camper van

[Midori]

Hi scanker,

There is a forum for Bongos, I was looking at them a while back, they have some advantages over VW, I'm sorry to say, like 4WD as standard, A/C, automatics mainly and about a quarter of the price of a comparable VW!

Bongos are Japanese Imports (used), converted either in Japan or shipped here for conversion. Smaller than a VW, based more on a car/small MPV.

The forum also has links to specialist dealers.

Google for Bongo Fury, the name of the forum.

Cheers. Midori

 

[scanker]

Thanks very much for that Midori. You're too late though...I've already joined Bongo Fury and we got Billy Bongo a week ago! We went camping at the weekend and are very pleased with it. You didn't get one in the end then?

 

[Minotaur]

If money was no object.

http://www.101fc.net/grumble/index.htm

 

[redflex]

Minotaur, Just met the owners and got a look round the 101fc on Sunday at the Land Rover World show, talked to other 101 camper van owners saw their conversions as well some cost only £3500 including the 101 Fc which is quite good value, only problem they said was it is petrol and does 10mpg eeehh I guess thats why they now have move to gas conversion.

 

[scanker]

Blimey. You end up with a camper you can't afford to take anywhere!

 

[Minotaur]

Minotaur, Just met the owners and got a look round the 101fc on Sunday at the Land Rover World show, talked to other 101 camper van owners saw their conversions as well some cost only £3500 including the 101 Fc which is quite good value, only problem they said was it is petrol and does 10mpg eeehh I guess thats why they now have move to gas conversion.

I was there too.

It is the fuel and maintence that costs apparently.

Do you get a look into the Grumble(The purple one)?

 

[MattW]

This is a nice one:
http://www.unimog.org.uk/mymog/

These are even nicer:
http://www.actionmobil.com/eng/home/index.html

However, back in the real world we've got an old Talbot Express based 'Autosleeper' :

(the trailer is for the diving gear)

It's got the sort of tinworm problems you'd expect from a 16 year old van that wasn't really renowned for bodywork in the first place(!), but it's ok if you keep on top of it (and they don't dissolve in front of your eyes like VW's!). They've got a bit more space and comfort than a VW bus, but it's still slow (60mph cruise is it's 'happy' zone) and thirsty (28'ish mpg).

Still, we've had some good adventures in it!

best
Matt

 

[rapidboy]

How did i miss this thread ?

After years of estate car / van camping and then a VW T3 home conversion i bought this in 2001.
A company called AVA Leisure did the conversion, unlike a lot of the conversion companies they will build to your requirements.

New VW T4 van was about £20K and the conversion about £8K so it worked out about the same price as my fathers Autosleeper T4 conversion but taylored to my needs and a lot more descrete for everyday use as a car.
They made alterations around their basic "ISIS" interior so i could have a rack for my fishing rods and room for gun cases etc.

AVA will convert a secong hand van and the T4 van's are a good S/H buy now that the new T5 is out.
They will also do the conversion in stages to suit your budget.
I just changed from a VWT4 to a T5 for my work van and it would make a stunning camper van.

rb

 

[Mikey P]

Has anyone mentioned the Mitsubishi Delica yet? I know it was mentioned a couple of times on forums in the past. It was a van body mounted on a 4wd Shogun chassis!

Sounds like it would have enough room for all your stuff and could go places a traditional camper van might struggle with - could be useful if you don't intend to use traditional campsites...

 

[Cap'n Badger]

For what it's worth.....this be mine....had him fer 10 years now......many nights under the stars.......pushin' it home.....(nah)

Rapidboy....like the interior conversion man....if only mine was that tidy!!

 

[Spacemonkey]

Nice one Cap'n!

I like my T25, but to be honest I'm now after something more modern and am looking at LWB Delicas to convert. As they seem quite narrow by comparison (optical illusion??) I'm thinking along the lines of a sleeping pop top.

 

[rapidboy]

T25 is a great van, we had one of the very early air cooled one's from when they changed over from the bay window.
Ex church mini bus that my father did a conversion from.
Great bus that took us to many music festivals.

 

[leon-b]

get a bay window vee dub they rock
we have one and were driving to cornwall this year
leon

 

[Spacemonkey]

Yeah I now they do! I bought mine as it was a great bargain. It is only for fishing trips and taking the girlfriend out for trips as she's not into this getting dirty business.. but for driving to my land in Spain, a Delica conversion would be ideal as I would NEED the off road ability when I get there, and would appreciate the modern driving ability, and aircon on the way down..

You can still buy the very last few brand new Bay Window campers orm the Brazil factory that closed last year. About £15-18k depending on spec. Now that's a bloody cheap brand new camper!

 

[Cap'n Badger]

As we're on the camper buzz at the mo......Do you have solar chargin' in yer vans?....picked these up a few weeks ago......
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=47902&criteria=solar&doy=17m7
I've had a 'Battery saver' panel in the van fer 'bout two year or so......marvelous piece o' kit....never had a flat battery since!!....even in the winter this panel pumps a constant 1.5w into the drive/starter bat......
But now have two extra keepin' the leisure bat topped...(both connected permanent like).....also got a small x4 battery solar charger fer field use.....(phone charger/radio/torch batterys)......never run out of torch light I says...lol..
There are bigger ones t' be had......but they start t' get expensive the bigger the wattage.........

 

[Spacemonkey]

Yep, I got the same one in the van at the mo'. And I'm also going to get another for the leisure battery. I have it on the dash, and will fix both on there. They get plenty of sun. I had a thermometer on there for a while now, but the sun has melted it!

 

[Cap'n Badger]

phew yea!!.....was comin' back from watchet in devon last week......55 degrees on me dash!!....never leave yer sunglasses on there....spesh ifin they be made o' plastic!!..oh fer air con!!......

 

[seamonkey]

Ello,
good thread this - glad i thought to check here. good advice on insulation and good common sense like siting the stove by the door.
I am currently in the market for a camper again - yay I was hoping for some advice as i know b*gger all about the newer ones available.
I used to have the use of an orange combi back in scotland and it was easily the most fun car i've riven even with its shortcomings people would genuinely smile when they saw the old bus coming - which was nice.

I need a good cheapish reliable van i've ruled out VWs on the basis that most have been abused and will be money pits at the price range i'm looking at.
I'm going back to NZ in a weeks time for a year at least and fully intend to live in it for at least half that (before i need to get a respectable job Unsure if i should do the conversion myself and just buy a basic shell...

The Bongo sounds ace - if for no other reason that i just want to own a car called a bongo once in my life
Nissan Largo
the last time i was touring the north island i borrowed a 4x4 Nissan Terrano and was very impressed by it on the limited ammount of logging trail off road i did. i'm hoping this shares the same drivetrain.

Isuzu Fargo
Then again i could be tempted by something as like this.Pimp my Van

note the chandilier - Nice!!


btw william how did you get on with your divemaster? i've been try to finish mine for years

Cheers

Graham

 

[scanker]

I like my bongo. Have a look at http://www.bongofury.co.uk for loads more info. The forums there are very helpful to.

 

[cyclist]

and I like my bicycle.
It transports me, my gear (tent/tarp,Kelly, Trangia etc.), makes stealth camping quite easy and doesn´t need praehistoric fuel