The build quality of the (our) Eriba Touring is simply too poor. This concerns a 5-series model year 2024. Mind you: we are very happy with the new caravan, the looks, the beautiful interior, nice bathroom, good handling, et cetera. The basic construction principle is still solid and strong. But here we are going to list a few pros and cons. First the general pros, but then certainly the specific cons as well. Unfortunately, there are too many of those for a caravan in this price range. Luckily, we can also repair and improve quite a lot ourselves; see the rest of this website...

Pros (Eriba Touring 540 model 2024):

• The Eriba Touring is a classic beauty; the cosmetic makeover of the 2024 model has certainly been very successful.

• The width is limited, as is the height due to the pop-up roof: low fuel consumption and very good handling.

• The interior is convenient, beautiful, and comfortable; it feels more spacious than you would think—cozy!

• The 'bathroom' is small but very well thought out and well-equipped with plenty of cupboards and shelves.

Cons (same Eriba Touring 540 model 2024):

On the internet, we find many reviews confirming that Eriba not only has a nostalgic appearance but also that the production quality is nostalgically substandard. Does Eriba have quality control? Here we present a list, including photos, of what we encountered.

1) The use of cheap materials that do not belong in a 40,000 euro caravan. Photo below left: the thin plastic "hinges" that Eriba uses for the (sagging) seats of the benches. See also: Benches and gas springs  Another example: ugly plastic hooks for the veil curtains. Photo right: the elastic straps used to hold the net curtains in place: two of them already broken upon delivery. By the way: unfortunately, you cannot close the curtains in an Eriba; they are only there for decoration. See: Curtains

What does Eriba to improve?

Every self-respecting company wants feedback from customers to learn from it. But at Eriba, aftersales is non existent. After purchasing the caravan: radio silence. No questionnaire or satisfaction survey follows, let alone a modern attempt to build customer loyalty. Apparently not interested in user feedback...

Other things to consider when purchasing an Eriba Touring (5xx series). In random order.

A) The refrigerator capacity is small. You need to carry an extra cool bag (or cool box) and freezer packs, otherwise you can barely stock up on food for two days. The freezer packs can, however, be frozen well in the freezer compartment... Also missing is an extra door shelf: see ##link under construction.

B) Not only the plastic "hinges" of the benches are embarrassing, the benches themselves are too. We weigh only 50 and 75 kilos, and the seats nevertheless started sagging quite quickly. With cushions on them, they are difficult to open, and they do not stay open on their own. See also: Benches and gas springs

C) There is really only one USB socket, and 230-volt wall sockets are rare. (For example, no power outlet by the bed to conveniently plug in an electric underblanket for camping in the late season. (Add USBs and power sockets yourself...)

D) The ring heating is a waste of money. It makes a huge amount of noise (not just a hum, but especially an annoying buzz). It is level Fred Flintstone. Simple electric underfloor heating? Not an option with the Eriba Touring model 2024... We tried to make the ring heating quieter, it more or less worked out. (See also: Truma heater)

E) Even after half a year, the sealant on the exterior trim strips continues to bulge outwards extremely. It also attracts dirt. (See Removing sealant) Update: even after two years, the sealant continues oozing out. Not a problem if you know how to remove it.

F) Once you have fixed the shortcomings yourself according to your own judgement: what a wonderful caravan you have then!

Conclusion: Many flaws in a brand-new caravan that you unfortunately discover when you go on holiday with it for the first time. The basic construction of the Eriba Touring is certainly good (pop-up roof, driving characteristics, rigidity). The retro aesthetic is what we fell for, both in terms of exterior and interior. We are certainly happy with it and in love with it. But the build quality is certainly substandard, and it takes a lot of work to repair defects or modify shortcomings.

In short: you pay for the charm of an Eriba Touring, not for the quality. If you want a beautiful classic cult design and don't mind some work: get an Eriba Touring. Do you want a caravan that is technically up-to-date and has decent build quality? Then go for something else. Or perhaps even better: go restore a second hand Eriba caravan...