I'm still looking for a Bongo, and am swaying more to a plain 8 seater with aft.
I'd like one where I can keep a 3 seat row - and have as far back as possible. So original seats with 3 point belts. If the Bongo comes with flip up seats can the middle row be pushed back all the way and use the belts at the back? Or do I need to look for one that doesn't have flip seats? Or I guess I could just keep the flip seats and lose the main bench? Is the main bench any better than the flips?
I'm planning to make a kitchen unit that is a bit different to the ones I've seen and could do with a few measurements to see if what I am planning is possible.
Is there any chance anyone would be able to take a few simple measurements? I could do with the following.
When the seats are folded into bed mode - roughly how high is the bed off the ground? (Ie to the sleeping surface from the floor - with no extra mattress/padding)
With front side conversions - how high is your worktop?
How much space is there behind the rear seats when they are pushed all the way back?
Thanks
Looking further into the conversion - need some measurements
Moderator: Doone
Re: Looking further into the conversion - need some measurem
sotal wrote:If the Bongo comes with flip up seats can the middle row be pushed back all the way and use the belts at the back? No, the flip-seat mountings protrude up from the wheelarches inside and would stop the seat moving back. Also, the rails in the floor are short on the flip-seat models. You can fit long rails, cut off the mountings and replace or patch the side trims - probably not worth it.
Or do I need to look for one that doesn't have flip seats? Yes, if you want to slide all the way back
Or I guess I could just keep the flip seats and lose the main bench? You could.
Is the main bench any better than the flips? Debatable. Flips are versatile, as you can flip one for space and sit on the other.
When the seats are folded into bed mode - roughly how high is the bed off the ground? (Ie to the sleeping surface from the floor - with no extra mattress/padding) Approx. 14" from the floor to the upper surface of the seat
With front side conversions - how high is your worktop? I have a side conversion. 660mm floor to worktop
How much space is there behind the rear seats when they are pushed all the way back? Not much. There is a safety bar in the rail to stop you pushing the seat too far back with the backrest up, as it would hit the window. If you flip the back forward, and remove the safety bar, you can slide the seat back to touch the door. In 'normal' use, with the backrest in place and the safety in place, you have about 6" from the seat base to the door.
Thanks
Re: Looking further into the conversion - need some measurem
Depending on how many passengers you ever intend carrying, you may be interested in my layout.
i have full length rails. I have removed the one piece rear bench and use it indoors as a sofa! The runners are still in place but positioned right at the back (with the safety stop removed) so they prevent the remaining bench from sliding back enough to damage the window but allowing an almost perfect fit for sleeping with the backs reclined.
I opted for keeping the middle seats because they are more versatile with their 2/3 split and table top configurability.
Like this, I can have the seats right back most of the time leaving a massive central loading space which can also be used to extend the bed forward over storage boxes. Alternatively, mate the flattened middle seats with the flattened front seats for sleeping, leaving a storage/working space at the rear.
On the rare occasions that I carry rear passengers and want to be able to talk with them, I slide the bench forwards to use the forward set of seat belts. I get a good insurance discount for declaring it as a 5 seater.
I find that the Bongo isn't really big enough to throw away good space on built in furniture and my kitchen is either in a tent alongside or at a superstore en route. Same goes for toilets, although I do have the luxury of separate 'ladies' and 'gents' stowed under the seat!
Frank
i have full length rails. I have removed the one piece rear bench and use it indoors as a sofa! The runners are still in place but positioned right at the back (with the safety stop removed) so they prevent the remaining bench from sliding back enough to damage the window but allowing an almost perfect fit for sleeping with the backs reclined.
I opted for keeping the middle seats because they are more versatile with their 2/3 split and table top configurability.
Like this, I can have the seats right back most of the time leaving a massive central loading space which can also be used to extend the bed forward over storage boxes. Alternatively, mate the flattened middle seats with the flattened front seats for sleeping, leaving a storage/working space at the rear.
On the rare occasions that I carry rear passengers and want to be able to talk with them, I slide the bench forwards to use the forward set of seat belts. I get a good insurance discount for declaring it as a 5 seater.
I find that the Bongo isn't really big enough to throw away good space on built in furniture and my kitchen is either in a tent alongside or at a superstore en route. Same goes for toilets, although I do have the luxury of separate 'ladies' and 'gents' stowed under the seat!
Frank
My schoolmates idolised Biggles, I wanted to be Alcock & Brown
They flew, I took up naturism
They flew, I took up naturism
Re: Looking further into the conversion - need some measurem
Dave_aber - thank you those measurements were perfect.
What I'm planning, if it will work, is a 2 piece kitchen. I'll try and sketch up what I'm think and see if anyone can see any potential issues.
What I'm planning, if it will work, is a 2 piece kitchen. I'll try and sketch up what I'm think and see if anyone can see any potential issues.
Re: Looking further into the conversion - need some measurem
OK - I've done some sketches and from the measurements and dimensions I can find, I *think* I can make it work!
We really want to use original seats in an original position to transport our children. So I'm thinking a rear row which can also fold flat to make part of the bed.
For the kitchen I'm thinking of making a 2 part kitchen. By that I mean so that the top section can lift down so the kitchen forms the front part of the bed. I'm thinking the unit would be approx 925mm x 400mm. The height of each section would need to be between 330 and 350mm - would have to mock it up to find the best size. Not sure if a total height of 700mm would be too high for the worktop. Could go with the lower size and pad with padding when it turns to a bed.
My idea would be that the bottom half would be fixed and would just be cupboards. The top half would sit on top having an anti rattle locker fastener on each end to secure it in place.
The challenges would come from..
The top half would need a sink and hob built in, but would need to be strong enough to become a bed when folded up.
The top half would need to contain a fresh water tank, this is likely to be tight on space. I have seen some campervan ones which should work though. Ideally I could do with have an external waste pipe, I have a plan for this though.
What do you think could the kitchen idea work?
If it could then it would work great for our days out, with a nice 3 seats at the back, a table and the kitchen. Then it could be put into bed mode and would give a full size bed and the pop top bed too. The only storage now would be a bit in the roof as the kids wouldn't need it all - and the front seats. I think we would need an awning to give enough space to be comfortable.
I probably wouldn't bother with fridge - given the short expected times away in it. We have a 12v coolbox which could be used as a portable unit, moved into the awning or onto the drivers seat etc.
Anything I've not thought about?
We really want to use original seats in an original position to transport our children. So I'm thinking a rear row which can also fold flat to make part of the bed.
For the kitchen I'm thinking of making a 2 part kitchen. By that I mean so that the top section can lift down so the kitchen forms the front part of the bed. I'm thinking the unit would be approx 925mm x 400mm. The height of each section would need to be between 330 and 350mm - would have to mock it up to find the best size. Not sure if a total height of 700mm would be too high for the worktop. Could go with the lower size and pad with padding when it turns to a bed.
My idea would be that the bottom half would be fixed and would just be cupboards. The top half would sit on top having an anti rattle locker fastener on each end to secure it in place.
The challenges would come from..
The top half would need a sink and hob built in, but would need to be strong enough to become a bed when folded up.
The top half would need to contain a fresh water tank, this is likely to be tight on space. I have seen some campervan ones which should work though. Ideally I could do with have an external waste pipe, I have a plan for this though.
What do you think could the kitchen idea work?
If it could then it would work great for our days out, with a nice 3 seats at the back, a table and the kitchen. Then it could be put into bed mode and would give a full size bed and the pop top bed too. The only storage now would be a bit in the roof as the kids wouldn't need it all - and the front seats. I think we would need an awning to give enough space to be comfortable.
I probably wouldn't bother with fridge - given the short expected times away in it. We have a 12v coolbox which could be used as a portable unit, moved into the awning or onto the drivers seat etc.
Anything I've not thought about?
Re: Looking further into the conversion - need some measurem
Ingenious. A hint of the folding caravan idea. Gives you a full width bed with benefits of a side conversion.
Moving the top layer around with water, waste connection and gas connection sounds a challenge. Could the top layer use a rise and fall mounting? To make the bed the lower cupboards are slid out and the sink and hob lowered.
+ teasmade for early morning tea
Moving the top layer around with water, waste connection and gas connection sounds a challenge. Could the top layer use a rise and fall mounting? To make the bed the lower cupboards are slid out and the sink and hob lowered.
+ teasmade for early morning tea
Chris with BertieB
'96 White unconverted AFT 2.5L Diesel 4WD
'96 White unconverted AFT 2.5L Diesel 4WD
Re: Looking further into the conversion - need some measurem
Have you seen the Swiss Room Box stuff?
It's not cheap (understatement!), but has some great ideas to 'borrow'...
It's not cheap (understatement!), but has some great ideas to 'borrow'...
Re: Looking further into the conversion - need some measurem
The rise and fall sounds tricky to be honest and may still have the same issue trying to reverse the process - ie you still have to lift the kitchen unit?
For gas I was thinking of using a removable hob with built in gas canister - these are more expensive but I wouldn't need to put vent holes in the floor for the gas bottle and it is lighter to carry around - for the limited amount it would be used I don't think the cost factor for the cartridges would be noticeable. I would leave the hob inside the top half when moving it but as it would all be self contained it shouldn't cause any issues (would have to make sure it was off and cool before moving! Not sure I'd want underbed heating in that way!)
I'm thinking the fresh water would all have to be self contained within the top half. I've seen some interesting shaped tanks which should be ideal. Comparing to caravan use it would only be for washing the dishes and a quick hand wash when needed. I'd just have cold water - hot would have to come from the kettle.
Waste would be more of a challenge, but doable I think. I'm thinking that I'd fix a permanent waste pipe into the bottom half which is fixed in place, this would be routed to outside - may require drilling the floor unless there is an easy way out. That way we could connect it up to a waste butt like you would with a caravan. I would then to make it so the top half mates up to the drain pipe that is fixed in place in the bottom half so when it is put on top the pipe connects together.
For gas I was thinking of using a removable hob with built in gas canister - these are more expensive but I wouldn't need to put vent holes in the floor for the gas bottle and it is lighter to carry around - for the limited amount it would be used I don't think the cost factor for the cartridges would be noticeable. I would leave the hob inside the top half when moving it but as it would all be self contained it shouldn't cause any issues (would have to make sure it was off and cool before moving! Not sure I'd want underbed heating in that way!)
I'm thinking the fresh water would all have to be self contained within the top half. I've seen some interesting shaped tanks which should be ideal. Comparing to caravan use it would only be for washing the dishes and a quick hand wash when needed. I'd just have cold water - hot would have to come from the kettle.
Waste would be more of a challenge, but doable I think. I'm thinking that I'd fix a permanent waste pipe into the bottom half which is fixed in place, this would be routed to outside - may require drilling the floor unless there is an easy way out. That way we could connect it up to a waste butt like you would with a caravan. I would then to make it so the top half mates up to the drain pipe that is fixed in place in the bottom half so when it is put on top the pipe connects together.