Hello, I'm a new member of the forum, considering the purchase of a Troll 530 caravan and looking for advice to help make up my mind. My wife and I have enjoyed over 12 years of caravanning, starting with a Hymer Nova fixed bed model, then an Elddis Crusader twin-axle and then downsizing to a Coachman 2-berth. The latter has turned out to be too much of a compromise, missing the fixed bed and on-board water tank that the other vans had.

We've popped our heads into Eribas at the NEC shows a few times and found them dark and short on space, even a bit claustrophobic. Can't remember which models. However, on a recent holiday in the Lakes, we visited The Airstream Company to take another look, and were pleasantly surprised by the Troll 530. The big appeal is the body shape and looks, the light weight, the modest dimensions and above all, the quality of build. We came away thinking that this could well be our next van, but in later discussion a few concerns came up:
(1) How comfortable is the fixed bed over time? And, which makes for the better mattress: cold foam or sprung?
(2) If it's a cold wet day and you're stuck inside, how comfortable are the seats at the front dinette?
(3) Is the shower really usable?
(4) How warm is the caravan in winter? Does the space heater distribute heat evenly around the interior of the van?

Compared to a British caravan, the price is high for what you get. Clearly there is a premium to be paid for the brand and the 'cult' appeal (whatever that means). It's not without compromise though, and I'm definitely not into hair-shirt caravanning, therefore I'm trying to ensure that my head rules and not my heart.

Any advice from forum members would be greatly appreciated.

Mike.

540 beats 530 for usability and comfort!

Hi, as the new-ish owner of a 530 I'll try to answer (and be brief - though that's difficult!) We ordered from Automotive Leisure and decided to take the plunge and opt for the 'extras' we'd missed in previous 'vans.
a) We didn't opt for the fixed bed - preferring the option of the rear dinette space if we hit a really inclement spell. The bed stays made up most of the time though and with the sprung middle cushions and a quilted type mattress topper from Dunelm is agreeably comfortable.
b) We opted for the better sprung front seats and find them comfortable. We could have had the ones with the integral back rest but that means, as you need the other type to make up the front bed if required) you end up with two sets - and where to store them at home or in the 'van? I bought two very attractive new, handmade, cushions from a local charity shop.
3) I am 5' 2" and reasonably slim so, yes, I can use the shower - takes a bit of practice and ends up as a 'spray down' but quite effective and can come in useful. Need to have hot water installed though! (And that means an on-board tank or external fill - see below***).
4) Haven't been away in deepest winter but survived some frosty nights in our previous Triton and some pretty chilly weather in this one in March - even I felt cosy! Have got an electic element to the gas fire so can leave on low at night. Yes, the 'van heats up easily. The blown air option can help but probably isn't necessary.
*** A 30 litre on-board tank is good in a motor home which you can drive to a water point and can travel with full. But you can't tow an Eriba with water in a large tank - so you have to take an aquaroll or similar (we use a Fiamma 23 litre tank) anyway - so we decided that we might as well use that with a whale pump and use the locker space inside.
I'll let others go on about Eribas holding their price and about how you get 'caught' by them!!

I am not as experienced as others as I am new owner of a 420 which suits all my needs. However after much research I would say as the others have that eribas are for touring being light to tow which means you need to use the great outdoors however if the weather turns then it's perfectly usable as a space. If you want a fixed bed then you could look at a pontos which is a bedroom on wheels with a little dinette and cooker.etc. shower I would never do in an Eriba but a washroom is ok. If you want more space the look at the Feeling but it would not be as light as the Touring.

Hi and
sorry for long reply

1.our beds are the old style long singles that make into a rather large bed, (layout 540) they are foam with wood under, OH found hard / firm so made him a duvet to sleep on and I cope quite well without,

2.different model cant say,540 wise ours are ok to sit on and the back gets adjusted with a cushion

3. hmmmmm sorry folks but I use our shower, I manage, some may not due to bendability of ones self, or just don't like the idea of being in small room. if your used to the beam me up scotty showers which are bigger, you may struggle. its more of a quick freshen up than a luxury wash down ( the wash room design has changed over the years, later eriba's may not have same space)
some folk say the shower is not meant to be used, due to it not being a fully sealed unit. But its an option that have used when the boiler hiccups in home..
case of actually standing in there and doing the moves, to see for your self, now that would be a great out take for you tube lol

4.the element option in the fire is a must in my opinion, the gas takes edge off and then switch to the element,
a few years ago in November we were on 500 watts number 7 on thermostat, the gas heats the van very quickly, the fan once the vents adjusted can be set to warm van and warms the floor, the roof can be dropped if cold if you open a window for ventilation, we don't use gas option when lid dropped..
the fridge can also acts as a heater, and has warmed the cold water in sink, if sink cover put on

5. options not thought of:
water heater yes this is an option some of us use a superkettle or gas kettle when off grid
shower tap
think Hob and Aaron mentioned the charge pack, (Atonomy Pack) and battery in another thread not being standard
carry water tanks or fitted water tank
stone guard
mud flaps
spare wheel
alloy wheels or steel
then the fixed bed or seats,
seats either with foam or sprung
material choices
extra plug sockets
textured or smooth outer skin

probably more options not mentioned

eribas don't have ovens, some folk use halogen ovens, remoskas from Lakeland, or little ovens. can even get small induction hobs if you don't like using gas.
we steam everything in a 3 tier steamer pan

here are some internal photos of various eribas and years, most of us use throws or make covers for seats, but this is the brightness inside, the pop does give extra light, unless inside a building..
some more interior photos are in troll section

the prices are because the frame was steel may be galvanised now, and is human welded , there is a youtube of the build method when produced in Cernay in France, its quite interesting to watch and does give some indication to the hands on building they did.
the factory is now in Germany


A couple of gentleman on here have restored or in process of restoring their eriba's and have threads devoted to the rebirth, worth a read.

there are many options so you can customise the van for how you use it so your not wasting any weight on items not used / needed

the Kitchen sink is standard at the moment (Yorkshire humour)

Eribas tow wonderfully and the knock on the head as you walk in (known as an eriba kiss) seals the fate of ownership or not
newer Eribas have a taller habitation door so perhaps this doesn't happen as much

being in an Eriba is completely different to a full height caravan, your more connected to the outside word being able to hear wild life with roof up. they are lighter inside in daylight with pop up, did I mention ease of towing and possibly better fuel economy.

Lets us know if need any more help, lots of knowledgeable folk on here
P

540 for us

No fixed bed

We used an oil filled radiator for heat, even in winter it was ample

Shower!! For years we complained about damp in caravans! Then we ask for showers! Not for me, I don't have an articulated neck or torso

Depreciation will be MUCH lower than other caravans, we recently sold ours and lost less than 3k and we owned it for over 10 years, and were the 2nd owners.

Hello and look forward to meeting you, although Troll owners in here are very elitish, don't mix, dont' chat , miserable and extremely wealthy

Absolute bolleaux Mr Snowdon!

Maybe you forgot the emoticon.

heh heh, don't use those things Tony

very funny Derek

Welcome, I bought the 540 Agger sold and lost less tan 3k in 10 years I hope to do the same we will see but I am really please with the purchase. We are moving up from a Puck where going to buy a Familia then a Triton and then settled on the 540gt. We are away on our first weekend this weekend really looking forward to it. We settled on an Eriba after a nasty damp experience with a caravan.
Mr & Mrs Morphy.

Hiya Roger not yet we are having a motor mover fit should have been done by now still awaiting a call from dealer. I intend to once mover fit as where the caravan is it is on a slope so difficult to get steps to. It appears that you have to order the reich mover then they build it to order dealer receives they give you a call to fit.

Sorry to read about your little knock your Randa log very interesting and one which I envy one day maybe.

Steve

One thing in the Mover subject, is there a recommended cleaning procedure? After miles around the sites, surely they pick up dust and road grease.