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Hit'nMiss · 05-18-2005, 10:14 AM

TaB teardrop trailer made by THOR.
No information as where they are manufactured. Anyone know?
Mighty cute IMHO. Trim colors really get your attention.
Max headroom = 5'9" .... ideal for all you shortstops.
No toilet.....ideal for those with lots of will power, large bladders, and sinus trouble.

MSRP about $10,700.

http://www.tab-rv.com/specs/index.php

I wonder what "AluFiber" skin material is all about? Would it have any improved application on an Airatream?

I hope these things catch on. Do you all think they will ? Why or why not?

Flicka

Pschoerrn · 05-18-2005, 10:32 AM

Hi Flicka,

they are produced by Dutchmen Manufacturing in Goshen IN.

They look really cool and I think its a great chance for people to get into the whole RV thing without a too high expense and it even can be towed with most cars on the market. They show it with the VW New Beetle, what a nice looking combination...

Bjoern

Rivetedude · 05-18-2005, 10:43 AM

They are quite nice. I watched a thing on Discovery Channel or something called RV Crazy and there is a HUGE niche in the RVing genre for tear drop trailers! The old Shastas of the late '40's are probably the most sought after, but it seems these people make their own more often than not. They believe that they are sticking true to the "primitive" aspect of camping. Usually they are a bed inside with maybe a cupboard across one end, then they've got a flip-up rear that holds a cooking area and sink. The TAB isn't built that way. The TAB is simply a new spin on a VERY old idea.

The TAB owners are very tribal though, much like Airstreamers. A customer came into my dealership looking for parts and accessories and I was granted the joy of looking it over. They said they were in a TAB Caravan hitting several Rallies along the way. I suppose you can find comraderie with anything you buy, but it just suprised me that such a new product had what seemed like very good organization.

Ben

Foiled Again · 05-18-2005, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HitnMiss

MSRP about $10,700.
I hope these things catch on. Do you all think they will ? Why or why not?

Flicka

I've seen 'em and they are cute! But ye Gods they are TINY - except when compared to the originals.

And at $10,700 it's not a lot of trailer for the money. It's got to be inexpensive to build since it's "sans pissoire."

Perfectly adequate for weekenders at a full facilities RV park though. It would appeal to people who don't have and don't want a full size tow vehicle.

I remember my Uncle Cal's original teardrop - he trained hunting dogs and eventually changed his over to a rolling kennel. It was probably only half the size of this teardrop.

Tin Lizzie

markdoane · 05-18-2005, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pschoerrn

Hi Flicka,

they are produced by Dutchmen Manufacturing in Goshen IN.

Bjoern

Bjoern,

I thought they were built in Germany and exported to the US.

Did you notice they have surge brakes?

Here's a website: http://www.tab-out-of-line.de/

Pschoerrn · 05-18-2005, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markdoane

Bjoern,

I thought they were built in Germany and exported to the US.

Did you notice they have surge brakes?

Here's a website: http://www.tab-out-of-line.de/

Yes, I have seen the Al-Ko Chassis, but Al-Ko has production facilities in the US, so I guess that these are made overseas. The lightweight Al-Ko Chassis are used by many RV Manufacturers worldwide.

What I just saw on the Al-Ko USA Site is that they also built electric brakes, maybe that makes it easier for us to get parts overhere...

Bjoern

markdoane · 05-18-2005, 02:09 PM

Al-ko headquarters are in Europe, they do have a manufacturing facility in the US. I'm pretty sure the trailers are built in Europe by Tabbert though. Maybe Dutchman is the importer and US distributor?

Here's a T@B in Hamburg.

InsideOut · 05-18-2005, 02:15 PM

Here's a link with some earlier discussions and additional pictures...
or use the search feature using "T@B" the keyword.

Shari

axleman · 05-18-2005, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markdoane

I'm pretty sure the trailers are built in Europe by Tabbert though. Maybe Dutchman is the importer and US distributor?

Don,

There is a manufacturing facility in Bristol Indiana that builds at least some of these trailers. I have been there.

Respectfully,

Henry

Pschoerrn · 05-18-2005, 02:36 PM

Don,

you are absolutely right! I just didn´t brought them in contact with Tabbert as they normaly build these old style RV. To be honest - I have never seen a T@b on the road

.

I just surfed their German Webpage and it looks like the little T@b has a big brother with a double axle

I like the wheel on the rear curve... think I have to order info material...

Would have never thought that we germans can build cool Caravans!

BJoern

markdoane · 05-18-2005, 03:51 PM

Henry,

I'm pretty sure the T@B is built, or at least the parts are sourced, from Germany. I saw one at the RV show last year and it was pretty clear that the design and development was european. The coupler and tongue jack (even on the T@B-usa model) definitely look european. In fact, they look like the chassis that BJoern posted on the surge brake thread a few days ago.

I wonder if they are shipping the parts into Indiana and doing final assembly there? I noticed that some of the optional appliances are US manufacture, like Norcold.

Rivetedude · 05-18-2005, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markdoane

Al-ko headquarters are in Europe, they do have a manufacturing facility in the US. I'm pretty sure the trailers are built in Europe by Tabbert though. Maybe Dutchman is the importer and US distributor?

Yeah, kind of like the Westphalia? All Airstream does is put stickers on it!

markdoane · 05-18-2005, 04:46 PM

Funny you should mention that. I thought this looked familiar.

http://www.knaus-tabbert-group.de/

axleman · 05-18-2005, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markdoane

Henry,

I'm pretty sure the T@B is built, or at least the parts are sourced, from Germany. I saw one at the RV show last year and it was pretty clear that the design and development was european. The coupler and tongue jack (even on the T@B-usa model) definitely look european. In fact, they look like the chassis that BJoern posted on the surge brake thread a few days ago.

I wonder if they are shipping the parts into Indiana and doing final assembly there? I noticed that some of the optional appliances are US manufacture, like Norcold.

Don,

You are correct that the sourcing, design, history and so forth are all from Europe. All I was pointing out to folks is that they do have an assembly plant here in Bristol Indiana

.

I was driving down the road the other day (maybe 6-8 months ago) and spotted a yard full of these interesting little guys

. There was probably 25-50 of them. They stood out to me, as they were not the typical RV that is built in Indiana. This really caught my attention so I paid them a visit.

This thread has taught me a lot. I apologize for not explaining myself better

.

Regards,
Henry

markdoane · 05-18-2005, 05:26 PM

What's to apologize? I didn't know they were assembled here in Indiana, so I learned something too!

axleman · 05-18-2005, 05:26 PM

Addition:They also sell them in Elkhart, Indiana along a street called Cassopolis - it has RV dealerships one after another for several miles.

Rivetedude · 05-18-2005, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axleman

Addition:They also sell them in Elkhart, Indiana along a street called Cassopolis - it has RV dealerships one after another for several miles.

Yeah...we go there for dealer tours quite frequently. Elkhart is truly a depressing place. I have stayed there several times and have yet to see something beautiful in that town. It's an industrial powerhouse, but truly truly depressing.

Forrest · 05-18-2005, 10:31 PM

I wrote to TAB back in June, 2004. This was their response:

Dear Forrest,

Thank you for your inquiry into our T@B "microlite" travel trailers. Your interest is appreciated.

T@B is derived from the German company Tabbert. Tabbert has been producing tear drop trailers for almost 75 years. Dutchmen Mfg has an exclusive agreement with Tabbert to produce the tear drop travel trailers here in the United States. However, we use the name as an acronym for Taking @merica Back....back to the simpler times...

Thanks again for the question. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Regards,
Christina Cárdenas
T@B Sales Coordinator
PH-574-534-1224, extn 8331
FAX-574-533-3807
WWW.Tab-RV.com

Anon · 05-19-2005, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forrest

I wrote to TAB back in June, 2004. This was their response:

Dear Forrest,

Thank you for your inquiry into our T@B "microlite" travel trailers. Your interest is appreciated.

T@B is derived from the German company Tabbert. Tabbert has been producing tear drop trailers for almost 75 years. Dutchmen Mfg has an exclusive agreement with Tabbert to produce the tear drop travel trailers here in the United States. However, we use the name as an acronym for Taking @merica Back....back to the simpler times...

Thanks again for the question. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Regards,
Christina Cárdenas
T@B Sales Coordinator
PH-574-534-1224, extn 8331
FAX-574-533-3807
WWW.Tab-RV.com

Thanks for the insight, Forrest!

Did I see someone say that they are selling them for ten grand? Holy cow!
They are small and lightweight. I have seen them behind PT Cruisers quite often because they really do enhance the "retro comes to the new millenium" look.

Pschoerrn · 05-19-2005, 03:11 PM

Ok, Ok, Ok... I wrote earlier that I haven´t seen one on the roads in Germany. I was blind!!!

Steffi and I saw a T@b today on our way back from the port in Bremerhaven, where we saw our Ambassador for the first time.

It was a aluminium T@b, but they are not shiny aren´t they?? If people will try to polish them, when they see how Airstream can look like??

All the best

Bjoern