Bongo Help and Words of Wisdom needed

For bongoing parents to discuss issues re: travelling & camping with children.

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a Tiger Bear
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Bongo Help and Words of Wisdom needed

Post by a Tiger Bear » Mon Mar 24, 2014 10:19 am

Hello,

I'm new .. . so if is in the wrong place, apologies.

After years of badgering, I have finally received sign off from the wife to get a camper van - I've always planned to get a bongo. A lot has changed in the last few years, most importantly, we now have a 1 year old running around the place.

A few caveats have been put in place on the purchase, and the one I can't find an easy answer for, is that it must have isofix fittings put in .. . which is where I'm after some advice, as far as I can see my options are:

1) purchase a new rock and roll bed with isofix in place.
2) stick in another single seat somewhere (which can be removed) with isofix fittings.
3) stick with the original seats and get isofix retrofitted/welded - if possible, and if I can find a company to do so . . .

from my googling, the ford isofix kit seems to have been used with some success on other camper vans, but I can't find any examples on a bongo.

Does anyone have isofix in theirs? How and where?

Thanks

J
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dave_aber
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Re: Bingo Help and Words of Wisdom needed

Post by dave_aber » Mon Mar 24, 2014 10:56 am

Some reading Here on the subject.

And here

Having modified the rear seat in my Bongo (cut down to 2/3rds width), this would be an easy kit to add on to the Bongo bench - there's a huge transverse beam in just the right place to weld this kit to.
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a Tiger Bear
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Re: Bingo Help and Words of Wisdom needed

Post by a Tiger Bear » Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:38 am

Cheers.

I have installed the ford isofix kit myself (on a friends focus, our baby seat is isofix only) - and was a simple bolt on job . . . You mention welding it to the bongo seats though, could holes not be drilled in to it? Or am I being overly simplistic?!

J
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dave_aber
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Re: Bingo Help and Words of Wisdom needed

Post by dave_aber » Mon Mar 24, 2014 12:03 pm

You could bolt the kit on - you would probably end up having to weld on brackets to place the mountings in the right position - so would be just as well welding the kit in place.
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been-and-bongo
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Re: Bongo Help and Words of Wisdom needed

Post by been-and-bongo » Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:48 pm

Isofix are only safer as it is almost impossible to fit incorrectly. So a correctly fitted car seat with three point seat belt offers the same protection. I would invest in a decent three point car seat and make sure you know how to fit it correctly.
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a Tiger Bear
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Re: Bongo Help and Words of Wisdom needed

Post by a Tiger Bear » Tue Mar 25, 2014 8:56 pm

been-and-bongo wrote:Isofix are only safer as it is almost impossible to fit incorrectly. So a correctly fitted car seat with three point seat belt offers the same protection. I would invest in a decent three point car seat and make sure you know how to fit it correctly.
All sound and sane advice, but you underestimate the crazy levels of protection the car seat we own offers . . . it's the rolls royce of the car seat world - and one of the only ones to allow them to stay rear-facing until they are about 27 and a half.

It's almost as if we almost had a major smash the day before we went to buy her 2nd stage seat . . .

It's one of the provisos of getting one! So I'm happy to indulge!

J
been-and-bongo
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Re: Bongo Help and Words of Wisdom needed

Post by been-and-bongo » Thu Mar 27, 2014 1:36 pm

Out of interest what do insurers think of diy Isofix is it classed as a modification?
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a Tiger Bear
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Re: Bongo Help and Words of Wisdom needed

Post by a Tiger Bear » Thu Mar 27, 2014 9:51 pm

I don't know . . . will ask . . . after I've bought one of course ;o)

Need to find someone to actually do it as well . . .

J
been-and-bongo
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Re: Bongo Help and Words of Wisdom needed

Post by been-and-bongo » Fri Mar 28, 2014 8:31 am

If you put your county on your profile someone might be able to recommend some where near by.
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