Eriba Caravan

We wanted to do some travelling around the UK and the rest of Europe before and during retirement, and so, like many, looked at caravans and motorhomes. The sheer cost of motorhomes is one factor against them, the other being the lack of flexibility on site – having to pack everything up to go out for the day. Our style is more pitch-up and look around for a few days, rather than travel on each day somewhere else. We’ve had caravans before, with the kids, so are also used to towing.

So we bought a 10 year old, but very nice, Lunar Clubman, in 2021. We took across the UK a few times, and then a trip round northern Spain. But even with quite a big towcar, we got stuck behind lorries on the motorways, and could feel wobble when something large overtook us. Also some campsites are quite compact, and access roads can be narrow with sharp corners, small bridges, single track, etc.

Before and during Spain I was looking at Eribas. They don’t have everything the Lunar has (large washroom, oven, microwave), but the one I liked still has a fixed double bed, separate eating area, cooking area, small bathroom. And they are well built, and actually look rather good too. The reduced size inside makes little difference to living in them, but they are shorter, lower (pop-top roof), lighter, and faster and more maneuverable on the motorways and side roads.

I think that they are just better companions on the sort of trip we like, stopping 3-6 nights at a stop, so usually visiting multiple sites on a trip. We’ve learnt a few tricks from the community since buying it:

Use a “Ramoska” rather than an oven for interesting home-cooked meals
Use the shower block rather than showering inside
“Duck” when exiting the van (the door is quite low)
2 awnings, one very quick-to-erect sun canopy, one proper awning for longer stays, or possible wind / rain

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