Full timers in their TAB 400

1DRR406 · January 1

In my following of the T@b Forum, there are a few rare breed of followers who use their Tab400 for full-time living. I have to admire that.

If it's not too bold to ask one of those rare followers:

What do you figure your monthly or yearly expenses (rents, propane, trailer upkeep etc etc) to do so is?

Where do you plant yourself for extended stays (outside of family or friend) ?

Do you stay in the southern climate primarily or adventure to the northern also for extended, stays?

Do you job follow with it or retired?

Thanks for reading and responses.

kdcampergirl · January 3

Hello! We just began living in our 2020400 May 25. Decided to work camp/camp host. We are retired but need part time income. Had a house in FL we sold in Nov. We look for jobs sound the country but were hoping to be in the PNW which worked out for us. Currently caretaking at a County Park Campground near Florence, OR (coastal). Campground is open April-October. The job has a full hookup site and a monthly stipend.

Most full timers are camphosts for all or part of the year to get their site costs taken care of, or boondock. We’re on the list for WA State Parks. One can volunteer there for as little as a month or as long as several. Every state is different.

If we had a 4 season camper or heated tanks I’d be more willing to go north in winter but not many places to park and campgrounds closed.

Let me know if I can answer any other questions! I also know of at least one who’s full timing in their 320.

jimcenname · January 6

I've lived in my T@B400 since 2019. In 2025 I spent $17,000 on "rent." I travel cross country in the warm months and stay in Southern California and Arizona in the winter. I move around. I do not boondock. I pay about $35/night if I get hookups while mooch-docking. Otherwise I am at private campgrounds or state parks. In the winter my propane is about $20/month. Annual trailer maintenance is a few thousand dollars a year. Glycol, tires, bearing grease, plumbing parts. My 100 amp hour lithium conversion cost me $1300. My AGMs wore out after 4 years. 2025 included new tires and glycol flush. Full-timer insurance is about $300/year with Progressive.

ClemOnTheTrail · January 11

I live full time in tab 400 2020 since may of 2025 in eastern NC. A/C (air 8) struggles to keep up so will be upgrading ceiling fan to something that auto vents when internal temps are hot. For rent my campground is about 675$ a month water and electric and sewer hookup included. Internet is about 100$ a month (have a hotspot). Recently needed to by more glycol to top off, And had to buy a new tail light which together cost about 90$.

GBL_citruscountyfl · January 19

I've been full-time rving since 2006 and started right after university. I bought the 2020 tab 400 from camping world in western Massachusetts and had the best experience with them due to being in this industry for 15 years prior. I was hesitant to go smaller than a 5th wheel, but the lack of stress maintaining and having a much smaller towing truck, make it well worth it. I really could be much happier in a 320 at this point, but I found I needed to be in the 400 first, to realize this.

I'm a builder and remodeler and go between MA and FL with friends in both, so I do not have any electric or lot rent bills, but compensate with doing projects for them. I also part-time remodel and build for customers I have developed over the years, and their friends. I would rather enjoy my entire life and work less, than work all my life, and retire with a few years before dying.

I do all my maintenance and repairs myself and, quite honestly, have not had anything major besides for frame rivets falling out and needing to be replaced with bolts (check every one after every trip,) upgrading all my faucets, installing four wall fans to keep the Dometic basement AC comfortable in 110 degree heat (do no buy with the new air8 ac,) bearings repacked after every 3000 miles, Good year tires every 6000 miles - no exceptions, and wash and wax 12 times a year (I have a light weight roof cover to keep it clean when parked.). Be proactive with over maintaining!

As for the Alde, I hate it, but it has worked non stop for 5 years with zero issues. I have one bulging hose I'm going to replace (Amazon has all parts for vehicles that match Alde parts.) I hate it because of how complex it is and there is no one that can service it while you are on the road. It heats up super fast, keeps the RV at 70+ F in -3F temperatures, and provides hot water with zero problems. I've never replaced the fluid - just add and test the PH yearly. The key is to use the Alde full-time to avoid issues. It likes to work and like a car, using it a few times a year causes parts/fluid,to age faster and rust up/fail.

I have found Nucamp not be a great RV manufacture (especially 2021 to present,) but one of the better manufactures when compared to the big three. I've done a lot of work such as pulling all the plastic outside trim, to find they didn't put more than a hand full of screws on the metal trim that seals the roof to side walls, but should have with predrilled holes where the rest of the screws should have been placed, so I added over 100 screws and replaced the trim. How did I come to that point? There was a small leak running down the roof to wall trim inside, where the heat comes up near the bed, that brought me to all the missing screws.

The other thing to watch for is their 3900 lb axles are not strong enough for the 400, when you add basic living essentials, so weigh everything you place in your RV to keep the weight down, otherwise you will ruin the suspension on the torflex axles.

I replaced my propane tank with 2-5lb tanks and a 10lb tank. In Florida, they last months, in MA, I'm going through 3 gallons a week in November/December to heat and create hot water full-time. I do 6 months in each state.

I did add heat tape around all the water tank pipes, and an "S" pattern on the entire fresh water tank, then added foiled foam stick on insulation they use for sound deadening in cars. I plug it into the outside outlet below 50 degrees, and have been down to -3F with no issues. I don't heat the black or gray tank, and never had an issue in negative temperatures, but keep them open. I also use a bag system for the water closet and don't use the black tank - so much easier, since gray water can legally be dumped on private property ground or you can dump into a tank and then water the plant with it.

My monthly expenses with a paid off RV include:
Truck $470
Food $400 vegan/healthy
Gas $1200/yr (10,000 miles total/yr.)
Maintenance (materials $50/ month.)
Lot rent $400 with electric (I barter this cost.)
Verizon unlimited internet hot spot $50/month, flip phone $20/month
Full-time RV insurance $70/ month truck $130/mo
2 Honda EU 2200 generators running total 1 month out of the yr for gas - $100 ( outages, on the road, no electric sites.)
Hiking/running cross county/ exploring ($0)
Clothing ($100/month - running shoes, shirts, etc.)
Dog ($$$) he gets whatever he asks for.

Hope this helps, I've been rving for 20 years full-time, and really learned about the construction and mechanical side from my experience as a building contractor for large homes.

Ask anything, and I will try to answer without sugar coating it.

RayJim · January 19

Awesome thanks for taking the time to share!

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Full timers in their TAB 400

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