newbies -- advice appreciated !!!!

[lukeandkelly]

Hi everyone! we are new to the bongo fury and bongoing!
we have a 2.5L V6 bongo aero with a side conversion.

Going to travel around Europe for a few months, any tips from anyone would be much appreciated! Thinking of taking a spare set of hoses and possibly a few other spare parts, if anyone has any advice on what is best to take?

from
Luke and Kelly

[Bob]

Welcome aboard.

Has the cam belt been changed according to the service schedule?

Have a look at the bits you legally require for each country, bulb set, yellow jackets...

Quality breakdown cover, and carry a copy of the coolant bleed proceedure, there's some Youtube vids by Forum member Northen Bongolow. This has to be done on the V6 in spite of what some will tell you.

And have a fantastic trip.

Edit: Make sure your MOT, tax, and the like don't run out when you're away.

[lukeandkelly]

Hi Bob!

Thanks for getting back to us!
New cambelt has been fitted and have looked up the regs for the countries. Was thinking more along the lines of parts that may be difficult to get abroad if something needs doing to the bongo; hoses, fuses etc?

On the hoses, there seems to be a lot of sections so hard to know where to draw the line on what to take mechanical spares wise!

Just want to be all prepped and ready for any difficult situations we might come across!!

Thanks!

Luke and Kelly

[Bob]

There's an awful lot of hoses on a Bongo.

But you will find Ian, the Bongomeister, is very good at shipping parts wherever needed.

Well worth the cost of Club membership.

[Ian]

But you will find Ian, the Bongomeister, is very good at shipping parts wherever needed.

Yes, we can get anything to mainland Europe within 48 hours.

[Bob]

Now that sounds like the sort of challenge Bill and Ben could rise to.

[mikeonb4c]

Now that sounds like the sort of challenge Bill and Ben could rise to.

Hmmm. Maybe we could get a cheap holiday in Europe if we described ourselves as spare parts and fabricated a tale of someone having a breakdown.

[Bob]

Just the sort of thing we'd be good at.

[haydn callow]

If you haven't got one already, fit a Low Coolant Alarm.

[lukeandkelly]

hi everyone, thanks for all of your replies!

Much appreciated! We have a low coolant alarm already, thanks Haydn!

May hang on in case we need parts and get them shipped out abroad, anyone welcome to come and help in the process if need be :')

will stay in touch on our travels! we head off in a few weeks!

thank you

Kel and Luke

[Bob]

We love to hear travel tales.

[lukeandkelly]

on another note, anyone know anything about portable solar panels? something we are interested in but not sure whether it is worth it?

thanks

[Bob]

Forum member Dodgey professionally fits panels to the roof, very well thought of.

He's Taunton way.

We use a free standing one with the caravan if not on hook up but it sits on site all day. Bongy is more likely to be travelling during the day.

All depends how you plan to use it.

[lukeandkelly]

thanks Bob for all your help!
debating what line to go down, might try this trip without it and see whats needed for the next one!

will definitely keep Dodgey in mind though, cheers!!!

[Bongolia]

on another note, anyone know anything about portable solar panels? something we are interested in but not sure whether it is worth it?

thanks

I do wonder about the suitcase type of fold outs and whether a sort of clip in arrangement could be made to the AFT to hold an open one in place while on site , the angle of the opened roof would be ideal if facing the sun. Also helps against light fingered Herbert s nicking it while you are dozing in the sun.