This brand-new Eriba camper van is based on a Volkswagen Crafter 5.99 m long. Its exterior colours (white-red, white-blue or white-grey metallic) are reminiscent of those of the Eriba Touring caravans. The interior is just as elegant, with felt lining on the walls, nautical parquet flooring and modern furniture with coloured surfaces. All with lighting that combines direct and indirect light. All with a choice of three upholstery trims.

The interior layout is fairly compact. In terms of bedding, this camper van has a transverse bed measuring 200 cm x 136 cm on a plate base at the rear of the vehicle. In the lounge area you’ll find a two-seater bench and an extensible table. The side kitchen, complete with fridge, has been well thought out so that it can be used both inside and out. The bathroom is compact and functional. There’s plenty of storage space, with cupboards on the sides of the vehicle and under the bed.

A connected camper van

The Eriba Car is a connected camper van. Thanks to the Eriba Connect application, you can control the lighting, air conditioning and heating from your smartphone.

An over-equipped vehicle

The Eriba Car 600 starts at €77,990. Available with two engines (177 bhp or 140 bhp), it is particularly well equipped in its First Edition version (177 bhp engine, reversing camera, automatic gearbox). The First Edition pack, however, pushes the price up to €86,560.

Vehicle size :
Length 5.99 m
Width 2.07 m
Height 2.67 m

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Derived from the SpaceTourer, the exterior of Citroën’s new van takes on the silhouette and colour of the legendary Type H, thanks to the work of Italian coachbuilder Caselani, while retaining the comfort and technology of today’s vehicles. For the interior, Citroën turned to Slovenian interior designer Bravia. The Type Holidays has a pop-up roof that allows you to stand upright in the vehicle, and offers sleeping accommodation for two, a bench that opens to form a bed, two side doors, a kitchenette and a folding table.

A diesel-powered van

While Stellantis, Citroën’s parent company, has already announced the discontinuation of certain vehicles such as the Berlingo and SpaceTourer in petrol or diesel mode, the Type Holidays will be offered in two diesel versions (a 145 bhp 2.0 BlueHDi in manual mode, and a 180 bhp 2.0 BlueHDi in automatic mode).

With its blend of retro design and modern technology, the all-new Type H is sure to win over its audience. There is one small downside, however: its price. We’ll have to wait until it goes on sale in early 2024 to find out the final price, but initial rumours suggest a figure of around €90,000. A relatively high price compared with the competition. Will the vintage charm be enough to take the plunge? The answer will be in the first half of 2024. Citroën hopes to deliver the first models before the summer of 2024. So we should be seeing a few of them on French campsites.

Type Holidays on the Citroën website.

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Every year, in May and even more so in June, our Belgian neighbours take to our roads to head for the sun and enjoy the amenities of France. Nearly ¼ of Belgians say they go camping, and it’s fair to say that we often see them out and about with some fine equipment.

A few semantic details about French-speaking Belgians, however, which can also be referred to as belgicisms: while many appreciate the motor-home, or camping-car for the French; more and more appreciate the residential caravan that we call the mobil-home; others have opted for the camping car, which across the Channel means an extendable folding canvas caravan… But there are also die-hard caravanners, and there, the word is the same.

The summer period is therefore the best time of the year to see our ancestors on the road again, in what we French would call retro caravans… In short, all this to say that in the 50s, 60s and 70s, the flat country saw a number of manufacturers who built inventively, looking for lightness or emphasising comfort, sometimes all 3 at the same time. We’re going to introduce you to five of these brands in this article.

Let’s start with the charming Wa-wa au, the brainchild of Louis Dombard. Most of them had a roof that could be lowered for journeys, an isorel body that was therefore very light, and twin wheels with a rubber ring suspension system. The first of these were called 160, 180 or 200, depending on the width of the body. Very popular in the retro world, they are nevertheless rare on our roads, but keep your eyes peeled…

More common and more widespread are the Constructams, which appeared around 1959 in East Flanders. They can be recognised by their half-height polyester body and rounded windows at the front. Very bright, with rounded wooden furniture, they are also very pleasant to tow, as their centre of gravity is low. They are called Condor, Coral or Comet, depending on their size.

Another brand that enjoyed some popularity was De Reu caravans, which appeared in Bellem between Ghent and Bruges. The wooden fittings were just as well designed and similar to those of the Constructam, but they were quite distinct externally. The first shape was characterised by a straight front with a line descending towards the rear, then in the mid-1960s they adopted a more classic line with rounded corners and a pop-up roof. In different ways, their names evoke small dwellings, the Cahute, the Casbah or the Casa Blanca. They were built until the mid-1980s.

Another technical solution that allows a very particular shape are the Bourgeois, born in Ostend in 1960. Two brothers chose pressed aluminium to build a caravan with a rounded shape. They also have very effective hydraulic brakes. This time, the names don’t evoke escapism, but simply size: B36 for the 3m60, B43, B50.

Let’s finish with the Belgian grail, the Notin of the flat country, with the astonishing La Tortue, built in Ypres from 1950. They are immediately recognisable by their parallelogram shape, which gives them a look that “causes a sensation”, as the advertisements say. The brand called this line “Mercury”. Designed to improve their penetration of the air, they offered numerous solutions to improve comfort: a two-piece polyester roof to provide natural air conditioning, metal shutters on the inside of the windows, a large boot at the rear to store the caravanners’ ‘brol’ (the familiar Belgian version of ‘barda’), and an integrated footboard. They were fairly heavy, however, as comfort was essential, but their island names – Micorca, Corsica, Mallorca, Capri, Capri MK II for the brand’s flagship, a twin-axle vehicle 6.85 metres long and 2.20 metres wide – were an invitation to long-distance travel and exoticism.

Now that you’ve read this article, and with a bit of luck, I’m sure you’ll soon be seeing some of these beautiful Belgian ‘ancestors’ on our roads.

To write this article, we found informations in

–Le camping a évolué, le campeur aussi – La Libre , article du 6/02/2015

– http://www.rccf.net/

-Sylvie et Franck Méneret, Caravanes de France et d’ailleurs (1920-1960), ETAI 2010

–Digue dingue Dong

– https://www.bocc.be/

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In 1960, the Société Sud-Aviation produced mainly the Caravelle series of planes, the Alouette series of helicopters and participated in the study and production of ballistic missiles. It is a national state-owned company that employs 23,000 workers in the south-east and west of France.  Sales of the Caravelle are slowing down and it is a question of keeping all these employees employed by the French state busy. The company therefore sought to diversify and produced Frigéavia refrigerators, Téléavia television sets, etc.

The caravan market was buoyant in the early 1960s and, with the agreement of the State, this new activity was created in the St Nazaire factory where engineers were working on what was then called “camping trailers”. The beginnings were small-scale. Initially, about twenty caravans in parts were imported from the United States and built under a Terry licence. The first models actually built by Caravelair had an undeniable American caravan feel. 

In September 1961, the new manufacturer presented to the national press the two models called “la Corsaire” and “la Goélette” which would become the future Bretagne (3m30) and Armagnac (4m20) when they arrived on the market a few months later. They are of classic design with an electrically welded profiled steel frame, independent wheels and torsion bar suspension. The interior is lined with laminated wood panels. Later on, different printed wood species will be possible, such as sycamore. 

From this time onwards, Caravelairs were distributed by Trigano in other regions of France. This brand, like Digue and Sterckeman, quickly underwent a process of industrialisation of its production. Trigano, a specialist in the world of leisure, gradually acquired shares in the company and the production site was extended to Trignac, 7 km away. Other models were quickly proposed, all of which were named after regions of France, except for the small “Alouette”, with its 2.90m long access through a large double door at the rear. It is possible to choose a colour for the central strip: turquoise blue, jade green or chamois beige. Many remember the Caravelair caravans produced by Dinky toys 1/43 that were part of our childhood games. The brand is also visible on all the roads of France thanks to its after-sales service and its Estafette stamped Caravelair. 

In the 1970s, SEMM Caravelair was bought by Trigano. Shortly after this takeover, the production of Caravelair caravans moved to Tournon sur Rhône in the Ardèche, where they are still produced.  From 1972 onwards, new, very square shapes were adopted and the models were also named after French or even foreign towns (Hossegor, Lugano, etc.). In 1974, the group was in difficulty and it was the Crédit Lyonnais that took control before returning to the Trigano VDL group to which it still belongs.

Caravelair and Sterckeman caravans are still produced in Tournon sur Rhône in the Ardèche. It is possible to visit the site by booking in advance. 

References :
– Digue Dingue Dong
– Sylvie et Franck Méneret, Les caravanes de France et d’ailleurs, ETAI
– Page Facebook RCCF – Bruno Crotta
– Trigano (entreprise) — Wikipédia (wikipedia.org) 
– Trigano VDL (visite du site actuel)
– Bruno Crotta for the aerial photos of the production site. 
– Caravaning, n°75, octobre 1961

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The festival is open to visitors for one day, but you can also camp on site if you wish and take part in the various activities by entering your Combi in the parade, for example.

Camping places or entrance tickets can be booked on the VW Bus Festival website for €29 for the 3-day festival. Additional people will have to pay 15€ (for over 18s) or 7€ for 6-17s (free for under 6s). Visitors will be charged €5 for the day.

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Find the programme of the roof tent festival on the website www.rttfestival.com.

Selection of campsites around Huriel in the Allier

The roof tent festival offers you a campsite where the atmosphere promises to be festive during these three days in Huriel. However, if you are looking for a little more peace and quiet, we have a selection of campsites around Huriel with pitches for caravans, tents, motorhomes and, of course, roof-tents.

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Festive weekend in Brissac

If you have equipment or even a van to sell, this year there will be a second-hand market area where buyers and sellers can meet.

In addition to the exhibition, the Camper Van Weekend is also a festive event with three days of music at the We Love Van festival. 9 bands will take turns on stage during the 3 days of the weekend. You can find all the information about the Camper Van Weekend on the website www.camper-van-week-end.fr.

Campsites around Brissac

The festival offers a campsite for those who wish to sleep on site. However, if you prefer a little more peace and quiet, we have a selection of campsites with pitches for caravans, tents, motorhomes and vans around Brissac.

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CampervanCo is a Scottish van fitter that was founded in the year 2000. A few years ago, the company made its mark with the first hybrid van with low greenhouse gas emissions. This model paved the way for the brand new fully electric van that was launched in February. With zero CO2 emissions, CampervanCo is several years ahead of the British government’s expectations, which have set a target of no more polluting vehicles by 2030.

Like its predecessor, this new model is designed on a Japanese base. It is in fact a Toyota that serves as its support. The roof is covered with 930 watt solar panels which, according to the manufacturer, should power the lights, induction hob, heater or fridge for several days without having to be plugged into the mains. The Scottish manufacturer has also taken its environmental credentials to the extreme. In order to avoid owners having to buy a second vehicle, CampervanCO has opted for a very flexible van that encourages multi-use. The Toyota Proace Eco REVOLUTION can easily be converted from a 4-seater van to a 7-seater MPV by removing the kitchen. A very practical idea for people who do not have the budget to afford a fully equipped van and a vehicle for everyday use.

When it comes to electric vehicles, the subject that always comes up at some point is range. This is probably where the problem lies. The Scottish manufacturer announces a range of 230 km to 330 km depending on the battery model chosen (50kWh or 75kWh). Since these figures are those announced on the Toyota website for its standard vehicle, this range should probably be revised slightly downwards with the weight of the interior equipment of its version equipped with a lifting roof. It’s a relatively short range, but one that lends itself well to those who like to take their time on holiday. It also makes it necessary to go to campsites with a charging station for electric vehicles in order to stop over.

This vehicle is priced at £69,995 or approximately €80,000.

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For several years now, the van has been a real hit and now occupies several halls at the show. This year, however, the influence of vans seems to have spread to motorhomes and vans. And even to caravans. In fact, the folding roof, which is typical of converted vans, is now appearing on a number of larger vans as well as on some motorhomes. Bürstner, for example, used the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon to present its new Lyseo Gallery motorhome. The latter had already been successful, as the prototype that was to be presented at the CMT in Stuttgart last January (cancelled due to Covid) won several awards for its innovative design. It was the first official release for the newcomer of the Franco-German brand. And judging by the queues to visit the interior of the two models presented, the latter seems to have seduced the German public. Thanks to a system of pneumatic cylinders, the Lyseo Gallery folds and unfolds. When driving, this reduces the vehicle’s wind resistance and increases its aerodynamics. When stationary, the canopy can be folded up and provides a real “upstairs” extra room.

Luxury motorhome with pop-up roof from Hymer premieres at the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon

Hymer also brought a motorhome concept to life at the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon. Visitors to the show were able to see the first models of the Venture S, a luxury two-person motorhome based on a Mercedes Sprinter off-roader. With its living room that opens up to the outside world via the tailgate, this Hymer motorhome offers an attractive design. Like the Lyseo, it also has a pop-up roof. Here the pop-up roof is made of a pneumatic fabric that inflates in a few minutes. This has the advantage of protecting against noise, light and temperature fluctuations. Once in place, it offers a pleasant sleeping area that can be accessed via an integrated staircase. The two Venture S motorhome models presented at the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon were a great success with the Germans who queued up to see them. However, there must have been more curious people than buyers in the queues. The Venture S is indeed offered for sale at more than €200,000!

A pop-up roof on the Hobby Beachy Air caravan

Last year, it seduced us at the Düsseldorf show. The Beachy from Hobby is still as nice as ever. And this year, the German caravan brand has taken its dynamic-looking caravan a step further with the prototype of the new Beachy Air. Very similar to the other models, with an opening at the rear that opens the living room to the outside, this one also has the originality of having a folding roof. However, there is no question of sleeping here. The pop-up roof “just” increases the height of the caravan inside. It must be said that this caravan has been specially designed for electric vehicles. It is therefore lighter (500 kg) and less high than the traditional Beachy (1.98 m compared to 2.65 m). These dimensions allow it to be towed by an electric vehicle. At the Düsseldorf show, it was presented with an ID Buzz, VW’s electric combi.

Small is beautiful: mini caravans are becoming increasingly fashionable

While the Düsseldorf show is still all about XXL motorhomes with a hall dedicated to luxury vehicles that you can park a car inside, at the other end of the market, mini-caravans are increasingly present in the aisles of the Düsseldorf exhibition centre. While some brands have been around for years, this year’s edition of 2022 has seen some newcomers such as the surprising mini caravan from Latvian company Forma Campers. We will have the opportunity to take a closer look at this model in the coming months.

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