Bold Colors, Big Conversations: Our Time at Abenteuer Allrad

Twiga Life at Abenteuer Allrad

We arrived at the fairground last Wednesday and set up camp with the Twiga Team and fellow overlanders Olivier and Anne, who rolled in with their mighty HX60. From the moment we parked, the energy was electric. Twiga’s concept is simple but powerful: their customers become Brand Ambassadors, sharing real-life experiences with no sales pitch, just raw, honest overlanding life.

Over three days, from Thursday to Saturday, we had a constant stream of curious visitors, easily over 20 a day, stepping into our home on wheels. Sunday was rather low in comparison, giving us a chance to catch our breath. Every day we opened up our truck, talked about the highs and lows, and shared what we’d change if we ever built another rig (Annika would rather kill me if I pushed for that, but hypothetically...).

Lessons Learned and Future Tweaks

One tweak would be our washing machine. It’s a compact 2.5kg unit that uses a whopping 30 liters of water per load. In emergency situations, like running out of underwear in a laundromat desert, it’s been a lifesaver. But next time, we’d go bigger and more water-efficient.

Another point of evolution would be the garage door. While we’ve installed a sliding rack that pulls out 1.4 meters, the current door height restricts the usable volume. A larger door would have optimized the space above the rack. Still, overlanding isn’t about hauling as much as you can, but about curating the right gear. Limits can be liberating.

Bold Looks and Smart Design

Design-wise, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Our rig stood out at the show with its bold red color and playful foil pattern, with matte black patches mixed with glossy red. It creates a soft camouflage effect that transitions beautifully between urban and natural settings. Most big trucks were draped in muted tones like greys, browns, and sands, but ours sparked conversation.

Visitors also loved the spaciousness of our 5.5-meter cabin. Three design choices made the difference: an abundance of large windows on both sides (yes, even more than some 8-meter trucks!), strategic placement of the windows allowing for horizon views while standing. In addition our elevated dining podest is raised so that even when seated, your eye level matches that of standing, keeping the world wide and open. Plus, we designed one big room with no walls separating the sleeping area, which creates a much larger spatial feel. Simple choices, big impact.

Off-Road Thrills and Gratitude

One highlight was our ride on the off-road parcour in a MAN KAT1. This beast of a truck took us through deep water pits and up massive inclines like it was nothing. The 12-liter engine powered through everything with ease. It’s amazing what such a huge machine can do. Of course, with our own home on wheels, we won’t be pushing those limits. Our truck is our shelter, our base, and it needs to stay in one piece.

Gratitude and Goodbyes

The best part? The people. We bonded deeply with the Twiga family, including five staff and two other brand ambassadors who all quickly turned into friends. The sense of community was powerful. We felt it was our time to give back. After all, we spent years in the "dream and build phase," learning from others. This was our moment to return the favor.

Sunday we left the fair filled with gratitude, hearts full from the dozens of meaningful exchanges. Monday was a return home to errands like doctors, licenses, and family visits, and then later this week we’re heading north to Denmark, catching the ferry to Iceland. A quick stop in Hamburg to see relatives is on the way.

Thanks for following along, and again, sorry for the delay. We’ll be back on schedule with fresh stories every Friday. See you on the road!