Bongo Fury

hi new to the forum,first forum ever. new to bongoing have '99 new shape 2.5 turbo diesel auto 2wd tin top.have owned it for 6 months now and it is very scary to drive in anything more than a slight breeze, it wanders everywhere apart from straight.have checked underneath nothing is loose wheel nuts are tight,4 new tyres of correct size. is this common? is there anything anyone can suggest to stop the wind effecting it?
have just fitted spring assisters on the rear to see if that would help and it doesn't

Fitting Spring Assisters helps a little, also fresh atf fluid can help (should be changed every two years in any case). Check out the serch facility for previous posts on this subject.

Tony

Hi Bongobenny, welcome to the forum.

Are you getting body roll, or do you think it's vague steering? The former is prob a bit normal on a van - lowering springs will stop a lot of roll, but stiffen up the ride, if it's steering, then you need to be looking for play in the system. Lower profile tyres would prob help as well.

Course, if it's wind that's the problem, you could always move away from the flatlands !

SD

stilldesperate wrote:Course, if it's wind that's the problem, you could always move away from the flatlands !

Or try some windeze...

Non-technical answer. Bongos most definitely do catch the wind. I've got an AFT and hang on like grim death some days just to keep it in a straight line. Mind you, I'm a poor weak girlie and it does get Very Windy here a lot of the time.

Alison01326 wrote:Non-technical answer. Bongos most definitely do catch the wind. I've got an AFT and hang on like grim death some days just to keep it in a straight line. Mind you, I'm a poor weak girlie and it does get Very Windy here a lot of the time.

I think the answer is that they all do it, Alison, but you get used to it over time. They're certainly not as "solid" on the road as a car - wagons coming past on dual carriageways are a bit hairy ... and yes, I DO drive that slow

SD

At least having ridden a motorbike in the dim distant past I probably know where every single gateway is in Cornwall where the wind is suddenly likely to assault me with a full on broadside!!

Back to the original question - take it easy when it's windy, and if you intend to do anything stupid like drive 90 miles when 60mph+ gusts are forecast, remember to pack the ibuprofen for your shoulders when you arrive

They are unstable in the wind - narrow track and high............ auto freetop even worse I presume, never driven a tintop. I've also got a semi hitop Toyota Hiace and it's much more stable than the Bongo, even though its higher!
Inflatable airbags help reduce the sway.................

Hi
On a tall transport, the usual plan in high wind would be to run on Fore, Main, Mizzen and Jigger. and to reef the Spankers, t'Gallants, Royals, Skysails, ans Moonrakers, if she heels a bit.....
Undoubtedly the bongo will waddle in the wind a bit, but, although I haven't located any yet, I should like to fit uprated dampers to mine....it absolutely transformed my Type 2 into a different ride...then again , just a set of replacement dampers will do, as almost all Bongos dampers are past their "sell-by" date.....other than that, you'll just have to learn to live with the van-like characteristics....
Cheers
Helen

If you had an aft you wouldn't know who to cling to when the rain set in... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOvaM4df ... re=related

you get used to it. i find it fun these days

MountainGoat wrote:also fresh atf fluid can help (should be changed every two years in any case)

Can't see how that can effect the vehicle wandering in a breeze?

Not noticed it being a problem on my AFT personally - no more than any other high vehicle. I did take the advice on this forum about running slightly higher tyre pressures & it transformed the way mine drives. My last one was OK at the book pressures so I assume it is the tyres I have on this one. Worth a try though, I fitted new rear shocks to mine to try & sort it before doing the tyres - made no difference.

Search the forum for 'tyre pressures'.

thanks for all comments on my first post, if it's a bongo trait i can learn to live with that, i was concerned it was a problem with mine,and had to ask as im taking it to cornwall on hols soon, iv'e been driving 14'2" high curtainside hgv for 8 years in all weathers but never been blown around like a bongo, apart from that bongo love has definitely hit my family

Hi,

Riding up Ben Nevis on the back of a Camel comes to mind.

mikeonb4c wrote:you get used to it. i find it fun these days

Me too, my Civic just sticks to the road, its just too boring to drive. The Bongo gives me a bit more excitement in life