Now we have several people with VW/Puck combos on board I'd like to ask them a question that's been bugging me.

Firstly I'll state that I've had a campervan, albeit a Horizons Unlimited Innovation 1, built on a SWB Ford Transit. The converters snip off the roof and add an aerodynamic fibreglass moulded roof which provides room for relatively tall roof lockers and 6ft 5ins headroom throughout. They also build two single passenger seats behind the cab seats making it a genuine four seater with two single beds or add a bolster to turn it into a double bed. Add to that a sink/hob combo, a fridge, loads of worktop, a wardrobe and a toilet 'room' with a proper Thetford, plus a boiler and a diesel fired space heater. Between the rear wheel arches a 2ft deep space, like a car's boot, which in our case had a two dog crate filling it, but could be used for golf gear, climbing ropes, scuba stuff, anything really.

I often wondered about pulling a caravan with it (125PS TDCi engine), but always came to the conclusion that I'd end up doubling up so much that it wouldn't be worthwhile. If it was a two berth caravan, like a Puck, Familia or some Tritons that could work because we had four seats in the van, so there'd be two independent couple bedrooms. However we'd also have two kitchens, of similar size and capability which seems a waste and unnecessary. Only one van would have the loo, which would be tough on the Puck/Familia users.

Two and a half years using the Ford as daily transport never caused me any insurmountable problems, although at nearly 9ft tall multi-storey car parks and those with height restrictions were out of the question.

In the end it was a relief to get back to a 'normal' car for towing and a nice Troll to drag along behind.

I wonder how our Puck pulling VW members find it?

The Puck is the bedroom, the VW is the lounge/library I thought everyone knew that Andy.

I was brought up spending virtually every weekend away in a VW splitty. Two adults and two children with no awning and we had a great time. We never spent long periods away in it though, with two weeks in the summer the only long break.

We have a T5 that we bought new in 2010 and had converted bespoke for us. It has the standard side kitchen but we sleep in the pop top and have no rock and roll bed, to give more floor and storage space. The front captain seats swivel round and we have a table that inserts in the floor. We have a VW bike rack on the back and a Fiamma wind out awning. This is the perfect set up for weekends away and longer breaks if the weather is good. We take it out just to go somewhere walking for the day, so we can change if we get wet or muddy, make hot drinks and/or hot food when its cold.

IMG_102337236989639.jpeg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

We have gone on quite a few long breaks (one month or more) with the van since we've had her, including 4 months on the trot around southern europe. We had a great time but we did get a bit of 'cabin fever' and also the bed in the pop top gets tiresome after about 2 weeks. We ordered the Triton (with the long beds) for these reasons, as we intend to travel for probably 6 months of the year, every year once we retire. We will still use the van on its own for weekend and short breaks from home in the UK. We can take the van wherever a car goes. We can get in most car parks with a height restriction (although multi storeys are a non no obviously), we can ignore all the 'no motorhome' signs in Europe. So, when we are with the Triton, we can leave it on the site and go touring/sightseeing in the van, with all our walking gear on board, changes of clothes (and somewhere to change) and fridge and kitchen to prepare lunch if we find a great view . Also, if we go somewhere for the day and want to stay over to see more we can for just the cost of a pitch..

One thing we love about the van when travelling is the space around you and the fact you are sat up high and can see so much more. We took our Audi to Switzerland last year and the year before because we were meeting family from north America and staying in a chalet. The van has only 2 travelling seats so we couldn't take her. We are now going to put 2 rear seats in the van so we never have to drive a long way in the car ever again! Our Audi is only a couple of years old, full leather reclining seats and other comforts etc. But I would choose to travel in the van any day.

Having said all that, I couldn't as an adult do a splitty. I am 6 feet 1 (female lol) and they are for shorter people or die hard dubbers!

'Now, a Bailey 'Senator' with all the bells and whistles.........................hmmm, there's a thought.'

Wash your mouth out you bad boy!

Oh!

Now a Lunar Clubman Saros Edition ..........hmmm, there's a thought.

http://www.lunarcaravans.com/brands/luna...s-edition/saros

Nah! It's just a tarty piece.

I take your points BY, although I guess you could do with an Eriba without a kitchen, maybe using that saved space for a really good size shower room. That would cut out duplication of furniture and still allow you to use the VW independently. Sadly I doubt anyone could persuade Hymer to build a caravan without any kitchen at all, but it would set a trend.

Apart from the height I'm sure you'd love the Innovation, with a central corridor between the rear seats you have access to the rear of the van at all times and a massive Heki skylight above floods it with light. It's partner, the Cavarno, doesn't have the rear 'boot' but has a proper oven/grill instead in the offside kitchen and a shower room with fold up washbasin and Thetford on the nearside. They did produce a folding roof version but it didn't sell well because it lost all the roof locker storage.

Wenn Sie hier auf Links zu eBay klicken und einen Kauf tätigen, kann dies dazu führen, dass diese Website eine Provision erhält.

Wonder of wonders I've just come across this on Ebay Werbung: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?V...em=301109945861. As far as I can tell after 5 years and a disfigured number plate I believe it's our old camper up for sale. There can't be many '06 Innovations in Magnum Grey with blue leather upholstery and especially with a totally removable nearside rear seat. Well we still have the Barjo double dog crate that fits across the back, it's folded up in the garage.

Hi Andy,

we bought the Triton as Eribas have longevity and it will hopefully see us out. We're only mid 50's. However, I suspect that there will come a time where we will switch to a car to tow, so the kitchen in the Triton will be necessary then, so it's not really wasted. Also, the two fridges will come in handy - one just for beer and wine

I do love VWs though, and the VW community come from all walks of life, are always friendly and will always help eachother out.

We were supposed to get our Triton end of February but haven't had the call from AL yet. Can't wait to get some practice in before a long hot summer!

We own a 2010 Golf tdi, a 2001 T4campervan and a 1977 VW Beetle Cabriolet so perhaps, as whe have recently bought a 2001 Puck, that we fall squarely int the VW/ Eriba slot. We bought the Eriba to tow with the Cabriolet so that we can enjoy a little more luxury than under canvas. There are many VW/ Eriba combos on the VW scene and they look just right together! Perhaps it's just a "'Dub Thing" ! After all, class will always shine through!

Quote: Randa france wrote in post #10

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Have you got any photos that you could perhaps add to the galleries, we would love to see them?

Randa

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No we wouldn't cos then we'd all be jealous.

We have just bought a very nice 2009 230GT Puck L and it just goes perfectly with our 2014 VW T5 California SE. I worried about doubling up the kitchen etc. but in fact it means that you can use the Cali to load all the gear….kayak…folding bikes….prams….skateboards…etc. and still have a useable bed upstairs and then a living room/bed in the Eriba. Or use the Eriba to haul the gear and use the Cali as the main living area. I found I was getting close to running our of space to put carseats and stuff at night to use the lower bed in the Cali, but it's still an amazing camper van and unlike a bigger type, we have the choice of small and go anywhere everyday useful vehicle or just plug on the Eriba Puck and its a whole extra van basically. With bigger campers you can't just cut a bit off when you don't need it! LOL I think maybe anything bigger would be different as you wouldn't end up using your camper van and I didnt want to sit in a 25 grand new Triton and not use a 50 grand VW Camper, so the Puck really makes sense to us. It's no taller and no wider than the T5 with my roof bars fitted, so goes in the same low parking spaces etc. Yes, its long, but not that long and with the T5 140bhp motor, we feel very little change when driving with it in tow. I actually miss the Puck when it's not plugged in! LOL. Puck L has a portapotti space which is good if the kids are sleeping in the Eriba and us adults are in the Cali…which also has a portapotti. Really happy with the VW Camper/Eriba caravan combo !!! :-)

Good to hear it, you must be extremely wealthy!

We moved from VWs to the Eriba and love it.

I have always wondered how do you manage booking pitches with a campervan and caravan in tow? Do you get asked to book two pitches if you are using them both. The way CC sites work they will class it as two habitation units that need the regulation fire break....

We did it for a while (VW T5 camper and Eriba) and as far as site staff were concerned we always described the camper as our 'towing' vehicle.