Mario, a 71-year-old from Pilar, left his travel agency behind and converted a 1989 Volvo fire truck into a motorhome. He took his first major trip through northern Argentina with his grandson.
Mario bought the truck from volunteer firefighters in Villa Ballester. It had an original odometer reading of 42,000 kilometres, he said. He discussed the project, called Viajamos de Turista, in an interview with the YouTube channel Pibitos Viajeros.
The conversion took about 18 months. Manhjos extended the chassis, added a third axle with air suspension and installed a hydraulic levelling system. The motorhome has solar panels, security cameras and water tanks holding 700 litres. Three gas cylinders support stays away from services.
The interior includes a kitchen with an oven, a fridge-freezer, a washer-dryer and air conditioning. The cab has GPS, digital compasses, inclinometers and a monitor for the perimeter cameras. Mario says fuel is his largest operating expense.
Self-sufficiency was one of the project’s main aims. The water supply and solar panels are meant to let him stay in places without ordinary services, although Mario says the elaborate vehicle does not remove the high cost of fuel.
He made his first trip north with his grandson, who was finishing secondary school at the time. Mario said the journey strengthened his interest in a nomadic life. Travelling alone feels natural to him because he spent many years doing so for work.
Mario says he values meeting other travellers and exchanging experiences on the road. Some acquaintances questioned his decision to leave his former life, but he believes he had first met his responsibilities and achieved his earlier goals. “I don’t owe anything to anyone, so I can afford to enjoy myself,” he said.