We're taking delivery of an Eriba Touring 542 in two weeks. It's our first caravan after 20 years of motorhoming. Completely unsure it's the right step, but worth a try!

We've always done pretty well at selecting sites that we can walk out of to a) the great outdoors and b) a pub, though it seems to take an inordinate amount of research. We're also somewhat capricious so our touring plans can become pretty fluid, which suits the motorhome setup. However, now we're retired and planning on a lot more touring, we feel the pull of having a car available, and our ageing dog (Herbie the springer spaniel, 10 years old with an arthritic left elbow) is less able to do long walks. So after debating this on and off for the last two years we finally pulled the trigger.

We thought we'd be very reluctantly buying the usual big white box but spotting the 542 layout, which is essentially the same as our Malibu van conversion, piqued our interest and a quick trip to view at Adventure Leisure sealed it. We're hoping a compact Eriba won't compromise our exploratory whims too much. After previous much larger A-class and coachbuilt motorhomes I appreciate the relative nimbleness of a simple Ducato van, especially as we prefer to be off the beaten track where possible.

From collection we're going straight to a site in the Lake District, trying to get the hang of how things work in the cold and rain. The whole water/waste/heating setup in particular feels like a decided step backwards from the luxury of a Truma 6e combi and onboard tanks. Wish us luck, and if you're of a sensitive disposition, avoid the Keswick area in late Jan as there may be swearing and/or roads blocked by inexpertly-piloted Eribas.

Cheers,
Simon (& Amanda)

to the Forum and very soon to the wonderful world of Eriba. We came up from a tent so the Eriba was luxury, not sure what it’s like moving across from a Motorhome but there’s plenty on here who’ve done it.

Morphy

Tom and Margaret

Thanks Colin. Yes, we have the Truma Therme water heater and 30l onboard water tank, though I'd quibble that 30l is 'large' I don't know where all the water in the 80l motorhome tank goes! We rarely shower in the van as it's so pokey - emergency/off-grid use only - and washing-up is generally restricted to the odd mug or glass. We were offered the retro-fit upgrade on the boiler but decided we can do that later if we really miss it. As you say, a small space heater will do the job but it's another piece of kit to find a home for and to get in the way on the floor. Agree that it's baffling why the gas+electric combis aren't an option from the factory - there seems to be a load of gubbins to do half the job and I haven't seen one of those big gas heater fascias since our early-90's Hymer.

It's all relative I guess. I can see from various posts that less is more for a lot of Eriba folk. We've tended to move that way since our first motorhome - a spacious but elderly 6-berth Hymer A-Class; then to a more compact Burstner coach-built but with such a luxurious bathroom that we never used site showers; then to the current Malibu van conversion with minimalist kitchen and shower.

I've found lots of good advice and information in the forums already, before and after the decision to buy, so thanks to all here for that.

I've updated my location - Holmfirth, West Yorkshire - thanks for the pointer.

Cheers,
Simon

Sounds like good advice. I've rejected the dealer's suggestion of aquaroll+wastemaster as that seemed like a lot of bulky gear to service a small tank. Better get a bucket...!