New T@DA, a bigger T@B

[Palmer M]

Finally, a T@B like I would design it. It's not a teardrop, and it has a bathroom.





http://www.tada-rv.com/trailers.php?tab=photo

I don't like that there is no grey water tank (you're supposed to hook it to a separate tote),
and the black capacity is only 5 gallons, as a cartridge system.
So, the Casita is functionally superior, but the T@DA is one good looking unit!
I don't know the prices. I'll go to the local dealer that carries T@B tomorrow and see if they
have one yet.
P

[Bigfoot Mike]

The specs...

[b]Axle Weight 1977 lbs
Dry Hitch Weight 144 lbs
Unloaded Vehicle Weight 2121 lbs
GVWR 3300 lbs
Cargo Capacity 1179 lbs
Exterior Length 18' 5"
Exterior Width 6' 7"
Exterior Height 7' 11"
[b]Interior Height 5' 9"
Fresh Water Tank 22.5 lbs
Grey Water Tank Prepped for tote-along tank
Black Water Tank 5 Gallon cassette
Tire Size ST205/75R14
LP Tank (1) 20 lbs
Optional LP Furnace 12000 btu
Optional Water Heater 6 gallon

The axle weight seems light. Also, the inside height seems short.

[Gina D.]

I actually would LOVE to have a cassette toilet

Can't really see a good way to retro fit one in mine tho.

This thing reminds me of my Coleman pop up in floor plan. I wonder if the big bed makes into a couch? Doesn't look like it does.

[Palmer M]

I bought the 16' Casita because at 5'8", I fit easily in the 5'10" headroom.
5'9" is pushing it; on the other hand, I really enjoy having an overall height
of less than 8' (you can go through drive-throughs and ATMs without worry).

I don't know about that axle weight; maybe it's because of the aluminum/fiberglass
skin is so light. I saw a neat video of them making a T@B on YouTube, but I
can't find it again. Anybody?
P

[Palmer M]

Gina,
I've looked at the cassette systems for only a minute. How do you empty them?
If it's easy, I might think differently. For me, the conventional set-up is easy.

Looks like the front bed is fixed, with storage underneath. I'd rather have some convertible
set-up.

P

[Roger H]

Wow! With the portable travel handle, is that Thetford cassette approved for airline overhead storage?

A blue porta-tote grey water tank? We've just made a HUGE leap into a 1970 trailer!

I confess, it IS cute, and very Euro in it's design and execution. By axle weight, they must be talking about the sprung weight of the box over the axle, as the curb weight is only a couple of hundred pounds more; about what an axle and tires would weigh.

I predict we'll see a lot of these on the road very soon.

Roger

[Donna D.]

too few windows that open...looks like the largest of the windows could be bigger too. Does the front-of-the-trailer window prop open???

Not my cup of tea.

[Suz]

Well, well. I think they may have finally come up with something. While I agree it isn't what we are all quite used to, and I do see some drawbacks (for me), I certainly think it's in the right direction. When I got my trailer and found that it was only "prepped for tote-along" I was very disappointed. I must say, however, that the more I use it that way, the more I really like it. I can see the benefits of the cassette toilet for a solo camper, but agree it would be small for a couple.

Like Roger, I think we are going to see more of them on the road soon.

[Mary F]

I agree the tote-along gray water tank isn't a big deal. (I also used to have a Casita with that arrangement, and actually liked it.) My complaint is the galley layout's not to my liking, although I guess I could get used to it. (Cramming the stove and sink together, with a big empty counter on the other side of the fridge seems odd... although in my current Casita my sink and stove aren't separated by much counter space, and that extra counter in the T@da would certainly come in handy! ... if I could keep it from becoming piled high with, ummm, stuff.)

Anyway, it's NICE to see more small, relatively lightweight travel trailers on the market. Now, all they gotta do is start making them of molded fiberglass! (They could call the next one the Voila!)

[Mike Watters]

I'm not that fond of the new T@Da. I think it lacks a lot of the visual appeal that the T@B had. The teardrop shape of the T@B was very cool and attractive. This one looks more like a sausage to me.

Looks like it retains the same windows. I have those windows in our Esterel - and I don't like them. They open nice and big and the insulating value is good (they are double-pane windows) but... the screen system stinks out-loud so it's hard to open the windows and keep out all the bugs. I'd LOVE to try replacing my stock screen system with some other option that worked better. They really should have dropped that.

It looks like they LOST one of the cooler elements of the T@B which was the freaky (but very cool) hitch with the surge braking system built in. I call the hitch freaky since it'll spin around 360 degrees. Best part about that hitch it the built-in "parking" brake on the hitch. No more wheel chocks...

[Gina D.]

Palmer, I have only seen those toilets at RV shows. I believe the concept is a good one. They are a hybrid of a porta potti and a fixed bowl.

You can pull the small tank and dump like you would a PP tank. This is why I have thought having a PP tank to dump in from my regular tank might be good.

I am waiting to see Donnas home made tank before I do anything tho.

[Herb P]

I'm not that fond of the new T@Da. I think it lacks a lot of the visual appeal that the T@B had. The teardrop shape of the T@B was very cool and attractive. This one looks more like a sausage to me.

Looks like an OK trailer. However, I won't buy anything the name of which can not be pronounced...

[Brian B-P]

Am I missing something obscure about the weights? They seem perfectly rational to me:

Axle Weight of 1977 lbs (including wheels and tires)
+Dry Hitch of 144 lbs
------------------------
= Unloaded Vehicle Weight of 2121 lbs

With a GVWR 3300 lbs, you can add 1179 lb of water, propane, and your stuff.

Yes, it has a very low tongue weight in proportion to the overall weight, because it is still essentially a European design.
Yes, it is light for its length, but with the low and narrow body it should be.

The rounded ends are amusing but non-functional, sort of a somewhat less irrational T@B. The interior height makes it useless to me, but for someone short enough, it contributes to a low overall height.

The Euro cable-actuated surge brakes of the T@B are gone... presumably they have not been a good selling feature, or would not be in a larger model.

The flat sides accommodate the cassette toilet, which I see as a good feature. If you always camp with dump sites available, you would not likely see the advantage, but if not, this provides a dump-once (not transfer and dump) solution; it also allows indefinite endurance without moving the trailer. The 5-gallon black capacity is fine with me... I would rather dump a cassette twice than deal with the "stinky slinky" once, and for short trips it would do the whole trip. The advantage over a portable toilet is that the cassette comes out via and external access door, while the toilet stays in place, so there is no need to either carry the tank through the interior of the trailer, or lift the top of it.

[Patrick M.]

I do like these fixtures. I think some competition from Europe or Asia in the RV appliances market would give us a better product.

21st Century T@Da vs. 20th (or 19th?) Century Casita/Etc.

[Pete Dumbleton]

Looks like an OK trailer. However, I won't buy anything the name of which can not be pronounced...

I think it's always been intended to substitute an 'a' for the '@', so they are Tab and Ta-Da!

[Gina D.]

Maybe it's

"The Trailer formerly know as T@B"

[Benita]

I had a cassette toilet in a popup. I loved it. More modular, hygienic and convenient IMO.

[Chester Taje]

Heres an idea of how this model works.
http://www.lewisgray.com/Sanitation_produc.../howitworks.htm

[Ed Harris]

I looked at the website this morning and told it I would like a Brochure and I just received a phone call from the "Nearest" dealer to me which is about 9 hours or so away.

I told him I was merely looking for the Brochure as I indicated online but evidently they forward all requests to the stealer to try to convert into sales.

After learning the base price is over $16,000 I feel a lot more love for the rig I already have.

He also said they have only produced 1 unit so far so the phots of all the color choices must be virtual.

I am amazed ther are no dealers more local to me especially since I know the factory and Mothership itself is closer than the dealer they gave me to.
Maybe it is worth a trip?

It also turns out that the client I am working for right now has a brother who actually owns THOR Industries who owns Dutchman who owns T@b.

They also own Airstream and several other RV companies.

Maybe there could be a deal in there somewhere?

[Patrick M.]

I tried looking up prices and only saw the Tab at about $15,000 (msrp?), so I suspect a fully loaded Tadada to be $20,000.

Pretty pricy for a 5' 9" ceiling!