COTY REVIEW VANCRAFT CRAFTSMAN 216
JOHN FORD CARAVAN WORLD EDITOR
VALUE FOR MONEY
At some point during our event, I quizzed Vanguard'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 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.
