpose. It is better for traveling, but not as good for camping and your clothes storage moves to the tow vehicle.

If you need more space, you may want to look at the Little Guy Max. It has a different set compromises: a reasonable lavatory, queen size bed, lot's of storage, and lots of windows. The down side is not so winter traveling capable, 300lb heavier and 3ft longer than the '400. It is small enough you can still go through a service station or park pulled through two spaces in a parking lot. One advantage for Texas, the top is fiberglass, much more hail resistant than the NuCamp products. On the other hand, you loose the comfort of Alde heat.

Slackers · March 2024

Agree with @Mickerly and @Sharon_is_SAM regarding the CSS. We also love the outdoor galley and the indoor cabinet storage. We frequent state parks with and without hook-ups. We have also pulled ours on a 5000 mile adventure visiting National Parks, Monuments, and other sites. We will be doing an even longer adventure this summer. For both types of camping once the benches are configured to a bed it stays that way--even between stops. Our Lagun table is used mostly outside to extend galley counter space. Inside we use a Butler tray as our indoor table. It works well for the few times we eat a meal "in bed": when the weather is bad, we are snacking, or grabbing a bite in-route to the next destination.

Tommie · April 2024

Well,

Just a follow up, we ended up buying a used Casita.

I am still interested in Nucamp, and hope they come out with that rumored Tab 360...

I plan to stick around and do some reading, and you never know, my next RV might be a T@b.

Slackers · April 2024

@Tommie Congratulations! Have lots of fun and adventures with your new trailer.

dragonsdofly · April 2024

@Tommie still stop by this forum now and again. We like to hear campfire stories, from t@b to lance or airstream to scamp. You know, forgot to chock the wheels on a slope, drove home with a chipmonk stowed away in the grill etc. We enjoy pictures too. No pics, it never happened.

Fair winds and good roads to all who adventure-

See you on the road sometime!

Mickerly · April 2024

There is a custom shop for the Casita in Haslet. Find them on https://littlehomeontheroad.com/

Hello! New member from Texas

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