Land Roamer Pioneer: A Home on Wheels, Tested in South America – Our Honest Review
Imagine thousands of kilometres in a rugged 4×4 camper, from the scorching Caribbean coast to the bone-chilling winds of Patagonia, through colourful jungles, arid deserts and over breathtaking mountain passes. This wasn’t just any journey; it was a long, epic endurance test for our mobile palace: the Land Roamer Pioneer. This unique expedition camper was our home, office and adventurous companion during our overland journey. And after all those kilometers, we’re sharing our experiences in this review.
The Best of Both Worlds: Traveling and Feeling at Home in Our 4×4 Camper
What immediately stands out about the Pioneer is its unique construction: a robust cabin separated from the base car. At first it seemed a loss that we could not quickly crawl from the driver’s seat to the toilet. But we soon discovered the magic of this separation during our overland adventures. The car really feels like “travel mode”, a nice driving car, while the cabin feels like a cozy “home”. On bumpy washboard roads, which South America has in abundance during a camper trip, this turned out to be a blessing: no rattling of pots and pans, only the hum of the tires under our off-road camper. The optimized weight distribution ensured that we hardly noticed that we were lugging an entire house around. Mountain passes, winding back roads or gravel paths? The Pioneer took it all with playful ease, often to the amazement of the locals that we could keep up with or pass.
And that crawl through? Let’s be honest, in a car like this it is an acrobatic act that you try at most once. In addition, a quick check around the car before departure is essential anyway. Low-hanging branches, invisible posts, or – and this is no joke – potentially placed nails under your tires. A walk around is not only safer, but also gives you a better view of your surroundings when traveling with a camper. And for emergencies? There is an escape route from the cabin to the car, just to be on the safe side.
The Pop-Up Penthouse Suite: The Pop-Top of Our Expedition Camper
One of the most striking features of the Pioneer is undoubtedly the pop-up roof. Not only does this allow our “fortress” to fit into a high-cube shipping container – an absolute must for overseas travel – but it also offers a wealth of space once you reach your destination. Everyone who stepped inside our campervan adventures was amazed by the enormous standing height and the amount of natural light thanks to the large windows all around and the three windows in the canvas.
In the tropical heat of Colombia, unzipping the sides of the tent canvas was a real relief during our trip with a pop-up roof camper. Shade from the roof, a cooling breeze and still the feeling of being outside – a perfect hybrid solution. And the nights? In our previous drop-off unit (with a fixed high roof) sleeping in the heat was often a clammy affair. Now we could unzip the tent canvas and enjoy a safe “outdoor” experience, protected by mosquito netting and out of sight of prying eyes while living in a camper.
But a pop-up roof, is that sufficient with bad weather during a 4×4 camper test? Absolutely! The thick cotton canvas of the Pioneer proved to be surprisingly good at insulating and darkening. Even under a bright street lamp we slept like roses. And the cold? We had nights of -5 degrees Celsius and slept comfortably with the heating off, only under a summer duvet with a fleece blanket during our overland trip. For really cold places, of course, the winter duvet comes along! The thermostat kept an eye on the temperature to prevent freezing.
Our only real challenge with the pop-up roof was the infamous Patagonian wind during our camper trip through South America. When it got too intense, with a flapping roof and a rocking car, we transformed the couch down into a comfortable emergency bed. This was only necessary twelve times during the entire trip. A fixed high roof would probably not have offered any relief here, with a potentially larger wind catchment area.
Living in a Compact Expedition Camper: Surprisingly Spacious and Comfortable
For a vehicle of this size, the living space in the Pioneer is simply impressive. The pop-up roof creates an enormous sense of spaciousness, enhanced by the many windows. It never felt claustrophobic, even with the doors closed while living in a camper. The seating area became a cozy meeting place where we welcomed many travelers for a drink during our overland adventures. And in the evening? With a simple hand movement, the seating area transformed into a comfortable lounge sofa with footrest – ideal for a movie night on the laptop. The herringbone floor and the dimmable ambiance lighting gave the whole a homely and warm feel.
Chef’s Table: Our Experiences with Induction Cooking in the Camper
The kitchen in the Pioneer is surprisingly spacious and functional. The countertop was used intensively, and even the top of the wardrobe and refrigerator served as extra work space. Cooking together was no problem at all. The 90 liter refrigerator ensured that we always had enough fresh ingredients on board. Even in the tropical heat (although the refrigerator drank a bit more power). Our experiences with induction cooking in the camper are very positive; no hassle with gas bottles and a safe, efficient way of cooking.
The kitchen drawers, sturdy lightweight aluminium with a subtle logo, have withstood the journey with flying colours during our off-road camper trip. In fact, a few times we forgot to close a drawer on a bumpy road, resulting in a loud bang. The drawer was lying on the ground, but could be put back without any problems and still functioned perfectly! The storage space is enormous; even for weeks of provisioning we had space left over during self-sufficient travel. We even had room for a washing-up bowl in one of the drawers.
Sanitation on the Go: Practical Solutions for Off-Grid Travel
Our “sanitary” may not be the most conventional: a Porta Potti, and an outdoor shower with a shower tent. But it worked surprisingly well during our overland adventures. The chemical toilet, which we use with natural products, can be placed in different places in the cabin and even in the shower tent, depending on the temperature and our needs.
And the outdoor shower? Even at 3 degrees Celsius it was doable, thanks to the warm water and the windproof shower tent. We rarely missed an indoor shower during our self-sufficient travel. The space that an indoor shower would take up, we could better use for living space in our expedition camper.
Fixed vs. Removable: Why We Chose a Permanent 4×4 Camper
The Land Roamer Pioneer is designed as a fixed cab, which is a conscious choice for serious overland travel. By removing the original loading bed and placing the cab directly on the chassis, we not only save weight and space, but also significantly lower the center of gravity, which improves the driving characteristics during our 4×4 camper test. A removable cab would be unnecessarily heavier and higher. In addition, the suspension of our car is adapted to the extra weight; driving without a cab would be uncomfortable and harmful.
But the most important point is that the Pioneer does not hinder the car during off-road camper trips. Where with a detachable cabin we had to leave the cab behind during a 4×4 training to explore the tough terrain, with the Pioneer we could take on the same challenges with a cabin. During our long camper trip through South America we never once wondered whether it would have been useful to be able to detach the cabin. Simply because the Pioneer did not pose a limitation compared to a standard pick-up, with roof tent and travel equipment.
Final Verdict: More Than Just a Camper, A Lifestyle of Overland Travel
After a year and a half and countless kilometers, we can conclude that the Land Roamer Pioneer is more than just a camper. It is a robust, well-thought-out and comfortable home on wheels that has enabled us to brave the most diverse landscapes and conditions during our overland adventures. It has been a conscious choice, with pros and cons, but for us personally the perfect companion for a life full of adventure and self-sufficient travel. And honestly? We wouldn’t trade it for anything.