Overview
The Vancraft Craftsman 18ft is a rugged, off-road caravan designed for serious touring and for adventurers who demand both durability and comfort.
It competes strongly against premium off-road rivals by offering a high payload, adaptable airbag suspension and a robust off-grid power system. Its rivals could include Zone RV’s Sojourn, the Kedron TE5 TopEnder or the Bushtracker 18ft Compact.
Terrain Tested
| 🏜️ Sand Dunes | ⛰️ Rocky Climbs | 〰️ Corrugations | 💦 Water Crossings |
📍 Test Location: Loveday 4×4 Adventure Park, South Australia.
Is the Vancraft Craftsman right for me?
The Vancraft Craftsman 18 suits serious adventurers and off-road tourers who prioritise a robust build, sophisticated suspension, and off-grid self-sufficiency without compromising on interior comfort and space, even for taller travellers.
And at Tough Tested 2024, the 18ft Vancraft Craftsman impressed us with its track-friendly stance and rugged build on our toughest tracks. Remote controlled TuffRide airbags on the twin axles answered the call providing excellent versatility across the various obstacles on our tracks.
While at camp, 600W solar, 600A lithium and a 3000W inverter provided ample off-grid comforts without tipping the scales.
Layout, Comfort & Liveability – Will it fit my lifestyle?
The layout offers a modern and welcoming atmosphere with generous space for taller travellers.
Interior layout
A rear-door design, the Vancraft Craftsman’s bathroom layout features a full-width ensuite at the rear, while the kitchen setup is positioned on the nearside opposite the living and dining area. The sleeping configuration includes a north-south facing bed towards the front flanked by robes.
The full ensuite offers a concealed washing machine delivering welcome home comforts while travelling off-grid.
Comfort & practicality
Despite its 2.1m wide track-friendly dimensions, tall travellers are well accommodated here under the generous high ceilings and the spacious north-south bed. Gloss ceilings and bright targeted lighting accentuate the interior space, creating a welcoming and modern atmosphere inside the van.
The tunnel boot, a firewood tray and external shower reveals Vancraft Craftsman 18’s sporty intent, with the Raptor K3 slide-out kitchen, toggled bug lighting and a Fusion sound panel and an external shower keeping grubby adventures in their place.
Build, Features & Off-Grid Performance – Can it handle my adventures?
We put the Vancraft Craftsman 18 through the complete Tough Tested course, split into specific terrains — each revealing a different side of its construction and engineering.
🏕️ 💨 Sand & Corrugations Test
Objective
This test rigorously assesses suspension travel, body flex and overall stability at speed for the caravan and its tow vehicle under severe corrugations and sand moguls.
Observations
Moguls and dips populate this heavily degraded track, mimicking the Simpson Desert’s harsh terrain.
Thankfully, Aka masterfully navigated this “big sandpit” with a bold, direct strategy, maintaining momentum and simply “going for it” to power through the formidable obstacles.
| Sand & Corrugations Test, What We Found |
|---|
| Component Damage: A thorough post-run inspection confirmed no visible damage to the Chevrolet Silverado or the Vancraft Craftsman 18 caravan. |
| Caravan Reaction: The Vancraft Craftsman 18 demonstrated exceptional resilience, reacting “fantastically” to the brutal conditions and absorbing every challenge thrown its way. |
| Component Response: The caravan’s components maintained impressive composure through the sand moguls. |
🌊 💦 Water Crossing Test
Objective:
The water crossing evaluates a caravan’s water resistance, ground clearance, and the operational integrity of electric brakes, alongside suspension travel, body flex, and overall stability during a submerged traverse.
Observations:
On the approach, Aka took it slow and steady, maintaining excellent control through the water, maintaining good momentum here.
| Water Crossing Test, What we found |
|---|
| Component Damage: A post-crossing inspection confirmed no issues with water ingress into the Vancraft Craftsman 18, demonstrating effective waterproofing. |
| Caravan Reaction: The Vancraft Craftsman 18 maintained exceptional stability throughout the water crossing, tracking “absolutely perfectly” behind the tow vehicle. |
| Component Response: The caravan showcased superior water resistance and “great clearance,” preventing significant submerged contact. |
🪨 Moguls & Ruts Test
Objective:
The Vantec Caravan Graveyard rigorously evaluates departure angles, suspension behavior, articulation, momentum and track adherence through challenging moguls and deep ruts.
Observations:
“Big, nasty” moguls and “deep ruts” awaited Aka, who hit the tracks late in the test, calling for significant wheel articulation through this “gnarly terrainâ€.
Aka drove with aggressive precision, “giving it everything” to ensure both the vehicle and caravan remained grounded and controlled despite the highly uneven surface.
| Moguls & Ruts Test, What we found |
|---|
| Component damage: No visible damage occurred to either the vehicle or the Vancraft Craftsman 18 caravan. |
| How the van reacted as a whole: The van reacted fantastically, taking whatever was thrown at it. Its performance demonstrated its toughness. |
| Observations on how the components reacted: The vehicle and van handled the sand moguls effectively, with Aaka noting that the van held up well. |
💨 🌀 Traction & Cornering through Bull Dust Test
Objective:
The NCE Abyss rigorously assesses traction, stability, and handling of the caravan and tow vehicle in extremely loose, soft sand and bull dust conditions.
Observations:
Hitting the tracks late in the test, Aka confronted “big, nasty” moguls and “deep ruts” through the gnarly terrain.
The highly uneven surface demanded significant wheel articulation and a sharp focus on maintaining traction. Aka responded with aggressive precision, remaining grounded and controlled throughout.
| Traction & Cornering through Bull Dust Test, What we found |
|---|
| Component Damage: No damage was reported to the vehicle or caravan, with the driver noting no “particular trouble” during the aggressive test run. |
| Caravan Reaction: The caravan demonstrated impressive stability, maintaining its trajectory even while wheels were spinning and leaving the ground in the deep dust. |
| Component Response: Wide tyres prevented sinking, while the adjustable suspension and super strong chassis effectively managed the rugged, loose surface conditions. |
Chassis & suspension
The tough Aussie-made sandwich panel construction looks sharp and smart upon the Raptor-coated truss box chassis. That’s fitted with TuffRide airbags on the twin axles for excellent versatility for handling the various obstacles on our tracks.
Power & water systems
- 600W solar
- 600A lithium
- 3000W inverter
Value, Warranty & Safety – Can I afford it with confidence?
Price & inclusions
The price is [HOLE], and key inclusions are a rear bike rack, Tuff Ride Independant suspension, and significant solar and lithium power systems.
Warranty & ownership
- Manufacturer warranty
- Dealer Network
Verdict – Which option is best for me?
The Vancraft Craftsman 18ft is a robust and well-equipped off-road caravan designed for adventurers. It features a tough Aussie-made sandwich panel construction on a Raptor-coated truss box chassis with versatile TuffRide airbag suspension. Its narrow, track-friendly profile and substantial 1150kg payload make it a serious touring option, supported by a powerful off-grid system including 600W of solar and 600Ah of lithium batteries.
Rivals at a glance
The Vancraft Craftsman 18ft stands out with its versatile airbag suspension and impressive payload. It balances a rugged, Aussie-made build with a high degree of off-grid self-sufficiency, making it a compelling choice against its premium off-road competitors.
- Zone RV Sojourn 18’6″ – Known for its innovative, lightweight full composite (timberless) body construction.
- Kedron TopEnder TE’5 18ft – A market leader renowned for its exceptionally robust build, featuring a hot-dipped galvanised dual-rail chassis.
- Bushtracker 18ft Compact – Esteemed for its custom-built quality, aircraft-grade aluminium frame, and serious off-grid capabilities.
