Can you tell what it is yet?

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

Moderator: Doone

User avatar
mikeonb4c
Supreme Being
Posts: 22877
Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2006 10:49 pm
Location: Living with Mango Bongo in the North West but with a tendency to roam
Contact:

Re: Can you tell what it is yet?

Post by mikeonb4c » Tue Sep 06, 2011 6:19 pm

dave_aber wrote:Ady - Unfortunately Mazda were very space efficient with the original seats, and the bum pan almost touches the carpet so with the offsetting hinge mechanism and swivel plate in there it has to be higher. 30mm higher to be precise. Not a problem for me as my usual passenger is as vertically challenged as I am!

I've locked it down using a pair of 1/4" rods as skewers which pass through 3 sections of 10mm o/d tubing. First section attached to the seat pan (to the 30mm box section added on the bottom of it), second to the original rail, third to the seat pan again. One of each of these on each side.

Now, you could just fabricate the locking mechanism, and pull out 2 rods, swivel the seat in your arms and stick the pins back in again. You would have no increase in height there. This method may be what Paul was talking about on the original thread Kirsty has linked to, not sure.

Mike - I doubt if this will work on the driver's side due to the steering wheel. If you are turning the seat anti-clockwise, then the back corner only ever intrudes into the centre console area by about 35mm - a lot less than I thought it would. Please pass on my apologies to the BFPS - mine are now redundant!

Nigel - YGM.
Its OK. We at the BFPS are currently setting up a New Deal back to work scheme aimed at getting redundant footrests back into useful employment :lol: :lol: :lol:

Congrats again - great work =D> =D> =D>
User avatar
maxheadroom
Supreme Being
Posts: 1950
Joined: Wed Feb 28, 2007 6:37 pm
Location: Gloucester

Re: Can you tell what it is yet?

Post by maxheadroom » Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:25 pm

very nice 8) =D>
Keep the Faith

Image
User avatar
missfixit70
Supreme Being
Posts: 12431
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:53 pm
Location: weymouth

Re: Can you tell what it is yet?

Post by missfixit70 » Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:26 pm

To make it work for the drivers seat, what about a similar set up, but instead of the parallel pivot & lift - hinge it at the outer rail so the seat on the swivel base ends up at 90 degrees sticking out of the door, thus avoiding the steering wheel, where it could be rotated then hinge back in, in it's reversed state?
You can't polish a turd - but you can roll it in glitter.
User avatar
dandywarhol
Supreme Being
Posts: 5446
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2005 10:18 pm
Location: Edinburgh

Re: Can you tell what it is yet?

Post by dandywarhol » Tue Sep 06, 2011 11:16 pm

Because I guess it's the turntable which makes up the 30mm.

Excellent job Dave =D>
Whale oil beef hooked
Renault Lunar Telstar
Yamaha TD1C 250, Merc SLK200, KTM Duke 690
User avatar
dave_aber
Supreme Being
Posts: 2884
Joined: Tue May 12, 2009 4:33 pm
Location: Elgin, Scotland

Re: Can you tell what it is yet?

Post by dave_aber » Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:19 am

Alan - yup, the turntable is about 30mm high.

Kirsty - That would work on the passenger's side too, but for the driver's side the seat would still foul the steering wheel when you pivot it back in.

Views across the cab with the seat reversed and slid fully to the rear, with the backrest at a comfortable rake.

Image

Image

Now, if you fit a removable wheel as I have seen someone on here doing you might just be in business!
Image...Image
There are 10 types of people in this world.
Those that understand binary, and those that don't.
birtybongo

Re: Can you tell what it is yet?

Post by birtybongo » Wed Sep 07, 2011 3:26 pm

Brilliant idea, just what I'm looking for. Any chance of details? [-o<
User avatar
dave_aber
Supreme Being
Posts: 2884
Joined: Tue May 12, 2009 4:33 pm
Location: Elgin, Scotland

Re: Can you tell what it is yet?

Post by dave_aber » Wed Sep 07, 2011 6:05 pm

Absolutely - PM me your email address and I'll forward on the drawings.

The design is done in MS Visio - if you have Visio, then I'll send the drawing in the native format, so you can add dimensions / move bits about etc. If not, I'll send you a series of JPG exports.
Image...Image
There are 10 types of people in this world.
Those that understand binary, and those that don't.
birtybongo

Re: Can you tell what it is yet?

Post by birtybongo » Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:23 am

Many thanks Dave, pm sent. :D
User avatar
dave_aber
Supreme Being
Posts: 2884
Joined: Tue May 12, 2009 4:33 pm
Location: Elgin, Scotland

Re: Can you tell what it is yet?

Post by dave_aber » Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:34 am

Email on the way.
Image...Image
There are 10 types of people in this world.
Those that understand binary, and those that don't.
User avatar
Driver+Passengers
Supreme Being
Posts: 2019
Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:56 pm
Location: Fife

Re: Can you tell what it is yet?

Post by Driver+Passengers » Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:28 pm

Love the new avatar/pic/thingy!! I want one.
Image Image
What she doesn't know won't hurt me.
tallbongo
Bongolier
Posts: 396
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 5:40 pm
Location: Central Scotland

Re: Can you tell what it is yet?

Post by tallbongo » Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:24 pm

Another great idea, well implemented.

And I guess that because your van is registered as converted there won't be any insurance issues.
95 N Reg 4WD Manual AFT Bongo

Image Image
User avatar
dave_aber
Supreme Being
Posts: 2884
Joined: Tue May 12, 2009 4:33 pm
Location: Elgin, Scotland

Re: Can you tell what it is yet?

Post by dave_aber » Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:43 pm

That's my view on it. It's not an uncommon feature on a campervan. If I'd fitted a flamethrower or something outrageous then I expect that I'd need to specifically mention that to an insurer. When I got cover for the camper conversion there was no requirement to list the specifics.
Image...Image
There are 10 types of people in this world.
Those that understand binary, and those that don't.
User avatar
Sar N Ade
Bongolier
Posts: 373
Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:53 pm
Location: Bristol

Re: Can you tell what it is yet?

Post by Sar N Ade » Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:43 pm

A swivelling passenger seat would make the Bongo pretty much perfect.
Maybe you could go into business fitting them for other people?? 8)
User avatar
dave_aber
Supreme Being
Posts: 2884
Joined: Tue May 12, 2009 4:33 pm
Location: Elgin, Scotland

Re: Can you tell what it is yet?

Post by dave_aber » Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:51 pm

I did think about that, but it's not for me. I also toyed with the idea of doing a few conversions for sale, but at this point in time it's not for me either. I really enjoy tinkering with these sort of wee projects, but I would not be so rewarded by 'turning the handle' on a production run.

So, I have the drawings freely available if anyone feels they want to have a go at copying it. To be honest, it isn't tricky if you can drive a hacksaw and a welder. The hard work in these things is the trial and error getting it to work out right - and I admit with inspiration from Bob's youtube video and some time spent using CAD to model it I got lucky with the dims / offset and it worked right first time (and not as I'd worked out either - lucky fluke!)

PM me your email address if you want drawings
Image...Image
There are 10 types of people in this world.
Those that understand binary, and those that don't.
Scott & Gillian
Bongolier
Posts: 198
Joined: Sun Jul 23, 2006 6:01 pm
Location: Scarborough, NorthYorkshire
Contact:

Re: Can you tell what it is yet?

Post by Scott & Gillian » Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:40 pm

Brilliant! =D> =D>
Like the centre console table as well!
I'm a collector of random things. Anything. But not glitter, which is nasty.
www.random-things.co.uk
Post Reply

Return to “Campervan Conversions in Bongos”