Has anyone got one, what they like?me and the wife like the look of them, and we're thinking of getting one, any others we should be looking at?
Toyota Hiace based things, more reliable, well, my UK hiace never had issues and friend with a bongo had a right lemon
Warton
I suspect this thread will follow this pattern.
Some people will comment that they are a bit small for a camper.
People will then make (good) recommendations about alternatives.
Stoner and others will post (excellent) pics of his/their campers and make us all jealous.
I am giddy with anticipation!
A mate had a bongo, I know it was very thirsty (20mpg for a deisel) and he got a very large bill when the head needed replacing, and then he sold it to buy a car + tent
Jeezo sufer - what can I post now?
My mate had one - engine overheating problems and he found it too compromised - not good enough as a camper and to cumbersome / thirsty as a commuter car
i have a bongo and love it, never had anything go wrong. great for camping and transporting bikes and kayaks. i get nearer 30mpg and i only use it at weekend as i bike to work.
I have been looking at the Hiaces too, but I quite like the bongos with the electric roof. what do you get on a Hiace for the same money as a Bongo?(looking to spend 6/7k)
Bongos are blummin' brilliant. We were looking for something that (a) would let us sleep in the roof, (b) was cheaper than a VW and (c) had plenty of support and backup behind it; the Bongo Owner's club, Bongo Fury, is superb. Before we bought ours we'd been to see (and even drive) several other people's Bongos and had someone bring theirs over to our house to check it would go on the drive easily; you wouldn't get that with a less common camper like a Hiace or Granvia.
The main problem you hear about is overheating and cracked heads, but if you don't let anyone who doesn't know how the Bongo cooling system works near it and fit a low coolant alarm just in case it springs a leak you'll be fine. Most of the time it's because the coolant has been changed by some garage monkey who doesn't know it needs bleeding rather than just topping up.
They are a lovely drive - mid engined, 4wd or rwd, mostly 2.5TD automatic, and the cab is very spacious. The engine is beneath the two front seats, so in colder weather it keeps the van warm for ages once you've parked up - bonus! The gf physically couldn't drive a VW type 2, didn't like newer VWs ("too van like") but we fight each other over who gets to drive the Bongo.
The roof is great - completely separate spaces for sleeping in and living in. You can keep mats, sleeping bags, duvets or whatnot up there and be in bed in minutes even if downstairs is full of stuff.
We get around 30mpg on average, mostly from trips away but including shorter journeys every now and then.
We only wish we'd bought ours ages ago!
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Mine was nowt but trouble ... wasn't a camper though (which I'm glad about otherwise I'd have wasted even more money)
mmmmmmm that's some good bongo right there. Always wanted a bongo me.
Phil next time be a bit quicker with the Photos will ye 😉
I got my 60,000 mile auto freetop for £3.5k and I love it,its got a kitchen you would pay maybe 3 or 4 times that for a similar vw.will cruise all day at 90, sleep 4, if you drive normally you will get 30 mpg. There is nothing that is anywhere near it in terms of price and performance and reliability.
The bongo forum has some stories of cracked heads/ overheating but thats what happens if you don't check your vehicle and fluids regurlarly- what you should be doing with any older vehicle anyway