OK, AL's latest newsletter says there'll be a new Touring layout available for 2016MY and when you look at their spec list it's going to be a Troll 542. Has anyone any idea of the layout? I believe Hymer don't reveal their plans to their dealerships 'til their launch conferences which I think are July time.

I did suggest to them that they cobble together a 530/540 hybrid, with a 530 lounge and a 540 front dinette, using the 'spare' space to fit a bigger kitchen on one side and a shower cubicle on the other. You'd lose the long benches of a 540 and the mini-double dinette of the 530 but gain a proper shower and a good size kitchen.

It seems an obvious winner to me but maybe not.

Andy I saw this layout in their newsletter .........not one I have seen before

Capture.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Wierd layout innit?

Can't quite agree with SDA's suggestion though, it's the long beds which are the main attraction in 420 and 540.
TonyP

I agree about the long beds Tony and the 540420's are still there, but the hybrid idea gives 3 berths, like a 540, but you'd have to make up the double up the back, as in a 530. It gives much better kitchen space and room for extra catering equipment, like grill/oven/microwave, plus a separate proper shower cubicle.

The Troll 542V as this V-form bed model will be called, appeared recently at the caravan show in Dusseldorf and will no doubt appear once again at the Stuttgart show in January to which we shall be attending. There's the tiniest of photographs appearing in this months Caravanning magazine (German) and is not worth scanning and posting here. However, I'll try and get some shots of my own in January. By the way - the basic price over here will set one back 20,490€.

That said, what I've noticed this past caravanning season is that the Kips seem to be getting more and more popular with lots more of them around with the new Kip Vision having been well received at the Dusseldorf show. The same thing can be said regarding the T@b and I have the feeling that both of these makes will be affecting sales of the pop-top Eriba as we know it in the not too distant future.............if they haven't already that is.

I've been in one and you have rightly spotted the obvious problems. I still don't really understand the sleeping with the head at that end. You can not sit up in bed and lean back like you,can with heads at the other end. And there is no real possibility of entertaining in it.

This is only my opinion and I expect it will tick some boxes for some purchasers but I was left with the impression that it was a design exercise by someone who does not use a caravan or camper van.

TonyP

Hi guys we always slept head at the end it saves getting drafts from the open pop top vents down your sleeping bag aggggg

Nah not for me. Stick to the 540. Long beds centre kitchen and front dinette for late nightcaps

I don't like the look of the new model at all, it looks kinda odd.. Ellen.