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Subject Topic: Bongo bongo bongo, or other? Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonCampernewby
via mobile 15/4/2021 at 10:00pm
 Location: Devon
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My old boring car and my old beloved Toyota hiace camper both need expensive work doing on them, so I feel it's time to sell them both and get something else.

I'm totally sold on a Bongo but need to convince my husband! I don't know what alternatives there are of similar small size. Please can you help with ideas.

We had been talking about getting an electric/hybrid car as environmental concerns are a biggy - maybe you can get an electric campervan?? Unlikely! But worth asking..

Ideally Id like something to use as my everyday car (we don't generally go very far, live in Devon, occasionally go to Cornwall/ Wales. Two small kids, dog, big buggy, 2 kids bikes, and aspire to maybe a canoe one day! My tatty vauxhall zafira should be big enough but even a day trip to the beach and it seems bunged!

Old Toyota is lwb so has always been too awkward for everyday driving plus its a gas guzzler. But has plenty of space inside for all of us and the dog to be very comfy. We generally go for very basic campsites, using a pop up base tent as awning alternative. Not fussed about all the running water fancy stuff. In fact took this out of the hiace to gain storage space.

How much of a squeeze is it to sleep in the Bongo?
Would a trailer tent plus some van like car be better?
I dream of a romahome but that has to wait til the kids leave home! The dinky-ness really appeals.


PersonCapt Lightning
15/4/2021 at 10:23pm
 Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
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Neighbours (2 adults) had a Bongo and a caravan. They used the Bongo for day trips and occasional overnights. They used the caravan for anything else.

I've always thought the Bongo was too small for much other than day trips, especially with children. I've always had bigger vans - my current one is the smallest at 5 mtrs long, but can act as a big car.

Have a look at the small motorhomes website. You may find some useful info there. 'Green' doesn't figure in my vocabulary - until electric vehicles are cheap, have good carrying capacity, quick to charge and a long range. And of course, the charging infrastructure has to be in place. By then I'll be a bit old for this game.

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Two drifters off to see the world.

I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.


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PersonColin21
15/4/2021 at 11:41pm
 Location: East Herts
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I loved my Bongo. It was lovely to drive and really comfortable. Ironically, I bought it to replace a Toyota Spacecruiser which was similar to a Hiace. It was certainly a gas-guzzler compared to the Bongo! I never used the Bongo for sleeping in as mine was an unconverted 8 seater. I did however see many conversions that I thought were fantastic. I may well have converted mine had it not been stolen. They probably are a bit on the small side for a family to sleep in, but it's perfectly possible. I used mine as a car every day as it was my only vehicle, and it fitted in a normal car-parking space with no problem.


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Best Regards,
Colin


Personbilly
16/4/2021 at 7:30am
 Location: North Essex
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If you are worried about the “environment” then keep your old vehicles going. Far less globule warming than buying new vehicles with bits imported from around the world & the environmental damage caused by the mining of raw materials required for battery production.

Nonetheless If you want an electric camper & have probably north of £50k to spend then plenty of electric vans as suitable base vehicles for campers are available. Nissan. Vauxhall , Mercedes or plug in hybrid Ford Transit.

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Every day should be a holiday!


PersonCampernewby
via mobile 16/4/2021 at 10:27am
 Location: Devon
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Thanks for all the responses of folks, I knew there would be useful experts here!
Back when I was camper newby and looking at the hiace it was so helpful also.
Maybe we get the bongo as vehicle this year and trailer tent next year if necessary for longer trips. But yes Will look at small motorhome forums, are they on here?

Re bingo conversion s, is there a lay out which is superior? Little kitchen on side / back etc?
Are the seats confy when folded down? Or would one with rock n roll be better?


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Personjim oldham
17/4/2021 at 8:54am
 Location: Wigan
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https://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/viewforum.php?f=57

Should find a lot of info from the above.


PersonCapt Lightning
17/4/2021 at 11:19am
 Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
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Small motorhomes is a separate forum, primarily for Romahomes, but all small vans are covered (also tents and trailer tents)

See community.smallmotorhome.co.uk

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Two drifters off to see the world.

I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.


PersonDownthehatch
19/4/2021 at 10:27am
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Have a look at a Toyota Alphard rather than a bongo. "New Acre Cars" and "Wheelquick" in wigan have plenty. We have an alphard and love it.


Personthemarsh
19/4/2021 at 1:30pm
 Location: Suffolk
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Bongos are rather compact especially with children, you will need an awning to survive !
Avoid a rear kitchen, they are worse than useless due to headroom.
They are not particularly economical & the diesels have well documented problems.
Finally they are massively overpriced at the moment. Everyone has a dig at VWs & their Scene tax, but Bongos are no different these days.
They are quite nice to drive though & make a good day van but don't really work as a full on Camper.


Personfeeblecat
via mobile 19/4/2021 at 7:21pm
 Location: Scotland
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We loved our Bongo and always regretted selling it to buy our caravan, wished we'd kept both.

We travelled all over Europe in it for weeks at a time, 2 adults and one large dog. It was just big enough and we used a driveway awning for anything longer than 2 or 3 nights. I would imagine it would be a squash for any more than 2 people I would buy another one if the right one came along.


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PersonMisterB1959
25/4/2021 at 1:33pm
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we had a honda stepwagon for a brief while, but loved it to bits. wish i still had it now for short daytrips etc,

i dont like the bongos because you have to get out of the cab to get into the living area, i would def look for something that allows you to access the rear from the front, without getting out of the vehicle


PersonColin21
25/4/2021 at 2:39pm
 Location: East Herts
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Quote: Originally posted by MisterB1959 on 25/4/2021
we had a honda stepwagon for a brief while, but loved it to bits. wish i still had it now for short daytrips etc,

i dont like the bongos because you have to get out of the cab to get into the living area, i would def look for something that allows you to access the rear from the front, without getting out of the vehicle


Each to their own of course but that was something I never even considered when we had our Bongo, which I did think about having converted to a camper until it got stolen. Whenever I get to where I am going I always get out anyway. I can see a possible advantage in being able to walk through if you arrive in the middle of a storm but that's about it. If I had a large motorhome with walk-through access I doubt I would actually use it much, I would be much more likely to get out of the cab for a stretch and a bit of a walk around, then when I wanted just open the rear door and get in. It's what I have to do anyway with my car and caravan set-up, and I don't see it in any way as a problem.


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Best Regards,
Colin


Personmystery.tipster
via mobile 25/4/2021 at 7:14pm
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We went to look at Bongos the end of last year but the local dealers were saying they weren't bothering anymore due to their age and the fact there are some new players on the scene those being the Toyota Alphard and Nissan Elgrand. We ended up getting an Alphard and had a rear connection done beginning of the year and are really pleased with the setup so far. We wanted to keep the middle row of seats as we would be using it a lot as a day van. It's great being able to roll up at the beach lost the tailgate up and cook from outside while the others are sat inside looking out at the view plus you can connect the table to the outside al fresco style. Whether you go for a rear or side conversion with a RR bed you'll still need something on top to make it comfy. We got two single Quechua SIMs and two sleeping bags and it's super comfy. We haven't got as pop top as don't need it and was concerned about wind noise and the fact it costs about �3,500! We got a driveway awning for 2+ nights so we will do the standing up stuff in there 😂

Post last edited on 25/04/2021 19:19:10

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The force is strong in this one


PersonCampernewby
via mobile 15/5/2021 at 7:05pm
 Location: Devon
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Thanks for all your help folks just bought one today 😊😊😊


PersonMisterB1959
16/5/2021 at 8:21am
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so, what did you buy? photos?



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