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Hello - complete newbie

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Mon Apr 04, 2022 11:56 am
by RibaRoo (deleted)

Hello,

My partner and I are now the lucky (and proud) owners of a very well looked after and cherished Eriba Pan Duo (2000) - he's immaculate and we're going to look after him too. We're complete beginners and have never owned or towed a caravan before! But we're both very excited to be starting this journey and looking forward to some adventures away - am sure we will be reporting back on our adventures and experiences in the years to come. It feels like there is so much to learn so apologies in advance if we ask some questions that have been asked over and over again. We will try to search the forum first for any queries we might have.

Our next step is to get a tow bar but we're undecided as to whether to swap the car (due to its age and high mileage) or stick with it for now. The car is a 2004 VW Golf (MK5) 1.6 fsi and has done 115K miles. Just been quoted £466 for a swan neck tow bar to be fitted. The calculator says this car is a good match for the Eriba but the car is quite old now with high(ish) mileage. It's never needed a clutch change so that's at the back of my mind too. My thoughts are to keep it for now and bite the bullet with the cost of the tow-bar.

Dan & Kate

Randa france and SOULBLUESMAN68 like this post!

RE: Hello - complete newbie

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Mon Apr 04, 2022 12:18 pm
by eribaMotters •

| 5.582 Posts

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new arrival.
Your Golf should in fact be a good tow car with sufficient weight and pulling power. The £466 you have been quoted for a swan neck tow bar is very fair, just make sure it has the electrics you want. It is usually extra a vehicle specific loom and ability to charge your battery and run the fridge when on the move.
You may be lucky with the clutch and get a couple of years towing, only you can make the call on when is the best time to change.
What I will say is as you are familiar with the car and like the idea of a newer replacement than you have a lot of options built on the same platform open for consideration, from VW, Skoda, Seat and Audi. If you stay with petrol then the 1.4 and current 1.5 tfsi engines are excellent. We use one of the later to tow our 1,200kg Triton.

Colin

Forum Moderator. aka Oscar - Audi A3 1.5 petrol _ ex 430, 552, camplet trailer tent, 310, now a nice white 2017 430.

RE: Hello - complete newbie

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Mon Apr 04, 2022 2:23 pm
by Tomored •

| 2.129 Posts

Your many questions will find answers here

Tom and Margaret

The only way to have a friend, Is to be one

RE: Hello - complete newbie

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Mon Apr 04, 2022 4:11 pm
by SOULBLUESMAN68 •

| 1.193 Posts

Dan & Kate a warm welcome to the Forum and I'm sure that you will have great fun from your Eriba.

Many of us on the site started from scratch caravanning with an Eriba and,, with help from the experienced member's advice, you will learn the basics quickly, so that you have an enjoyable experience. Always be ready to ask for help & advice.

Eribas are good to tow because of their shape and sometimes I forget that I am towing (not recommended).

Have a great time

MikeT

RE: Hello - complete newbie

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Mon Apr 04, 2022 8:22 pm
by Julie Grafo •

| 3.552 Posts

to the Forum. It�s a learning curve for everyone so ask away

Julie & Neil. 2008 530GT pushing Honda CR-V 1.6 iDTEC SE+

RE: Hello - complete newbie

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Tue Apr 05, 2022 7:03 am
by Alan •

| 77 Posts

Our first Eriba was a Pan Duo T and like you I had never towed before . 3 months later we took it to France. The first tow was stressful but it�s surprising how quickly you get used to it.

SOULBLUESMAN68 likes this post!

RE: Hello - complete newbie

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Wed Apr 06, 2022 5:31 am
by Islay Corbel (deleted)

You're at the start of a great adventure!

Betty, 1998 Triton 430 and Colin, a Renault Mégane.

RE: Hello - complete newbie

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Wed Apr 06, 2022 8:25 am
by granddadgrape •

| 1.628 Posts

Liz & Alan
Landrover Defender 90 & 2014 Triton 420

RE: Hello - complete newbie

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Wed Apr 06, 2022 8:31 am
by Morphy •

| 972 Posts

oh and mind you don�t bang your head have a cracking adventure. Our first outing this year starts this month with a week in the lakes. Good luck on your travels and maybe we will meet somewhere Morphy