Because the Tonga is a small camper trailer intended for a couple, you could mistake it for a typical teardrop trailer. It is everything but. Teardrops usually have two doors on either side with the kitchen at the back. But the Tonga only has one door – at the back – and the kitchen is at the front and on the left, plus some of it is in a detached unit…
We checked out the first Tonga model in 2019 – and back then we were already impressed. The new version has been refined and improved significantly, although you can still recognise the lines.
These days, you can choose between a braked and an unbraked Tonga. For this article, we towed the latter to a campsite.
Setting up
Because our test model wasn’t equipped with brakes, a chock on both sides of the wheels comes in handy to prevent the trailer from rolling forward or backward while you set up camp. It’s less of a problem if, like us, you’re given a lovely, lush lawn – then you can just quickly hop out to put a stone in front of the wheel. Now lower all four of the corner steadies – simple square tubes with feet that you lower and then tighten in place. Just like its predecessor,
the batwing awning fits into a rectangular box on top of the roof, but the original awning has been replaced with a 270° version. The box’s lid is also no longer loose and swings open so that the awning can unfold. That’s where you start once you have levelled the trailer. The awning swings open from the front, pivoting on the left rear corner. Four beams, each with a support pole at the end that’s anchored with a rope, keep the awning nice and tight. The beams are at a good 192 cm height above the ground – high enough to not get in the way.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April/May 2023 من Go! Camp & Drive.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April/May 2023 من Go! Camp & Drive.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
The pinch of the pump
In a time where every penny counts, you should be cautious about where to spend it, says Neels van Heerden.
Is the Jimny suitable for overlanding?
He has a theory on whether the Suzuki Jimny is suitable for overlanding, but he is also about to find out for himself, says Mic van Zyl.
Klein-Kariba chronicles
His family has camped so often at ATKV Klein-Kariba that they now consider this popular resort their holiday home, says Roelof van Eeden of Witbank.
So ugly it's cute
Longing for the good old days when vehicles took inspiration from aircraft? Citroën has the compact mobile home just for you.
WHO'S THE BAKKIE KING?
Eight brands, seven categories... and one overall winner. We find out which double-cab bakkie performs best when towing a caravan and off-roading.
Viva, Amarokoroko!
We take a spin through the Western Cape's Cederberg to See if the Ford-built Volkswagen Amarok retains its poshness.
Hook, line and tune
That exhilarating rush you feel when something tugs at your hook and races away with your line is what perpetually draws him back to the angler's paradise, says singer Bok van Blerk.
Discover Dinokeng: beyond the Big Five
The Dinokeng Big Five Reserve is a favourite for weekend getaways, but just past its borders lies an untapped haven waiting to be explored.
Life's a farm in Bonnievale!
Bonnievale presents a unique setting where kids, camping and church come together for a unique family holiday.
Into the heart of the Cederberg
From Duiwelsgat to Heuningvlei, from Wupperthal to the Biedouw Valley. Drive through a world where poet Boerneef's mountain goose sheds a feather and author Jan Rabie's dreamland begins.