Six months in South America - 25,000 km in a pickup camper

Six months, 25,000 kilometers, seven countries — our customers Reto and Anna have embarked on an unforgettable journey through South America with their pickup truck and truckbed camper. The journey itself was a small adventure: The vehicle was loaded into a container in Basel, transported by train to Antwerp and from there shipped to Cartagena in Colombia. From this northern point, it traveled on its own journey to the ends of the world — to Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego. The pickup finally traveled back from Montevideo to Hamburg.

The route led through Colombia's famous Valle de Cocora with the highest palm trees in the world, over the volcanoes of Ecuador up to over 5,000 meters in altitude, on through the endless heights of the Andes in Peru and finally to Bolivia — the big highlight of the entire trip for both of them. She was particularly impressed by the Salar de Uyuni, the Laguna Route and the secluded landscapes of the Sajama National Park. For four days, they traveled there completely autonomously — without villages, without infrastructure, reliant solely on vehicle, material and cabin.

Of course, half a year of off-road was not without minor challenges. There were oil changes every 5,000 kilometers, plus a flat tire. At an altitude of over 4,000 meters, the handlebar bent — without further ado, it was straightened again with two stones and later reinforced welded in the next town. That is also part of the adventure. Over time, they learned not to listen to every sound anymore, but to regularly check and tighten all screws — especially after long stages on corrugated iron roads.

Organizationally, South America, on the other hand, was surprisingly uncomplicated. A Carnet de Passage was not necessary, police and military were always friendly, and people met them with great warmth. Only the cash supply in Argentina was cumbersome and in Bolivia, in turn, the diesel shortage required some patience, planning and sometimes a bit of luck — but it always worked out in the end.

It was precisely under these conditions that it became apparent how valuable a reliable retreat is. On cold Andean nights, the interior offered protection and comfort, while the compact design helped to remain mobile even on the most demanding slopes. After half a year of intensive use, the conclusion is: The cabin was tight, everything worked and it looked almost like new. Only the door had to be reinforced along the way — a repair that was easy to organise.

In the end, the memory of countless special moments remains — from the glacier in Chile to the endless expanses of Argentina to the beaches of Uruguay. For us, it is something very special that our customers can experience such trips — and that we can be a part of this adventure.

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Car: Land Rover Defender 130 DoubleCab

Cabin: FIFTYTEN Truckbed Camper

(Special features: window in the side flap)

Destinations: Balkans, Pyrenees, Western Alps, South America