Bongo Fury

jack&irene wrote:hello to all, kerb weight given as 1770kg in mazda 1995/2000 hand book and on web sites,assume this is without allowance for a few occupants,fuel,oil etc, as this is not clarified, allthough some manufactures do include these in their specifications.
the gross weight is not given anywhere (mplm) so it is impossible to work out maximum load which can be carried which would of coarse include any future conversion work. also maximum loading to each axle.
all vehicles have a maximum permited laden mass and I have no wish to be caught out,having been pulled over and checked whilst driving a hired motorhome abroad.
any info will be appreciated.

jack&irene white 2wd aft manchester.
joined 15 sept 2009.

Imperial Car Company, where our converted 2wd AFT came from, say that the gross vehicle weight for all Bongos is 2260 Kg, and I have seen that figure used on this forum, but I've no idea where it comes from - it's certainly not indicated on the V5 for ours. I'll email Imperial, and see if I can find out. Cheers.

Had mine on a weighbridge a while back. 2240kg with half a tank of fuel.

mister munkey wrote:Had mine on a weighbridge a while back. 2240kg with half a tank of fuel.

Surely you had more in it than just half a tank?

I have weighed an AFT before and after a conversion and I dont think fully converted it was over 1900kg.
Did your 2240kg include many passengers?

jack&irene wrote:hi ron,not heard any further from you,in the meantime I have been looking at bongo chat and under -vehicle excise duty thu aug 28 2008,2 sticks 2500 diesel bongo manufactured 2000,gives revenue weight 2170 kg gross.so between this and your suggested 2260 kg im geting close.
thanks, jack&irene.

white G L 3 aft, 2500cc diesel,split rear seats,reg.01/01/97.

Sorry jack&irene. Got distracted and overlooked that. Will try to give Imperial a call tomorrow, although I've got a snow run to/from Manchester Airport to do before I'll have time to do so - so it depends on what time I get back. Otherwise, Monday I promise.

Re the 2170 kg, I see that was for a Bongo registered as a "diesel car," so presumably imported and "type" approved under the Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) scheme, rather than as an SVA-exempt (first UK registered as a..) motorcaravan. Anyone know whether VOSA applies 2170 kg universally to SVA'd Bongos, or is it assessed on a case by case basis, as it's a "single vehicle" process? Does the "Revenue weight" (for taxation purposes) in the V5 have the same meaning as a plated "maximum permissible vehicle weight", with roadworthiness and insurance meaning?

As far as I've been able to confirm (by default - no response to BF questions asked), "motorcaravans" not based on EU type approved base vehicles, do not have a VOSA authorised "maximum permissible vehicle weight". If so, I must admit that leaves me a bit uneasy, wondering whether it provides a potential get out for an insurer not wanting to pay out, for instance - and what powers do the police and/or VOSA have in roadside checks, in that case? I have (by email) actually asked Imperial about this in the past but didn't get an answer - it's probably a delicate subject, and we might get the same again but I'll try.

Re inputs here on actual weighbridge results, ours has been on weighbridges three times:

1. Fully converted but no gas cylinder, hook up cable, porta potti, spare wheel, or any camping equipment Full petrol and LPG tanks: 1980 kg

2. Ditto but with everything in, plus space saver spare mounted on rear ladder. Touring clothes, food and people to be added: 2040 kg

3. Ditto but with clothes, food and two people added. Tanks full-ish: 2260 kg (Imperial's specified figure - see http://www.imperialcar.co.uk/bongo_facts)

...and, presumably, if you don't have a "Revenue weight" in your V5, it's a Bongo more than ten years old when UK registered, which I believe also conferred exemption from the SVA process - putting you in the same uncertain state as all us Bongo "motorcaravanners", and regardless of whether or not converted in future? It would probably be unwise to stir up the subject with VOSA, however, but while letting sleeping dogs lie, we need all the facts (or confirmed lack of them) we can get.

madmile wrote:

mister munkey wrote:Had mine on a weighbridge a while back. 2240kg with half a tank of fuel.

Surely you had more in it than just half a tank?

I have weighed an AFT before and after a conversion and I dont think fully converted it was over 1900kg.
Did your 2240kg include many passengers?

Just MM and the 5 (not 7) guys from 'Fat Club', who he was kindly bringing home from Mrs Miggins Pie Shop.

madmile wrote:

mister munkey wrote:Had mine on a weighbridge a while back. 2240kg with half a tank of fuel.

Surely you had more in it than just half a tank?

I have weighed an AFT before and after a conversion and I dont think fully converted it was over 1900kg.
Did your 2240kg include many passengers?

Sorry Ed, typo there. Should read 2140.

Mine's a 6 seater though, I have one back seat removed & an old corner conversion unit in its place.

Ron Miel wrote:

jack&irene wrote:hi ron,not heard any further from you,in the meantime I have been looking at bongo chat and under -vehicle excise duty thu aug 28 2008,2 sticks 2500 diesel bongo manufactured 2000,gives revenue weight 2170 kg gross.so between this and your suggested 2260 kg im geting close.
thanks, jack&irene.

white G L 3 aft, 2500cc diesel,split rear seats,reg.01/01/97.

Sorry jack&irene. Got distracted and overlooked that. Will try to give Imperial a call tomorrow, although I've got a snow run to/from Manchester Airport to do before I'll have time to do so - so it depends on what time I get back. Otherwise, Monday I promise.

Re the 2170 kg, I see that was for a Bongo registered as a "diesel car," so presumably imported and "type" approved under the Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) scheme, rather than as an SVA-exempt (first UK registered as a..) motorcaravan. Anyone know whether VOSA applies 2170 kg universally to SVA'd Bongos, or is it assessed on a case by case basis, as it's a "single vehicle" process? Does the "Revenue weight" (for taxation purposes) in the V5 have the same meaning as a plated "maximum permissible vehicle weight", with roadworthiness and insurance meaning?

As far as I've been able to confirm (by default - no response to BF questions asked), "motorcaravans" not based on EU type approved base vehicles, do not have a VOSA authorised "maximum permissible vehicle weight". If so, I must admit that leaves me a bit uneasy, wondering whether it provides a potential get out for an insurer not wanting to pay out, for instance - and what powers do the police and/or VOSA have in roadside checks, in that case? I have (by email) actually asked Imperial about this in the past but didn't get an answer - it's probably a delicate subject, and we might get the same again but I'll try.

Re inputs here on actual weighbridge results, ours has been on weighbridges three times:

1. Fully converted but no gas cylinder, hook up cable, porta potti, spare wheel, or any camping equipment Full petrol and LPG tanks: 1980 kg

2. Ditto but with everything in, plus space saver spare mounted on rear ladder. Touring clothes, food and people to be added: 2040 kg

3. Ditto but with clothes, food and two people added. Tanks full-ish: 2260 kg (Imperial's specified figure - see http://www.imperialcar.co.uk/bongo_facts)

Spoke to Martyn Gough at Imperial yesterday, and I was quite wrong, it's not a delicate subject for them, at all.

The "Gross Vehicle Weight 2260 kg" used by Imperial at http://www.imperialcar.co.uk/bongo_facts, and in their brochures, was taken direct from original Japanese language Mazda brochure specs for the AFT diesel Bongo Friendee. They don't know if that was varied for petrol and/or new shape Bongos but I agree with them that it's pretty safe to insist to insurers, VOSA, police, or other authorities that 2260 kg was the Mazda designed gross vehicle weight for a Bongo Friendee. If SVA'd Bongos, with a V5 "revenue weight" of 2170 kg, wanted to try for a higher plated permissible gross weight, I would have thought that should be possible - and either a local Mazda dealer might be able to get supporting confirmation, or a letter or email direct to Mazda Customer Relations in Hiroshima would do so.

Hello jack&irene

Interesting, although none of those figures correspond exactly with the figure Imperial say they sourced directly from published Mazda data.

May we know your sources for the information, and if not from Mazda and/or a regulatory authority (e.g., actually from a dealer, as in my case, or a.n.o. third party), what authoritative end-source did they say they used - e.g., Mazda and/or a regulatory authority?

Thanks/cheers

David (aka Ron)