=Rambling= slightly older TAB 320S vs. Other Options = = does go down the rabbit hole = =

MuttonChops · October 28

From time to time I've shared my seeming endless search for a post 320S RV.

I've seriously investigated many Travel Trailer Brands and even expanded the what-if-search to a few Class-B Vans, small Class-A's, and a couple (black tank) slide-in campers including the nüCamp 820.

What drives this is a one part wish for 'something new' after all, as a Baby Boomer I've been conditioned to change/update/upgrade/buy by our consumer driven capitalist economy for decades. A style of business that offers 'what we have' not by any means what you 'want' products. The second part is concern for how long the 320S will be comfortable and safe . . . now 7-years old with nearly 50K towing miles. Plus, at times it's smallness can be frustrating.

Then I take a trip, like the 2K miles towing with 3-weeks of sleeping in the 320S just completed in Sep/Oct.
It was so darn comfortable! The Alde Heat with HW is wonderful. One can recline and relax watching television or while reading a good book. The kitchen has everything except headroom and there is a black tank wet-bath with the SeeLevel Monitor System.

And that / those features are my problem.

When the 320S fails me there is no nüCamp product to fall back on as a replacement.

Today's 320 has the cassette toilet. Yes, many folks view that system in a positive light. I do not and won't expand on why here.
Today's 320 has ducted Air Conditioning with the unit taking up major storage space . . . so a Microwave can be in the old AC location. I don't want/need a Microwave. While the accurate SeeLevel has been replaced in all models with a useless KIB sensor system.

Today's 360, which I had hoped would be my next RV.

Has that darn cassette, ducted AC, and a marginal usable kitchen.
It at least has keep a nearly the same 320S feel with one recline/relax seating for TV watching or book reading.

Today's 400 has a black tank and usable kitchen but a questionable (for me) dinette design.
That said, of the TAB options it maybe the least difficult to 'adjust' to my needs.

These TAB limitations got me to look at the Cirrus 820 slide-in. A nice unit indeed. Has nearly everything on my wishlist . . . dinette not ideal, could be 'adjusted'. So I've investigated the what is really required to have one. Well, while advertised as a F350/C3500 compatible camper . . . that is only if you either keep it dry and load camping gear or have it wet and don't load camping as it's weight is so near standard configuration F350/C3500 trucks that there is no spare payload; most of those you see on-the-road are running well beyond the truck's GVWR and/or axle ratings. Also these slide-ins (all brands) have near zero storage - - yes, they have good internal dry goods/clothes storage but zero camp site set-up / equipment storage {like the current 320S}. Add in the cost & maintenance of a full-size low MPG truck with the high MSRP of slide-in campers it becomes quite a financial investment.

= = = = =

After fighting myself with all of this for several months . . .

The other day a deposit was placed on another mid-size truck tow vehicle & everyday vehicle.
Plan now is to enjoy the current 320S . . . it's few wort's and all . . . but with a newer tow vehicle that shouldn't tow big trailers and can't handle slide-ins so my what if'ing will be more limited. A big part of that purchase was driven by 'my reaction' to the size of a full-size pickup truck today needed for a slide-in, gosh they are big. Many have cargo bed side-tops that reach my shoulder height - - - they are massive. If they are too big, no way will a Class-A or super-C fit my lifestyle. So I will soon have a new tow vehicle to play with.

Of course, you know I'll still keep looking for an after 320S trailer . . . it won't last forever!

AnOldUR · October 28

Damn @MuttonChops, are we related? Everything that you wrote could have been a post of mine. We're not ready to move to a new tow vehicle, but my 2013 Wrangler (closing in on 200K miles) won't last for ever.

Every year we go to the big RV show in Hershey, but leave thinking that the compromises aren't worth changing. If only our 320 was six inches wider, I might stop looking.

mytabbys701 · October 29

@MuttonChops you said

> now 7-years old with nearly 50K towing miles…

Yep, us too…

And

> concern for how long the 320S will be comfortable and safe

Gotcha! We see no replacement for our 320s either… simply none! What shook me from your post was that concern you had about safety… could you elaborate?

MuttonChops · October 29

mytabbys701 said:
. . . concern you had about safety… could you elaborate?

Nothing specific.

Just the general concerns of wear and tear causing unseen mechanical failures of the frame or some un-friendly mold/bug deciding the cabin is a nice place to live.

rcarlson1957 · October 29

I hear you. We look at new ones from time to time just like looking at new houses. I like the non cassette model too. Coming up on 70K miles and 6 yrs on our 2018 320S (we bought it used). Still running strong. We saw one at an Camper Show years before and really liked it and started seriously looking for when I was approaching my 2nd retirement. After the invariable learning curve (as with any camper...especially when it's your 1st one) and figuring out what works best for you it's become like that favorite pair of old jeans or favorite shirt...comfortable and familiar. I do the required maintenance, keep an eye on things and enjoy doing mods to it from time to time too. Have had it long enough where feel like can pretty much handle anything concerning it. Enjoy the rallies from time to time too and seeing the many friends we've made at them. Turned 68 this year and we plan on enjoying it till I can't physically handle it anymore which will probably be when I can't drive anymore which knock on wood hopefully will be quite a ways away. Even then, I'd probably put it in the backyard like people do with their old Airstreams and become an extra room for visitors and give the neighbors a reason to think I'm becoming eccentric.

Till then, we take it out as often as we can and enjoy what's around the bend. Safe travels.

SLJ · 3:38AM

I hear you. Had our 320 for a few years until the wife insisted on something this year that she wouldn't keep hitting her head on. Wound up with a camper that has lots of headroom with a full bathroom and a dinette that can also be used as a bed for a grandkid or the dogs. It is nice being able to walk around standing up straight. Not the quality of the T@B but I can replace it over twice for the same cost as a new T@B. I do miss the cassette toilet. Going back to a black tank and dealing with finding dump stations again is a real pain. Cassette was much easier. Just pop it out and dump it. No need to move the camper and easy to clean. I miss the Alde. Nice quiet heat, just more expensive to maintain.

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=Rambling= slightly older TAB 320S vs. Other Options = = does go down the rabbit hole = =

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