Our Unimog is back: three months of challenges and relief
It took us almost three months to finally get our beloved Unimog „Mambo“ back in full working order. In this article, we tell you what happened during this time and what challenges we overcame.
The beginning: workshop stay on Chiloé
The journey began with a first workshop visit to Chiloé. Little did we know then that we were in for such a long and exciting time. On October 23, we finally had to move out of our Unimog for good and moved into a cabana in Puerto Varas – our home for the next few weeks.
However, what initially seemed like a simple solution became a challenge over time: we had to keep extending the cabana, which was not always easy as the summer season began. Each time there was uncertainty as to whether we would be able to stay, as accommodation is quickly booked out in high season. Fortunately, it always worked out so that we had a permanent roof over our heads until the Unimog was completed.
Spare parts and the path to repair
One of the biggest challenges was importing over 100 kilograms of spare parts from Europe. Thanks to the support of friends, we were able to organize all the parts we needed, but the logistics and customs were anything but easy.
We have already reported on this in more detail – take a look at our article: „Procuring spare parts in South America“ The next setback came shortly before Christmas: another spare part had to be ordered, which once again tested our patience.
Visa extension and TITV - bureaucracy when traveling
In the midst of this waiting period, we also had to overcome the bureaucratic hurdles:
- Extension of the TITV (Temporary Import Permit):
In order to keep our Unimog legally in Chile, we had to go to the nearest Aduana (customs office). A repair certificate was required and the whole process took three weeks. On the last day of validity, we finally received the extension – a real nail-biter! - Visa extension:
Our residence permits also had to be extended. Fortunately, this process was a little less complicated: proof that we could finance ourselves independently and a fee of just under 100 dollars per person were enough to allow us to stay in Chile for another three months.
The return of the Unimog
Just over a week ago, the time had finally come: Mambo was ready! The joy of having him back with us was huge. But the return also marked the start of the next step: test drives and cleaning up.
Putting everything back in its place:
During the repair, we had cleared out half the Unimog – and it’s incredible how much stuff accumulates in a vehicle. Putting everything back in its place was a task in itself.Clean up:
After a long time in the workshop, it was time for a thorough clean to give our Mambo a new shine.
Repairs: What was done?
The workshop did an excellent job and carried out the following repairs:
- Replacement of both thru axles.
- Replacement of the spur gears and the drive shaft.
- Minor repairs and optimizations.
The good news: the first test drives went smoothly and we have the feeling that our Unimog is now running even better than before. Three months without our home on wheels was a challenge, but we overcame it. The uncertainty as to whether everything would work out was not always easy to bear, but in the end it turned out that there is a solution for everything. Now we are looking forward to finally being on the road again and continuing our journey south.
Oh, and if anyone here in Chile needs a drive shaft for a Unimog – our old one is defective, but still repairable according to our mechanic. We are happy to give it away! Get in touch with us or pass on the tip.
