Betty and sunshade.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)There are lots of generic, inexpensive sun shades. It's all we use as I feel an awning takes away the feeling of being outdoors.

Welcome to the forum!
My other half and I crossed over from tent camping, to trailer tent to Eriba, mainly due to the amount of time for setup versus an attention-seeking dachshund.
When we had the tent, we loved it, but I hated the sleeping on the floor, even with a thermarest I would get very cold. Plus barking hound.
We moved up to the tiniest of trailer tents - Raclet Solent. Basically a raised bed with a space to stand next to it. We loved that tent. Started with just the tent and a tarp, but eventually we bought the awning for it so we could cook etc in the dry when it was raining.
The awning basically took us back to having a tent, in regards to set up time.
However we were really happy with the trailer tent until too many sleepless nights due to the wind caused us to have a wander around the campsite looking at what other people had.
We spotted the Eribas, and I think we both fell in love at first sight.
In 2019 we popped over to the UK to visit the caravan show at the NEC. Hardly any Eribas there, but by then we had already decided we were going to bite the bullet. We ordered ours new in October 2019.
In April 2020, just in lockdown, our Troll 550 got delivered to us.
We couldn’t do anything with it. Campsites we’re closed, and our car+troll combo meant that we needed b+e licenses, so one of us (him) had to get their license.
In the end, in May, just as the campsites opened we rented a smaller car and headed off for our first weekend away in Tris the troll. We’ve never looked back!
It does still feel like small scale camping, but I do call it glamping these days.
Having a caravan means you can extend the camping season too. We went for new years in 2020. Small radiator on a EHU pitch, and we were cosy through the night. The gas heat came on in the daytime to take the chill off.

I hope you find an Eriba that works for you too. Good luck!

Thank you both for your thoughts. I note with interest you mention a small car.And the Troll is quite large… so wondering what you use to tow? … We have a Passat Estate 1.4 petrol and I would love a Triton 430… but we are wondering whether to err on side of caution towing-wise and opt for a Familia 320. Any thoughts from people hugely appreciated.

*NB Hubby and I have reached an agreement and we are now actively seeking an Eriba. 👍😁 and I am very excited. And relieved. Just didn’t want to wave farewell to camping and campsites and meeting all sorts of lovely and interesting people. The bonhomie of the outdoors always beats any hotel for us.

Colin, thank you for all your info. And just for everyone’s enthusiasm and kindness. Feel slowly ‘getting there’ in decision making…

Good for you - your powers of persuasion are obviously succeeding.........................

I A Triton with bathroom sounds a doable compromise.........

MikeT