Fixed bed or dinette?

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Fixed bed or dinette?

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Fixed bed or dinette?

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Mon Oct 23, 2017 11:11 pm
by jo@joand.co.uk (deleted)

Hello, my parents were great caravaners (static) and I've decided it's high time I introduced my 6 year old to the joys. A white box would never be my thing but when i saw the Eriba range it was love at first sight. So, I love the lighter feel of the 60th Anniversary livery, but had decided that dinette would be most versatile but they are not doing the dinette version of it as far as i can fathom....so not sure which way to compromise. Dinette in the 'standard' version or fixed bed in the 60th. Is the dinette a big compromise on bed comfort and it it hard to convert to a bed? I had my sights on the 430 Triton model. Many thanks, jo

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RE: Fixed bed or dinette?

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Tue Oct 24, 2017 9:46 am
by eribaMotters •

| 5.600 Posts

Welcome. I think we have the signs of a great debate [arguemen]t here. So for my penneth worth.

The vast majority of our camping with our two boys was done in a Triton 430. As we prefer the warmer months we had the rear end permanently set up as a bed and ate outside. A mattress topper does make things more comfortable but it is not as good as a fixed bed. Initially the boys went top to tail in the front, but soon wanted and got there own pup tents. They loved it. Once converted back the small front dinette could seat 3 at a push with one on the end on a stool. Ideally it would have been a fixed bed 530 Troll for us, but I could not find a 2nd hand one back in 2003 when these vans were very thin on the ground.

One point you may not have considered is the exterior finish of the van. The 60th have reverted to two tone finish, white over grey, that was to be found on vans from about 2000 until 2009/10. In my opinion this looks the best on the eriba. The other new vans come with the choice of all over smooth silver or dimpled white. I love the silver but when I bought new for 2017 [430 as just the two of us] would not buy one. The large flat expanse on the side panels shows any ding or dent that will find it's way onto your pride and joy. Possibly more annoying is the build quality and properties of large sheets of aluminium. They role and ripple, the result in some case is terrible. I have seen new vans for sale that I would not except. I went for white with contrasting stoneguard front. You really you need to have a look at a few in the flesh and also search internet pictures of vans photographed in the summer as this property is even more pronounced then.

photo 1 - 2007 Troll 552gt showing two tone paintwork
photo 2 - 2017 Triton 430 in dimpled white
photo 3 - wobbly sides on a new 550

IMG_2538-800.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)August 2017-800.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)wobble on a 550.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Colin

Skoda Yeti diesel 2wd _ ex 430, 552, camplet trailer tent, 310, now a nice new white 430.

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Last edited Tue Oct 24, 2017 2:10 pm | Scroll up

RE: Fixed bed or dinette?

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Tue Oct 24, 2017 10:47 am
by Deeps (deleted)

Totally agree with Colin as concerns the panel types and paint finishes. Last year at which time we decided to sell our Triton and move up to a Troll we were initially attracted to the two-tone smooth panel models. However, upon close up inspection every flaw and ripple stood out a mile at which time we opted to continue with the hammer finish with a silk like paint finish. Not so easy to polish but washed regularly we've never found the need. All that said, given a free reign I personally wouldn't buy a Touring model again which I consider are ridiculously overpriced and really sold on their retro look appeal, but would instead opt for a Feeling which is the 21st century updated version of the Touring class and which represent much better value for money.

RE: Fixed bed or dinette?

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Tue Oct 24, 2017 4:26 pm
by campnsnooze (deleted)

Hi, I agree with both above. We have 430T layout with separate dinette but have now converted the main dining area to 'fixed' bed layout. We removed the cushions (stored in loft) and made a 'ladder' frame for the centre area between the benches. We then purchased a 4'6" gel style mattress and with much bending of the mattress and swearing got the mattress in place. We find the mattress far more comfortable than the seat cushions. This means, if we should ever sell, we can revert the space back to a dinette or give the same option, that we did, to the next owner.

RE: Fixed bed or dinette?

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Tue Oct 24, 2017 6:16 pm
by Randa france •

| 13.283 Posts

Zitat
Quote Eriba Motters :- One point you may not have considered is the exterior finish of the van

This discussion comes up frequently. Silver Sides or classic?

I have posted this photo again to show what some silver sides can look like. This also occurs on vans with shiny white sides too but is not as prominent.

This is a brand new, straight out of the showroom, German owned van :- silver sides.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Randa

ps. Why is the mudguard fitted the wrong way around on the 550 that Colin added a photo of?

f2t481951p52597n5_EWnebskj (1).jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

I've just seen the answer to my own question. The new shape mudguards foul with the toilet cassette door on the other side of the van. ( see the 550 Photo Gallery g107-Eriba-Troll-GT.html )

ERIBAFOLK POP UP EVERYWHERE 1999 Eriba Troll 530 pushing a VW Touran 2L TDi Match

Last edited Tue Oct 24, 2017 6:31 pm | Scroll up

RE: Fixed bed or dinette?

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Tue Oct 24, 2017 6:30 pm
by Pepé Le Pew •

| 2.752 Posts

Quote: Randa france wrote in post #5
ps. Why is the mudguard fitted the wrong way around on the 550 that Colin added a photo of?

Because of the position of the toilet hatch on the other side.

I asked Martin the same question about his ages ago, and he told me off

RE: Fixed bed or dinette?

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Tue Oct 24, 2017 6:35 pm
by Randa france •

| 13.283 Posts

Yes, but taking another look, it's not so much the mudguard fouling the door, more the orientation of the door fouling the mudguard. Bet the designer had a dicky moment when he/she discovered that

Randa

ERIBAFOLK POP UP EVERYWHERE 1999 Eriba Troll 530 pushing a VW Touran 2L TDi Match

RE: Fixed bed or dinette?

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Tue Oct 24, 2017 6:37 pm
by Pepé Le Pew •

| 2.752 Posts

Quote: Randa france wrote in post #7
Yes, but taking another look, it's not so much the mudguard fouling the door, more the orientation of the door fouling the mudguard. Bet the designer had a dicky moment when he/she discovered that

Randa

Which door? The door door or the toilet hatch door?

.

RE: Fixed bed or dinette?

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Tue Oct 24, 2017 6:42 pm
by Randa france •

| 13.283 Posts

The toilet hatch door. If you look at the photos of the pre 2010 models the door is different and the old style mudguard fits the correct way around.

g107p1191-Troll-GT.html

Randa

ERIBAFOLK POP UP EVERYWHERE 1999 Eriba Troll 530 pushing a VW Touran 2L TDi Match

#10

RE: Fixed bed or dinette?

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Tue Oct 24, 2017 6:47 pm
by Pepé Le Pew •

| 2.752 Posts

Quote: Randa france wrote in post #9
The toilet hatch door.

I know that. The one you asked about is a later one.

Sheesh...

#11

RE: Fixed bed or dinette?

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:10 pm
by Randa france •

| 13.283 Posts

Quote: Pep� Le Pew wrote in post #10
I know that. The one you asked about is a later one.

Sheesh...

Yes I know that too. It's the later one that has the mudguard the wrong way around. g107p2107-without-Fixed-Bed.html#viewport

The earlier ones are OK. ( beginning to wish I hadn't said anything now)

randa

ERIBAFOLK POP UP EVERYWHERE 1999 Eriba Troll 530 pushing a VW Touran 2L TDi Match

Last edited Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:12 pm | Scroll up

#12

RE: Fixed bed or dinette?

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:17 pm
by eribaMotters •

| 5.600 Posts

To all those who are confused. The wheel arches both have to face the same direction, either thick bit forwards or backwards. The norm is backwards, although Puck L differ.
On this year of 550 the toliet locker determines the facing of the wheel arch direction, and so they both face the front, unlike the majority of eriba.

Colin

Skoda Yeti diesel 2wd _ ex 430, 552, camplet trailer tent, 310, now a nice new white 430.

#13

RE: Fixed bed or dinette?

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:41 pm
by Pepé Le Pew •

| 2.752 Posts

Quote: eribaMotters wrote in post #12

...toliet...

What's a toliet?

And one other thing. Don't take it personally, but why do you always spell Eriba with a lower case 'e'?

It's a proper noun. Like colin.

Last edited Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:48 pm | Scroll up

#14

RE: Fixed bed or dinette?

in Hi. Please take a couple of minutes to say hello here Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:48 pm
by eribaMotters •

| 5.600 Posts

toliet - I should have gone to Specsavers or have my small laptop screen on 110%.
eriba - Eriba - or as on the van [incorrectly?] ERIBA - Don't know, never been good at spelling.

Colin

ps, which of the following two spellings is correct, eribafolk or Eribafolk?

Screenshot-2017-10-24 Eribafolk.png - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)Screenshot-2017-10-24 Eribafolk(2).png - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Skoda Yeti diesel 2wd _ ex 430, 552, camplet trailer tent, 310, now a nice new white 430.

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Last edited Tue Oct 24, 2017 8:00 pm | Scroll up