IMG_4974.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)Evening all
We picked up our 2001 Eriba Troll 530 GT at the tail-end of July from AL - much anticipation and excitement all round during the three weeks it took from paying the deposit to waiting for AL to take it from their back-lot to being showroom (and customer) ready.
The whole buying and collection process was exemplary. Time set aside on both occasions to answer the most mundane and rudimentary questions, in addition to more queries by phone and email. As a first-time caravan owner, the handover and explanations on how everything worked could not have been better. The result? A gleaming and exceptionally well-cared for used Troll that was ours - all ours!!
At AL's recommendation, we stayed a night at Lytchett Manor before heading home to south Wales - an opportunity to spot any snags that might need addressing. A sensible recommendation. We'd probably get a pitch discount if we mentioned that we'd been recommended the site by AL, according to AL. Well, we didn't get a discount, but it was the first week of the summer holidays, so we paid the full salty £36 for a pitch, and in fairness, the help in setting up we received from the chaps who took care of the site was worth the price (every piece of advice was greatly appreciated, believe me!!) All was well the next morning, so we headed homewards.
Despite initial reservations about towing, we made it back safely from Bournemouth to south Wales, even braving the Bath shortcut, rather than heading east and up the M3/A34 route. Even in the hands of a virgin tower, it handled like a dream, and the Mazda 6 Sports Tourer took the additional load in its stride.
As is often the case, as we crossed the Severn Bridge, the heavens opened. We were heading straight down to Cresswell Barn Farm Campsite in Cresswell Quay (a truly idyllic place - check it out if you're heading down this way), and so had the dubious pleasure of setting up for the first time ( without the helping hands of the Lytchett Manor boys) in the sheeting rain.
However, the detailed instructions of AL's ever-patient salesman had obviously sunk in, and within 45 minutes or so, we had the kettle on and were sitting inside our new pride and joy, looking out at a not untypical Welsh summer's day. Bliss.
Our Troll has a front dinette layout, so we settled into our new cwtch, cuppa in hand, feeling snug and not a little smug.
However, within 45 minutes, a persistent teardrop of water was snaking down from the right hand corner of the pop-top roof, underneath the internal metal guard rail. The main practical (as opposed to aesthetic) reason for buying an Eriba was the fact that it is supposedly watertight, so we were aghast to say the least. The rain was heavy, but hardly biblical, so down came the pop-top and once again, we were water-tight.
A quick call to AL the next morning, and to their credit, they made arrangements to collect the Troll to take it back to Bournemouth. So, our holiday was cut short, but being the optimistic types, we're at least thankful that the old girl was put through her meteorological paces a few days into her six-month warranty.
So my question to you Eriba Folk is as follows: have you experienced any similar water ingress issues? If so, what was the problem (and solution)? And also, what are your experiences of AL's after-sales service.
Grateful for insights and advice
Iwan
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