Newbie - so many questions

[Bob]

If you wanted to visit Stourport but not stay on site there's hotels and B&Bs to be had in town then you could pop onto site as a Day Visitor.

Still get to look round and chat to everyone.

[Quinny]

If you wanted to visit Stourport but not stay on site there's hotels and B&Bs to be had in town then you could pop onto site as a Day Visitor.

Still get to look round and chat to everyone.

Yes that might work, what are the dates again and I can check my rota to see if I am working that weekend. Is there a good time to come on site?

[Bob]

Details here:

http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... 82&t=73229

Many people go out during the day, but you can read up about the on site activites as they are arranged.

To chat with people at their Bongos before about 10.00 or after 16.00 will find most sitting in the sun or BBQing.

[Quinny]

Details here:

http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... 82&t=73229

Many people go out during the day, but you can read up about the on site activites as they are arranged.

To chat with people at their Bongos before about 10.00 or after 16.00 will find most sitting in the sun or BBQing.

Ok thank you that's great. We will see what we can arrange. I like your optimism re sitting in the sun

[Bob]

Ian has booked it.

[Quinny]

Ian has booked it.

Ah that's ok then. Can he book some for the beginning of June while he's at it

[mikeonb4c]

I'm not sure how being converted is going to magically solve the accommodation problem. With something the size of a Bongo you're really going to need a side awning for living space, especially if there's any rain. And its better cooking in an awning than in the van really. Stourport would be a fantastic opportunity to see every combination of Bongo and conversions and talk with owners and maybe converters (New Dawn Conversations have been there and offering on site front seat conversions on site at special rates)

[Quinny]

I'm not sure how being converted is going to magically solve the accommodation problem. With something the size of a Bongo you're really going to need a side awning for living space, especially if there's any rain. And its better cooking in an awning than in the van really. Stourport would be a fantastic opportunity to see every combination of Bongo and conversions and talk with owners and maybe converters (New Dawn Conversations have been there and offering on site front seat conversions on site at special rates)

I guess I was thinking more for when we just want to go wild camping rather than on a site and so presumed (possibly wrongly) that we would not be taking an awning with us on those occasions. We will use sites of course but we were thinking more of the freedom of stopping where you like in Wales and later Scotland. I definitely think we should try to get to Stourport but not sure it will be in time to sort it as our Bongo (if we buy it) arrives end of April. I think there is a South meet also but I have a feeling it is the same weekend we go to London, but I will check dates again.

[mikeonb4c]

OK so no wild camping until converted but since you can only wild camp legally in Scotland anyway its not a huge handicap. I think 2 adults, a disabled child and a labrador might find sleeping, eating, cooking, washing etc quite challenging in a Bongo (or any small campervan) in all but the best weather. Hope you don't mind me sounding all doom and gloom - i'm not and it's not, but now is the time to be thinking all this through.

[Bob]

I'd certainly ask someone (dealer of owner) if the whole family could lie on the beds just to check before buying.

Obviously we don't want to put anyone off a Bongo, but peeps here are realistic and truthful, please try before you spend a lot of money.

I've certainly wild camped in England a fair bit and never had any problem, but its just 2 able adults, and even then we tend just to make an overnight stop when travelling long distance and go on a site next night for showers, empty loo etc.

The basic farm sites are very fairly priced and the space provided by an awning or tent will be invaluable.

As many know we now have a caravan for more space, best of all worlds.

[mikeonb4c]

Interesting thought Bob. Unconverted Bongo and money spent instead on small caravan does have some notable pluses (though true wild camping is probably not one of them, though camping without hookup could be).

[marionw]

Back to your insurance queries, I'm with Lifesure, in an only vehicle, converted Bongo and they were fine with that. £260 last year. However, 2gether wouldn't touch me as it was my only vehicle, but I am with them for breakdown insurance.

How do these Insurers change their terms depending which way the winds blowing?

Not sure how your chap can give you plenty of sleeping room with a side conversion. My is side, but I'm a single traveller.

Hope to see you at Stourport, then you can have a good look round. I'm at the Southern meet if you do make it there.

Marion.

[Quinny]

OK so no wild camping until converted but since you can only wild camp legally in Scotland anyway its not a huge handicap. I think 2 adults, a disabled child and a labrador might find sleeping, eating, cooking, washing etc quite challenging in a Bongo (or any small campervan) in all but the best weather. Hope you don't mind me sounding all doom and gloom - i'm not and it's not, but now is the time to be thinking all this through.

No absolutely not all advice is greatly received. I agree entirely with what you are saying. I think we are looking at two scenarios really. If our lad needs to come with us then there will be no wild camping and an awning will be essential. If we can go it alonge and there is just the two of us plus dog then we will do the wild camping. We were looking at the slightly slimmer side conversion with the larger bed in the hope that we will have double bed downstairs and one up, and we will see where the dog will fit!!! I was led to believe you could wild camp in Wales, is this not the case?

[Quinny]

I'd certainly ask someone (dealer of owner) if the whole family could lie on the beds just to check before buying.

Obviously we don't want to put anyone off a Bongo, but peeps here are realistic and truthful, please try before you spend a lot of money.

I've certainly wild camped in England a fair bit and never had any problem, but its just 2 able adults, and even then we tend just to make an overnight stop when travelling long distance and go on a site next night for showers, empty loo etc.

The basic farm sites are very fairly priced and the space provided by an awning or tent will be invaluable.

As many know we now have a caravan for more space, best of all worlds.

Caravan would be lovely if only I was brave enough to tow!! I like the idea of the basic farm sites I must admit.

[g8dhe]

We found that wild camping was really no problem anywhere for just two of us in the Bongo and by using the C&CC sites for Motorhome stop offs and the odd night here and there we could keep going for a surprising amount of time it was only prolonged wet weather that would have us heading home as drying things out in a Bongo is a bit of a job!