Quote: eribaMotters wrote in post #14

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If these are the thin walled aluminium tube used on other eribas then they are prone to bending a bit.

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We did indeed look at all the options, not just at the show. We said that we wanted this to be our final caravan, so we have looked at all caravans, including the white wobbly boxes even though we couldn't see us really ever wanting one. I do like the 540 but it really only adds the front dinette to our Triton. The middle kitchen area in the 535 is much better (for us) and we felt it justified compromising on the bed. There is no fire, which we never used anyway or the awkward storage behind it that you had to turf out the wardrobe contents to get at. The fridge is much bigger and is off the floor.. There is a nice space on top of the fridge/wardrobe that you could put a tv/oven etc on but we will use just to keep clutter away from the hob/sink and the tables. We can also put the oscillating fan up there which always gets in the way but we can't do without. Below the sink/cooker are nice drawers which will save bending down and scrabbling to get at the back of the cupboard.

It seems most Eriba owners change their model at least once, so we are not alone. We felt that we could justify a bit of a financial hit as we tour for long periods of time in it. I think we have got our moneys worth from the Triton so far, we have spent over 12 months total touring in it since we got it in 2014, in 14 countries. AL offered a surprisingly reasonable deal, but we have until the new one comes in April to sell the Triton privately if we can do better. We also think that with the bigger van with a better layout, we can do without a tent awning. We added the factory flush fit wind out awning, which leaves the awning rail free below it so we can add one later, but we are going to do a long tour without one and see if we can manage without a proper awning, as we both hate the faff of putting up/down and the prospect of handling it wet. The show offer was a free mover. We had toyed with putting a mover on the Triton and we wouldn't have got much more for the van had we done so, so that was £1200 towards the difference.

Jennie, the long beds are tedious because the wooden slats stick and don't slide easily. One of us is going to put our back out pulling them out/pushing them in, as its an awkward angle even before they jam. Him indoors doesn't like sleeping on the singles, so only having the option of the double isn't a problem, although we wouldn't have bought it if only a fixed bed was possible.

Oh, and we won't miss that pesky freestanding table!!

This 360 view may have been posted elsewhere as I had seen it before https://www.eriba.com/en/models/caravans...ml?panorama=542

Thanks, Lesley, for a brilliant reply! Very helpful. We did say that the current van would be the last! Lots to think about.

Some people, made of money..............good on yer, look forward to viewing it.

PS If there's no 'fire' do you have any heating/hot water? I certainly needed some (both) in Cornwall this September!!! (But I may just be a wimp!)

Yes, it has a truma combi 4 - blown heating and hot water unit with an integrated tank, so just one unit https://www.truma.com/int/en/products/tr...ma-combi-4.html This is housed under the front seat that's next to the toilet. Bit of a luxury for us as we don't have hot water currently, in fact, we currently don't even have cold water as we took the tanks out for more storage!! and fill bottles up daily. We use a little electric blow heater now but its no good at night as it makes a noise, so it will be nice to have proper heating when cold, which has a night time quiet setting.

Thanks. Sounds very luxurious!

Hi Blueyonder and Clippie
Your new Eriba sounds nice. I like the sound of the drawers in the galley unit as you say no more getting down on hands and knees and easy access, when we replaced our kitchen we had drawers installed wouldn't be without them now. The fridge looks a good size. I guess the fridge has a reasonable size freezer that takes more than an ice cube and a scoop of ice cream! The wardrobe looks a tad narrower but is the hanging space longer, I assume there is a shelf /shelves located somewhere above floor level. The 360 degree video for the 535 on eriba.com shows a fixed bed and assume you have taken the dinette option. As we have a 430 the front dinette we find useful at night to put removed clothes and cushions on; its also useful to put things on while your making up the beds.

I must say the 535 sounds a very nice long vacation touring van. WWB? We love our 430 but I think I may be a bit envious with your latest purchase. I look forward to seeing it.

Robin

Just read your heating and hot water extra - wonderful.

Is that some sort of locker in the floor?

Our decision to go with a 540 was mainly based on that both Guide Dog Brood Bitches would be able to sleep in the front dinette area when converted to a bed!

Hatch on the floor I didn't notice on the one we looked at but I have seen them on others, its small storage compartment, can get a few pairs of shoes in them.

The wardrobe is tall and narrow with lighting inside. It had a rail at the top but is fitted with shelves. The top one is immediately removable but a shirt still wouldn't hang there. I wiggled the next one but it didn't seem to want to move. I guess a few mins with a screwdriver would get it out. The fridge is 90 litres and the standard one 60, so quite a bit bigger but much of that is the bigger ice box.

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Here is a pic of the under hob pan drawers
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I looked up the combi heater unit and they make them with the option of electric elements, so they can run on either gas, electric with two different amp options or electric and gas combined. I will be asking AL tomorrow if this is a choice we can make and will post back.

Quote: Blueyonder wrote in post #27

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The wardrobe is tall and narrow with lighting inside. It had a rail at the top but is fitted with shelves. The top one is immediately removable but a shirt still wouldn't hang there.

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Hi Deeps, the picture you show is the wardrobe on the 530 I think, which includes the useful storage Magpie described for her shoes. Currently in our Triton we have just the hanging wardrobe bit of your picture with a top shelf like yours, and yes, its useless for shirts as they are all crumpled at the bottom as its not high enough with the top shelf in the way. In our new van the wardrobe is alongside the bigger fridge and is tall but narrow.

fridge.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
Can't find a pic that shows it but it has a rail at the top and then shelves down from the rail. I could slide the first one out but the next one seemed fixed, so we will have to get a screwdriver out to remove it. This will give proper hanging space but only half as wide as we currently have.

Edit - this pic just shows the first shelf in the wardrobe that comes out. The next one down is roughly in line with the top of the fridge handle but is fixed. There is also electrical gubbins in there so storage is further impeded.
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Blueyonder is getting the new 535 which has a large fridge on the wardrobe side. The wardrobe has to be narrower with no shelves at the side.