Bongo Fury

Is there any data anywhere that will give me the original factory fit length of the spring with only the weight of an unladen van on it? The tyres on our van are not as close to the arches as you may think. That said they probably get much nearer when I get in

rapiddescent - that's an excellent post you did there. Thank you. Don't understand some of it because I'm a non-technical girlie but I certainly get the gist. I should have said earlier that my back seat driver does sit in a child seat so doesn't have the benefit of his own suspension, so to speak. Obviously being a thing with a flat plastic base, the seat is going to react rather differently to the Bongo's movement rather than a human behind. Nevertheless, I shall have my suspension studied by someone who knows more than I do next time the Bongo is up on a ramp (tyre time in a couple of months, methinks).

Hi
MMMmmm I think the Bongo suspension is pretty good for what it is designed for....but I have had some cars that have stood out from the crowd....The Bongo's only real problem (as far as mine is concerned) is that the back was a bit low when weight is added, but , having sorted it, I think that for an old vehicle, the dampers seem to perform better than I would expect, and a few joints and bushes needed attention...I reckon with new standard dampers it would be a very fine ride. Regarding potholes....I'll have to take some pictures....I don't imagine you would believe it......and village roads are simply indescribable....our neighbour's road is 2 cart tracks, and the road up beside our next door neighbour needs crampons to get up the hill....I believe Everest expeditions train there ...I can't do any photos at the moment as the village roads are still 1 foot thick slush/ snow/ ice mix...6 1/2 weeks of it....
When we came here, I hit a pothole in Sofia that sent a fully laden Bongo so far in the air, I reckon the front wheels were 18 inches off the ground...there was a significant time lapse until they hit the ground with a sickening BANG....and the worse thing was that I knew in an instant that it was going to do it again with the back wheels.....BANG...BANG......and the caravan BANG....FERTHUMP . I seriously can't imagine another manufacturer's vehicle enduring the same without a breakage....HIGHLY impressed
Cheers
Helen

mikeonb4c wrote:

rita wrote:I would compare it with riding a Camel up Ben Nevis

Ah but can you sleep inside a camel when you get to the top?

Don't answer that

They did sleep in something like a camel in the Empire Strikes Back

dunslair wrote:Is there any data anywhere that will give me the original factory fit length of the spring with only the weight of an unladen van on it? The tyres on our van are not as close to the arches as you may think. That said they probably get much nearer when I get in

Standard springs, middle seat out, 205/65/15 tyres and the middle of the wheel arch is 74cm from the deck on mine.

I've bored you all before but Airide airbags stopped my bumpstops from hitting the axle at the slightest provocation and cut down on body roll

dandywarhol wrote:

dunslair wrote:Is there any data anywhere that will give me the original factory fit length of the spring with only the weight of an unladen van on it? The tyres on our van are not as close to the arches as you may think. That said they probably get much nearer when I get in

Standard springs, middle seat out, 205/65/15 tyres and the middle of the wheel arch is 74cm from the deck on mine

Thanks for that I will get the tape measure out when I get home!

technophobe wrote:

mikeonb4c wrote:

rita wrote:I would compare it with riding a Camel up Ben Nevis

Ah but can you sleep inside a camel when you get to the top?

Don't answer that

They did sleep in something like a camel in the Empire Strikes Back

They spent the night in Taunton...

dandywarhol wrote:

dunslair wrote:Is there any data anywhere that will give me the original factory fit length of the spring with only the weight of an unladen van on it? The tyres on our van are not as close to the arches as you may think. That said they probably get much nearer when I get in

Standard springs, middle seat out, 205/65/15 tyres and the middle of the wheel arch is 74cm from the deck on mine.

I've bored you all before but Airide airbags stopped my bumpstops from hitting the axle at the slightest provocation and cut down on body roll

715mm...two rows of seats + stimpson explorer in back. but is is parked on a slope, with the nose down! Front arch top at 740mm I think my wife has just gone to call the men in the white coats

jaylee wrote:

technophobe wrote:
They did sleep in something like a camel in the Empire Strikes Back

They spent the night in Taunton...

Have never seen the Empire Strikes Back. So not going to show how thick I am (knowledge of Star Wars films v knowledge of suspension was equal until I read rapiddescent's earlier post) BUT Taunton, yes. I know where that is. Did you know that Humphrey's little baby is called Boo?

helen&tony wrote:Hi
MMMmmm I think the Bongo suspension is pretty good for what it is designed for....but I have had some cars that have stood out from the crowd....The Bongo's only real problem (as far as mine is concerned) is that the back was a bit low when weight is added, but , having sorted it, I think that for an old vehicle, the dampers seem to perform better than I would expect, and a few joints and bushes needed attention...I reckon with new standard dampers it would be a very fine ride. .............
.............When we came here, I hit a pothole in Sofia that sent a fully laden Bongo so far in the air, I reckon the front wheels were 18 inches off the ground...there was a significant time lapse until they hit the ground with a sickening BANG....and the worse thing was that I knew in an instant that it was going to do it again with the back wheels.....BANG...BANG......and the caravan BANG....FERTHUMP . I seriously can't imagine another manufacturer's vehicle enduring the same without a breakage....HIGHLY impressed
Cheers
Helen

I think I agree that the Bongo is really very good overall. And it is v. reassuring to read your stories about how robust it seems to be proving on Bulgarias potholed roads.

rapiddescent wrote:I design suspension systems for mountain bikes - so I'm really really nerdy when it comes to feel of suspension. i have taken a brand new subaru legacy back to the dealer after 5 miles because it had no preload in the springs. that's another story.

anyway.

It's much much more complicated than the discussion above.
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[wobbly
usually down to the tyres more than the suspension. A 14" rim with a 75 tyre will reshape over rough surfaces. if you have pimpy 18"'s with 55 tyres and they're pumped up to 40psi then it will 'feel' like a hard ride. i.e. you will loose your fillings on catseyes. Car manufacturers that want a 'sporty' feel do this. The Audi TT is the worst offender where the suspension travel is very short and the wheels are way too big for the weight of the car etc. the ride feels really hard - you can feel it through the steering wheel.
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Put to good use here, thanks: http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ba#p434896