We are hoping to join the Eriba family very soon and initially thought that we wanted a 430 Triton 60th Edition but weren’t sure whether to have a fixed bed or seating at the rear. Part of the reason for choosing this model was that we understood that it would fit in our garage. Not the case, it is too high. So, faced with having to store it outside we are now considering a 530 Troll 60th Edition as it is about half a metre longer and could probably accommodate a fixed bed more comfortably? I was wondering what others experience and views are on this?

Finally and I appreciate that this is personal choice but there are numerous optional upgrades available at extra cost and being first time caravaners we would welcome some advice as to what might be considered essential v nice to have. Would the general consensus be that a motor mover would be a good albeit expensive addition along with chassis upgrade?

Thank you so much.

Lots of advice on this forum but definitely go for the chassis upgrade. You’ll be amazed how much stuff you accumulate.
We have a motor mover which we would now not do without. One thing which doesn’t always occur to folks is that it is very useful for driving the van up a levelling ramp on uneven sites. (Also Mrs C doesn’t do pushing and pulling!).
Don’t rush to buy an awning before you see how a few look and canvass opinion on how easy they are to erect (they are very aptly named “divorce in a bag”).
Happy camping.
Capn C

Thanks that’s very helpful and your divorce in a bag comment is much welcomed 🤣
In terms of the mover is it best to let Eriba fit it etc straight away rather than sourcing someone local?

For a Troll a mover is a no brainer unless you are a trained weightlifter. As is the chassis upgrade. As for fixed bed the jury is out on that one a fixed bed is just that but a rear dinette is a dinette or a bed which you can leave up or stow away as required. Most , if not all Troll models, have a second seating area at the front of varying sizes. Consider when you will be using your van, just in the summer? 3 seasons? or all year round? If you are out and about in the winter then a decently sized rear dinette for those long evenings is much more pleasurable than the small dinette at the front and the beds in any Eriba are really easy to get ready and stow away.
What ever you choose take your time and try to get inside as many models as possible you may be surprised at how they present themselves in the flesh

Denise & Phil

I have a Troll 530 with a fixed bed which has bags of storage underneath. The bed is comfortable and very useful for lying around in the daytime when away
you are allowed to as you are on holiday. No guilt trips.

Thank you for your advice. We will try and see as many models as we can but they are thin on the ground at the moment. We’re off to Automotive Leisure on 2nd October as they seem to have a fair selection. As we are new to this we don’t know if we are going to be fair weather tourers or a little more adventurous.
Thanks again.

Great advice, thank you so much. The awning v canopy is another dilemma to be resolved.......

As you say, all personal choices however for what it is worth ours went like this:
Chassis upgrade - as others have said, no- brainier. Go for it.
Mover - a must at my age (don’t ask!)
Hot water - didn’t use it for six months. Now wouldn't be without it.
But a small external waste tank (23 litre not 50 litre) and empty it every day. No hernias.
Think very carefully before buying an awning and ask lots of people first.
Do buy an Isabella Shadow sun canopy. This acts as a sun canopy or more usually in this country a rain porch. It goes up in 5 minutes - no really! It’s the canopy of choice for us folks.
Eribas have great insulation and good heaters. We wondered if we would venture out in winter and ended up caravanning 12 months in 12.
Look at cooking options. You will find a huge bunch of Remoska fanatics on this forum. We have not succumbed yet and have a single induction hob which gets used a lot.
Talk to all the Eriba folk you meet. They are without doubt the friendliest, and most helpful, people you will meet. We are in Edinburgh CMC now and have been chatting to a really nice couple in an Eriba Pan. Best club in the world!
Covid permitting, the various meets will start up next year. They are great fun and worth a go
Enjoy your travels.
Capn C

Hi 5th Duke

It is a privilege to advise royalty..................................!!

You have lots of good advice already and there are many things that are personal choice. We have a Troll 540GT and love the extras that come with the upgrade. Many have already been mentioned but we couldn't live without the external plug that we use when we have one of our awnings up or the brilliant Isabella Shadow. We do nearly all our cooking in our Remoska on the small table that attaches outside. Fitted fly screen in door important as Kath gets bitten by virtually anything that flies - but it does make it more likely that you will bang your head exiting the van

We are solidly non-fixed bed people and agree with marmite about having the rear table that can be made into a double bed - our 540 has a smaller wardrobe and a larger rear lounge/ bed area. Suggest that you study the layouts for the different Trolls to see what suits you.

We love the GT silver body but many do prefer the white dimpled bodywork.

Agree with Colin about the water heater, we decided on the joint gas & electric one. Motor mover with remote control absolute necessity for us. We have gas heater but didn't realise that the tubing to pump hot air around was an extra - we don't miss it now as we have an oil-filled radiator and for when it gets really cold a quiet fan heater with thermostat

Strangely this evening we have had a friend who is thinking of getting an Eriba round to see our Troll so we have already had much of this conversation. what I stressed to them was not to rush but spend some time looking at all the configurations, trying to sit in as many as possible and work out what is best for you. This is especially so if you are going to buy new. We found it all quite exciting especially when we finally collected the van

Enjoy
MikeT

Thank you so much Capn C for your advice, lots to consider......

Hi Mike,

Let’s deal with the royalty bit first.........a family member researched our family tree and I am a distant relative of the 5th Duke of Marlborough apparently! Not sure wher the family money has gone though 😂

Interesting that you have the Isabella (wasn’t that a Jimi Hendrix track) as well as an awning.
I prefer the idea of non fixed bed but need to persuade the decision maker........
We also like the silver GT but really want the lighter interior wood which apparently only comes with the 60th?
Did you upgrade your chassis?
Just need to get out and see as many as we can now......
Thanks again, much appreciated.

Simon

Aaaargh, something else to consider!
I’ve just seen that AVL also do their ‘own version’ of the 60th Edition called the Adventure.......

Hi Simon

The chasis upgrade came as part of the GT package

MikeT