Southern Bongo Conversions Experience

Questions & answers about kitchen units, stoves, fridges, heaters, water tanks, seats, mattresses etc etc.

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flarts
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Southern Bongo Conversions Experience

Post by flarts » Fri Oct 16, 2015 9:11 am

Hi troops,
We're looking to get a mid conversion done.
Can anyone with experience of Southern Bongo conversions, good or bad, please PM me?

And of course if anyone has any other recommendations of mid conversions please let me know.

What we're actually after is quite impossible.... a mid conversion to keep the original rear seat (preferably with a storage tray under it), a side kitchen unit... (and this is the impossible bit), no mid seat in order to keep the side door entry point nice and wide to get the dog in and out yet we need access to the roof hatch and therefore need something to stand on. And POSSIBLY somehow retain the functionality of creating a bed downstairs if needed! (the intention is to sleep upstairs). I know!!!

This...
http://www.southernbongos.co.uk/midconversions.html
... is the closest we've found hence I'm after some feedback. The idea is to add a free standing storage box that can travel in the "boot" to keep it secure and be brought inside once we've camped to sit, stand on etc. That's the best we've come up with so far. And at least the Southern Bongo conversion has the collapsible bed parts just in case and I presume sourcing a storage tray should be easy enough.

Thanks in advance.
One 2001 White/Silver 4WD 2.5L AFT Diesel | One Dog | Many Ukuleles
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mikeonb4c
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Re: Southern Bongo Conversions Experience

Post by mikeonb4c » Fri Oct 16, 2015 12:12 pm

flarts wrote:Hi troops,
We're looking to get a mid conversion done.
Can anyone with experience of Southern Bongo conversions, good or bad, please PM me?

And of course if anyone has any other recommendations of mid conversions please let me know.

What we're actually after is quite impossible.... a mid conversion to keep the original rear seat (preferably with a storage tray under it), a side kitchen unit... (and this is the impossible bit), no mid seat in order to keep the side door entry point nice and wide to get the dog in and out yet we need access to the roof hatch and therefore need something to stand on. And POSSIBLY somehow retain the functionality of creating a bed downstairs if needed! (the intention is to sleep upstairs). I know!!!

This...
http://www.southernbongos.co.uk/midconversions.html
... is the closest we've found hence I'm after some feedback. The idea is to add a free standing storage box that can travel in the "boot" to keep it secure and be brought inside once we've camped to sit, stand on etc. That's the best we've come up with so far. And at least the Southern Bongo conversion has the collapsible bed parts just in case and I presume sourcing a storage tray should be easy enough.

Thanks in advance.
Most converters would I suspect work with you to try and find a clever bespoke solution, and if shouldn't cost a premium price provided its not anything too exotic. When all is said and done, they attract new customers by expanding the portfolio of work they can do, and you're unlikely to be the only to think ' that looks like a good idea' if they see photos of the work they do for you. Hope you'll find time to post pics of whatever work you get done as that is both useful for others and may encourage the converter to do their best work for you :-)
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flarts
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Re: Southern Bongo Conversions Experience

Post by flarts » Fri Oct 16, 2015 12:26 pm

mikeonb4c wrote: Most converters would I suspect work with you to try and find a clever bespoke solution, and if shouldn't cost a premium price provided its not anything too exotic. When all is said and done, they attract new customers by expanding the portfolio of work they can do, and you're unlikely to be the only to think ' that looks like a good idea' if they see photos of the work they do for you. Hope you'll find time to post pics of whatever work you get done as that is both useful for others and may encourage the converter to do their best work for you :-)
Yeah that's kinda what we're thinking we'll end up really. I've spoken to Clearcut who are being very helpful with this.

I will of course proudly be posting pictures when we eventually get ourselves sorted!
One 2001 White/Silver 4WD 2.5L AFT Diesel | One Dog | Many Ukuleles
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Re: Southern Bongo Conversions Experience

Post by Simon Jones » Fri Oct 16, 2015 1:05 pm

Kevin at Southern Bongos is a top chap & his conversions are good but based on your location, I'd suggest you call Ed AKA Madmile @ Celtic Motorhomes: http://celticmotorhomes.co.uk/?page_id=10
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flarts
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Re: Southern Bongo Conversions Experience

Post by flarts » Fri Oct 16, 2015 1:27 pm

Simon Jones wrote:Kevin at Southern Bongos is a top chap & his conversions are good but based on your location, I'd suggest you call Ed AKA Madmile @ Celtic Motorhomes: http://celticmotorhomes.co.uk/?page_id=10
Thanks very much Simon, I'll take a look... and thank you for the Southern Bongo recommendation.

The North/South Wales drive is oft underestimated... it's less than an hours difference to drive from here to Southampton then it is to Caerphilly (if we were any further North in Wales and we'd be in the River Dee).

I think we're of a mind we don't care where the right converter is... we're only doing it once so we want to get it right...
have Bongo will travel :)
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flarts
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Re: Southern Bongo Conversions Experience

Post by flarts » Fri Oct 16, 2015 3:17 pm

Simon Jones wrote: I'd suggest you call Ed AKA Madmile @ Celtic Motorhomes: http://celticmotorhomes.co.uk/?page_id=10
Blimey their full side conversion is pretty swish!

http://celticmotorhomes.co.uk/?page_id=46
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Re: Southern Bongo Conversions Experience

Post by mikeonb4c » Fri Oct 16, 2015 3:29 pm

flarts wrote:
Simon Jones wrote: I'd suggest you call Ed AKA Madmile @ Celtic Motorhomes: http://celticmotorhomes.co.uk/?page_id=10
Blimey their full side conversion is pretty swish!

http://celticmotorhomes.co.uk/?page_id=46
Their work is outstanding from all I've seen and heard. Ed, who set up the business, has a passion for quality work. Not the cheapest, but one of the best I suspect. Except that unconverted works for me, I'd love them to do the business on mine :-)
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sotal
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Re: Southern Bongo Conversions Experience

Post by sotal » Fri Oct 16, 2015 5:21 pm

I have the Southern Bongos mid conversion.

It was exactly what we needed. Works perfectly for us. Gives us plenty of configurations for sleeping.

We are extremely happy with the layout. If you have any specific questions about it then please feel free to ask away.
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flarts
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Re: Southern Bongo Conversions Experience

Post by flarts » Mon Oct 19, 2015 8:58 am

sotal wrote:I have the Southern Bongos mid conversion.

It was exactly what we needed. Works perfectly for us. Gives us plenty of configurations for sleeping.

We are extremely happy with the layout. If you have any specific questions about it then please feel free to ask away.
Just what I wanted to hear :)

Thank you very much, I'll PM you a few specific questions if you don't mind.
One 2001 White/Silver 4WD 2.5L AFT Diesel | One Dog | Many Ukuleles
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