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RE: The cost of keeping a caravan

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RE: The cost of keeping a caravan

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Thu Oct 22, 2015 11:40 pm
by Randa france •

| 13.283 Posts

The posts below have been moved from elsewhere on the forum as they were going off thread

Quote: Aaron Calder wrote in post RE: Going into hibernation, hints?
I'm beginning to think it would be easier to keep using the van occasionally throughout the winter.

And I've often argued that it would be far easier and cheaper to sell the Eriba and get our lovely large tent out of the garage and use that instead for our European tours. That is as long as that bl**dy mouse hasn't eaten it

However, I'm overruled by Mrs R.
R

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

Last edited Sat Oct 24, 2015 11:40 am | Scroll up

RE: The cost of keeping a caravan

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Thu Oct 22, 2015 11:44 pm
by Frantone (deleted)

.......and she's quite right!

Troll gently nudging up against Galaxy.

RE: The cost of keeping a caravan

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Thu Oct 22, 2015 11:50 pm
by Randa france •

| 13.283 Posts

It's a fact though that before the Eriba we used to get a large tent (Outwell Montana 6 and extension) and all the necessary clothing, food and camping equipment including two fridges and a porta potti, into the back of the Focus Estate. No roof rack, no trailer. Therefore cheap ferries, cheap tolls, no Red Pennant (the AA covers the car), 130kph motorways and 3 weeks in the South of France spread over 3 camp sites.
Just imagine what we could do now we are retired.
Randa

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

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Last edited Thu Oct 22, 2015 11:55 pm | Scroll up

RE: The cost of keeping a caravan

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Fri Oct 23, 2015 6:55 am
by Deeps (deleted)

Quote: Randa france wrote in post #13
we used to get a large tent (Outwell Montana 6 and extension)

Yes but wasn't it a faff holding all those support poles together without them falling down like a pack of cards? Putting up an awning is a piece of cake by comparison if you allow for the threats of divorce every now and then.

2013 Triton 430, Mazda CX-5 D-150, AWD AT, Walker Touring Plus awning, Isabella Shadow sun shade.

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RE: The cost of keeping a caravan

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Fri Oct 23, 2015 9:29 am
by Aaron Calder •

| 3.834 Posts

Quote: Randa france wrote in post #13
It's a fact though that before the Eriba we used to get a large tent (Outwell Montana 6 and extension) and all the necessary clothing, food and camping equipment including two fridges and a porta potti, into the back of the Focus Estate. No roof rack, no trailer. Therefore cheap ferries, cheap tolls, no Red Pennant (the AA covers the car), 130kph motorways and 3 weeks in the South of France spread over 3 camp sites.
Just imagine what we could do now we are retired.Randa

I suspect that your backward-looking spectacles have a deeper rose tint than mine, Roger, as while we also had some good times, I can also remember the utter misery of some holidays spent under canvas.

One July, for example, we were camping on a hillside at Talloires overlooking Lake Annecy. The weather was glorious (30°C in the afternoons), the scenery was spectacular and life was good. And then we had an electrical storm. The skies blackened, the wind howled, the rain hissed down and the temperature plummeted to a point where we had to wear our sleeping bags over our fleeces just to keep warm. Everything was damp and clammy. It was horrible but while all this was going on, the people in their caravans were sitting snug, smug, and comfortable with their heaters on making us feel like second-class citizens.

I'll stick with the Eriba.

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

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RE: The cost of keeping a caravan

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Sat Oct 24, 2015 11:35 am
by Randa france •

| 13.283 Posts

Quote: Aaron Calder wrote in post #5

I suspect that your backward-looking spectacles have a deeper rose tint than mine, Roger, as while we also had some good times, I can also remember the utter misery of some holidays spent under canvas.

I agree with this statement Brian and, like you, we've had several miserably days in tents when camping abroad. However, it's still food for thought when we consider the huge expense of keeping a caravan especially those of us who do the majority of our camping in sunnier clims.
Randa

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

RE: The cost of keeping a caravan

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Sat Oct 24, 2015 11:48 am
by Frantone (deleted)

Perhaps the huge expense is actually in 'using' a caravan not 'keeping' one.
It is always a surprise to find out how many caravans and motorhomers are used just once a year!

TonyP

Troll gently nudging up against Galaxy.

RE: The cost of keeping a caravan

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Sat Oct 24, 2015 12:14 pm
by Randa france •

| 13.283 Posts

Perhaps I'm playing a bit of a devil's advocate here for I can't see us selling the Eriba although who knows?

As you say Tony, the running costs are considerable against tenting holidays but many of us must also consider the storage costs as well as the cost of insurance and that's before you turn a wheel (tents and camping gear are normally on your house insurance). Fortunately depreciation isn't a major factor with Eribas.

Regarding Deeps' comments about erecting a tent then we've never found that too difficult weather permitting and although one doesn't have to immediately install and awning on an Eriba if the weather upon arrival is bad then living for a week in a small van without an awning can be a bit trying. For the first time in years we did much of our cooking in the van on our recent trip to Scotland and it was a bit cramped.

Towards the end of our tent camping days it was the poor security that was a major concern.

Randa

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

Last edited Sat Oct 24, 2015 12:17 pm | Scroll up

RE: The cost of keeping a caravan

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Sat Oct 24, 2015 1:06 pm
by Marian_SW (deleted)

Oh no this isn't the thread I want to read having just ordered an Eriba after years of happy camping! We returned from 3 weeks in SW France on September 21st and ordered our first Eriba less than a month later, so I guess my spectacles are relatively rose tint-free. We have an Outwell Nevada - pretty spacious for two with lots of comfortable accessories including a proper fridge.

We contemplated switching over to a caravan last year, and this year it became a definite decision. The weather was unsettled right across France in September (and much of Spain come to that) and I got fed up moving us around according to the latest online weather forecast. We mostly got it right, but the weather played a huge part in our planning, primarily trying to avoid packing up a wet tent. We usually camp in June with the long days and I was surprised how much difference it made going in September. So hopefully the caravan will extend the season. Finally our knee joints took a while to warm up in the morning and getting up off a low bed was getting to be a particular struggle! That was about it.

Still looking forward to our Eriba!

Anyone looking to switch the other way, we have a lot of camping kit that will be going on sale next Spring ;-)

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#10

RE: The cost of keeping a caravan

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Sat Oct 24, 2015 1:59 pm
by Ribski •

| 1.468 Posts

Welcome to your forthcoming 'Eribaing"! What a wise choice ! Say good bye to putting wet tents away ! (even an awning is not such a problem !)

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#11

RE: The cost of keeping a caravan

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Sat Oct 24, 2015 2:10 pm
by Frantone (deleted)

Marian, you have made the right choice !!!

Troll gently nudging up against Galaxy.

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#12

RE: The cost of keeping a caravan

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Sat Oct 24, 2015 3:19 pm
by Poptop320 •

| 2.634 Posts

No tents for us, waking up with earwigs and giving a free nightly silhouettet shows is a thing of the past.....

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

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#13

RE: The cost of keeping a caravan

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Sun Oct 25, 2015 10:32 am
by Skoderiba •

| 211 Posts

I'd never seen that before, now I can't stop laughing

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#14

RE: The cost of keeping a caravan

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Sun Oct 25, 2015 5:26 pm
by Chris_and_dogs (deleted)

Oh dear, I have a basic 20-year old Puck, bought from a friend, for £800, five and a half years ago. It is so little that I store it on my drive and insure for about £78 per year. I get the chassis serviced every couple of years. Having seen a Triton 430, I would love one of those, but we recently had a couple of days away at Three Cliffs Bay, Gower, using mains electricity for the first time, and we were very comfortable. You can't beat having a weather-proof shell, no matter how small. The wind blew and the rain was almost horizontal, but we were snug.

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