Bongo Fury

You know how some of us have reverse park sensors. Could this not be adapted to fit to the front of the AFT to let you know that it's blummin close?

Could be a good project for you techie/gadget peeps.

would that mean drilling holes in your freetop

You've Been Bongod wrote:would that mean drilling holes in your freetop

Yep but the roof tent doesn't start right at the front, so you could drill some holes without risking your roof leaking

Don't pound stretcher or someone do a cheap kit to try it out with?

The best bet (without getting over-complicated) Would be to employ some kind of "feeler" i.e, a cut down flexi aerial. Perhaps one attached to the front of the roof gutter, and one at the rear if you ever decided to reverse under a low barrier or whatever.

That way you could simply hear the aerial start to hit before the freetop does.

American pimps used the same method to avoid their Datens getting kirbed on their coup de ville's....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curb_feeler

bigdaddycain wrote:The best bet (without getting over-complicated) Would be to employ some kind of "feeler" i.e, a cut down flexi aerial. Perhaps one attached to the front of the roof gutter, and one at the rear if you ever decided to reverse under a low barrier or whatever.

That way you could simply hear the aerial start to hit before the freetop does.

American pimps used the same method to avoid their Datens getting kirbed on their coup de ville's....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curb_feeler

There are certain areas Bristol that you know when you get to close to the kerb..

A nice lady in a short skirt approaches the car & lets you know..!

The problem with any "field" sensor i.e Ultrasonic or EMF is that you can't control the height of the beam its a lobe that has a significant depth to it and hence its not practical (AFAICS) for measuring height.

My approach has been to put a camera looking forward, and displayed on the the same screen as the rear view camera;

Mounted in the rack gulley a view from ground level ................................................and from above

The Forward view as seen from the camera.............................................................and the normal Rear view.

It works OK, and a lot better since I added a simple lens shield to keep the wind off the lens whilst driving as it tends to fog up due to the extra cooling!
Its also struck me that I could use a couple of laser beams Red (Circle) and Green (cross) that align at the exact height(2.1m), the Red mounted on top of the camera and the Green lower down at the bottom of the AFT so that they only cross at the safe height and about 6 foot in front that way you can clearly see it on the camera at night as well as view the Bar itself during day light on the camera.

What great idea!!! I don't know how a reversing sensor works but I guess it is like an infra beam that bounces back, so why wouldn;t it work on the aft. A beam of some discription that can be seen, would also show where your roof will be in connection to the barriers etc. Like these infra red tape measures. Great idea Chellanady!

Brilliant

Bongonauts? Bongonuts more like

PS - I've come up with a lowtech solution. When the barrier is too low, the alarm gives off a sort of scraping sound. Works every time

not so old wrote:but I guess it is like an infra beam that bounces back, so why wouldn;t it work on the aft.

The beam from an Ultrasonic sensor isn't focused like a laser or Infrared beam is, its this shape - and note the scale of the grid which is 1 foot by 1 foot;

g8dhe wrote:

not so old wrote:but I guess it is like an infra beam that bounces back, so why wouldn;t it work on the aft.

The beam from an Ultrasonic sensor isn't focused like a laser or Infrared beam is, its this shape - and note the scale of the grid which is 1 foot by 1 foot;

So the beam idea wouldn't work then. I am a silly old lady What about an electric aerial type thing that could extend out to see if it touches the obstruction, before trying to go under. A bit far fetched I suppose ?

This is getting sad, people

My wife carries a suitable length of 1 inch x 1 inch timber in the back of the Bongo.
If she finds a low obstruction or a new multi storey car park, she gets out and
tests the height with her metrestick. It has worked reliably for several years, and
doesn't need any electric or any holes drilled in the roof. I think it cost about 60
pence, not excessively expensive, and can be transferred to any other van.

It also has the advantage that if you get caught out in the snow, you can use it
to light a fire, or fight off any scumbags bent on stealing your pride and joy. A truly
remarkable multi-purpose tool that probably has many more uses. ?????

Woah g8dhe ! That's some set-up!