2023 Eriba Touring 542 caravan

Yes, there’s a front lounge. Yes, there are permanent single beds. Yet overall body length of the Eriba Touring 542 caravan is only some 4.70m.

How so? Well, it’s a particularly short lounge, with seating for two either side of a table that clips to the front bulkhead.

Live with a legend

With an exterior design that harks back to its German origins of some seven decades ago, it’s fair to say Eriba caravans sit in the category marked iconic. They’re not the cheapest to buy brand new, but they do hold their prices well on the secondhand market. Also, practicality overrides quirkiness here.

Just be warned, too, the model reviewed here carries plenty from a wide range of optional extras – bringing its actual cost to some £29,470. But, that’s a 2022 price tag for a limited run of 60^th Edition models which were brought out for 2022 season – act fast and you might just track one down. More likely, though, is the £25,480 starting price you’ll be paying for a 2023 Eriba Touring 542 model. And you’re going to want to at least consider some of the almost bewildering array of options available.

With seven in the Touring range for 2023, latest models still sport that distinct wind-cheating, bowed front look along with the usual pop-top roof and front gas locker sections. As well as its front curves, it sits lower than most – hence you’ll soon find fuel economy (and indeed handling) doesn’t suffer as much as a more typical caravan.

The Eriba Touring 542 caravan is not a total lightweight, yet somehow it seems easier to manhandle on site – again, compared to other small, full-size caravans.

The canvas-sided elevating roof has an easy push-up arrangement. It gives extra standing space throughout most of the living area, including the washroom. There are openable ventilation panels with flyscreens, too.

There’s a one-piece main door, but it follows the angled lines of the bodywork. As standard, it’s all-white, with a choice of silver trims adding £990 to the price. Likewise, alloy wheels are a £540 premium, but are also part of the £1,280 Design Package that might just prove irresistible. Take a look at the Equipment line Urban package, too – also, £1,280 it covers most of the extra items to make your Touring look “pure Eriba”.

The kitchen in the Eriba Touring 542 is unsurprisingly compact. There’s just a two-burner hob as standard, with a circular sink to its left and a small worktop extension. A couple of mains sockets are close to hand, too, while an 81-litre fridge sits under the hob. Storage includes a cutlery drawer under the sink and a double-doored, shelved locker.

The washroom is all rather neat. Because of the elevating roof, there’s a high-level section that pulls up to give you a mirror and a storage ledge. There’s also an opaque opening window.

The Thetford bench toilet will prove easier to clean around than a swivel-bowl version. For hand-held showering, the basin’s tap has an extendable hose, plus there’s a full wraparound curtain. Storge includes a double locker under the basin, plus some open shelving over the window and rails over the door.

At the back of the Eriba Touring 542, the fixed single beds are cheek-by-jowl. You could have this as a permanent double, too, but the infill cushion will cost a pretty penny, although it does give commendable 1.90m x 1.98m dimensions.

There’s a large, uncluttered area of storage under the beds. The metal-framed, slatted wood bed bases are supported by pneumatic struts. An exterior-access hatch is, again, only available at extra cost.

The two single front seats combine to make bed number three. Again, there’s storage in both bases. Other storage includes a wardrobe, with hanging rail as well as a shelf, plus upper-level lockers all round.

A good solid feel all round certainly helps the Eriba cause. If size doesn’t matter, quality certainly does!

There’s more information on the Touring range on the Eriba website. To find out more about insuring this or your current caravan visit our caravan insurance page.

Verdict: A certain pedigree sets these Trolls apart

Plus: Well-built, fuel-saving aerodynamics

Minus: Expensive… and then some

In-a-nutshell: A caravan of character

Alternatives: Adria Action, Knaus Sport&Fun