Bongo Fury

Just got back from a 2000km trip round scotland, had a great time in the Bongo, trips on ferries round the islands etc
One point that wife and I noted while driving is that the Bongo rolls a lot when its windy, so much so the wife doesn't like to drive it at over 55 when its windy. Its a wellhouse conversion so I guess its quite heavy but does that sound normal ? Someone suggested wishbone bushes a while ago but there is no knocking and the tyres appear to be wearing evenly.

cheers.

It's a high-sided brick - it rolls when it's windy, although I can't see it blowing over in our normal windy conditions

Besides the windy conditions, it feels very unstable when turning at any speed over 40.

mayk19 wrote:J wellhouse conversion so I guess its quite heavy but does that sound normal ?

Two things.

The conversion is not that heavy, probably lighter than all the orginal seats and so on.

But although the wind undoubtedly does affect high narrow vehicles, it should never feel unsafe, in my experience.

...but if you've never had a car that feels the wind before (and a lot of modern cars barely do), the Bongo Freetop - with its high side, high of CofG and narrow wheelbase/track - is a new experience when it is windy. Similarly, I never feel I want to start going round bends at excessive speed esp. when fully loaded. But I suspect most of this is due to being unsettled rather than any real risk of overturning (you know, those old clips of Routemaster buses on skid pans etc.).

The Bongos favourite environment is the open road with a light wind and not too many serious bends, when its an absolute pleasure to drive.

yeh...I guess it takes some getting used to, Esp compared to my car wich is a n A3 with sports suspension. Going to take a spin in my mates and see if it feels the same.

mayk19 wrote:yeh...I guess it takes some getting used to, Esp compared to my car wich is a n A3 with sports suspension. Going to take a spin in my mates and see if it feels the same.

It will

I noticed that when I first took delivery of my Bongo it appeared to be suseptable to side winds. In preparation for my holiday in the Western Isle with four adults in the Bongo I had Coil Rite Air Spring Assisters fitted to improve the ride and prevent possible bottoming out. The Bongo ride has now improved and appears to be less suseptable to winds when cruising between 60mph to 70mph on the motorways in all but the strongest winds.

There also appeared to be an improvement in driving on tortuous switchback single roads such as that out to Huisinis on Harris, but it is impossible to get up much speed on such a road. I still have to turn the Bongo to the wind when camping out on wild nights.

I've noticed this too, however, have any of you notice when there is a side wind how the tops of the doors move in and out in the gusts! Now that does freak me out!

If we have so much fun with sidewinds just think how much fun the drivers of of very high sided vans and trucks have.

It will be quite interesting to see how the Bongo handles.

My last 2 vehicles have been a Smart car, and a Suzuki Carry van. Now both of them do suffer from side winds! Even to the point of being prepared as each gap in the hedge appears - I'm sure the bikers amongst us know the feeling.

I find that dropping down to about 50 sorted things out, and I try not to worry too much about it now - I tend to let the vehicle sort itself out, only correcting if the "gust" leaves me pointing off course! But then again, both vehicles are narrow, so I have more road to play with!!

D

If anyone is intrested in fitting an Air Assisted Suspension Kit. I got mine from Marcle Leisure in April and had a local garage fit it for me. They have gone up in price from £130.66 to £146.21 since then.

http://www.marcleleisure.co.uk/store/fi ... p-932.html

Hi Simon

Check your rubber! With good tyres on my van I find the handling really quite good.........and certainly safe. If your van is running on cheap Far Eastern tyres it'll handle like a pig on ice skates.

I'd recommend Continental Vanco's if you can find them in the right sizes.

Also, I find my handling improved after changing the front tyres from 215's to the Mazda recommended 195's.

Rob

good tip Rob, will take a look at them too, may work as part of a nice excuse to get some alloys

That's a good link Mountaingoat,I suppose the air suspension is only possible with standard suspension?

I have noticed a marked improvement with the amount of body roll i encounter since i had lowering springs fitted.

I have also noticed how many of my fillings have dropped out of my teeth too,when i fail to spot a sunken manhole cover

I find the worst combination of unpredictable bongo behaviour occurs when travelling around 70 (ish) on the inside lane of the motorway, (rutted BY HGV's), then a big car overtakes you quickly

The buffeting it causes makes the wheels try to "climb" out of the ruts (245mm width on my tyres)

The bongo is prone to a little pitching on uneven undulating roads too,but not enough to cause concern.

I'd take up your mate's offer of a drive of his bongo Mayk19,it may show something up...or, reassure you that everything is as it should be...