My wife and I have spent a great deal of time trying to decide the best way forward for our caravaning exploits in the future. We had never even been caravaning before buying a Troll from AL last year on an impulse. So glad we did as we have really been bitten by the bug now.

Since then though we have been contemplated changing to a motorhome or a campervan to allow us to get to places we couldn’t get to in a caravan. Long story short, we decided to stick with the Troll and squeeze it dry! We own a 2003 530GT which is a French built one and love the build quality although there a improvements we would like to make like the nicer bathroom from the later Trolls etc. To this end we started getting quotes for a new Troll after visiting AL again this year but decided eventually to stick with what we had as part from the afore mentioned bathroom the only real advantage was extra width and headroom compared to ours.

I would like to know from you guys/gals your thoughts on a new Troll compared to our 2003 version. I have heard of built quality issues. Let’s just say that if money was no object would you buy a new one to replace the old one?

AL has a nice (but expensive) 2015 540GT in at the moment. I have purchased a 2014 Triton and have some concerns about quality issues, since talking to a couple of Eriba owners close to where I live. A common issue with the post 2010 German ones seems to be with furniture construction and longevity, due to weak plywoods and inadequate hinges and screws. One guy also moaned about problems with the touch sensitive LED lights. The big benefit of the newer ones appears to be with chassis rust protection (galvanising is more extensive).

Interesting that you mention getting to places in a motorhome or campervan that you cannot reach with a caravan. What do you mean by that? My experience (as a tent user before the Eriba) was that many of the more interesting and remote 'off grid' campsites do not welcome caravans, but seem to like VW campers etc. However, most 'Cool Camping' locations will turn their noses up at motorhomes, the same way they do with caravans. Are you referring to physical restrictions ie. rocky, potholed tracks that lead to some places or to the general attitude towards caravans ?

I suppose that the campervan is what we were really looking at as it has the same footprint as a car. I just can’t see the justification of the rather large price tag though. If money were no object in the case of any vehicle it would be a VW California for sure.

The California sure is a lovely bit of kit, but I'd hate to have to park a brand new one in a busy town or supermarket car park. Dent and scratch magnet. I was dead set on a Cali but I wouldn't want to use one as my daily transport and I couldn't justify (or afford) to have it sit on the drive at home. I came to the conclusion that a car of your choice plus a nice little Eriba is the best compromise out there. We also wanted a fixed bed, which you don't get in any [Cali sized] camper that I know of.

Haha. I know what you mean and feel almost the same as you. Our choice was not to have a fixed bed as the 530 is so flexible and that regard having a dinet at both ends. We sometimes leave the bed made up if we know we are out for the day. Another reason for thinking about upgrading is that I hit my head so many times on the fly screen at the entrance and cut myself badly on a couple of occasions. By the time I learn to duck it’s too late. The new Troll is 6cm taller and has a flyscreen that comes from the side and not the top. It’s a silly thing I know but could be a clincher.

Hi Mike
This all sounds familiar for us. We were tenters and looked at all sorts of things including VW camper vans, high-end trailer tents, white boxes and motorhomes
before we eventually plumped for a 540GT with the multi-functional bed from AL in August 2016. Like you we loved the diners at both ends and often leave our bed up like a fixed bed for days in certain circumstances.

In the end one of the key points for us was pitching the van on site and leaving it whilst we explored the locality in our Octavia Scout. We have friends with all sorts of other options but this worked for us. If we had loads a money it would be nice to have a VW camper to explore places that I might be nervous to tow the Eriba in. Some of the more remote sites in Scotland might be an example.

We did meet someone at Crystal Palace who had a VW camper and was looking at a Puck to tow to put his grandchildren in overnight> I guess VWs now have more power as the only VW camper I have ever driven was in the late 1970s and it would have struggled pulling a pram behind it!

I banged my head on the door really badly once and i guess this knocked a lesson into my thick head and I haven't done it since (touch wood). Our fly screen is from the side but I thought that all of them were like this. As to quality the only issue we have had is with a screw coming loose in the cooker side screen, and AL sent us some replacment specialised screws.

For all of us it ends up as some kind of compromise but we love our Troll and are looking forward to using it more in 2018. MikeT

We have a 2017 Triton 430,
Had problems with the touch lights and upper locker door screws coming loose resulting in one door dropping off.
Caravan was at dealer for 2 months for the repairs to be carried out .
All repaired now and hopefully no problems for next year.
The interior build quality is not as good as earlier Eriba caravans.

I suppose the danger of forums is that the when faults are found an assumption will be made that all the vans are the same, I would have thought that most Eribas are on at least their second plus owner and the vast majority of the owners will not be aware if their van has had to go back at some stage for remedial work within its warranty period.
I'm still confident of the Eribas overall quality, I'm sure that there are a lot of people out there who have bought an Eriba from new and they have never experienced any problems....

However as for my experience my 2015 Famila touch light over the bed went a bit wonky, it gives out a green light.... The major issue I had on my last trip was my fridge packed in on the EHU, that is a Dometic issue and not a Hymer build .. I have had both issues repaired under its 2nd year warranty without any dramas. My previous 2012 Familia 320 had an electrical problem that was fixed on its first year service, and my French built 1993 Puck was just getting old age related problems...