Vancraft Craftsman 216 reviewed at Caravan of the Year 2024 presented by MSA 4x4 Accessories

A couples offroad van with plenty of high-spec features and premium build quality, the Vancraft Craftsman 216 turned heads at COTY 2024. 

JOHN FORD — CARAVAN WORLD EDITOR

Value for money

At some point during our event, I quizzed Vancraft’s owner about the price of the Craftsman 216, and he told me it was $184,990 as presented. But then, in the next breath, he suggested that it really should be more, considering all that’s in it. He’s probably right. Approximately $8000 of that is the custom bike rack, but not the $27,000 KTM Enduro motorbike, of course.

It’s a dilemma then. The price is high, but the quality is there, and there’s no arguing that the off-grid capability is up there with the best.

The Craftsman 216 is an oversized couples van with exceptional amenities like an enclosed bedroom, practical central ensuite and that party-size club lounge. The cost isn’t insignificant, but there’s a massive bang for your dollar. It’s excellent value for someone looking for a high-end long-distance rambler.

Build quality

Vancraft Caravans is a new brand from Network RV that has been building vans for many years, so they have vast experience. The Craftsman 216 is built on a tough Network Engineering 12in truss chassis and a 4.5T trailing arm suspension from TuffRide. It’s fitted with Stage 4 airbags (Airbag Man), so there’s a remote control from an onboard compressor that controls ride height and is also handy for inflating tyres for offroad work.

The body is built with a 38mm sandwich panel floor and 28mm composite walls, front, back and roof that are all locked and Sikaflexed into aluminium corner extrusions for a very strong, waterproof body. The furniture has an interlocked design, making the construction solid and durable.

Under the van, you see the attention to protecting equipment, with checkerplate covers over the water tanks and all plumbing and electrical leads high in the chassis and covered in conduit where appropriate. The electrical system is of high quality and professionally installed. I like the way they protect the lower sides with Raptor coating and do away with the usual checkerplate, which is starting to seem a bit old hat.

Weight distribution has been well considered, especially balancing the extra weight of the bike rack at the back. The spares sit at the A-frame to help keep the balance right, and for times when there’s no bike, weight can be transferred in water tanks on either side of the suspension.

The interior is superbly finished, and there’s ample room across the van courtesy of the intelligent layout with a central bathroom design. I like the offbeat red colour imitating the same tone highlights of the KTM Enduro motorbike on the back. It’s a cool touch. The joinery is well rendered, and the spacious club lounge has room for a party.

You can’t help but notice the custom motorcycle rack that lifts and holds a bike safely on the back. It’s entirely Vancraft designed and engineered to hold up to 300kg. While the Enduro bike on the review van might not be everyone’s choice, being able to carry a Moped or scooter is a game changer for getting around towns and exploring. And it points to the Vancraft team’s approach to construction. The rack is practical, strong, easy to use and properly engineered.

MALCOLM STREET — CARAVAN WORLD FIELD EDITOR

Self-Sufficiency

Vancraft’s Craftsman 216 is well equipped in the self-sufficiency department. Starting with the usual weak point in most caravan self-sufficiency — the toilet capacity — the Craftsman 216 has a Nature’s Head composting toilet. It is a great way to get around the limitations of the circa 20L toilet cassettes. Three 95L tanks deliver the freshwater supplies, and there’s a single 95L grey water tank. And while this isn’t quite self-sufficiency, but when the custom-built motorbike rack on the back of the van is not being carried, the water tanks are used to balance out the van. 

Apart from the generous water capacity, the electrics are very impressive too. Three 300Ah Lithium LiFePO4 batteries are charged up by five 200W solar panels and supply a 3000W inverter. That’s certainly enough battery power to keep the air-conditioner and microwave oven operating for a considerable period of time. 

The fridge is a 12V compressor model, but the Thetford cooktop/grill and water heater are both LPG-supplied. More than adequately by the two 9kg gas cylinders in the front drawbar box. Extended off-grid stays aren’t a problem in this van. The only problem I can think of is that either food supplies or the wine might run out before anything else.

Customer care

Network RV has dealers in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, plus a range of authorised service agents. The warranty and service handbook is easy to find on the Vancraft website and at 32 pages long, is quite extensive. It not only carries warranty details but full details of a servicing schedule that covers everything from checking the brake magnets to testing for water leaks. 

The handbook also spells out what is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, including not using the van for permanent living and not using it for commercial rental.

New owners should understand the comprehensive service requirements. It’s not only pleasing to keep a new van in good order but, like other manufacturers, regular servicing is a part of the warranty agreement. The first three services happen at 1000km or three months, 10,000km or 12 months and 20,000km or 24 months. Undoubtedly, the first service is important because that allows for any warranty or running issues to be immediately sorted out. 

Vancraft offers a five-year structural and chassis warranty, a 12-month material and parts warranty and a 12-month appliances warranty. As with the service requirements, the warranty details are quite well laid out in the warranty and service handbook. 

CATHERINE BEST — AUTHOR OF ULTIMATE CARAVAN TRIPS: AUSTRALIA

Towability

The Craftsman 216 is a big caravan with a 4000kg ATM and an 8.75m overall length. A dual cab just isn’t going to cut it. This van requires a beefy tow vehicle such an Isuzu truck or an American truck, like the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD. This is what we used during Caravan of the Year 2024 testing. On the road, I barely noticed the van was there, helped by the cushioning of the TuffRide Stage 4 Airbag Suspension and the stability of the Dexter Sway Control. The Craftsman 216 also comes with a Cruisemaster DO45 hitch as standard, which provides superior articulation, security and vehicle-roll protection in rugged offroad conditions. The 12in truss chassis is also up to the task of tackling some of Australia’s toughest caravan-accessible back roads. 

When you have a big van just shy of 22ft, coupled with a big tow truck, you get a rig with a big footprint. In this case, the Craftsman 216 measures in at a hefty 15.1m on the road (car included), so the turning circle is wide, and you need to be extra vigilant looking out for obstacles and, of course, make sure you have the correct towing mirrors. The reversing camera will be a godsend backing this caravan into tight spaces.

Suitability for intended touring

The Vancraft Craftsman 216 is a high-end build put together by the accomplished team at Network RV. With a price tag nudging $185,000, this is a caravan designed for discerning couples who are perhaps in the market for their second or third van. It suits those who want to get off the road with some toys (hello, dirt bike carrier) and not compromise on comfort. The tough chassis, suspension and composite/aluminium build will take you to destinations off-limits to caravans with lesser grunt, and you’ll be happily set for a week or more once you get there.

They key off-grid features include 1000W of solar, 900Ah of lithium (600Ah standard), a 3000W inverter, and 285L of fresh water — that’s enough to do a load of washing, or two, while you’re away, providing you’re conservative with water. There are indoor and outdoor kitchens, an outdoor shower, electric awning, Dometic air-conditioner, composting toilet, instant gas hot water and a diesel heater. What sets this van apart from others we’ve seen is the bold colour scheme — which can be polarising — and the rear window-framed club lounge, which provides a living space superior in size to many vans of its size on the market. 

TIM VAN DUYL — CARAVAN WORLD CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Liveability

The rear club lounge, centre ensuite and front bed is hands down my favourite layout. Yes, you lose some internal cooking and bench space, but you tend to gain a larger area to dry off after showering, a properly separate toilet room and more privacy if someone wants to hit the hay early and others want to stay up at the massive lounge, and it’s that lounge that wins me over. 

Inside the Craftsman 216’s lounge, there is space for six to play a few hands and a nearly 180-degree view of the world. I say nearly as one window by the door was missing and had it been there it would have given the lounge the best view in the world. I’m told it is a matter of choice and there’s no cost if you want one; it was omitted from this van for privacy reasons (add a pull-up blind, I say). 

In the toilet you’ll find the Nature’s Head composting toilet which is another great sight as it should last you a month between emptying should you use the right supplement. 

Outside, where the world is and where I chose to cook, is an off-the-shelf external slide-out kitchen. It’s a good setup, albeit not a massive innovation or drawcard, and does what it needs to do and gives you more bench space and cooking options.

When your day is all said and done, you’ll appreciate the comfortable mattress. It felt inviting with its pillowtop and all around the bed there are plenty of power points and good storage options.

Could you live with the red overhead cupboards? I could. I appreciate that they are not white or beige, but you can choose almost any finish you want.

Innovation

The standout innovation has to be the rear bike and spare wheel carrier. With its 300kg load rating you could strap on a big hog or a rip-snorting dirt bike like seen here. You could also mount a pair of decent e-bikes on there, which is probably what I would do which does have me wonder about the hefty $8000 price tag — can Vancraft do one for say $3000 that is rated to 100kg? That would be the go I reckon. 

Another standout innovation is the joining method of the frameless sandwich panels. It is an art to get them to stay square, not bulge out and to not leak. The trick is in giving the panels enough room to expand and move, not bolting or screwing but gluing them together and capping the joins with a decently wide cap sealed with a urethane. Vancraft figured it out with their joins capped with an alloy extrusion that will take a knock or two from branches and a wide, multi-layer urethane coating over the capping which will flex just enough to not peel or split while keeping water out. Not all manufacturers of sandwich panel vans have figured it out — I’m pleased Vancraft has. 

X-Factor 

The Vancraft has to be one of the best-looking vans doing the rounds. Yeah, the red inside is going to set a few people off in the wrong direction, but I like it. The mix of the dark Raptor-coated lower edges, white panels and red and black accents all together works.

The truss chassis is well thought out with its 150mm spacing between relatively lightweight 75mm main rails. It will be strong but not as heavy as some frankly over-the-top truss chassis I have seen. It is a sign the builder is not just following the trend but knows what the benefit is and how to get the best from the concept. 

Obviously, that bike carrier will get everyone talking when they see how easy it is to use and what its payload is, but the price tag will also stick in people’s minds. 

VANCRAFT CRAFTSMAN 216 SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

Vancraft Craftsman 216 price from $149,000

OPTIONS FITTED

• Motorbike rack
• Satellite
• 1 x 300Ah lithium LiFePO4

Vancraft Craftsman 216 price as seen $184,990

MORE INFORMATION

• Vancraft Caravans
  
  
• Network RV
  35 McKellar Way
  Epping Vic 3076
  P: 03 9357 8914
  E: reception@networkrv.com.au 

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