July Trip to the South of France - what should take & prep?

[donaldthomps]

Hi, we are driving our Bongo to the South of France for 10 days in July.

Having only had the Bongo for only 2 weeks and new to this, can anyone who have travelled in Europe share any tips and what we should be taking with us please?

Will save us learning the hard way!

We have a converted Bongo & driveway awning and a bunch camping stuff.

Thanks in advance.

Donald

[Simon Jones]

We're looking to do the same too. Plenty of useful info here: http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/viewforum.php?f=38 and on AA website.

[mikexgough]

If you are wanting to use the Toll motorways to get to your destination faster.... I'd recommend a toll tag.... from https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/

Sooooo much time saved at the booths and billed a month later..... obviously if you are using the RN's then you wont need one,but if you are heading South it kind of suggests you are not going to want to get there as soon as you can.... oh and with a Bongo.... use the Lorry lane....easy peasy

[donaldthomps]

If you are wanting to use the Toll motorways to get to your destination faster.... I'd recommend a toll tag.... from https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/

Sooooo much time saved at the booths and billed a month later..... obviously if you are using the RN's then you wont need one,but if you are heading South it kind of suggests you are not going to want to get there as soon as you can.... oh and with a Bongo.... use the Lorry lane....easy peasy

Thanks for that, just signed up - very good idea!

[Muzorewa]

Ditto. Good move.

And so much easier than the Portuguese electronic tolls

[cookan]

In the cubby hole inside the step into the side door I fit the following
full set of sockets and spanners
full set of Allen Keys
Tow Rope
Little Air Compressor
Torque Wrench (doubles as a Handy breaker bar)
Some Latex Gloves
Oh yeah, and the standard jack, the jack handle/winch bar thing for the spare wheel, foldy-up wheel chock, shells, rocks, twigs and other bits the kids have collected on the journey.

Check that you have the spanner or whatever that fits on the end of the winch bar to lower the spare wheel...mine didn't have one so I use one of the sockets.

In the cupboard I keep a mini-toolkit with the usual ratchet screwdriver and bits (including torx bits)

Then in an AA zip bag that I stuff between the middle bench seat and the side of the car I cram in a multi-meter, some lengths of wire, couple of paper clips, crimp connectors along with the usual mandatory bits for france like spare bulbs, day glow vests, booze testing things etc etc.

other bits we have that are generally useful are
Anti Mosquito ball things that we hang inside (Mos Away I think they're called but beware the unbranded cheap ones)
A Large Mosquito net we jam around the edge of the sliding door so we can have it open at night (especially when arriving somewhere late with a hot engine warming the place up and not being able to open the door for the mozies)
Fire Extinguisher
First Aid Kit + a small handy one for bags
Hand Sanitizer
Bag packs with water reservoirs
Washing line and pegs (we use little suction cups on a bit of string that stick to the van when there aren't any convenient trees around)
A Torch in the drivers door
The Bongo Service Manual

10 Days in france may not be worth this, but when we go for a month, we get a French Data Sim. LeFrenchMobile did a good one for us last year which was good data prices and also allowed voice calls... (providing you have an unlocked mobile)


have fun !

Ant.

[mikexgough]

Buy your fuel at Supermarkets too..... If you have a diesel, you will be well in as it was £1.03 a litre today....... Petrol was £1.22 so a nominal saving... LPG is 69p a litre..... I filled at Auchan at Calais before heading off

[Muzorewa]

Exactly where have people put the tag on the windscreen, according to the guide there are specific instructions for MPVs with tall screens.

[briwy]

I'd recommend not sticking it to the screen. There have been cases of them being stolen so we leave ours in the glove compartment and just take it out when needed.
Usually found it works fine just on top of the dash but occasionally have to open the window and wave it around.
BTW if it refuses to work the operator can scan the bar code.
Watch the height limit though on the dedicated "fast track" lanes which are generally on the left.

[cookan]

oh yeah...and having lost top end power on the way to the bongo bash (luckily only 30 mins away), I'll now be carrying some cotton wool buds to clean the banjo filter

[mikeonb4c]

Some coolant hose repair bandage/tape is compact and worth taking (can't remember what its called but hopefully someone can advise).

Make sure you know how to get a freetop roof down if you have one and it should jam open (also don't store imporant items in there in case it won't go up)!

I found out this weekend a diesel can go a long way if the alternator fails provided you don't keep using the starter motor and no other significant electricity is used (occasional elec windows, indicators etc OK but don't run cooling fans, aircon etc, and NO night driving with lights) and provided you can charge the battery each day. So a charger could be good insurance, though it would need to run off available voltages and DO NOT buy the compact intelligent ones: everyone who knows their stuff at the Bash agreed they are rubbish for serious charging, as you can't order them to charge and often they won't switch on and charge when you want them to (like mine this weekend grrrr). Their charge rate isn't great either I believe.

'Smidge' is supposed to be an excellent insect repellant (I previously stocked Avon Skin so Soft / Woodland Fresh, for repelling Scottish midges, but this stuff is said to be the best).

Mozzie screens sound great, and you can buy insect screens for Bongo front windows, though I've heard they melt in extreme heat. I have a genuine Jap insect screen for covering an open tailgate, but you could easily DIY something. Sadly my partner won't sleep with the tailgate open for security reasons, but otherwise I'd love that in hot weather.

You could also travel in convoy with the Muzorewa clan, as they never break down and they usually supply excellent cooked sausages to travelling companions

[Muzorewa]

You could also travel in convoy with the Muzorewa clan, as they never break down and they usually supply excellent cooked sausages to travelling companions

[mikexgough]

Exactly where have people put the tag on the windscreen, according to the guide there are specific instructions for MPVs with tall screens.

Mine is mounted just behind the rear view mirror .....passenger side.... picks up well from there as the sensors are on the offside front at the Peage...

I do unclip my tag from it's mount and store it in the glovebox when not in use....plus you get 2 mounts supplied....

And use the Lorry Lane at the Peage .....it's usually not busy....

[Simon Jones]

Donald, I believe you have LPG so you'll need an adapter kit as the connections are different. In the UK, we use the Dutch connector so you'll be fine if just going to Holland . A kit of 3 brass adapters to cover most of Europe can be picked up from ebay for under £20.

[mikexgough]

Exactly where have people put the tag on the windscreen, according to the guide there are specific instructions for MPVs with tall screens.

Some Pictures..... https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing

Works fine at the Peage in that location... note the photo with the tag removed leaving the mount behind if you want to remove it....