One of the greatest parts of camping is leaving the hustle and bustle of daily life behind for the quiet solitude of a simpler world. But how much quiet solitude can you really get when driving a bus-sized RV filled with people, especially if those people don't share your vision of what camping is all about? The all-new Wheelhome Vikenze II strips camping down to its most singular form, offering seriously space-efficient accommodations for you, and you alone.
For years, Wheelhome has been offering car campers for those looking to go it alone. It launched its first single-berth camper, based on a Suzuki Wagon R, in the 90s. In 2009, not too long after we saw Romahome's single-person R10, it introduced the original Vikenze, which was built on a Fiat Fiorino Combi and produced until 2013. Now it's following up with a second-generation Vikenze package based on the Fiat Qubo, the passenger version of the Fiorino van.
Like the original Vikenze, the Vikenze II is designed "for one person to go camping with as much comfort, convenience and ease of use as possible in a compact vehicle," while doubling as an everyday car. It has two seats up front and a third lounge seat that remains folded and unusable during travel. Upon arrival, the front seats slide forward to make room for rear seat deployment. The rear seat is designed as a cozy recliner, complete with removable table, for relaxing at camp and folds down into a single bed at night.
Unlike in larger camper vans and Type Cs, the compact interior of the Qubo doesn't provide the space for a kitchen area and multiple rear seats, hence the single seat/bed. The kitchen is an all-electric design that relies on a high-capacity auxiliary battery and inverter to feed the induction stove and electric grill/toaster. Those appliances can also run from a campsite hookup. The fully electric design eliminates the need to carry propane or other fuels and keeps things simple and flame-free.
Wheelhome has designed the electrical system to offer enough power for a single overnight stay, meaning a battery charge will cook you dinner and breakfast. Longer stays (without driving during the day) would require an electrical hookup to keep the kitchen equipment running. The battery recharges in an hour or two during driving.
The kitchen area also includes a sink and a 7-liter Waeco thermoelectric fridge. A 10-liter jerry can with water pump provides the running water for the sink.
The Vikenze II's electric pop-up roof opens up 6.2 feet (1.88 m) of headroom so the average person can stand inside when cooking and cleaning. The pop-up roof also includes drop-down storage pods designed for folded clothing. Wheelhome does not offer an optional roof bed, the way it did with the original Vikenze, saying the new roof is lower and more streamlined. It offers the Fiat Doblo-based Skurry for those looking for something larger.
We wouldn't expect to find a bathroom in such a compact motorhome, but Wheelhome has managed to squeeze a toilet in. The stove module on the kitchen unit swings toward the front of the vehicle, revealing a small portable toilet designed to be used in place. The idea of quite literally shitting where you cook will turn some people off, but we have to say it's an innovative way of fitting a toilet into a super-compact, one-person camper – and it can't be any worse than saddling up on a fly-ridden park toilet.
Other equipment of note includes a sink cover that doubles as the dining table when placed on the removable pedestal, three LED interior lights, fitted curtains and a removable worktop that can be used on the front or rear side of the kitchen unit.
The Vikenze II starts at £29,625 (approx. US$43,000) when equipped to a new Qubo with 1.4-liter engine. Wheelhome says that most packages will be built on low-mileage used Qubos, keeping pricing lower. It's currently advertising a Vikenze II model built on a 2013 Qubo with 1.3-liter Multijet turbodiesel engine and 6,000 miles (9,656 km) for £24,750 ($36K).
Source: Wheelhome