CARAVANTEST

88 |May2019go! Drive&Camp

SUMMIT ANDES

S

ummit’s caravans arenot an

uncommonsightinSouthAfrican

campsites.This serieshas been

builtforthe past10years by Frantel

Distribution,amanufacturer that oftencomes

up with newandunconventional ideas.

Consider, forexample,the Andes off-r oad

caravan thatmade itsappearancein2013:

with itslow profile andatent that’slower on

the bodywork, this caravan setitself apart

from itscompetitors.Itwas alsoalittl elonger

and heavier thanothers but had much more

storagespace.You could sayitwas an off-

road caravan that regula rlywent

to gym.

Nowthe Andes

have outgrown

theirinfan cy andgainedalot more body–

andalso quiteafewmuscles.The genesare

stil lunmistakable,but thedesig nisbrand

new.The Andes nowlooks more like across

between anoff-road trailer and an off-road

caravan.With it spitchedroof desi gn,army-

green finishingand the name of the caravan

in bright orange andred,itimmediately

catchesyour eye. Andofcourse,the pitched

roofmakesyouthinkofamountainpeak.

FranscoisMulockHouwer, one of the

directors ofFrantelwho manufacturesthe

Andes, says the newAndesdesig nmakes

thingsmuch easier ifyoujustwanttostay

overnight, because thetentopenseasilyand

quickly.But thanksto the large kitchen,plenty

of storage spaceand spacious sleeping area,

the caravan is alsocomfortableenough for

alongholidayinone place.

With a4mmstainlessstee lbase(3CR12)

and aluminium frame

andbodywork,you can

alsoleave thetar road

behindwith peace

of mind.

With Summit’s newAndes on the hitch itfeelsasif

youcould aimforthe tallest mountains.

Text and photosHelenus Kruger

buffsup

TheAndes