Opinions, Eriba vs "sensible" choice for off season?

[Eldorado]

Choosing with head or heart for a winter use caravan? Been looking for a couple of months and we have seen a lot of caravans. Seem to have boiled our needs down to:

Fairly compact, Adria might be lovely but 8m is too much for a novice and we plan long journeys, possibly on narrower roads and definitely in bad weather - eg to October to March, Scotland to Europe

Layout with fixed bed, singles, transverse, French all have pros and cons - won't really know until we live with van a while

A usable shower is a must for Certified sites. Minimal kitchen is fine (we have fed the whole family on single ring camp stoves in our camping days)

We are currently trying to pick between mid sized Knaus and Eriba. Our left field choice is Coachman Acadia (because they seem more common, but do worry about build) . . .

Eriba has character, compact towing, makes us smile, possibly holds its value better. Downside seems to be awning choice for winter (and how they attach, ridge pole clipping to awning rail ) and pop roof practicality (FWIW I am 6ft). Suspect we would drop roof at night, in bad weather etc. It actually seems like a bad choice, but we like them

Knaus is "sensible" choice. A slightly bigger white box, unlikely to make us smile but possibly more liveable for long evenings in during winter use. Robust steel frame Isabella Winter porch awning fits nicely. If we keep it a couple of years before changing, suspect it will have lost a chunk of value but that isn't a major concern

 

[otherclive]

I had a Trigano 420DD. Nice quality, shower and most fittings, and its Walker awning was an all year type. But heart had ruled head. With two dogs it was just too small. Lasted less than three months. Think very carefully before you buy.

 

[Eldorado]

So we spent half a day at the weekend in Eribas - and have decided they wont work for us, even with an awning.

Seriously cute and interesting but the thought of a rainy week in November in one just wasnt the best answer for us.

We also spent some time looking at Adria Altea etc and, despite the good prices, definitely feel that is too much for a novice to be towing around, especially given the smaller sites and bad weather we expect to encounter

Now on the hunt for a 6 to 7m fixed bed, which is sort of back where we started . . .

 

[GaryB]

Everyone has their favourites, but having had several Swift's over the years I don' t think you can beat them for design and dealer network support. All caravan makes have faults but in my experience, there's usually a Swift model that suits most folks. The Sprite range from Swift is no longer a budget/basic version, we use ours during the colder months with no issues.

 

[Hutch]

Eldorado, when you say your planning to go into Europe for October to March.
Have you planned any sites, as touring in France during winter , the choice. Of site are very limited.

 

[Andy Norfolk]

We have an Adria Adora Seine which is our first caravan. Before we had a motorhome. My wife tows and went on a one to one half day towing course. Whatever you consider doing a towing course gave my wife the confidence to tow. Personally I wouldn't get to hung up on the length, I'd be more concerned about getting the layout that works for you.

 

[Eldorado]

Thank Hutch, we are tending to focus on preferred destinations and then research what's available

One route plan I have in mind is Amien, Normandy to Brittany and down the Atlantic Coast, spent my summers around St Malo as a kid and never really got to explore.

Likewise Holland up to Denmark, worked in Holland a bit, never got to explore.

If that went well I would love to explore Germany and Austria, again worked there plenty, saw very little

From what I have seen there are a few sites open in to October in all these areas, which is the most likely time for such a trip. Once November / winter is here we would stay in UK

 

[Eldorado]

Thanks Andy - course is booked, but I have to say an 8m Adria (and wide at that!) looks way more scary to take down a Welsh lane than mid sized van - to a novice towwer like me anyhow

 

[Eldorado]

the other (admittedly solvable) issue is we are liking the CX5 as our tow car. I don't think it can pull an Adria at 1800kg?

We have been looking at 1500 to 1600kg as our max, is that not right?

 

[Beachball]

Everyone has their favourites, but having had several Swift's over the years I don' t think you can beat them for design and dealer network support. All caravan makes have faults but in my experience, there's usually a Swift model that suits most folks. The Sprite range from Swift is no longer a budget/basic version, we use ours during the colder months with no issues.

We have just looked at Sprite Major SB like the transverse bed and the end washroom and now on the list , like you say we like Swift make .

 

[GaryB]

We have just looked at Sprite Major SB like the transverse bed and the end washroom and now on the list , like you say we like Swift make .

We've had ours since April last year and of all the layouts we've had this one "works" best for us.

 

[Beachball]

We've had ours since April last year and of all the layouts we've had this one "works" best for us.

Hi Gary we like it because if we go seasonal it could work for us thanks for your help in this matter

 

[Mel]

Now on the hunt for a 6 to 7m fixed bed, which is sort of back where we started . . .

This may have already been suggested in other threads but Bailey Phoenix 440 or Swift Alpine 4?
Good luck in your continuing search
Mel

 

[Mel]

Thank Hutch, we are tending to focus on preferred destinations and then research what's available

One route plan I have in mind is Amien, Normandy to Brittany and down the Atlantic Coast, spent my summers around St Malo as a kid and never really got to explore.

Likewise Holland up to Denmark, worked in Holland a bit, never got to explore.

If that went well I would love to explore Germany and Austria, again worked there plenty, saw very little

From what I have seen there are a few sites open in to October in all these areas, which is the most likely time for such a trip. Once November / winter is here we would stay in UK

Just to add to your deliberations; given this sort of thing is what you plan on doing; are you sure it is a Caravan rather than a panel van or Motorhome that you want.
Mel

 

[Eldorado]

thanks Mel - yes we have debated the camper option a lot (in our case Sprinter based) and actually got to the point of agreeing a deal just as Covid hit. It seems to be a compromise either way, 5 years later and I think we are much less 'touring' biased than we would have been back then

Our intended usage is: move a distance, stay put 3 or 4 days to explore the area, move again - certainly UK based initially. Being self employed I sometimes get extended downtime, so we can take some weeks to get there and back again, if we want. I dont want to be driving every day any more

Camper van / MHs seem better suited to travelling most days and covering longer distances. My suspicion is we will end up doing our longer European trips by car only, because off season accom in Europe can be much cheaper than UK and lugging a caravan all that way starts to make less sense . .

 

[ProfJohnL]

...

Eriba has character, compact towing, makes us smile, possibly holds its value better. Downside seems to be awning choice for winter (and how they attach, ridge pole clipping to awning rail ) and pop roof practicality (FWIW I am 6ft). Suspect we would drop roof at night, in bad weather etc. It actually seems like a bad choice, but we like them
...

Eriba have been popular caravans both here and on the continent for many years. I'm pretty certain they would not have achieved such a following if the pop tops could not cope with the continental winter conditions. Also again shown by the longevity and high resale values of the brand, the awning fastening has been proven. I think you are dismissing the models for false reasons. Their size will make towing easier, and the reduced height of the pop top in towing configuration will be better for economy and emissions.

 

[Dustydog]

the other (admittedly solvable) issue is we are liking the CX5 as our tow car. I don't think it can pull an Adria at 1800kg?

We have been looking at 1500 to 1600kg as our max, is that not right?

Have you thought about hiring a few models over the next few weeks and see what really works for you.
Most of us thought we knew what we required but practice proved we were wrong!

 

[otherclive]

When I bought a small pop top Trigano 420 DD it was heart over head. Within three months it was being part exchanged for something more conventional. But it towed very well even when overloaded by approximately 240kg. 🙈

 

[RogerL]

When I bought a small pop top Trigano 420 DD it was heart over head. Within three months it was being part exchanged for something more conventional. But it towed very well even when overloaded by approximately 240kg. 🙈

What didn't you like about it - that must have been significant to switch so quickly.

 

[otherclive]

What didn't you like about it - that must have been significant to switch so quickly.

Roger I must have covered it a number of times. Too small with two springers and grandchild, and most of its “payload “taken up by Trigano incorpating some changes especially the improved roof arrangement, and the UK importer adding things like fridge, cooker, Propex heater and movers etc. It was produced in 2009 as the financial crash happened and in some respects was part old design and part future design. It’s overall quality of build though was very good. Later models had their MTPLM raised to 1250 kg with 250 kg payload. But I still would have found it too restrictive other than for long stints in Spain or France.

 

[Dustydog]

Too small with two springers and grandchild, and most of its “payload “taken up by Trigano incorpating some changes especially the improved roof arrangement, and the UK importer adding things like fridge, cooker, Propex heater and movers etc.

Exactly what a lot of us did with our first purchases and have the T shirts to prove it👍