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Decisions, decisions!

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Decisions, decisions!

in Anything Eriba-related Tue Sep 23, 2014 10:51 am
by Magpie •

| 675 Posts

The OH has decided we should upgrade from the Triton to a Troll and is fixed on a newbie. This will have to be the forever choice so we want to get it right! I would welcome any thoughts on
1. Shiny skinned or dimples (e.g. cleaning, repairs etc)?
2. Two burner or three burner hob?
Many thanks!

RE: Decisions, decisions!

in Anything Eriba-related Tue Sep 23, 2014 11:01 am
by hampshireman (deleted)

I like the dimpled, but we have a slight corrosion problem that needs sorting.
As I don't cook - not sure but think Carole would like the larger version if she had the choice.

An early self portrait
Puck 225L pushing CMax 1.9TDI Ghia

RE: Decisions, decisions!

in Anything Eriba-related Tue Sep 23, 2014 11:47 am
by Pepé Le Pew •

| 2.752 Posts

Assuming that the cost of the smooth-skinned option isn't an issue, then on balance I would go for smooth.

Both are a bugger to repair in the event of dings, but that's a manifestation of the thin aluminium skin used to keep weight down.

It's very difficult to use the kind of methods that are used on paintless car dent repairs because of the lack of access to the back of the panels to work them out, but if there is access, it would be easier to fix smooth skin than dimpled. Having said that, the dent may well be less noticeable in a dimpled finish in the first place.

Six of one and half a dozen of the other.

I reckon smooth is easier to clean and to keep looking clean - certainly easier to polish and wax, and waxing will protect the paintwork.

In my humble opinion ultimately it's more about aesthetics than practicalities.

Get a smooth one. You won't regret it. It looks brighter, sleeker, glossier and classier.

As far as the hob is concerned, provided you can live with the small loss of worktop, I'd go for the three burner.

Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

.

RE: Decisions, decisions!

in Anything Eriba-related Tue Sep 23, 2014 12:00 pm
by Agger (deleted)

I would agree with all that. We had a dimpled (non Eriba) and me being what I am kept it clean But it was and is hard work, buy a waxed one and keep it smooth.

Enjoy the decision making process, one thing I would add, I like the waxed silver ones they look superb!

Likes to wax and have a smooth finish

RE: Decisions, decisions!

in Anything Eriba-related Tue Sep 23, 2014 12:02 pm
by Randa france •

| 13.258 Posts

Quote: Magpie wrote in post #1
The OH has decided we should upgrade from the Triton to a Troll and is fixed on a newbie. This will have to be the forever choice

The Frantone's did exactly the same thing last year. Unfortunately, they're away at the moment so are not on the forum much until next month. They would be the ideal people to give you good advice.
Randa
ps. for what it's worth we have an older dimpled one and although it doesn't look as "shiny" as the newer smooth skinned ones, we've seen some real horror shows where the shiny panels show distortion by reflecting images like a hall of mirrors because of the way the thin aluminium sheets have been fitted from birth.

1999 Eriba Troll 530 pushing a VW Touran 2L TDi Match

Last edited Tue Sep 23, 2014 12:07 pm | Scroll up

RE: Decisions, decisions!

in Anything Eriba-related Tue Sep 23, 2014 12:23 pm
by Pepé Le Pew •

| 2.752 Posts

Quote: Randa france wrote in post #5
we've seen some real horror shows where the shiny panels show distortion by reflecting images like a hall of mirrors because of the way the thin aluminium sheets have been fitted from birth.

But that's the way it is. The aluminium sheet is desperately thin and using it makes it almost impossible to get a flat mirror-like finish. It won't ever look like a well-polished car because the skin is so much thinner. As well as being lighter than steel - which it needs to be - it's far, far less rigid.

I've got no empirical evidence of this, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if the smooth-skinned vans look more wavy in summer because the metal expands and distorts slightly in the warmer temperatures. It'd be interesting to find out if it's tighter in the winter. If you see what I mean.

You won't get perfection attaching a thin metal skin to a framework, even on something where the build tolerances are infinitely smaller - and built quality infinitely higher - than on these vans.

.

Last edited Tue Sep 23, 2014 1:26 pm | Scroll up

RE: Decisions, decisions!

in Anything Eriba-related Tue Sep 23, 2014 2:13 pm
by Pop540 (deleted)

(its how tight the screws are in the seal that makes the panel wavy, I think the weather temp does make a difference)
I personally like the smooth finish as its easier to polish, fix if damaged. (when parked up reflects light into my home.)
a smooth skin does not age as fast according to the lady walking back and forth
we have the 3 burner hob, use 1 hob kettle boiling and perhaps another when cooking but the 3rd is used more as a trivet, a pot holder while pots are dripping. we use the 3rd very rarely, but when we need it its there.

we had 2 hobs in tent and at times wished had another

Eriba troll 540 likes constant hugs, and buffs and the odd cuppa.

RE: Decisions, decisions!

in Anything Eriba-related Tue Sep 23, 2014 3:26 pm
by Aaron Calder •

| 3.834 Posts

According to Jason at AL, they can't knock out dents, fill and re-paint because the metal is so thin, gets stretched and there is no access to the rear of the panel.

He told me that they order a length of the correct specification alloy sheet that has been PRINTED (not painted) at the factory, remove the old skin section to use as a cutting template and then re-skin to return the van to as new condition.

As Pete said, this is very expensive and a typical lower skin for one side will cost in the region of £1,500 to replace. Ouch!

Forum Administrator
2003 Triton 420 and Audi A4 2.0Tfsi S-line SE Cabriolet

RE: Decisions, decisions!

in Anything Eriba-related Tue Sep 23, 2014 4:25 pm
by Magpie •

| 675 Posts

If you did have an accident and got a dent or worse wouldn't that be covered by insurance? Wouldn't the type of repair would be the same whether it was shiny or dimpled?

#10

RE: Decisions, decisions!

in Anything Eriba-related Tue Sep 23, 2014 4:51 pm
by Pepé Le Pew •

| 2.752 Posts

Quote: Magpie wrote in post #9
If you did have an accident and got a dent or worse wouldn't that be covered by insurance? Wouldn't the type of repair would be the same whether it was shiny or dimpled?

It depends on the damage.

And it's almost impossible to guess at what level of damage you would consider an insurance job and what someone else would. Claim on your insurance and you'll likely as not lose any no claims you've built up and have to pay a policy excess into the bargain.

Claim on your insurance several times for several dings which others might learn to live with - or have a go at fixing themselves - and you'll end up with a loaded premium.

At the end of the day the caravan is something which by its very nature will pick up scuffs, scrapes and scars in just the same way that a car will. You can't avoid it.

Well, that's not quite true. You can, by either not using it at all, or being so precious about it that you spend your whole time fretting about everything and getting absolutely no fun out of it whatsoever.

I reckon it's meant to be used and enjoyed, not wrapped up in cotton wool and put in a matchbox on the mantelpiece.

.

Poptop320, , sibillini, Magpie and like this post!

Last edited Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:07 pm | Scroll up

#11

RE: Decisions, decisions!

in Anything Eriba-related Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:13 pm
by Poptop320 •

| 2.631 Posts

I have a 2012 Familia, fortunately it came with a three burner and smooth skin as standard, If you do a lot of cooking then go for the 3 burner, especially if you go to a Greenfield site with no EHU, at least you can have the kettle going as well cooking your tea. There is enough room on the 3 burner to have 3 pans on the go, you just have to pick the right size pans My German built van doesn't suffer the wavey panels like the earlier Eribas even in very hot weather. If it was a choice of no extra cost then I would go for the smooth skin, however I know the smooth finish is a very expensive option so I can understand your hesitation. I could live with the dimpled but I know from my previous Puck it was difficult to keep clean and a nightmare to polish and it will never shine like a smooth skin.

So for me from previous experience it has to be a Smooth skin finish and a 3 burner.

Eriba three burner cooker.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

When I go on holiday I like to pop my top!

Last edited Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:31 pm | Scroll up

#12

RE: Decisions, decisions!

in Anything Eriba-related Tue Sep 23, 2014 7:28 pm
by Magpie •

| 675 Posts

Thank you for the picture! I have notion that the new version is different - with the lid hinging at the side and not at the back which might make placing pans more difficult. I wonder if anyone can confirm this - or otherwise (too far away to go and have another look).

#13

RE: Decisions, decisions!

in Anything Eriba-related Tue Sep 23, 2014 7:59 pm
by hob (deleted)

The vid of the 2014 troll on AL shows a rear hinged lid on this page

http://www.automotiveleisure.co.uk/NewEribaTroll550.html

A phone call to them should confirm if the 2015 model is the same.

Vauxhall Insignia Sri towing 2006 Triton 430 import

#14

RE: Decisions, decisions!

in Anything Eriba-related Tue Sep 23, 2014 9:23 pm
by Poptop320 •

| 2.631 Posts

As an upgrade have you opted for the ultra heat element? It was the best upgrade we went for. It is more than warm enough not to use the gas and its great on low tick over when the nights are cold....