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Subject Topic: Hymer Nova 470 // 570 Post Reply Post New Topic
26/4/2014 at 7:30pm
 Location: France
 Outfit: None Entered
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We are new to caravanning, used to do a lot of camping. We have identified Eriba & Hymer as good equipment. Now we are trying to home in on just what to buy. We have seen ads for Nova 470 and 570. Apart from vague mention of size difference (how much?) we cannot tell them apart, looking from a distance (this side of the Channel). We do not anticipate ever wanting more than 2 berths, and we would really prefer twin beds. To get a hands-on view means we spend over £200 for a look, so want to be pretty sure we will get something close to our requirements.
We will have to make some alterations to bring back to France, but that will probably be offset when we come to sell if we need to. We anticipate that we may get it wrong, and need to change horses later, but it would be magic to get it right first time.
There is unlikely to be any information you can give me that will not be useful, since I am almost totally ignorant of caravans.
I have read some other threads which address stuff like awnings and nose-weight. My car is a BMW 530 diesel, which I think will be suitable as a tractor for the van.


26/4/2014 at 7:50pm
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Hymer Nova S
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Eriba & Hymer Novas were the same vans with just a branding name in different countries.
You should be able to download brochures for current models.
There was a very big design change in body build for 2006 model year; the later one being more modern but IMO not better. We had a 2002 Nova 545 and have a 2008 Nova"S" 546.
My brother and a friend have pre 2006 Nova 470s; this is a front lounge/ bed arrangement with full width rear washroon/toilet/shower.
The 500 series are considerably longer than the 400s; both are single axle.

You are right in thinking they are excellently built vans. They are heavy but that includes generous payloads.
Depending on where sourced the actual "fit" can vary greatly. On the Continent they were offered from a very basic spec with a BMW length options list. The UK importer speced up a high level van with battery, oven etc etc, so look with great care at any non UK offerings to ensure it is what you think it is. The Dutch tended to go for the lower spec builds, I expect driven by weight concerns re their generally smaller tow cars.
Different axle ratings were also a build option.


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26/4/2014 at 8:18pm
 Location: Peterborough
 Outfit: Raclet Solena + Tent
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Here's a link to the website:
http://www.eriba.com/en/models/

Hope that helps.


26/4/2014 at 8:21pm
 Location: Peterborough
 Outfit: Raclet Solena + Tent
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Here's a link to the website:
http://www.eriba.com/en/models/

The Hymer website can be accessed at the bottom of the Eriba page.

Hope that helps.


26/4/2014 at 9:15pm
 Location: N Wales
 Outfit: Hymer Nova 590GL
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The 570 is a 3 berth end washroom side dinette with a double bed at the front. I think the mptlm is 1700kg so not light. I believe it is just about the largest single axle van legal in the uk.
I agree with JTQU the post 2006 changes weren't necessarily for the better. We have a 2007 570.


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26/4/2014 at 10:01pm
 Location: France
 Outfit: None Entered
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It seems, from the site, that Hymer are now the Camper Van part of the business and all the caravans are now Eriba - with the numbers similar but not the same?

The 470 seems to have shrunk to the 465. The layout on http://www.eriba.com/en/models/eriba/eriba-nova/layouts.html looks to be pretty much the same.

But how would the 530 of 2007 era equate?

We would be buying in UK and exporting (back) to France and looking for around 2005-2008. There is not a lot of choice, it seems.



27/4/2014 at 9:24am
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You will have more choice in Germany, probably cheaper from a large caravan dealer, most of them speak English, are used to dealing with export customers & you will have no ferry cost. If you have French reg car & live in France you will have to register caravan in France which will cost a few £100s & you will need a cert. of conformity etc. Look on mobile.de


27/4/2014 at 10:22am
 Location: France
 Outfit: None Entered
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Hmm, that is interesting. I have been advised by UK and French friends (see first reply above) that UK dealers tend to up the spec. from basic. I have looked on the site mobile.de you gave, and I find that the prices there are 1000's more expensive than the examples I have found in UK.

Thanks for the advice, though. I will look in .de, even if I am a bit negative in that direction.

It is quite true that I may have to pay a bit to homologate with the FR spec. - electric outlets, tyres spring to mind, there may be others - but I have done all that with a car and am pretty accustomed to the French paper-chase to do just about anything. (So far, it has taken nearly 6 weeks and two trips to the préfet of Cotes d'Armor in conjunction with changing my wife's driving licence from UK to French...and it is still pending. Luckily, je parle français et je n'ai pas peur du système français.)

Of course, if there is any other info on problems anyone knows about on subject of importing UK van to France, it would be most welcome.

Another reason to prefer the UK market rather than German is that I can't speak a word of German and it would be just my luck to find the one german who doesn't speak English. More importantly, I cannot read a word, let alone any documentation. Finally, it is far further to German destinations than St.Malo - Portsmouth.


Can anyone make a comment on the single bed question. Which van would be the most suitable from Hymer/Eriba for twin beds?


27/4/2014 at 12:57pm
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Quote: Originally posted by SeptimusFry on 27/4/2014
I have been advised by UK and French friends (see first reply above) that UK dealers tend to up the spec. from basic.


This means absolutely nothing, Hymer/Eriba do several ranges of caravans, some high spec, some more basic & priced accordingly. The full range is probably not available in the UK & if you want to see the full range you will probably have to go the a German caravan show.

Are you buying new of secondhand? Some Hymer caravans imported new into UK were supplied UK spec with left hand side doors which you may not want in France. Plenty of Hymer/Eriba caravans in the UK were imported secondhand from Germany etc so they may still have continental plug sockets etc & right hand doors of course.

If you want to buy new then your best bet is to look on Hymer website choose what you want & order from UK dealer if they can supply it. The caravan will be delivered in German spec with a battery if you want it so could be registered in France without modification.

From where you are Your best bet is to speak to this dealer in Poole, they can supply new or secondhand Hymer/Eribas sourced from Germany & could probably find what you want at dealer prices of course.

If you want a bargain then several secondhand private sales on UK ebay but obviously difficult for you to view.


27/4/2014 at 1:01pm
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Another dealer here in Somerset so convenient for you.


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27/4/2014 at 2:19pm
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Hymer Nova S
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Quote: Originally posted by michell8 on 27/4/2014
Quote: Originally posted by SeptimusFry on 27/4/2014I have been advised by UK and French friends (see first reply above) that UK dealers tend to up the spec. from basic.

This means absolutely nothing, Hymer/Eriba do several ranges of caravans, some high spec, some more basic & priced accordingly. The full range is probably not available in the UK & if you want to see the full range you will probably have to go the a German caravan show.





The true facts however are that within the range of Nova models the build spec of each model can vary to whatever the dealer placing the order wishes to take from a massive options list.

I could chose for example from options like:
the chassis rating, the wheel type, the heating type[ I opted for Alde], the upholstery, fabric or leather, the side panel colour, the front rear and roof colour, with or ATC, air con, TV, hifi, sub woofer, oven, underfloor heating, battery and charge controller, 13 pin or twin 7s; and that is all I remember at the moment but completely makes a nonsense of suggesting that within even a molel build specs are not very varied.
In the UK the sole importing dealer for the decade chose what they wanted to sell in each model; and it was relative to the basic option quite an up spected version as well as featuring UK electric sockets. I did however "help" [guide] them develop a build specification for the 2008 "Nova S" to market in the UK.

But continental dealers were very happy to order exactly what we wished to buy from the costed options list.


27/4/2014 at 4:12pm
 Location: France
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Well, folks, we are going to go looksee tomorrow. With a bit of luck, I should be able to report back and tell you that I have actually bought a 'van. Now I have to find out all the stuff about where and when you can park in UK.

If I am on the move in UK - 'touring' as it were - I believe there are no prohibitions, unless specifically stated, which limit parking in service stations and suchlike, but what about more generally? If we buy a van next week, then we shall have to use it as a hotel until we come back home here in Brittany. Advice on what is acceptable/works would be handy.

My wife is getting all excited (at the prospect of having a caravan !) but I am getting worried about how much this is all going to cost.

Final question: what opinions about the 'cult' Eriba original type of caravan, as distinct from the ex-Hymer models?


27/4/2014 at 4:43pm
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Hymer Nova S
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Quote: Originally posted by SeptimusFry on 27/4/2014

Final question: what opinions about the 'cult' Eriba original type of caravan, as distinct from the ex-Hymer models?



"Chalk & cheese" comes to mind; both excellent products but poles apart in what they offer and by and large the clientele.
We "need" the space and opulence of our van, there is no way we could return to living in so compact a space as a "classic" Eriba.
There is certainly a cult following like veedubs that elevates the SH price, but we don't fit that cult in any shape or form.
There is no right to casually camp in caravans over here, I would seek proper sites.
The very best of luck with your hunt.


27/4/2014 at 5:10pm
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Campsites in the UK will all be open now so when you get the caravan just stop on a campsite until you want to go back to France. Theres a campsite guide on this website. Click 'Camp Site Search' at top of page. A basic site with hookup & showers/toilets should only be about £15pn.

If you post up what area you want a site I'm sure somebody will put you right.


05/5/2014 at 12:44pm
 Location: France
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Well, I see what you mean about 'chalk and cheese'.

We have bought an Eriba Troll 530GT (what's in a name?) in almost perfect condition. We bought it from up by Cromer and slept in it on quiet road-side sites.
I did say in my original post We anticipate that we may get it wrong, and need to change horses later, Part of the decision making was how likely we would be able to sell again, if necessary. The Eriba in general are hen's teeth in France.

As to what we actually have, it falls down in one respect, the lack of hot water on tap. There is a 10L item available, but that doesn't seem much. We used to camp a lot and had everything except hot water then, and it doesn't seem to have been a problem. We will put the multi-cooking microwave in the boot of the car and have an oven, grill and microwave to use where 240v is available.

Thanks to all for contributions and information. I am now entering the fray to get the 'van registered in France and getting the necessary coding on my (French) driving licence - not too complicated, but a bit tedious.

BTW, my seriously extensive research leads me to the opinion that one can park a caravan anywhere that you can park a car, subject to the same rules, in particular not parking where the vehicle would be an obstruction or dangerous. This is not the opinion of many posting to this and other caravan forums. Strangely, there is an exception when it comes to private land, where the law is more onerous on caravans.


05/5/2014 at 2:27pm
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I think one needs to forget laws & also bylaws, both in UK & France. The secret of wild camping is just use your judgement at the time, if it looks like you can get away with a nights camping you probably can. Plenty of the small Eriba tourings in France though & 2 forums for them here & here & also UK Eriba forum here.



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