Reuben took me into Iquique bearing parts that need to be replaced, an inner tie rod, an outer tie rod, brake pads and CV joints which are looking a bit with and need to be replaced.
Reuben gave me confidence because he went looking for the proper parts and accepted no substitutes. The van is heavy and the road is long and rough so we needed to find proper replacements. No luck in the first two shops.
But in shop number three the boss got on his computer and couldn’t find the RAM Promaster listed, no surprise. When finally he accepted he was looking for Fiat Ducato parts he got with the program. He looked online, measured the greasy dusty parts Reuben brought in and to his surprise they agreed. I can get them here in three days he said.
Reuben is Argentine and he likes living in Iquique so he’s applied for residence after working as a Toyota and Hyundai head mechanic at the dealerships in the southernmost city Ushuaia. He got sick of the cold weather and working in a t-shirt in midwinter tickles his funny bone.
He also got tired of working hard everyday so in that spirit he took us to the beach for some ozone.
Suited me.
And I learned about free overnight camper parking on the waterfront at Playa Brava. This spot could come in useful when we are in the area.
The shop is ten miles out of town around the headland in the distance.
Layne made sausages and beans for dinner, Reuben made olive bread and his mom’s famous Argentine mayo and we brought some beer from town.
We here for a few more days probably until Tuesday or Wednesday at the earliest. We’re parked in the shop plugged in to electricity and with Starlink up and running. We lack for nothing and we’re going to be as roadworthy as possible when we leave, finally for Brazil.
