I really like the look of these and would like to know of the pro’s and con’s of owning one. I drive a 2016 Yeti 1.2 petrol car with a tow limit of 1200kg (if I have read the door frame plate correctly). Which Eriba models could I safely tow. All info and advice much appreciated.
You can tow any of them except the largest. The Troll model. If you want vintage 80s or older then most will be smallest. Puck or next size up Pan known as Familia for later models.
Prices are ridiculously high though. When you look at one first thing you do get underneath on your back & carefully inspect every inch of the square steel tube frame around inside of body particularly. Any sign of rot then avoid. The caravan are built around an ungalvanised steel tube frame.
If damp has got in through the window rubbers then over a period of time a large section of interior steel frame can rot out making caravan unroadworthy & scrap unless you are prepared for a body off restoration. Any visible sign of rot of the steel frame underneath could mean much worse rot of bits you can’t see.
Later models after around 2008 had galvanised frame but prices are ridiculously high.
Pros are they are lovely looking little caravans & their streamlined shape make them tow really stable. Small inside though which is why I eventually got rid of my 1988 Pan. I paid 1800 for it off eBay in 2006 & sold in 2010 on eBay for 2600. Nowadays asking price for that caravan would be north of 4k
They are a bit quirky and have their niggles so have a peruse of the Eribafolk forum. The canvas skirt can let in draughts, noise and let out heat. Bathrooms are toilet only - too small for a shower. Condensation forms on the interior roof at the skirt and drops on the bed in the night. They are relatively heavy for their size. Later models (2014 onwards I think) have more quality issues. https://www.eribafolk.com/t657236f12-I-m-SO-disappointed-with-my-new-Eriba-Troll.html
Every caravan has its niggles and you can put up with these if you really like the caravan. I seriously thought about buying one but weight, cost and height (just a smidgen too High for my garage) put me off. If you like poptops - take a look at Triganos as well or even a go-pod.
If you want a reasonably priced very small caravan look at Freedom. Also as pointed out Trigano Silver pop tops. Earlier versions of those are Rapidos. Search eBay for them. Usually some on there.
Around 6 years back when I was looking at buying my first caravan, I looked at everything on the market that met my slightly meagre towing capacity (1350Kg), including the Eriba models of interest to you, VERY quickly ruled them out when stepping in to them, as found the pop-top quite claustrophobic when standing! They are not wide vans at best, but the pop-top is really quite narrow as only the gap between high level lockers, and as a 6ft tall big bloke, my head, and shoulders too really, were entirely in the 'pop-top', didn't feel very comfortable with that. Clearly not a problem for some folk, but definitely not for me personally.
I looked at Gobur folding vans, which whilst similar dimensions, didn't suffer the narrow pop-top problem, I did exclude them on high cost versus basic kitchen and no shower though - felt better value for money elsewhere, but as a van layout, I was much happier with them and their modest dimensions, but without the disadvantage of the narrow roof space.
For what it's worth, I spent a lot of time (about a year at shows and dealer forecourts), looking at 'everything', it changed my initial view of what I thought I wanted quite considerably, my final purchase was nothing like my first thoughts on what I wanted, largely as I found and excluded (Eriba pop-top for example! .... and miniscule shower over loo type bathrooms on other vans!) many aspects of vans I saw and decided really were not for me. 6 years on and the van I bought has proven itself to have been the perfect choice, I'd very happily go and buy exactly the same spec/layout again, all that research and homework paid off! .... plenty of people do buy in haste and without enough thought, then change their van shortly after, as the realities dawn on them!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Eriba Vintage Caravans
via mobile 05/7/2024 at 12:28pm
