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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

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Original poster

Question about Mazda Bongo?

21 replies

allmytimeonmumsnet · 08/05/2007 12:14

Hi - came across this camper van this morning and just wanted to ask about the size of it as its hard to judge from pictures.

We really want to get a camper and this looks ideal however we have to get my mum in it from time to time as well. She stands from her wheelchair and pulls herself in. At the moment we have a ford galaxy and she can just about do it. What is the bongo like for height. I am presuming it is quite van like and therefore pretty high?

OP posts:

katelyle · 08/05/2007 12:26

We have a Bongo - would you like me to go outside and measure anything for you? It is high and van like - I'm betting a bit higher than a Galaxy. My mother doesn't use a wheelchair, but she is 87 and frail. We always take the step ds used to use to go to the loo to make it a bit easier for her.

Original poster

allmytimeonmumsnet · 08/05/2007 14:31

Thanks Kate but anything higher than a galaxy is out. She doesn't do steps at all so can only manage to pull herself onto the seat. I guess the only other option is if we had a ramp so I could pull her actual chair in at the side. Then she could shift across to a seat. Such a shame as she only gets in once in a blue moon. I really like the look of the bongo. The upstairs bit would be great for our 3 kids - much better than the seperate bunks you get in a VW top. And the fact that it is an MPV so we can give lifts makes it that bit greener than the alternatives. Might try to get to see one in a garage. What do you reckon to me getting someone in a chair in by myself from a ramp?

OP posts:

Browny · 08/05/2007 22:07

We've got a Bongo too, we've had it for over three years now and absolutly love it. You might find this website useful: www.bongofury.co.uk. The Bongo does have a step so it is quite high, as to having some sort of a ramp, were you thinking of opening the hatchback and wheeling your mum up a ramp that way? I think that would be possible, because the back two seats can fold up and be hooked up so giving a lot of room in the back. I'd strongly suggest that you visit your local garage so you can have a better idea of what's possible. By the way, did you know that there is an annual rally where 190 Bongos visited Worcestershire last year? So, they are very popular, my kiddies love sleeping up in the roof and two can sleep downstairs when the seats have been altered into a bed .

katelyle · 08/05/2007 23:22

AAnother point - I'm not sure "upstairs" would be big enough for 3 children. We have a 6 and an 11, and there's not a lot of spare room one they're up there. We use a tent as well if there's more than the 4 of us. But we adore our Bongo - it's brilliant and so easy to drive!

Ellbell · 08/05/2007 23:32

Oooh... lots of Bongo threads atm! I am looking at getting a Bongo. Can I ask the Bongo owners how old your dcs are? Dh was worried about chucking our two (5 and 7) upstairs for the night and whether they'd be able to get down again on their own if they needed to. (Dd2 in particular is prone to midnight wanderings...!)

Thanks and sorry for hijack allmytime (good name!). Sorry, no thoughts re. your mum. Best thing would be to go and see one with her, I suppose, and see if she copes.

Browny · 09/05/2007 00:22

Ellbell, two of my children from about the age of 6 and 8 slept up in the roof, whilst my dh and other daughter slept on the converted back seats which make up the bed. To answer your question if they'd be able to come downstairs if they needed to, well it is possible to buy a specially shaped foam matress to fit the roof space, it has a shaped cut-out part that goes over 'access door', sorry about the explanation . They are available from the website that I posted earlier. If you'd like the password for the members section, please e-mail me .

Ellbell · 09/05/2007 10:07

Thanks for that Browny. Sorry I disappeared off the thread last night. I will check out the website you linked to, and will see what happens. Might not be looking at getting the Bongo till next year now anyway (dh pointed out last night that we already have a holiday booked for this summer, and have got a series of busy weekends already sorted too, so would probably use it very little, so might wait... definitely still a long-term plan though!). Thanks for the advice.

Browny · 09/05/2007 14:42

Glad to be of help, I'd definately say the Bongo has got to win the 'Ultimate Family Vehicle' .

katelyle · 09/05/2007 20:28

We have two children - 11 and 6 - and they sleep up top. Getting down in the middle of the night is a bit of a pain - lets say, if one of us goes to the loo everyone goes to the loo because we're awake anyway! We're thinking of adapting the hatchway somehow - not sure how yet to make it easier. Apart from that, it's an absolutely wonderful car - easy to drive and park, incredibly versatile (mini bus, camper van, beach hut - you name it, it can do it!)

Browny · 09/05/2007 22:06

Katelyle, are you a member of bongo fury, (www.bongofury.co.uk)? Membership only costs around £11 for a year which gives you access to loads of technical information and all sorts of other help/discounts etc. We are going to the annual Bongo Bash in Worcestershire in June, last year 195 bongos were there... what a sight that was!.

tubismybub · 10/05/2007 12:43

browny/katelyle where did you buy your bongo's from?

Browny · 10/05/2007 17:07

Tubismybub, we bought our Bongo through a friend of a friend, apparently he bought it from am import dealer near Liverpool Docks.

katelyle · 10/05/2007 22:19

Browny, not a mamber, but a reader and occasional poster. Amazing, isn't it? Don't people get enthusiastic about Bongos!

We bought ours from AVA Leisure in Edenbridge. Very impressed with them.

southeastastra · 10/05/2007 22:19

can you really drive a car called a bongo!

katelyle · 10/05/2007 22:25

Browny, not a mamber, but a reader and occasional poster. Amazing, isn't it? Don't people get enthusiastic about Bongos!

We bought ours from AVA Leisure in Edenbridge. Very impressed with them.

Browny · 10/05/2007 23:02

Katelyle, lol, do you think I'm being too enthusiastic about Bongos then? Honestly, the Bongo Bash is brilliant, are you able to go just for the day?

katelyle · 10/05/2007 23:08

Browny - you couldn't be more enthusiastic than we are - my ds has been known to nip outside and tell our Bongo if anything interesting happens!

what colour's yours and does it have a name?

Browny · 11/05/2007 10:12

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

katelyle · 11/05/2007 19:57

No, we've never been to a Bash - we must! Ours is dark blue and is simply Bongo. Do you call goin on a trip as bongoing?

Ellbell · 11/05/2007 22:28

LOL at you two, esp. katelyle's ds. You are making me want one more and more

(PS All our cars have names... and have done since long before we had kids)

Browny · 12/05/2007 08:40

The atmosphere is brilliant at the Bongo Bash, there is one main one organised each year, which is always at Lickhill Caravan Park, in Stourport and is heavily subsidised to we get a really, really cheap holiday. The one we are going to in June only cost us £10 a night with electricity . The bongofury website organise regional meet-ups too throughout the year, it is well worth becoming a member .

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