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Equipment for lifting a Bongo?
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:21 pm
by RobnKathryn
I'd like to lift my van up by 800mm on my drive way, after dropping my engine, so I can roll it out.
Can anyone suggest a safe way of doing this, or know of a hire company who can provide equipment to do this?
Thanks
Rob
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:40 pm
by David Edwards
Firstly how much is 800mm in real measurements, i.e feet and inches, have you a friendly garage with a large trolley jack, you will prob need axles stands too to keep it there until finished.
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:43 pm
by waycar8
David Edwards wrote:Firstly how much is 800mm in real measurements
800mm is 80 cm so 31.496063 inches

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:44 pm
by Harry
A little over 2ft ?
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:45 pm
by waycar8
Harry wrote:A little over 2ft ?
2.62467192 feet
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:28 pm
by RobnKathryn
ok, so have we got the measurement in enough different units, or would anyone like kilometres or miles or light years????
If we're all happy can we progress onto how I'm going to do it?
Whichever way it's measured it's a long way to lift a Bongo up! It's one tall engine.
Cheers
Rob
lifting Bongo
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:27 pm
by helen&tony
Hello Rob’n’Kathryn
See if a small local recovery firm with a spectacle lift truck would spare 5 mins.
to raise your van while you pile a few railway sleepers under it. There’s often a small independent who may oblige.
Cheers
Helen
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:45 pm
by RobnKathryn
Hi Helen & Tony......thanks for the idea.......that's well worth a thought.
Actually, I wouldn't need to do the sleepers bit.....I only need the vehicle raised long enough for me to roll out the old engine and roll in the new.....30 mins max. All other work can be done at a 'normal' raised height on axle stands. I'm not sure if a spectacle lift would leave the side clear to roll the engine in or out though......to be truthful I haven't a clue what a spectacle lift is at all!
Cheers
Rob
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 1:39 pm
by missfixit70
Spec lift has an arrangement that looks like a pair of specs that sit/strap under front wheels to lift/tow, you know you've seen em wobblin around on the back of recovery trucks
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 1:45 pm
by boyfrombrasil
Kirsty,
I'm fascinated....
What do you do for a living?
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 1:50 pm
by RobnKathryn
Thanks Kirsty, yea I know exactly what you mean....the recovery co. which came out when I achieved Bongo engine armegeddon were going to use one of those until I told them the error of their ways.
I'll have a chat with an RAC mate who will know if it'll lift the front high enough to achieve the required height at the back.
Cheers....Rob
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:29 pm
by Pete & Sue
Blimey Kirstie, you seem to know your way round all them nuts and bolts!!
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:40 pm
by boyfrombrasil
does that answer your question
Yes!
Blimey Kirstie, you seem to know your way round all them nuts and bolts!!
I'm not interested in if Kirstie knows her way around all them bolts....

Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 2:15 am
by bigdaddycain
Hi robnKathryn, dunno if this will work... Approach your local garage,and see how much they will charge you for hiring a four poster ramp for a sunday? (if they close sunday,it'll be worth their while)
Measure the width of the bongo's engine width at its extremities,then measure the gap between the rails of the ramp that the wheels sit on.
If the gap is wide enough for the engine to clear the gap,you could undo the engine mounts and ancilleries,(after placing a trolley jack below the engine)raise the jack(s) to take the weight of the enginethen very slowly,and very gently,raise the bongo up,taking care to steady the engine on the jack(s) axle stands or whatever.
When the bongo has been sufficiently raised,wheel out the jacks with engine on top
Finish off by Popping a sheep in the empty engine bay to ward off any scallies.
Vanlift
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 12:26 pm
by Vanmanerik
I would imagine that if the engine is duff then getting it to a local garage will be quite difficult. You will also have to transport your new engine there as well if you are replacing the old one but if you are removing your old engine to work on it then you will have to arrange transport home for the van and engine - and by the way, when you come to refit the engine you will have to also arrange transport back to your local garage. I don't think this is on, do you?
What you need is a method of raising the whole vehicle 30 inches in situ - not an easy operation to carry out safely at home. If you do not feel entirely confident you have the necessary tools and experience to do this then leave it to the pros.