{mosimage}All Tonke Campers are hand-built the traditional way by craftsmen. The two- and three-berth interiors are timeless and classy: they’re inspired by gypsy caravans, and the classic yachts created by Dutch boat builders in the 1920s.
Gorgeous polished mahogany fittings provide a pleasing contrast to the teak floors. The sinks are porcelain, and the faucets are chrome. The windows are flat, clear and bright. You can specify solid wood doors and enjoy the view through safety glass, not molded or tinted plastic.
There’s a built-in shower and an environmentally friendly vacuum toilet. The water tank holds 126 liters and there’s also a “combi” boiler for hot water and heating. A large fridge freezer keeps food cool; you cook it using a very solid stove with burners fed by not one, but two gas cylinders.
{mosgoogle left}The overall effect is unusually authentic: it’s rustic luxury. And we can’t imagine a better motorhome for a leisurely meander around Europe, from Holland to Tuscany—with perhaps a stop on the shores of Lake Como. And then, when you get home, you can take the camper unit off the van chassis in 15 minutes. You can put the Tonke’s living area to good use all year-round, as a self-contained guest room or office.
{mosimage}Tonke is the creation of Dutch documentary maker Maarten van Soest. The company, based in Wagenberg, south of Amsterdam, produces two models, the Explorer and the Fieldsleeper. There are two basic configurations for each model. One gives you a slim but very useful storage slot, accessed from a door right behind the cab. It’s big enough to hold two or three pushbikes—yes, very Dutch—or a baby’s pushchair.
The dinette converts to a double bed, and because it’s at the back of the van, you can leave the doors open and enjoy the feeling of (almost) sleeping under the stars.
The alternative layout offered by Tonke deletes the storage cupboard to create a larger living area, with a permanent double bed immediately behind the cab. And because these motorhomes are hand-made, the opportunities for customization are virtually limitless.
The Explorer is based on the Renault Master van, with a six-speed stick shift and a 2.5-liter diesel engine. The longer Fieldsleeper model sits on a VW Crafter or the identical Mercedes Sprinter van chassis.
{mosimage}You don’t have to go to Europe to buy one. Tonke will ship the unit and the steel platform that supports it. You buy a Sprinter at your local dealer, and you have no trouble with car import regulations or huge shipping costs
Although the Tonke is hand-built, it is not astronomically expensive. Prices start at the equivalent of about $95,000 for the two-berth Explorer and top out at about $115,000 for the Fieldsleeper. You can also try it out by renting it in Europe. The Tonke website is www.tonkecampers.nl . It is in Dutch, but an English language version is under construction.
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