It’s all a compromise. Our first Eriba was a PuckL. Huge seating area in the day, great bed options but no space when the bed made up and no loo. Then a 420, great bed & loo but no dinette and not keen on the end kitchen, somehow it wasn’t the same hassle with the PuckL kitchen. Now a 530, side kitchen & dinette. Leave the bed made up but I have to climb over in the night. Nothing’s perfect except they’re all perfect because they’re Eriba 😁

It does make one wonder who designs the layouts? And the specs. Do they stick to a tried and tested layout because they worry anything new wouldn't get the sales? Before our latest Triton we tried motorhoming (sorry!), which was good in some ways (pull up, plug in, go to bed) and bad in others (visiting anywhere, having to put everything away to pop to the supermarket - MUCH noisier when travelling). This confirmed us in our returning to Eribas. I don't for a moment miss needing to move the van to fill up with water, or to empty the grey water tank, but I do miss a couple of the features - the considerably larger fridge with separate freezer compartment and a small oven (though would prefer a microwave combo). the wind out Caravanstore was good too, but you can have one of those on an Eriba (and, in fact, a Shadow is really fast to put up and the fewer holes you make in the Eriba's roof, the better)

"Now a 530, side kitchen & dinette. Leave the bed made up but I have to climb over in the night. "

Can you not sleep lengthways in a 530? I thought that was the point of the bigger bed versions? Or is that a 540?

So confusing...

Have just looked - back in the 2004/2005 years the 530 was the same layout as a 430, but with a bigger front dinette. The 540 had the bigger bed that you could sleep lengthways in and the front dinette was the same size as in a 430 Triton... There were lots more versions in the 2004 brochure (fixed beds, etc)

The one common feature to all the variants is the gas heater and wardrobe - the one bit I would do away with...

Excuse me Roger but not sure where you get the idea that Neil should get the big bed with the lovely Ikea mattress and I get the dinette? 🤣

Flattery, that’s what will get you brownie points or even another glass of red 🤣

Most things in Touring's are modular. So the washrooms are the same. The 420 and 540 lounge/beds are the same. The 540 430 and 542 dinette are the same etc etc. So to make major changes you have to either work within an existing window/door set up and associated steel frame body structure or commission a new one and keep as many parts common as possible. And that wasn't insinuating that Roger is common.

As already stated, all are a compromise and our individual priorities differ.

We spent a great deal of time deciding which Eriba fitted our requirements, definitely the best for us is the 542. The wide, fixed longitudinal bed is a blessing; not having to make up beds, not climbing over each other on night manoeuvers, can get up early and have somewhere to sit etc.

The one thing we would change is to eliminate/slim the wardrobe to extend bathroom for a decent shower area. We have showered with a curtain but it's challenging. I find the storage area under the bed too large and am sure heater, electrics could be moved to enable wardrobe reduction. All in all very happy with the design of our 542. Recommended.

542 Layout.png - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

That Feeling 515 that Randa has put the clip on of would have been perfect for us as a family 25 years ago when our children would have loved that set up with the bunks.

For me I would like that extra light in the pop top but we would need very good blackout blinds on it, otherwise the first light in Spring would wake me up

My biggest gripe with our Troll is with the bathroom. We never planned to shower in it anyway and I can just about use the loo but I really struggle with how small the sink is. It doesn't come our far enough for me when I want to wash my face or have a shave. I end up getting water everywhere - good job there is a shower pan floor.

whilst saying that I wouldn't be without a sink.

MikeT