Bongo Fury

Posted: **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

Congrats again - great work

Posted: **Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:25 pm**

very nice

Posted: **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?

Posted: **Tue Sep 06, 2011 11:16 pm**

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

Excellent job Dave

Posted: **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.

Now, if you fit a removable wheel as I have seen someone on here doing you might just be in business!

Posted: **Wed Sep 07, 2011 3:26 pm**

Brilliant idea, just what I'm looking for. Any chance of details?

Posted: **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.

Posted: **Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:23 am**

Many thanks Dave, pm sent.

Posted: **Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:34 am**

Email on the way.

Posted: **Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:28 pm**

Love the new avatar/pic/thingy!! I want one.

Posted: **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.

Posted: **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.

Posted: **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??

Posted: **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

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:40 pm**

Brilliant!

Like the centre console table as well!

Bongo Fury

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