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Front Cover.

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Front Cover.

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Mon Aug 03, 2015 12:50 pm
by PhilipM •

| 208 Posts

Hello,

I noticed a lot of the big white box caravans at my local storage place had front covers on them to prevent all the road splashes up the front of the van when in transit. Despite having mud flaps on the Yeti, the front of the 310 can get splattered quite a bit especially when been towed of a wet, grassy site.

The ones on the big vans, seem to be attached to the awning rail which I don't think is possible for me. Has anyone come across a solution for this? I've read about extending the mud flaps, but I am not sure if there is another approach.

Thanks.

Eriba Familia 310 owner.

RE: Front Cover.

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Mon Aug 03, 2015 1:10 pm
by Randa france •

| 13.283 Posts

Hi Phiip.
When we attended the Eriba Fest earlier this year, we came across this:-

g25p1646-Window-Guard.html
g25p1647-Window-Guard-A.html#viewport

Although not a full front cover, It might give you some ideas of how you could perhaps make one yourself. I'm thinking that you could do it in two halves, the top looking something like the one in the photos (perhaps a bit wider) and the bottom utilising the lower skirt rail?

I do know that one or two Eriba owners have designed and made their own covers.

Randa

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

Last edited Sun Jul 09, 2017 2:41 pm | Scroll up

RE: Front Cover.

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Mon Aug 03, 2015 1:27 pm
by PhilipM •

| 208 Posts

Thanks Randa , I will investigate that further. Interesting......

Eriba Familia 310 owner.

RE: Front Cover.

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Mon Aug 03, 2015 1:46 pm
by Pepé Le Pew •

| 2.752 Posts

It might be worth bearing in mind that the front of your van (and the inside face of the cover itself) would need to be clean before attaching the cover because no matter how good the fit, it will move around while you are driving.

Any trapped dust and dirt - and anything which finds its way in while you're en route - will make the cover act like sandpaper. The paintwork on these things is microscopically thin and nowhere near as robust as the finish on a car. It doesn't take much at all to go right through to the bare aluminium.

I suspect WWB owners would be able to get away with it - or don't even notice it - because small scratches don't show up as much on through-coloured GRP or plastic composite. They are also an easier shape to fit a cover to; the front of a WWB is usually a simple curve whereas the front of an Eriba is much a more complicated set of curves and facets which would require a cover comprising several panels sewn together.

For what it's worth, I think that the effort involved in making something which fits well and stays attached when combined with the faff of having to make sure everything is clean before using it outweighs the potential benefits.

Cleaning a few splatters of mud and dead flies off the front costs nothing other than a bit of your time and a bucketful of water.

Repairing scuffs and scratches on the paintwork and windows is likely to be much more of a pain.

.

Aaron Calder, , and like this post!

Last edited Mon Aug 03, 2015 2:04 pm | Scroll up

RE: Front Cover.

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Mon Aug 03, 2015 3:14 pm
by hampshireman (deleted)

I am of the opinion it's a trend with the new bigguns. Just clean the van regularly and that does it, or hire Aggers to pop round for a cup of tea when the Eriba is really mucky.

Puck 225L pushing CMax 1.9TDI Ghia
Pepe's Walk

likes this post!

RE: Front Cover.

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Mon Aug 03, 2015 9:32 pm
by PhilipM •

| 208 Posts

Good points. I'll take a bucket and sponge with me. I was cleaning it this way at home, but when I saw the front covers I thought they were a good idea. However, I don't want to risk any damage.

Thanks for your help as always.

Eriba Familia 310 owner.

RE: Front Cover.

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Mon Aug 03, 2015 9:40 pm
by Magpie •

| 675 Posts

I think if there was a suitable cover I'd consider one. It's not the dirt and flies I worry about but stone chips and other things that make dents. Our previous Eriba had a number of small dents in the front due to being caught in a hail storm mid France (our present car still has a collection of dents on the bonnet). I have seen one very cleverly made by an Eriba owner but sadly my sewing skills are not up to that.

RE: Front Cover.

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Fri Aug 14, 2015 12:04 am
by Taffy (deleted)

At last years NEC show, Protec was telling me they had made a front towing cover for an Eriba and it was out on test by the CC editor and they were pending feedback. Not heard anything further regarding it, but I am of the same opinion that rather tow without. One tip I saw was not to use anything on the windows except water in a spray bottle to mist over the whole window and use your hand to wipe over the window as that way you will feel if there is anything that you won't scratch and rub in with a sponge etc. Then if you want to avoid the streaks use a micro/chammy cloth to wipe dry.

and PhilipM like this post!

Last edited Fri Aug 14, 2015 12:05 am | Scroll up

RE: Front Cover.

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Fri Aug 14, 2015 8:58 am
by MCINND (deleted)

I came across Gerry Reynolds who makes custom fit front travel covers and also does awning repairs. He made a custom fit one for my new Eriba Nova Light 465, see attached photos at no extra cost that a standard production one £98
If someone is interested perhaps they could ask him to produce one for an Eriba Touring?
Gerry can be contacted as below:

Gerry Reynolds
Unit 3, Victoria Way, Studlands Industrial Estate,
newmarket
Suffolk
CB8 7sh
United Kingdom
Phone:01638|668837
Fax:01638 665890
Email:mummycaz@hotmail.com
I've no connection with Gerry other than being a satisfied customer.
David

Attached pictures:
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20150805_191925_resized_1.jpg

20150805_191948_resized_1.jpg

Last edited Fri Aug 14, 2015 9:01 am | Scroll up

#10

RE: Front Cover.

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Fri Aug 14, 2015 9:44 am
by Aaron Calder •

| 3.834 Posts

Could you tell us what those two things that look like urinal channel blocks are that are taped to the front?

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

Last edited Sun Jul 09, 2017 2:42 pm | Scroll up

#11

RE: Front Cover.

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Fri Aug 14, 2015 9:48 am
by Pepé Le Pew •

| 2.752 Posts

Quote: Aaron Calder wrote in post #10
Could you tell us what those two things that look like urinal channel blocks are that are taped to the front?

Is that what they are?

I thought they were eyes. In the front-on shot the van looks like an old black feller smoking a pipe

Last edited Fri Aug 14, 2015 9:53 am | Scroll up

#12

RE: Front Cover.

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Fri Aug 14, 2015 9:50 am
by Poptop320 •

| 2.634 Posts

Quote: Aaron Calder wrote in post #10
Could you tell us what those two things that look like urinal channel blocks are that are taped to the front?

They will be battery powered lights, a lot of the front covers fall foul of the law which enforces that the front side lights must be visible..

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

#13

RE: Front Cover.

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Fri Aug 14, 2015 9:54 am
by Agger (deleted)

Quote: Poptop320 wrote in post #12
Quote: Aaron Calder wrote in post #10
Could you tell us what those two things that look like urinal channel blocks are that are taped to the front?

They will be battery powered lights, a lot of the front covers fall foul of the law which enforces that the front side lights must be visible..

So thats something else to rub against what your trying to protect

I know, I know it has a protective cover underneath! But lets wait and see

juust get used to the fact that the front will be clean but the rest of the van will be covered in tish

Likes to wax and have a smooth finish! Has an empty space where once a very polished Eriba stood😎

#14

RE: Front Cover.

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Fri Aug 14, 2015 9:58 am
by Aaron Calder •

| 3.834 Posts

Quote: Poptop320 wrote in post #12
They will be battery powered lights, a lot of the front covers fall foul of the law which enforces that the front side lights must be visible..

Shouldn't they be fitted towards the outer edge of the cover then, where the covered up caravan lights are located?

Are the side marker lights (white front/red rear) also obstructed and if so, is this legal?

Wouldn't it have been easier to form cut-outs in the cover so that the built-in lights could be used?

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

Last edited Sun Jul 09, 2017 2:42 pm | Scroll up

#15

RE: Front Cover.

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Fri Aug 14, 2015 10:05 am
by Poptop320 •

| 2.634 Posts

Quote: Aaron Calder wrote in post #14
Quote: Poptop320 wrote in post #12
They will be battery powered lights, a lot of the front covers fall foul of the law which enforces that the front side lights must be visible..
Shouldn't they be fitted towards the outer edge of the cover then, where the covered up caravan lights are located?

Are the side marker lights (white front/red rear) also obstructed and if so, is this legal?

Wouldn't it have been easier to form cut-outs in the cover so that the built-in lights could be used?

It looks like some company's make an effort, but it must be a loop hole that they can use a portable light that shines about as bright as glow worm.
http://www.specialisedcovers.com/towing-covers/tow-pro.html

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