by Holly Tribe
This week Caravan Times launches our Lightweight Caravans Week. With rising fuel prices and cost of living on the increase, many caravanners are hoping to save money in 2011. And each day this week we take a closer look at the best lightweight ranges on offer. To start us off, Holly Tribe explores the Trigano Silver range.
Wandering around the exhibition halls at the Boat and Caravan show last week, an unfamiliar range of ‘vans caught my eye; the 2011 line-up of Trigano Silver caravans. Admittedly, I’m a bit of a sucker for pint-sized tourers so I went in for a closer look.
The Trigano Silver series is a range of pop-up caravans that sits well and truly within the lightweight bracket – the biggest of the five models, the Silver 430, has a gross weight of just 1,200kg.
Cheaper towing
The French manufacturer proudly promotes the range as being ‘easy to tow and easy to store’. With a maximum width of 2m and 1.98m in height when folded, the compact dimensions make for great handling and less wind resistance when towing. And because it’s less than 2m in height, the range is exempt from the larger trailer category charges on toll roads in Europe.
The roof pops up with the aid of gas struts in a little over a minute to expand the internal headroom up to 1.95m making it spacious enough for day to day living, yet when it is collapsed, these models will still fit snugly in many garages.
As the name suggests, each model has silver exterior walls with white detailing, and the 2011 model year versions have new front locker doors which open with a satisfying slide-out-and-up action.
To keep weights down, the spec list is rather light and cooking areas are compact, but they do come equipped with 3 stainless steel burners and a 70 litre fridge. There is a decent amount of overhead storage and window panels in the pop-up section flood the cabin with sunlight during the day.
Compact is the name of the game here, and the Trigano Silver range is ideal for caravanners who enjoy regular short trips away.
Trigano Silver 310
A hyper-compact model, it stands at just 1.8m wide and 4.85m in length, including the coupling. An alternative version was brought out in 2011 which features an L-shaped kitchen area in place of the WC.
- Price: £13,795
- Berth: 2
- Overall length: 4.85m
- Overall width: 1.80m
- MRO: 747kg
Trigano Silver 340
There are two versions are available: the twin dinette 340 DD or a fixed bed alternative 340 CP.
- Price: £14,595
- Berth: 3
- Overall length: 4.95m
- Overall width: 2m
- MRO: 787kg
Trigano Silver 380
There are three versions of the Silver 380 available, the DD (pictured) and two fixed bed alternatives.
- Price: £14,795
- Berth: 3
- Overall length: 5.25m
- Overall width: 2m
- MRO: 857kg
Trigano Silver 420
There’s plenty of storage underneath the fixed double bed and the mid dinette offers space for entertaining.
- Price: £15,195
- Berth: 4
- Overall length: 5.85m
- Overall width: 2m
- MRO: 917kg
Trigano Silver 430
Living and sleeping areas are clearly defined in the 430, with a compact dinette towards the rear and front twin beds which can be converted into a large double by adding a central slatted frame.
- Price: £15,295
- Berth: 3
- Overall length: 5.85m
- Overall width: 2m
- MRO: 927kg
For more information contact Trigano dealers Campers & Leisure based in Dorset.
