Really like your videos about the TaB 400, keep them coming. We are nearing retirement and have been thinking about getting back into the camping scene with a small teardrop. Because of your videos the TaB 400 is #1 on our list. Keep them coming. Also, not too far from you, we live in Valparaiso, IN.
You are very close to us! I have a cousin that lives up that way. In fact, right after we got married, we lived in Porter for a couple of months until my company at the time transferred me to Auburn. We love the 400 and think it's worth every cent! We just wanted to present a balance video to show that with any trailer, you can find things that you would want to change. We'd still buy it all over again and have no thoughts of trading it in.
@@TravelswithDelaney If your wife is claustrophobic, then why did y'all buy the T@b 400? Or let her sleep so close to the wall/window? There's a reason why the sink in the wet bath drains slowly. It's design is it's down fall. You can only go so big on the drain tubing due to it's folding design. I feel like that some of your complaints on the minimal design flaws of the T@bbie are really just nick picking. I mean, are you really in that of a hurry that you can't just let the sink drain while you are getting dressed, etc? Still 'liked' your informational video.
@@Sig721Tau Most people who experience claustrophobia when they're trying to sleep would not consider discussing the issue as nitpicking. Also, regardless of why the drain is slow, it is still an issue. Let's just say that the tires slowly leaked all of their air over the course of a week. Would raising this issue be nitpicking? After all, you could easily just re-inflate them once a week and just move on, right? How about the burners only working 90% of the time? You could always just eat some chips, right?
I had my husband take out the incredibly heavy dinette table and put a board in to make a couch. That takes care of the middle cushion and I can stretch out on my "couch" rather than the bed. I can run my phone charger behind the board. I've added decorative pillows and now have a great place to hang out. I usually eat outside but have a small tray to use inside. That is the only change I've made. I love my T@B 400!
I just found out from sanorger subscriber that they designed the dinette to turn into a couch. We’re going to do a short video on it late next week. We love the idea of a couch.
Thank you for sharing. If you only really want to catch up with the news on the TV, why not try ditching it altogether. I can’t tell you how much my life changed when I got rid of the TV. I can catch up with news on my iPad. Love your trailer. It’s lovely 😊😊
@@TravelswithDelaney Seems like the manufacturer could run some coax cable to an outside covered port to attach an antenna w/o too much trouble. Your thoughts?
My escapism as a millennial in 2020 is the idea of buying a T@b 400 Solo boondock, or emigrating to the UK to float their canal system on a narrowboat. My two worlds collided when I found your channel because you’re collective personalities mirror that of “Foxes Afloat,” which are an awesome UK couple who CZcams their life in/on a Narrowboat. I’ll leave it to you to decide who takes after who but I love your channels equally. Thank you for all your hard work to produce these vids. They’re 10/10
Since we are still paying for our daughter's college needs, we are a few years away for upgrading to a camper of some sort from our tent camping (although I must say, we have one hell of a great tent!) situation. But...you two are absolutely delightful and provide us with lots of information which will help us when we are able to travel and camp in more style. If we go with a TaB, fortunately I too sleep on "that narrower side" and I have no problem with the closeness (hubby would go nuts though). Wishing you lots of safe and happy travels always. Thanks.
Four out of the five things you’d like to change on your Tab are the reasons we opted to move up to our Heartland North Trail 22ft. We have a bed accessible from both sides, a full bathroom (not wet bath), although you don’t use the table for the bed, the piece you need is easily stored in one of the many storage compartments, and speaking of storage, our outdoor storage is accessible from both sides and fits a ton of stuff! The fifth thing you’d change, the external tv antenna is also included, although that wasn’t even a thought for us when buying-but we have that too! An added bonus for us is the outdoor kitchen ours has! As I mentioned on an earlier comment, I DO envy that stargazer window though! Also, I love the sleek modern look of your interior and that teardrop profile. Thanks for another great video!
I truly believe it's a give and take with trailers. You give up something in order to get something. We love the 400 but wanted to show that with any trailer, there are things that you would always like to change. We may do a video on 5 things that we love that make it all worth while....and that stargazer window would definitely be on the list! I'd also include the ease of towing and NuCamp's amazing customer service. I'll have to think on the other 2!
I agree with you on all suggestins. I've been going back and forth about Tab 320S or 400. The 320S is winning so far. One other thing about 400 the dark wood on bathroom and closet. I'm clostfobic too and I think dark walls don't help. I do have suggestion for your King antenna. I would stick on metal plate on roof, with sticky stuff, so you could use magnet part instead of tripod. Tripod didn't look very wind proof.
Thanks so much for all your videos! We just upgraded from spending the last three summers in a Tab 320. This past Christmas put us into the 400 and we absolutely LOVE it! We already had a Silverado as a TV so our bulkier items still go in there. We immediately ordered the Omni-directional King antenna after watching your last video and are excited for that as well. Our first non-driveway camping will be this weekend and cannot wait! (Aside from one work weekend we took it to the parents farm in Kansas.) Looking forward to meeting you two at uCamp this summer with our new Cadillac of Teardrops!
Congratulations on the upgrade to the Tab 400! They really are an awesome trailer and we feel like NuCamp is an awesome organization. I'm glad to hear you are coming to uCamp 18! We are looking forward to meeting everyone and getting ideas for our 400 in terms of organization and upgrades.
Good morning, Patrick! Thanks for addressing the things that hopefully NuCamp will improve on in the future - like you said, small trade-offs for a travel trailer you love! You made me run out to our LGMax to check on some things for comparison...they are both "brothers from another mother" trailers, it's amazing! So...let me try to remember your 5 points and compare Carl to "Maximus" lol! 1. Bed Headspace: (Patty, I'm 5' 5" and sleep on the inside as well) and have no problems in the LG, I think the "curve" (?) of the back may come out a bit more than the TaB. (And don't we just LOVE that stargazer window!!) 2. Dinette Set-Up: There is no extra cushion needed to make bed (straight forward seat and back cushions lay down on table, which btw you can remove and take outside if needed. Kinda cool.) The 2 usb/ 2 (110) outlet combo is right underneath the shelf under the front window and are accessible when in bed mode. 3. Bathroom sink: There is none! (Really not a problem for us tho, kitchen sink not far away, lol!) A full length mirror ( have to get a shammie for THAT, I think! - speaking of shammies, maybe one would help you get the excess water out of TaB sink...?) Also no shelves; there is a 3 pocket netted "organizer" inside shwr door to hold toiletries. 4. Basement Storage: Patrick, did I understand you right in there is just one narrow (and they sure are - 10" tall!) door to access underneath? In the LG, there is one on each side, which is quite a nice pass-through. We keep all the "fun" stuff (camp chairs, rug, grill, etc) on the right (passenger) side, and the tools, hoses, cords, etc on the left "service" side. There is no access to basement underneath bed from inside, however there is a nice size drawer (19" x 7" deep) inside trailer (below bed). 5. TV Antennae: The LGMax comes with one, and it protrudes no higher than the air conditioning unit. (Happy you found that King antennae, tho - glad it works so well!) Hope that gives your viewers an insight between the two, they are both top notch trailers! We all have different needs and wants in our camping experience; they're almost as individual as footprints - it's just finding that right shoe that fits, isn't it? ;-) Take good care, my friends - see you on down the road!
What an excellent post as always Stacey! Those are great comparisons between the two units. We don't have a pass through storage because the other side is where they put all of the centralized shut offs/low point drains which I actually love. By the way....love the name you came up with your trailer!! We definitely have to get C@rl and Maximus together sometime and then we can do a side by side video for everyone.
Love the video! and totally agree with your 5 points! My husband and I figured out that the air circulation is MUCH better for the person near the window, and the person near the cubby will be warmer (or cooler if the Alde is on), especially if you are sleeping with the fan on.
So if the table in front were square as well as conventional proportioned cushions, that would solve that problem. Substance over style! If the cut 4 inches on the back storage and cabinet to give the bed an extra 4 inches would be a huge plus. The sink is easy fix to funnel to a point for drainage. The antenna is easy, as well, they make a lay-flat style for other campers of this style. I am interested in it, and you guys are helping make the decision, Thank you both.
The issue of that tight space on the bed is very real. We had to give up our Tab because of it. You literally feel as though you are being stuffed into a tiny space with someone lying next to you. We considered leaving the dinette as a permanent bed with a real mattress, but chose to move on from the Tab instead. The small shower contributed to the decision as well. Thanks for pointing out these issues for those who may be considering a Tab. Really do love the aesthetic design, just needs to be a bit larger.
We definitely agree with you. Patty tried sleeping inside for two nights and just couldn't do it. Luckily it doesn't bother me. We'd love to see NuCamp redesign the 400 to be about 3' longer and have a north/south bed.
Great comments that come from having used the TAB! I know that NuCamp is really good at receiving feedback and adding possible changes to upcoming models. Very useful indeed!
We have been so impressed with how responsive NuCamp is. Their CEO, Scott Hubble, is very active on the Tab and Tag Facebook pages. Not often you see a CEO responding to customers on Facebook at all hours of the day.
Gee, torn between the little guy max and the tab 400. Would love to see pros/cons for the max just like you all did. Thanks for a candid review of the tab.
They are both great trailers and I think you will find each has its advantages. Your final decision may come down to what i most important to you. For instance, the bathroom in the 400 is bigger than in the LG Max. However, the Max has a bigger refrigerator. We really liked the look of the 400 and the upgraded systems such as the Alde and the Cool Cat. I think you will be happy either way you decide.
I just cut my 49" bed to be 30", and I experienced the same thing with the back wall. My camper is a 1987 Cadet, but still has a slope on the back wall. I decided to slide my mattress forward at night, then during the day, I will push it back, so I gain the extra floor space. In a 6x9 box, it makes a huge difference.
Addressing the first concern, i think it would be nice if they made a version of the t@b400 about 2 foot longer and that way the bed could be turned lengthwise and each person would have a side to get out on. I could deal with the other issues OK but that bed issue is a real issue for two people. especially if one were to need a CPAP machine or need to use the bathroom nightly
On your #4, how about a slide-out storage tray for that outside storage compartment. That would be the best solution. Especially if it went right across with the option to pull out from either side of the trailer.
Thanks for your informative videos. Just got my first travel trailer this year and am on my first trip with it after retiring this past summer. 16 foot Scamp, not perfect, but good enough. I think we can all find changes we would make. Now for me the change is to live with what I bought.
I would totally agree with you. I have heard that NuCamp is working with the bathroom sink manufacturer on a fix for the slow drain and they are aware of the plug issue under the dinette. First year models always are a work in progress
the fact you have a low profile camper you should be happy. Most campers are to tall for going under bridges there for you create a problem. Adding an antenna on the roof would is adding height not that it would matter. Plugging in your cord to charge your things, well how about charging it some where else ? or charging at a different time frame or buying a large battery charger that can charge your phone etc, I have added a 20,000 mah charger box that I bring with me on the road works great. Your spare cushion to make a bed put it on your own bed or leave it in your vehicle. You made the difference for sleeping arrangements smart but nothing can change there but good on you both for adjusting. Only thing I can see that needs to be adjust is the bathroom sink but why would you feel it up with water ? if that's the case use the kitchen sink. For your outside storage I'd rather keep it accessed to outside than access to both ends. All my outdoor gear is outside blocked from the inside no need. P.S. My buddy traded his travel lite 770 for this nucamp 400 and hasn't looked back. He loves it with no complaints, especially that large bathroom compared to most smaller campers.
Thanks for a excellent video. Going to visit with the Nucamp representative at my local dealer this Saturday. I have a list of 37 questions for her. Thanks again. Keep the videos coming.
I can't wait to hear how your meeting with the rep goes. We have been so impressed with how helpful people from NuCamp have been since we bought the trailer.
I love the things you pointed out on you Tab 400 I’ve been looking at alternate living and I’m retired a widow and I want to travel but you two seem to make it work and I think the Tab 400 is just so well planned out and put together other than the items that you pointed out thank you for sharing and I’ll be watching
Thank you Laura! We love our Tab 400. It really has everything that we need in it. We love that it has a dedicated queen bed, a oversized wet bath that really functions more like a traditional bath and the upgraded features like the Alde Heater and the ducted AC.
We found this interesting. There are things we would change about our RV also. We did chuckle a little when you mentioned no sawdust and being very clean. The last 2 RV's we have owned, we were able to build quite a collection of screws and other miscellaneous parts left behind on the build. LOL
Like you I have had a lot of trailers / RV's. Your right none are perfect. That's probably why I spend so much time upgrading and modifyng mine. A lot is design but I guess overall as long as your happy with the floor plan and quality then it's a win. Another great video stay safe, Lou
Thanks Lou! We truly love this video but wanted to show that there are almost always things you would change on any unit. Overall, the items we presented were minor in comparison to other trailers we have owned. Plus NuCamp is such a great company to work with that it's worth it to deal with these minor issues.
I agree about the head clearance problem!! Dear NuCamp, please change that radius so that one doesn’t feel like one is kissing the curved back wall when one is laying down!! 😖 Maybe make a bump out on the lower side of the radius.....I personally do not think it would look bad at all, and perhaps more people would buy your TAB 400. OK, I’ll get off my soap box now. 😁
That bed can be a deal breaker for some people. I wish NuCamp would make a trailer more like the old T@da trailer. It didn't have that steep back side which gives you more space for the bed.
It's funny after researching the tab and teardrops these videos keep popping up and every single one I watch, I go to their main channel and look at the videos and sure enough, everyone has upgraded to a bigger trailer lol
One feature of the Little Guy Max trailer that I did like, was that the rear wall isn't as sharply angled, creating the extra room you mention would be nice to have - and they still keep the nice big star-gazing style window the T@b 400 has. The downside for this is mostly aesthetic, as I don't think the Little Guy Max looks nearly as good from the outside - largely due to the more upright rear wall. Everything is a compromise...
I agree with all five of your points but none of them make me love my T@B 400 (Sh@dow) any less. Totally sold on the NuCamp products. We received our King Omni antenna and tried it out at home...a big thumbs up! Will be testing it at a camp site next week. Thanks for your video demo help on that.
Kristine Mueller I totally agree with you on loving our TaB 400 and NuCamp! It was pretty hard to identify even those 5 things for the video. Hope the antenna works great for you!
For the space issue in the bed you could try a thinner mattress, or, it would be a lot of work but to lower the legs on the be to make it shorter - that would probably be a lot of work though. Thanks
I would so love to see some RV maker design an RV line specifically for CPAP users. There are zillions of us but our choices are very limited because we don't have a place to put the machine. This trailer does but only if you want to sleep at the end with the TV. They need to design some of these so that you can easily locate and plug in your CPAP machine on EITHER side of the bed.
@wckdkoolbtxh Nope, not overweight. Been going to the gym for 33 years. The gap between the back of my tongue and my throat is narrower than average and the tissues get less firm as I age, hence the need for CPAP. Fail.
Perhaps the back wall could come straight up about 6" or so, then start the curve and that would make it less claustrophobic and still allow for the huge window. Myself, I'm not overly fond of those windows as they allow too much heat to come in during the hot summers..... and, if you go out for the day and forget to close the blinds, the sun will fade all your bedding.
Thanks for the review. The only thing keeping me from purchasing one of these is the fact that the dinette bed is for 1 person. When I camp, I like to go with another couple and sleeping for 3 just doesn't work. Thanks for the heads up about the pillow too. That kind of blows and should be redesigned.
I’m a solo traveler so the bed is more than adequate for me. I agree the dinette shape isn’t ideal, I would like to keep it down to form a couch. With the extra (rounded) front it gets in the way when sitting down and walking in the isle. I enjoy dispersed camping and would like a off- road package, and small gas oven to be offered on the TAB 400. All and all I am extremely happy with my TAB 400!
A cassette type toilet, no grey water tank, & a larger frig/freezer would be on my "off road" list. What is the coldest night you camped out? I'm hoping you & others will say something of your COLD night camping, COLD on the outside, not the interior.
Before we bought our Scamp we looked at these. Funny thing is I thought/found most of these things when we looked at them. The bed is the reason we passed. But thanks for the video.
I would like to see a longer version like a 20-21 footer with larger kitchen and bathroom. No slide out. I understand in Europe they have a 525? 550? Model, why not bring that one over?
Hey there you are again I enjoyed your first video when you get the three reasons to get one of these mission systems and I am here you are again enjoyed your first video I’m sure I’m going to enjoy this one
We're re-watching some of your great videos, and it was fun to see this one again! It's so nice to see that you were able to overcome all five of these shortcomings with your new Lance 1985. If you're open to a video suggestion, we'd be very interested to see you do another video showing the "5 Things We'd Change on our Lance 1985." Keep up the great work and we love seeing the TWD Life videos as well!
We actually have that video already planned out! It will be coming sometime in October once our summer travel series ends. We will be doing 5 things we love and 5 things we dislike on our Lance.
Patrick wouldn’t it be great if the pad for dinette bed could fit in that 6 inch space between the wall and your feet or on the opposite site and it could be a soft headboard what fo you think I love your videos My Glycol just fell below minimum I found it for $40 for a couple gallons is it complicated to install myself?
@@TravelswithDelaney Patrick is $40 good for the product you held up! My AC doesn’t seem to work On battery power but that’s what generators are for Many humans do not know that! Patrick any thoughts on my ALDE Bandit!? “Sweaty”!
If you could still have the toilet inside & the cooking on the outside (in the rear like the 320) would you prefer that over what you have now ❓ I always thought it would help in keeping the mess & odors to a minimum, what do you think ❓
I think I would go for the Little Guy Max. The angle in the back of the Little Guy Max is not so sharp so the bed is less claustrophobics but still has the back window. USB charging jacks are accessible when the dinette is made into a bed. Uses the back and seat cushions for the bed, no extra cushion to carry. Bigger pass-through storage. Bigger 3 way frig.
Steve Moses The LG Max is very nice but we wouldn’t traded our 400 for it. We love the ducted air conditioning, the radiant heater and the spacious wet bath.
They both have their advantages and disadvantages (T@b 400 and Little Guy Max). The 400's 2-way fridge is much more battery efficient, the dinette in the 400 is more comfortable (to me at least), and the 400 wins in the supplied battery (235 ah AGM, going to two 6 Volt AGM at 220 ah I believe for 2019 models in June), much nicer bathroom, ducted cool-cat A/C heat pump, Alde radiant heat and hot water, bigger fresh, grey and black tanks...The Little Guy Max is very nice too...just depends on which items you prioritize.
Radiant Heat, ducted ac, & that fold away bathroom sink are DEAL MAKERS, at least for MEeee. I would prefer a cassette type toilet for ease of cleaning & eliminate the black water tank completely.
The ducted AC is so much better from a noise standpoint and from a cooling standpoint as well. The radiant heat takes awhile to heat up a cold unit but once it's heat it is amazing.
Victor Gomes I cannot find anything like the TAB in Australia. It’s the perfect size and configuration - cannot understand why there is literally nothing like it here
Upgrade the sizes on the pvc pipes in your sink strap your pillow to the roof with hooks and rubber bands add boxes on your connection arm.antennas arent used in Europe anymore and this is German I think.also I'm just brainstorming here I don't have one of these but you could extend your bed the other way towards the kitchen fairly easily. make it so it does not take any space if you made a plywood u shape that you could put at the edge of the bed and put a pillow on it.when you don't use it you could flip it around and put it under the bed it would hug the floor and the sides.
@@TravelswithDelaney I ended up thinking more about this than I should and I realised that your sink most likely has a hose in it and not pipes since it has to fold.besides you would have to make the actual drain in the sink larger for it to have an effect.so I thought of another solution you could add a small 6v DC water pump where the sink hose meets your tank with a push to activate button. this would make a vacuum in the hose and it would drain like a train sink. These might be silly ideas but hell if I manage to think of something that helps it's a good thing right :).best of luck.
Lance makes the storage easy to access by a full slide out drawer with no need to dig things out. Don’t no why designers don’t combine all the great design functions.
It would be helpful for you to understand that when someone who is talking but is facing away from the "camera" their volume is reduced by about 75% and it is extremely hard to hear them. The volume control on CZcams will only go so high to compensate so a viewer has to "backup" several times to hear what is being said. Otherwise your video was pretty good even If I might not be as critical of the things that you were. This comment is offered with a constructive intent and not to merely criticize what you do a very good job on otherwise.
Thanks again for all the great videos. Just finished your out west series. I am liking your reviews of your T@B 400. This one very helpful. I hope NuCamp is watching too. And the cargo door piece, I hope ALL small trailer manufacturers pay close attention. To me, this is one of my biggest pet peeve with the industry. Just silly that the access door is not the full height of the storage area. Ok now off my soapbox. I have a question, and maybe squeeze the answer into a video. Seeing you on and around your bed made me think "How do you make up your bed? putting the sheets on?" Most if not all small campers have the basic bed layout. Case in point, your T@B, and hummingbird. We have a Rockwood Afram and the bed is the same way. It is so difficult to make, and I keep thinking that there is a better way. Thanks for your input.
Making the bed is never pretty to watch! LOL All of those style of beds are a pain to make. We have found that a deep pocket full size bed sheet set works best. I always start on the inside and then work my way which seems got work best. Maybe I can do a quick video on how I do it. I have had others request that before.
Hi, great video! How does the 4runner tow? We are looking to do your same setup. Also what mpg does it get towing? We are looking at both four runners and Highlander with a small TAB. Thx!
They could have made the bed farther away from the wall with maybe some low storage space so you could see out of the window but it would move you farther from that wall
All valid points and makes you wonder if the designers and builders ever actually camp in their products ? I was a bit confused when you state the 5 things you'd change "if you could" and then point out on a couple of them that they are things that "you couldn't change" ?
Travels with Yoly Well I suppose you can change anything but it might mean giving up something. For instance I am sue they could create more external storage by taking away the Cool Cat AC and going to a rooftop AC.
That's true ... pros & cons to everything. The Cool Cat we had in our T@B was quite loud. As it was our first camper I had nothing to compare it to so never thought too much about it. Then our second trailer had a roof mounted 13000 BTU roof unit and it was considerably louder. Then our third TT had a 16,000 BTU roof mount and it roared to a ridiculous level. Then we switched to a small little camping trailer (the Range Runner) and the window style wall mount A/C was a 5,000 BTU unit and it was incredibly quite ... 62 dB on low and 68 dB on high with readings taken 5 feet in front of it. I would say that this was half as loud as the Cool Cat. Our Adventurer truck camper after that had a roof mounted 8,500 BTU and it also was quite loud. Now our most recent and last truck camper has the 5,000 BTU wall mount and we're back down to the 60 dB range sound levels. My point to all this is the roof mounted A/C units are annoyingly loud so I'd rather give up the storage space .... that's why you have a tow vehicle :-)
I am guessing that the Cool Cat in your TaB was not ducted which let to it being loud. The Cool Cat in the TaB 400 is ducted which makes it very quiet. The overhead AC in our Jayco Hummingbird was very loud but again it was not ducted.
The ducted AC makes such a difference in the noise level. I believe our Cool Cat in our 05 Tab was not ducted either but I honestly don't remember how noisy that was.
Could you remove the radio antenna and replace it with your HDTV antenna, which should also work with the Radio? Is it possible to tie in that antenna to both the radio and TV?
For me this would be a two berth trailer. The extra cushion idea is a bad one. The side locker is way too small and better access to the storage space under the bed is certainly required. Perhaps an additional, larger locker door on the opposite side may be a solution. I do not mean to be rude but you do not appear to be small people. At 5feet 6inches tall and 140 pounds (and my wife at 5feet 3inches & 126 pounds) that bed looks tight with not a lot of room to manoeuvre, even for us. I had a caravan (sorry trailer) here in the UK, with a lift up basin similar to yours. The drainage was linked to the kitchen sink drainage. One solution would be to seperate the hoses to provide two drainage points, both with as few bends as possible.I am assuming you do not have an on board grey water tank. I had the same problem as you with the TV antenna. I installed an exterior point underneath the trailer but I still had to errect the antenna. Consequently the TV is now left at home and replaced with conversation, too much wine and board games plus an iPod/radio and bluetooth speaker. Having said that I do like the T@B very much. The layout inside is similar to my Eriba Triton 430 (fixed bed version). That too has it's shortcomings but don't they all.
I'm considering the T@B 400, but have concerns about the sleeping space up front. Is it long enough to be comfortable for a 5'7" individual? Would removing the back cushions from both sides of the dinette couch help? Patty looked pretty cramped in there, but I can't tell how tall she is ;)
What year is your Tab 400? I have the 2020 Tab 400 BD Lite and I do not have the USB plug under the dinette. Mine is on the front of the passenger side seat on the dinette.
Thank you so much for your wonderful videos. The hubby and I are planning on purchasing our first trailer in the next year. We're torn between the Tab and the Little Guy. I hope you do get together with Stacey to do a side-by-side comparison video! Anyway, am thoroughly enjoying all the informative videos. Thank you!
Hi, with a previous message I mentioned that I recently bought a new TAB 400. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. Now, I need a bit more room for produce in the refrigerator. What would you suggest? Do I purchase another small refrigerator? Where would I put it? In the tow vehicle? Any suggestions would be appreciated 🙂. Nilda
We carry a cooler with us in our tow vehicle for extra storage. We primarily keep our beverages in the cooler so we have more room in the refrigerator. We have two different size coolers that we use. I bought them at Walmart and the are the Ozark Trail brand that look like the Yeti. One is 26 qt and the larger one is 52 qt. I am sure they are not as good as the Yeti but they are much less expensive and they do what we want them to do. Another option you might consider is one of the refrigerated coolers. I know some people use them but we haven't tried one yet. Walmart sells both an Igloo and a Colman 40 qt iceless cooler for under $100.
Thank you for your response, this will help me out tremendously. I think I mentioned before, I’m completely new to camping ⛺️ and need to learn every detail. This is totally GEEK but it’s m trying. I need to learn about the electrical, heating, the tanks, etc. I have until April of 2019 to learn everything, that is when my lease it up. Thanks again 🙂
@@TravelswithDelaney There is a third option. Several manufacturers offer a portable chest style 12v refrigerator. Looks like a cooler on the outside, but has a highly efficient 2-speed compressor built in. I own two Indel B brand units. I liked this brand for it's reputation, 12v/115v utility, ability to use as a freezer, and that it will cut out before rendering the battery too low to start your vehicle. It's super quiet and available in three sizes.
Thank God I built my own camper out of a special order 14x7 cargo trailer. After watching this I couldn't stand that little space.How much for that thing ?
Slow draining sink??? YUCK!!! Other wise I love the tab! Brush my teeth out side! I also love Burt's Bees skin and facial wipes with aloe vera....a little water added and you can take a quick bath with those things to freshen up!
Its hard to give specific vehicles because a lot will depend on what you like personally. In general, I would recommend looking for a vehicle that has a tow rating of at least 4500# and can handle up to 500# of tongue weight. The Tab 400 can be loaded to 3500# and has a tongue weight around 400#. I prefer not to be at max on my tow vehicle ratings. Also, you may want to consider things like is the vehicle on a truck frame or car frame. My Toyota 4Runner is on a truck frame. The smaller Toyota Highlander has the tow capacity but it built on a car frame. I prefer the truck frame as it is a bit beefier. In addition to tow capacity, you want to make sure your vehicle will have plenty of power and braking. The 2014 4Runner is a V-6 so we have plenty of power to tow in the mountains and the brakes are able to handle the Tab 400. I hope this helps some.
On your tour, you pointed out that you had the dealer install a solar port. Do you use a portable solar panel, how many watts and does it actually produce enough energy for you to boondocks? thanks!
Storytelling In Motion Originally we had planned to purchase an R-Pod but chose the Jayco Hummingbird because we thought it was better built and had a two year warranty. We had the Hummingbird for about 10 months and became so frustrated with it and Jayco that we traded that on the 400. We absolutely love our 400
Thanks for your videos I just now subscribed. What if the manufacturer installed a composting toilet. Then wouldn't there be more storage space with exterior and possibly interior access in the space where the black tank would have been? I read where you said they are not offering composting toilets, yet a lot of RVers are replacing their flush toilets with composting toilets.
Good video. I really want a 400 when my retirement comes in 3 years. Are you still happy with the way it tows and how has it been during high wind on the road and in camp?
Donna McKee It pulls so easily even in wind. We towed in some pretty gusty winds coming home from Texas. It is also very stable when you have all 4 stabilizers down in camp.
We have a Tab400 with an Equalizer sway control hitch and it tows like it's not even there! Only in super high winds do you feel it move a little behind the truck (Toyota FJ Cruiser).
I don't use extended mirrors. If we leave the blinds down on the front and back windows, I can see through the trailer on my rear view mirror. I also added those cheap round blindspot stick on mirrors to my side mirrors and they work great.
Maybe you can throw your 2 cents in here .... We live on Colorado and are mostly interested in boondocking. There's tons of BLM & National Forest land to explore with thousands of miles of bumpy forest roads for access. So we want something small enough and with enough clearance to explore - and we're willing to trade that for some amenities. Looking at the Tab, it seems like the lifted tail would give better clearance. Does it actually? It just seems like it would be harder to bottom out going over ruts and such. The trade-off, of course is the storage space you lose because of it - which is good to have for bringing everything we need to be super comfortable in the backcountry. Do you have any insights on that?
Currently they don't offer the "Boondock" edition on the 400 however you can get it on the 320. The Boondock addition comes with bigger tires and a lift kit. I haven't actually measured to see how much clearance we have on the 400 but we are planning to do some BLM land this summer. When i get it hooked up on level ground, I will have to measure what clearance we actually have.
I contacted the company and the rep said they'd be doing a boondock addition later this summer! Now we're also looking at the Lance 1475. Wow, I don't know how you guys ever made a decision!
We just spent a week dry camping in our Tab400 in southern Utah; we did have access to water in addition to the tanks, and an ice chest for extra food. But with careful power management (i.e. we didn't watch TV nor did we need heat or AC) we only used 20% of our battery power during a 7 day trip. Even had a couple hot showers :). And we've towed our Tab to many a BLM campground on dirt roads without a problem so far. I do recommend a proportional brake controller for the sometimes steep grades in the Rockies.
Hi Patrick, on a unrelated question I remember you two staying in a great place in the Keys with your 400. Backed up agains the water. I can’t find your old CZcams with that. Do you happen to remember the rvpark and the video? Trying to book some things now that we will both be retired. Thank you!
We never stayed in the Keys with our 400 but we did take our 5th wheel down there years ago and stayed at Bluewater Key RV Resort. It was amazing. Our site did backup to the water and it had a tiki hut as well.
Love the tab 400... was wondering if it would be possible to have a jack-knife sofa in lieu of the dinette... seems that would be more spacious & comfy?
Really like your videos about the TaB 400, keep them coming. We are nearing retirement and have been thinking about getting back into the camping scene with a small teardrop. Because of your videos the TaB 400 is #1 on our list. Keep them coming. Also, not too far from you, we live in Valparaiso, IN.
You are very close to us! I have a cousin that lives up that way. In fact, right after we got married, we lived in Porter for a couple of months until my company at the time transferred me to Auburn. We love the 400 and think it's worth every cent! We just wanted to present a balance video to show that with any trailer, you can find things that you would want to change. We'd still buy it all over again and have no thoughts of trading it in.
@@TravelswithDelaney
If your wife is claustrophobic, then why did y'all buy the T@b 400? Or let her sleep so close to the wall/window? There's a reason why the sink in the wet bath drains slowly. It's design is it's down fall. You can only go so big on the drain tubing due to it's folding design. I feel like that some of your complaints on the minimal design flaws of the T@bbie are really just nick picking. I mean, are you really in that of a hurry that you can't just let the sink drain while you are getting dressed, etc? Still 'liked' your informational video.
@@Sig721Tau Most people who experience claustrophobia when they're trying to sleep would not consider discussing the issue as nitpicking. Also, regardless of why the drain is slow, it is still an issue. Let's just say that the tires slowly leaked all of their air over the course of a week. Would raising this issue be nitpicking? After all, you could easily just re-inflate them once a week and just move on, right? How about the burners only working 90% of the time? You could always just eat some chips, right?
I had my husband take out the incredibly heavy dinette table and put a board in to make a couch. That takes care of the middle cushion and I can stretch out on my "couch" rather than the bed. I can run my phone charger behind the board. I've added decorative pillows and now have a great place to hang out. I usually eat outside but have a small tray to use inside. That is the only change I've made. I love my T@B 400!
I just found out from sanorger subscriber that they designed the dinette to turn into a couch. We’re going to do a short video on it late next week. We love the idea of a couch.
Thank you for sharing. If you only really want to catch up with the news on the TV, why not try ditching it altogether. I can’t tell you how much my life changed when I got rid of the TV. I can catch up with news on my iPad. Love your trailer. It’s lovely 😊😊
Lynn Rixson Thank you
I agree!
The ability to take some DVDs along is why I would keep the TV.
@@TravelswithDelaney Seems like the manufacturer could run some coax cable to an outside covered port to attach an antenna w/o too much trouble. Your thoughts?
Great review. It’s nice to see real life examples to think about.
My escapism as a millennial in 2020 is the idea of buying a T@b 400 Solo boondock, or emigrating to the UK to float their canal system on a narrowboat. My two worlds collided when I found your channel because you’re collective personalities mirror that of “Foxes Afloat,” which are an awesome UK couple who CZcams their life in/on a Narrowboat. I’ll leave it to you to decide who takes after who but I love your channels equally. Thank you for all your hard work to produce these vids. They’re 10/10
Thank you so much Aaron!
Since we are still paying for our daughter's college needs, we are a few years away for upgrading to a camper of some sort from our tent camping (although I must say, we have one hell of a great tent!) situation. But...you two are absolutely delightful and provide us with lots of information which will help us when we are able to travel and camp in more style. If we go with a TaB, fortunately I too sleep on "that narrower side" and I have no problem with the closeness (hubby would go nuts though). Wishing you lots of safe and happy travels always. Thanks.
Thank you so much!
Four out of the five things you’d like to change on your Tab are the reasons we opted to move up to our Heartland North Trail 22ft. We have a bed accessible from both sides, a full bathroom (not wet bath), although you don’t use the table for the bed, the piece you need is easily stored in one of the many storage compartments, and speaking of storage, our outdoor storage is accessible from both sides and fits a ton of stuff! The fifth thing you’d change, the external tv antenna is also included, although that wasn’t even a thought for us when buying-but we have that too! An added bonus for us is the outdoor kitchen ours has! As I mentioned on an earlier comment, I DO envy that stargazer window though! Also, I love the sleek modern look of your interior and that teardrop profile. Thanks for another great video!
I truly believe it's a give and take with trailers. You give up something in order to get something. We love the 400 but wanted to show that with any trailer, there are things that you would always like to change. We may do a video on 5 things that we love that make it all worth while....and that stargazer window would definitely be on the list! I'd also include the ease of towing and NuCamp's amazing customer service. I'll have to think on the other 2!
I agree with you on all suggestins. I've been going back and forth about Tab 320S or 400. The 320S is winning so far. One other thing about 400 the dark wood on bathroom and closet. I'm clostfobic too and I think dark walls don't help. I do have suggestion for your King antenna. I would stick on metal plate on roof, with sticky stuff, so you could use magnet part instead of tripod. Tripod didn't look very wind proof.
My understanding is the 2019 Tab 400's can now be ordered with all light colored wood which definitely would lighten it up
Thanks so much for all your videos! We just upgraded from spending the last three summers in a Tab 320. This past Christmas put us into the 400 and we absolutely LOVE it! We already had a Silverado as a TV so our bulkier items still go in there. We immediately ordered the Omni-directional King antenna after watching your last video and are excited for that as well. Our first non-driveway camping will be this weekend and cannot wait! (Aside from one work weekend we took it to the parents farm in Kansas.) Looking forward to meeting you two at uCamp this summer with our new Cadillac of Teardrops!
Congratulations on the upgrade to the Tab 400! They really are an awesome trailer and we feel like NuCamp is an awesome organization. I'm glad to hear you are coming to uCamp 18! We are looking forward to meeting everyone and getting ideas for our 400 in terms of organization and upgrades.
Good morning, Patrick! Thanks for addressing the things that hopefully NuCamp will improve on in the future - like you said, small trade-offs for a travel trailer you love! You made me run out to our LGMax to check on some things for comparison...they are both "brothers from another mother" trailers, it's amazing!
So...let me try to remember your 5 points and compare Carl to "Maximus" lol!
1. Bed Headspace: (Patty, I'm 5' 5" and sleep on the inside as well) and have no problems in the LG, I think the "curve" (?) of the back may come out a bit more than the TaB. (And don't we just LOVE that stargazer window!!)
2. Dinette Set-Up: There is no extra cushion needed to make bed (straight forward seat and back cushions lay down on table, which btw you can remove and take outside if needed. Kinda cool.) The 2 usb/ 2 (110) outlet combo is right underneath the shelf under the front window and are accessible when in bed mode.
3. Bathroom sink: There is none! (Really not a problem for us tho, kitchen sink not far away, lol!) A full length mirror ( have to get a shammie for THAT, I think! - speaking of shammies, maybe one would help you get the excess water out of TaB sink...?) Also no shelves; there is a 3 pocket netted "organizer" inside shwr door to hold toiletries.
4. Basement Storage: Patrick, did I understand you right in there is just one narrow (and they sure are - 10" tall!) door to access underneath? In the LG, there is one on each side, which is quite a nice pass-through. We keep all the "fun" stuff (camp chairs, rug, grill, etc) on the right (passenger) side, and the tools, hoses, cords, etc on the left "service" side. There is no access to basement underneath bed from inside, however there is a nice size drawer (19" x 7" deep) inside trailer (below bed).
5. TV Antennae: The LGMax comes with one, and it protrudes no higher than the air conditioning unit. (Happy you found that King antennae, tho - glad it works so well!)
Hope that gives your viewers an insight between the two, they are both top notch trailers!
We all have different needs and wants in our camping experience; they're almost as individual as footprints - it's just finding that right shoe that fits, isn't it? ;-)
Take good care, my friends - see you on down the road!
What an excellent post as always Stacey! Those are great comparisons between the two units. We don't have a pass through storage because the other side is where they put all of the centralized shut offs/low point drains which I actually love. By the way....love the name you came up with your trailer!! We definitely have to get C@rl and Maximus together sometime and then we can do a side by side video for everyone.
I'm glad to know my LG Max is coming with an antenna, lol
Love the video! and totally agree with your 5 points! My husband and I figured out that the air circulation is MUCH better for the person near the window, and the person near the cubby will be warmer (or cooler if the Alde is on), especially if you are sleeping with the fan on.
You touched on every point I would change on mine... but like you I adore my 400!
So if the table in front were square as well as conventional proportioned cushions, that would solve that problem. Substance over style! If the cut 4 inches on the back storage and cabinet to give the bed an extra 4 inches would be a huge plus. The sink is easy fix to funnel to a point for drainage. The antenna is easy, as well, they make a lay-flat style for other campers of this style. I am interested in it, and you guys are helping make the decision, Thank you both.
The issue of that tight space on the bed is very real. We had to give up our Tab because of it. You literally feel as though you are being stuffed into a tiny space with someone lying next to you. We considered leaving the dinette as a permanent bed with a real mattress, but chose to move on from the Tab instead. The small shower contributed to the decision as well. Thanks for pointing out these issues for those who may be considering a Tab. Really do love the aesthetic design, just needs to be a bit larger.
We definitely agree with you. Patty tried sleeping inside for two nights and just couldn't do it. Luckily it doesn't bother me. We'd love to see NuCamp redesign the 400 to be about 3' longer and have a north/south bed.
I love all of the in depth information you keep providing about the t@b 400. Best reviews and walk thru's I've seen yet. Thanks so much!
Thank you! We will be doing more on the Tab 400 as our travels start to wind down.
Great comments that come from having used the TAB! I know that NuCamp is really good at receiving feedback and adding possible changes to upcoming models. Very useful indeed!
We have been so impressed with how responsive NuCamp is. Their CEO, Scott Hubble, is very active on the Tab and Tag Facebook pages. Not often you see a CEO responding to customers on Facebook at all hours of the day.
Anything that small will be more difficult with a long truck and easier with a smaller suv.
Gee, torn between the little guy max and the tab 400. Would love to see pros/cons for the max just like you all did. Thanks for a candid review of the tab.
They are both great trailers and I think you will find each has its advantages. Your final decision may come down to what i most important to you. For instance, the bathroom in the 400 is bigger than in the LG Max. However, the Max has a bigger refrigerator. We really liked the look of the 400 and the upgraded systems such as the Alde and the Cool Cat. I think you will be happy either way you decide.
Thank you very much for sharing your experiences. God bless your adventure.
Thank you
This is an informative & helpful video, thank you.
I just cut my 49" bed to be 30", and I experienced the same thing with the back wall. My camper is a 1987 Cadet, but still has a slope on the back wall. I decided to slide my mattress forward at night, then during the day, I will push it back, so I gain the extra floor space. In a 6x9 box, it makes a huge difference.
Addressing the first concern, i think it would be nice if they made a version of the t@b400 about 2 foot longer and that way the bed could be turned lengthwise and each person would have a side to get out on. I could deal with the other issues OK but that bed issue is a real issue for two people. especially if one were to need a CPAP machine or need to use the bathroom nightly
We totally agree with you on the longer T@B 400 to get a north/south bed!
On your #4, how about a slide-out storage tray for that outside storage compartment. That would be the best solution. Especially if it went right across with the option to pull out from either side of the trailer.
That would definitely make access that deep storage area much easier.
Thank you Patrick and Patty for the video, We to have changed sleeping positions, and it seems to be working. Thanks again
I'm glad that helped. It's worked out well for us.
I would probably always have to sleep on the dinette
The T@B 400 is my dream house. And I do mean dream ❤
This couple are adorable.
Thanks for your informative videos. Just got my first travel trailer this year and am on my first trip with it after retiring this past summer. 16 foot Scamp, not perfect, but good enough. I think we can all find changes we would make. Now for me the change is to live with what I bought.
Congratulations on your camper! I am sure you will make many memories in it
Thank you for the info. Not deal breakers but definitely small things that they could change for next years models.
I would totally agree with you. I have heard that NuCamp is working with the bathroom sink manufacturer on a fix for the slow drain and they are aware of the plug issue under the dinette. First year models always are a work in progress
the fact you have a low profile camper you should be happy. Most campers are to tall for going under bridges there for you create a problem. Adding an antenna on the roof would is adding height not that it would matter. Plugging in your cord to charge your things, well how about charging it some where else ? or charging at a different time frame or buying a large battery charger that can charge your phone etc, I have added a 20,000 mah charger box that I bring with me on the road works great. Your spare cushion to make a bed put it on your own bed or leave it in your vehicle. You made the difference for sleeping arrangements smart but nothing can change there but good on you both for adjusting. Only thing I can see that needs to be adjust is the bathroom sink but why would you feel it up with water ? if that's the case use the kitchen sink. For your outside storage I'd rather keep it accessed to outside than access to both ends. All my outdoor gear is outside blocked from the inside no need. P.S. My buddy traded his travel lite 770 for this nucamp 400 and hasn't looked back. He loves it with no complaints, especially that large bathroom compared to most smaller campers.
We stopped by a dealer today and took a look at the Tab - thought of you. NICE camper.
Thank you! I
Thanks for a excellent video. Going to visit with the Nucamp representative at my local dealer this Saturday. I have a list of 37 questions for her. Thanks again. Keep the videos coming.
I can't wait to hear how your meeting with the rep goes. We have been so impressed with how helpful people from NuCamp have been since we bought the trailer.
I love the things you pointed out on you Tab 400 I’ve been looking at alternate living and I’m retired a widow and I want to travel but you two seem to make it work and I think the Tab 400 is just so well planned out and put together other than the items that you pointed out thank you for sharing and I’ll be watching
Thank you Laura! We love our Tab 400. It really has everything that we need in it. We love that it has a dedicated queen bed, a oversized wet bath that really functions more like a traditional bath and the upgraded features like the Alde Heater and the ducted AC.
This is great! I hope that some day our channel Mike and Melissa Tab across Texas produces such content. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for watching!
We did the same thing. I am now sleeping on the inside. Thanks again
We found this interesting. There are things we would change about our RV also. We did chuckle a little when you mentioned no sawdust and being very clean. The last 2 RV's we have owned, we were able to build quite a collection of screws and other miscellaneous parts left behind on the build. LOL
We had quite a few screws floating around our last trailer as well! Haven't found any yet in this one.
Like you I have had a lot of trailers / RV's. Your right none are perfect. That's probably why I spend so much time upgrading and modifyng mine. A lot is design but I guess overall as long as your happy with the floor plan and quality then it's a win. Another great video stay safe, Lou
Thanks Lou! We truly love this video but wanted to show that there are almost always things you would change on any unit. Overall, the items we presented were minor in comparison to other trailers we have owned. Plus NuCamp is such a great company to work with that it's worth it to deal with these minor issues.
I agree about the head clearance problem!! Dear NuCamp, please change that radius so that one doesn’t feel like one is kissing the curved back wall when one is laying down!! 😖 Maybe make a bump out on the lower side of the radius.....I personally do not think it would look bad at all, and perhaps more people would buy your TAB 400. OK, I’ll get off my soap box now. 😁
That bed can be a deal breaker for some people. I wish NuCamp would make a trailer more like the old T@da trailer. It didn't have that steep back side which gives you more space for the bed.
It's funny after researching the tab and teardrops these videos keep popping up and every single one I watch, I go to their main channel and look at the videos and sure enough, everyone has upgraded to a bigger trailer lol
It’s like a sink on a submarine....great video thanks
I think you have a great trailer. A T@b400 is my future goal. Thanks for the videos featuring “Carl’s interior and exterior and your pointers/tips.
We do love C@rl! We just wanted to show how no trailer is ever perfect. That said, we wouldn't trade C@rl for anything at this point.
One feature of the Little Guy Max trailer that I did like, was that the rear wall isn't as sharply angled, creating the extra room you mention would be nice to have - and they still keep the nice big star-gazing style window the T@b 400 has. The downside for this is mostly aesthetic, as I don't think the Little Guy Max looks nearly as good from the outside - largely due to the more upright rear wall. Everything is a compromise...
You are so right on everything being a compromise!
I agree with all five of your points but none of them make me love my T@B 400 (Sh@dow) any less. Totally sold on the NuCamp products.
We received our King Omni antenna and tried it out at home...a big thumbs up! Will be testing it at a camp site next week. Thanks for your video demo help on that.
Kristine Mueller I totally agree with you on loving our TaB 400 and NuCamp! It was pretty hard to identify even those 5 things for the video. Hope the antenna works great for you!
Thank you
For the space issue in the bed you could try a thinner mattress, or, it would be a lot of work but to lower the legs on the be to make it shorter - that would probably be a lot of work though. Thanks
Definitely the thinner the mattress, the more space you will have in the back.
I would so love to see some RV maker design an RV line specifically for CPAP users. There are zillions of us but our choices are very limited because we don't have a place to put the machine. This trailer does but only if you want to sleep at the end with the TV. They need to design some of these so that you can easily locate and plug in your CPAP machine on EITHER side of the bed.
@wckdkoolbtxh Nope, not overweight. Been going to the gym for 33 years. The gap between the back of my tongue and my throat is narrower than average and the tissues get less firm as I age, hence the need for CPAP. Fail.
excellent, a very good comment, and without being complacent with the brand. They should pay attention to those details and correct them
Perhaps the back wall could come straight up about 6" or so, then start the curve and that would make it less claustrophobic and still allow for the huge window. Myself, I'm not overly fond of those windows as they allow too much heat to come in during the hot summers..... and, if you go out for the day and forget to close the blinds, the sun will fade all your bedding.
You are right....just a little bit less of a slope and the bedroom area would feel much larger and less tight in the back.
Thanks for the review. The only thing keeping me from purchasing one of these is the fact that the dinette bed is for 1 person. When I camp, I like to go with another couple and sleeping for 3 just doesn't work. Thanks for the heads up about the pillow too. That kind of blows and should be redesigned.
Grind Metal Wall Art I won’t lie....3 can be done but is a bit cramped. The 2 of us and our dog is perfect.
Another terrific video ☺ thank you for sharing!
Thank you Laura!
Your honesty made me subscribe
Thank you very much. We are glad to have you join us.
I’m a solo traveler so the bed is more than adequate for me. I agree the dinette shape isn’t ideal, I would like to keep it down to form a couch. With the extra (rounded) front it gets in the way when sitting down and walking in the isle. I enjoy dispersed camping and would like a off- road package, and small gas oven to be offered on the TAB 400.
All and all I am extremely happy with my TAB 400!
Thanks for sharing your list with us. We would have liked an off-road package as well.
A cassette type toilet, no grey water tank, & a larger frig/freezer would be on my "off road" list. What is the coldest night you camped out? I'm hoping you & others will say something of your COLD night camping, COLD on the outside, not the interior.
AZ Claimjumper I believe it was 24 degrees outside in Tennessee when we brought C@rl home from Florida back in January
Before we bought our Scamp we looked at these. Funny thing is I thought/found most of these things when we looked at them. The bed is the reason we passed. But thanks for the video.
Thank you for watching our video and hope you are enjoying your Scamp!
I'm waiting for the Tab 500 Stretch version with a Slide out and exterior storage.
Slide outs are a pain to deal with in the winter and in uneven ground. Good luck with the maintenance issues of the slide out.
I would like to see a longer version like a 20-21 footer with larger kitchen and bathroom. No slide out. I understand in Europe they have a 525? 550? Model, why not bring that one over?
Hey there you are again I enjoyed your first video when you get the three reasons to get one of these mission systems and I am here you are again enjoyed your first video I’m sure I’m going to enjoy this one
After your review of your Tab 400, I'm sold! So when the time comes, we're heading to NuCamp!
If you are able to go visit the factory in Sugarcreek, Ohio, you will be even more impressed. They are truly an amazing company!
@@TravelswithDelaney Well, we're in California. If the opportunity comes up, for sure!
Thanks there are some great points you covered
Very informative. Thanks
+kdl55 Thanks!
We're re-watching some of your great videos, and it was fun to see this one again! It's so nice to see that you were able to overcome all five of these shortcomings with your new Lance 1985. If you're open to a video suggestion, we'd be very interested to see you do another video showing the "5 Things We'd Change on our Lance 1985." Keep up the great work and we love seeing the TWD Life videos as well!
We actually have that video already planned out! It will be coming sometime in October once our summer travel series ends. We will be doing 5 things we love and 5 things we dislike on our Lance.
Patrick wouldn’t it be great if the pad for dinette bed could fit in that 6 inch space between the wall and your feet or on the opposite site and it could be a soft headboard what fo you think
I love your videos My Glycol just fell below minimum I found it for $40 for a couple gallons is it complicated to install myself?
Glycol is very easy to put into. your system. You just need to find the tank, unscrew the cap and fill it up to the MAX line on your tank.
@@TravelswithDelaney Patrick is $40 good for the product you held up! My AC doesn’t seem to work
On battery power but that’s what generators are for Many humans do not know that!
Patrick any thoughts on my ALDE Bandit!?
“Sweaty”!
If you could still have the toilet inside & the cooking on the outside (in the rear like the 320) would you prefer that over what you have now ❓ I always thought it would help in keeping the mess & odors to a minimum, what do you think ❓
I would agree with you. We never cooked often inside the 400.
If tab design was a larger footprint of version you have would be great and give little more wiggle room. Tks for sharing.
I think I would go for the Little Guy Max. The angle in the back of the Little Guy Max is not so sharp so the bed is less claustrophobics but still has the back window.
USB charging jacks are accessible when the dinette is made into a bed. Uses the back and seat cushions for the bed, no extra cushion to carry.
Bigger pass-through storage.
Bigger 3 way frig.
Steve Moses The LG Max is very nice but we wouldn’t traded our 400 for it. We love the ducted air conditioning, the radiant heater and the spacious wet bath.
They both have their advantages and disadvantages (T@b 400 and Little Guy Max). The 400's 2-way fridge is much more battery efficient, the dinette in the 400 is more comfortable (to me at least), and the 400 wins in the supplied battery (235 ah AGM, going to two 6 Volt AGM at 220 ah I believe for 2019 models in June), much nicer bathroom, ducted cool-cat A/C heat pump, Alde radiant heat and hot water, bigger fresh, grey and black tanks...The Little Guy Max is very nice too...just depends on which items you prioritize.
ChrisFix all excellent points!
Radiant Heat, ducted ac, & that fold away bathroom sink are DEAL MAKERS, at least for MEeee.
I would prefer a cassette type toilet for ease of cleaning & eliminate the black water tank completely.
The ducted AC is so much better from a noise standpoint and from a cooling standpoint as well. The radiant heat takes awhile to heat up a cold unit but once it's heat it is amazing.
very helpful video, thanks
Ummmm.... Maybe I should become the importer down here in Australia? :-) Happy travels guys!
NuCamp down under! LOL I love it!
Victor Gomes I cannot find anything like the TAB in Australia. It’s the perfect size and configuration - cannot understand why there is literally nothing like it here
Upgrade the sizes on the pvc pipes in your sink strap your pillow to the roof with hooks and rubber bands add boxes on your connection arm.antennas arent used in Europe anymore and this is German I think.also I'm just brainstorming here I don't have one of these but you could extend your bed the other way towards the kitchen fairly easily. make it so it does not take any space if you made a plywood u shape that you could put at the edge of the bed and put a pillow on it.when you don't use it you could flip it around and put it under the bed it would hug the floor and the sides.
Those are some great ideas!
@@TravelswithDelaney I ended up thinking more about this than I should and I realised that your sink most likely has a hose in it and not pipes since it has to fold.besides you would have to make the actual drain in the sink larger for it to have an effect.so I thought of another solution you could add a small 6v DC water pump where the sink hose meets your tank with a push to activate button. this would make a vacuum in the hose and it would drain like a train sink. These might be silly ideas but hell if I manage to think of something that helps it's a good thing right :).best of luck.
Lance makes the storage easy to access by a full slide out drawer with no need to dig things out. Don’t no why designers don’t combine all the great design functions.
I would agree with you!
Thanks for the review!!
Nice video and great points 👍
Just Let Me Travel Thank you!
I don't need a sink in the bathroom But I would like a double sink in the kitchen.everything is okay
I would like a top bunk,so you don't have to change the dinner!
It would be helpful for you to understand that when someone who is talking but is facing away from the "camera" their volume is reduced by about 75% and it is extremely hard to hear them. The volume control on CZcams will only go so high to compensate so a viewer has to "backup" several times to hear what is being said. Otherwise your video was pretty good even If I might not be as critical of the things that you were. This comment is offered with a constructive intent and not to merely criticize what you do a very good job on otherwise.
Thanks again for all the great videos. Just finished your out west series. I am liking your reviews of your T@B 400. This one very helpful. I hope NuCamp is watching too. And the cargo door piece, I hope ALL small trailer manufacturers pay close attention. To me, this is one of my biggest pet peeve with the industry. Just silly that the access door is not the full height of the storage area.
Ok now off my soapbox. I have a question, and maybe squeeze the answer into a video. Seeing you on and around your bed made me think "How do you make up your bed? putting the sheets on?" Most if not all small campers have the basic bed layout. Case in point, your T@B, and hummingbird. We have a Rockwood Afram and the bed is the same way. It is so difficult to make, and I keep thinking that there is a better way. Thanks for your input.
Making the bed is never pretty to watch! LOL All of those style of beds are a pain to make. We have found that a deep pocket full size bed sheet set works best. I always start on the inside and then work my way which seems got work best. Maybe I can do a quick video on how I do it. I have had others request that before.
I use waterbed sheets. Easy to put on and take off.
Wow!! Great Video!
Thank you!
How comfortable is the dining area for sitting and playing games? For watching tv?
what year is this trailer... and, is there a chance any of those items have been addressed by the manufacturer since?
It was a 2018.
Hi, great video! How does the 4runner tow? We are looking to do your same setup. Also what mpg does it get towing? We are looking at both four runners and Highlander with a small TAB. Thx!
I adore you guys!
Thank you so much!
They could have made the bed farther away from the wall with maybe some low storage space so you could see out of the window but it would move you farther from that wall
The cushion . . outlet . . antenna . . sink . . storage . . window curve.
All valid points and makes you wonder if the designers and builders ever actually camp in their products ? I was a bit confused when you state the 5 things you'd change "if you could" and then point out on a couple of them that they are things that "you couldn't change" ?
Travels with Yoly Well I suppose you can change anything but it might mean giving up something. For instance I am sue they could create more external storage by taking away the Cool Cat AC and going to a rooftop AC.
That's true ... pros & cons to everything. The Cool Cat we had in our T@B was quite loud. As it was our first camper I had nothing to compare it to so never thought too much about it. Then our second trailer had a roof mounted 13000 BTU roof unit and it was considerably louder. Then our third TT had a 16,000 BTU roof mount and it roared to a ridiculous level. Then we switched to a small little camping trailer (the Range Runner) and the window style wall mount A/C was a 5,000 BTU unit and it was incredibly quite ... 62 dB on low and 68 dB on high with readings taken 5 feet in front of it. I would say that this was half as loud as the Cool Cat. Our Adventurer truck camper after that had a roof mounted 8,500 BTU and it also was quite loud. Now our most recent and last truck camper has the 5,000 BTU wall mount and we're back down to the 60 dB range sound levels. My point to all this is the roof mounted A/C units are annoyingly loud so I'd rather give up the storage space .... that's why you have a tow vehicle :-)
I am guessing that the Cool Cat in your TaB was not ducted which let to it being loud. The Cool Cat in the TaB 400 is ducted which makes it very quiet. The overhead AC in our Jayco Hummingbird was very loud but again it was not ducted.
You are correct in your assumption and conclusion :-) We've had ducted heat but never ducted A/C.
The ducted AC makes such a difference in the noise level. I believe our Cool Cat in our 05 Tab was not ducted either but I honestly don't remember how noisy that was.
Could you remove the radio antenna and replace it with your HDTV antenna, which should also work with the Radio? Is it possible to tie in that antenna to both the radio and TV?
That’s actually a great question. I’ll have to look into that.
Can two kids sleep where the dinet is at? We are a family of four and like T@B400.
Oleg K It would be very tight. One adult can sleep there ok. The issue would be the width of the bed
👍🏻 awesome!
Thank you!
For me this would be a two berth trailer. The extra cushion idea is a bad one. The side locker is way too small and better access to the storage space under the bed is certainly required. Perhaps an additional, larger locker door on the opposite side may be a solution. I do not mean to be rude but you do not appear to be small people. At 5feet 6inches tall and 140 pounds (and my wife at 5feet 3inches & 126 pounds) that bed looks tight with not a lot of room to manoeuvre, even for us. I had a caravan (sorry trailer) here in the UK, with a lift up basin similar to yours. The drainage was linked to the kitchen sink drainage. One solution would be to seperate the hoses to provide two drainage points, both with as few bends as possible.I am assuming you do not have an on board grey water tank. I had the same problem as you with the TV antenna. I installed an exterior point underneath the trailer but I still had to errect the antenna. Consequently the TV is now left at home and replaced with conversation, too much wine and board games plus an iPod/radio and bluetooth speaker. Having said that I do like the T@B very much. The layout inside is similar to my Eriba Triton 430 (fixed bed version). That too has it's shortcomings but don't they all.
I'm considering the T@B 400, but have concerns about the sleeping space up front. Is it long enough to be comfortable for a 5'7" individual? Would removing the back cushions from both sides of the dinette couch help? Patty looked pretty cramped in there, but I can't tell how tall she is ;)
It will work for one adult. I have slept on it before and I am 5’10”. I’d suggest a memory foam topper if you were going to use it regularly
What year is your Tab 400? I have the 2020 Tab 400 BD Lite and I do not have the USB plug under the dinette. Mine is on the front of the passenger side seat on the dinette.
Ours is a 2018
@@TravelswithDelaney thanks!That explains the difference.
Hi,is your AC unit underneath your bed and if so can you hear it running while trying to sleep?
No. Our 2018 T@B 400 has the Dometic Cool Cat and it is located under the dinette on the drivers side.
Thank you so much for your wonderful videos. The hubby and I are planning on purchasing our first trailer in the next year. We're torn between the Tab and the Little Guy. I hope you do get together with Stacey to do a side-by-side comparison video! Anyway, am thoroughly enjoying all the informative videos. Thank you!
Hi, with a previous message I mentioned that I recently bought a new TAB 400. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. Now, I need a bit more room for produce in the refrigerator. What would you suggest? Do I purchase another small refrigerator? Where would I put it? In the tow vehicle?
Any suggestions would be appreciated 🙂.
Nilda
We carry a cooler with us in our tow vehicle for extra storage. We primarily keep our beverages in the cooler so we have more room in the refrigerator. We have two different size coolers that we use. I bought them at Walmart and the are the Ozark Trail brand that look like the Yeti. One is 26 qt and the larger one is 52 qt. I am sure they are not as good as the Yeti but they are much less expensive and they do what we want them to do. Another option you might consider is one of the refrigerated coolers. I know some people use them but we haven't tried one yet. Walmart sells both an Igloo and a Colman 40 qt iceless cooler for under $100.
Thank you for your response, this will help me out tremendously. I think I mentioned before, I’m completely new to camping ⛺️ and need to learn every detail. This is totally GEEK but it’s m trying. I need to learn about the electrical, heating, the tanks, etc. I have until April of 2019 to learn everything, that is when my lease it up.
Thanks again 🙂
Sorry, I meant to say , camping is totally GREEK to me....lol. Totally different world.
Once you get it all figured out...then you'll be GEEK! LOL
@@TravelswithDelaney There is a third option. Several manufacturers offer a portable chest style 12v refrigerator. Looks like a cooler on the outside, but has a highly efficient 2-speed compressor built in. I own two Indel B brand units. I liked this brand for it's reputation, 12v/115v utility, ability to use as a freezer, and that it will cut out before rendering the battery too low to start your vehicle. It's super quiet and available in three sizes.
Thank God I built my own camper out of a special order 14x7 cargo trailer. After watching this I couldn't stand that little space.How much for that thing ?
Slow draining sink??? YUCK!!! Other wise I love the tab! Brush my teeth out side! I also love Burt's Bees skin and facial wipes with aloe vera....a little water added and you can take a quick bath with those things to freshen up!
How much you pay for it? Thx
We paid $28,000 in December of 2017
Was it that a better product being built or just the demand that drive up the price ❓
Could you advise maybe 3 vehicles capable of towing the Tab? I've been getting conflicting advice. Thanks!
Its hard to give specific vehicles because a lot will depend on what you like personally. In general, I would recommend looking for a vehicle that has a tow rating of at least 4500# and can handle up to 500# of tongue weight. The Tab 400 can be loaded to 3500# and has a tongue weight around 400#. I prefer not to be at max on my tow vehicle ratings. Also, you may want to consider things like is the vehicle on a truck frame or car frame. My Toyota 4Runner is on a truck frame. The smaller Toyota Highlander has the tow capacity but it built on a car frame. I prefer the truck frame as it is a bit beefier. In addition to tow capacity, you want to make sure your vehicle will have plenty of power and braking. The 2014 4Runner is a V-6 so we have plenty of power to tow in the mountains and the brakes are able to handle the Tab 400. I hope this helps some.
Travels with Delaney Yes, thanks!
They should make the back window bigger
On your tour, you pointed out that you had the dealer install a solar port. Do you use a portable solar panel, how many watts and does it actually produce enough energy for you to boondocks? thanks!
Cathy Furtado We have a 100 watt Renogy briefcase style solar panel we are using. We’re still experimenting to see if it’s going to work for us.
@@TravelswithDelaney How about an update on your solar panel?
Did you have an opportunity to look into the R-Pod by Forest River? Any thoughts?
Storytelling In Motion Originally we had planned to purchase an R-Pod but chose the Jayco Hummingbird because we thought it was better built and had a two year warranty. We had the Hummingbird for about 10 months and became so frustrated with it and Jayco that we traded that on the 400. We absolutely love our 400
Thanks for your videos I just now subscribed. What if the manufacturer installed a composting toilet. Then wouldn't there be more storage space with exterior and possibly interior access in the space where the black tank would have been? I read where you said they are not offering composting toilets, yet a lot of RVers are replacing their flush toilets with composting toilets.
Good video. I really want a 400 when my retirement comes in 3 years. Are you still happy with the way it tows and how has it been during high wind on the road and in camp?
Donna McKee It pulls so easily even in wind. We towed in some pretty gusty winds coming home from Texas. It is also very stable when you have all 4 stabilizers down in camp.
One more question please, do you use a weight distribution hitch or a sway controller?
Donna McKee We do use a friction sway bar but we do not use weight distribution. It pulls great with that setup using our 2014 Toyota 4Runner
We have a Tab400 with an Equalizer sway control hitch and it tows like it's not
even there! Only in super high winds do you feel it move a little behind the truck (Toyota FJ Cruiser).
Do you need extended side mirrors added on to see around the rear of the trailer?
I don't use extended mirrors. If we leave the blinds down on the front and back windows, I can see through the trailer on my rear view mirror. I also added those cheap round blindspot stick on mirrors to my side mirrors and they work great.
Thanks for response.
Maybe you can throw your 2 cents in here .... We live on Colorado and are mostly interested in boondocking. There's tons of BLM & National Forest land to explore with thousands of miles of bumpy forest roads for access. So we want something small enough and with enough clearance to explore - and we're willing to trade that for some amenities.
Looking at the Tab, it seems like the lifted tail would give better clearance. Does it actually?
It just seems like it would be harder to bottom out going over ruts and such.
The trade-off, of course is the storage space you lose because of it - which is good to have for bringing everything we need to be super comfortable in the backcountry. Do you have any insights on that?
Currently they don't offer the "Boondock" edition on the 400 however you can get it on the 320. The Boondock addition comes with bigger tires and a lift kit. I haven't actually measured to see how much clearance we have on the 400 but we are planning to do some BLM land this summer. When i get it hooked up on level ground, I will have to measure what clearance we actually have.
I contacted the company and the rep said they'd be doing a boondock addition later this summer! Now we're also looking at the Lance 1475. Wow, I don't know how you guys ever made a decision!
Barbera Aimes Thanks for the update. I had not heard about the boondock edition coming out. The Lance trailers look very nice as well.
We just spent a week dry camping in our Tab400 in southern Utah; we did have access to water in addition to the tanks, and an ice chest for extra food. But with careful power management (i.e. we didn't watch TV nor did we need heat or AC) we only used 20% of our battery power during a 7 day trip. Even had a couple hot showers :). And we've towed our Tab to many a BLM campground on dirt roads without a problem so far. I do recommend a proportional brake controller for the sometimes steep grades in the Rockies.
Hi Patrick, on a unrelated question I remember you two staying in a great place in the Keys with your 400. Backed up agains the water. I can’t find your old CZcams with that. Do you happen to remember the rvpark and the video? Trying to book some things now that we will both be retired. Thank you!
We never stayed in the Keys with our 400 but we did take our 5th wheel down there years ago and stayed at Bluewater Key RV Resort. It was amazing. Our site did backup to the water and it had a tiki hut as well.
Love the tab 400... was wondering if it would be possible to have a jack-knife sofa in lieu of the dinette... seems that would be more spacious & comfy?
Currently NuCamp does not offer a jack-knife sofa option but I think the dinette are could definitely do something like.
Thank you!
I am researching trailers, RVs etc. What is the best place to go to BUY a used one? Is there a website?
I hear people talk about RVTrader.com. I see Tab’s for sale sometimes on the Tab Facebook groups.
Craigs lilst sometimes have T@B's.