18th Meeting, Assembly and Gathering of the South American Association of Motorhoming (ASR)

Mario, a 71-year-old resident of Pilar, Argentina, retired from running his own travel agency and converted a 1989 Volvo fire truck into a motorhome. The project, named Viajamos de Turista, was carried out by Manhjos over 18 months and included chassis extension, a third axle with air suspension, and a hydraulic leveling system. The motorhome has security cameras, high-power solar panels, three gas cylinders, and water tanks holding 700 liters. The first trip was to northern Argentina with his grandson; future plans include southern routes and possibly selling the vehicle for a smaller model.

Jorge Pacheco, 58, from Dolores, Buenos Aires Province, sold his restaurant and car, bought a double-decker long-distance bus and converted it into a motorhome. Since November 23, 2024, he has lived at Playón de Punta Médanos in La Costa Partido with his poodle Hachi and cat Antonia. The conversion involved removing seats, installing a kitchen, bedroom, water system, gas cooking and solar panels with batteries. Punta Médanos is 364 km from Buenos Aires via Route 11; the nearest shops are several kilometres away on dirt and sand roads. Pacheco sells pizza, drinks and bait to fishermen and tourists.

Jorge from Dolores, Buenos Aires Province, sold his pizzeria after 26 years, along with his fishing boat and other belongings, to live in a converted 2007 double-decker long-distance bus with Marco Polo bodywork and a Mercedes Benz engine. He taught himself carpentry, electrical work and thermal fusion to convert the bus into a home, as he lacked funds to pay for labour. Five years ago, the bus, which previously carried 63 passengers on routes to Brazil, became his permanent home on the Punta Médanos island, where he set up a small supply store for travellers. Jorge started with 50,000 pesos in cash and a limited virtual wallet.

Hugo and Mirta have driven 95,842 km since 2014 in a 1998 Fiat Ducato-based motorhome across 18 Argentine provinces. They identified five mistakes they no longer repeat: buying without inspection, driving at night, overloading, postponing maintenance, and camping without permission. After incidents, they set a daily limit of 420–480 km, a cruising speed of 80–90 km/h, weighing at municipal scales, and servicing every 8,000 km. In 2024, they covered 18,600 km in nine months, spending between 350,000 and 450,000 Argentine pesos per month.

Argentina-based manufacturer Gibert Car, specialising in motorhomes and campers, will take part in the Nacional Primavera Braford 2026 exhibition. The event runs from 6 to 8 October at the Sociedad Rural del Chaco grounds in Margarita Belén. The company will display three models: Motorhome GC520, Motorhome GC430 and Camper. The exhibition is organised by the Braford Argentina Association with support from Expoagro.

Rubén and Graciela from La Plata listed their 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 416 4x4 motorhome for 32 million Argentine pesos after 15 years and four motorhomes. They drove 128,000 km in three years, but rising costs for fuel, tires, tolls and campsites made full-time motorhome living 22% more expensive than renting an apartment and taking short trips. They sold the motorhome for 30.5 million pesos and rented an apartment in the Tolosa neighborhood.