Views on mid conversions

[Joe_anne123]

I've had my unconverted Bongo for a few weeks and have been pondering on different conversion options. One thing I really like about it as an MPV is the comfy rear seat, perfect for reading with your feet up! I would miss this if I went for a side or rear conversion. What do people think about mid conversions? And yes I know I could leave it as an MPV, and in the end I might do this... but I'd really like to know the pros and cons of a mid conversion!

[sotal]

We have the mid conversion and love it.

It does restrict room a bit, so less room for 2 to put their feet up from the back!

We have the Southern Bongos mid conversion - you can see pictures of it on their website.

It suits us perfectly. We have 2 children and a dog.

I reckon we could get away without the conversion as we use the awning more than anything and we have a foldup camping kitchen that we use in the awning. The only thing we would lose is the cupboard space, the sink and the ability to be cooking a few extra bits inside whilst cooking outside.

However we do use the conversion when we use it more as a day van. We can wash our hands when out and about, we can boil a quick kettle of water etc.

Also by having the mid layout, it gives a perfect area for the dog to lie in whilst travelling.

[flarts]

I've had my unconverted Bongo for a few weeks and have been pondering on different conversion options. One thing I really like about it as an MPV is the comfy rear seat, perfect for reading with your feet up! I would miss this if I went for a side or rear conversion. What do people think about mid conversions? And yes I know I could leave it as an MPV, and in the end I might do this... but I'd really like to know the pros and cons of a mid conversion!

Our Bongo is currently unconverted and we're shortly going for a mid conversion (thanks again sotal for all you advice!).

I'm with you 100% with you regarding the rear seat. We went to great trouble to buy a nice clean example and it therefore seems mad we should cover it all up or rip bits of it out. I think it's very much down to personal preference and there are certainly excellent reasons for full conversions and indeed leaving it as is. Personally I think the side conversion is the perfect compromise between keeping the Bongo's original brilliance and diversity whilst just giving that extra bit of storage and in-van convenience. I want to keep as much Bongo-ness as possibly but still pop the kettle on whenever I feel like it.

The biggest thing we've noticed when looking at mid conversions is how the bed issue is resolved if you keep the original rear bench and therefore can't rock and indeed roll...
1 - A pop up frame you can keep in the boot makes up half the bed (Southern Bongos)
2 - A new rear-facing mid-bench that folds flat to reach the rear bench (Clearcut Conversions)
3 - Sleep in the pop-pop, gaze at the stars and don't worry about

There's just my wife and I (and the dog) and our plan is #3. We're therefore (probably) going for the Southern Bongo conversion as we don't really need the bed... but it's there on standby just in case we do. I like Clearcut's family van A LOT but we want to keep the side door entry clear as the dog is a mildly cretinous.

[Joe_anne123]

Thanks sotal and flarts. It's interesting to read your thoughts on mid conversions. I agree about keeping the bongoness, and I'm not so keen on the look of rock and roll beds. Both the Southern bongos and Clear cut conversions look good.

How do you climb into the roof space without the centre bench?

[BigPanzer]

Hi,

I've got a mid conversion in Bongy and it suits our needs very well. Its a prototype of one I'm going to build properly at some stage and its getting scruffy now.
Its an L shaped removeable pod containing sink/drainer behind the seat together with 10 litres water, space for removable 20 something litre thermostatically controlled coolbox, pump and tap. This extends towards the sliding door as far as the back of the passenger seat so it can be reclined. Draining board on right side.
Next to the draining board (under the window) is a double burner and grill (I like my bacon grilled) with a gas cupboard and small storage space.
I was lucky enough to find a variable height table at a boot sale. It works like an old deckchair ratchet and was probably made for a T2 or something. It can be set to either table height or low height so I can make up a bed with a bit of foam on top of it with either the front passenger seat or the rear bench (actually its the middle, split back bench). There is also the option of sleeping in the AFT. To get up there I stand on the edge of the sink.
The 2 arms of the pod are separate and each is fixed to the floor with a pair of T-bolts in to the floor rails. Either or both can be fitted and they are held together by a single handwheel type bolt. It takes about 2 minutes to separate them, undo the nuts holding them to the floor, the multipole power connector, sink drain and gas dropout (all very easy) and one person can remove the 2 halves separately very easily. I can move it complete on my own, but its quite a bulky unit.

We use it as a day van for 2 people and 2 dogs. Its also been used quite a lot for just me and a dog and a few "boys toys" for long weekends.

Disadvantages are - access to the rear aircon controls is difficult
Difficult to access the drivers side of the engine, but can prop the seat up with a stick or slide pod to rear.
Big unit for whats in it, but I wanted the draining board and grille.
For 3 people in the back the seat needs to be towards the rear, loss of luggage space.
With the seat forward it will only seat 2 because the cooker/gas locker is in the way. It also means an L shaped bed using the back seat & table or a single with front seat/table.

Sorry I've gone on so long, a pic would have helped, but I never took any of it.
When I'm sure I've got it right I will, as I said, build it properly with one or 2 minor alterations.

Peter

[flarts]

How do you climb into the roof space without the centre bench?

Aha... yes indeed there's the sticky wicket.
We intend to use a storage box stool or fold away step stool coupled with a bit of help from the the kitchen unit for a bit of balance once fitted. This is all untested away from the driveway so we're going to have a weekend away and see how we get on in situ before we get the conversion done just in case it's not as easy as we think. But I've tried it on the drive with a couple of movable "launch-pads" and it seems easy enough.

The alternative is to move the hatch or get a roof hatch conversion done (see http://clearcutconversions.co.uk/produc ... terations/ for example).
Again though, I love the little hatch and altering it is another step away from originality.

Let us know what you decide or who you go with. As a side-conversionist-in-waiting I'm absorbing as much info as I can.

Disadvantages are - access to the rear aircon controls is difficult

Yeah... there is that.

Interesting sounding conversion you have there BigPanzer, I'll be interested to see the finished article

[Diplomat]

I think you have to weigh up which is more important, having a versatile vehicle or carrying a kitchen around everywhere you go.

My kitchen only gets carried when I'm going camping and it all fits into a rectangular washing up bowl and a similar sized cardboard box. I don't do any cooking in the van which requires more than the provision of boiling water. On day trips the water gets boiled at home and comes with us in flasks. On the rare occasions when I carry a fridge, that sits immediately behind the passenger seat, ready to go into the awning if we are on a campsite.

I may have been spoilt by having the useable space of a VW type 25 as a benchmark but I don't find that the Bongo has quite the right volume or layout for wasting valuable space on fitted units.


Frank

[Joe_anne123]

Mmmmh, there is certainly a lot to consider before taking the conversion plunge. I'm camping this weekend in the bongo with a utility tent alongside to cook in. So I will have time to ponder further on the various merits of conversion vs MPV. Thanks for all your comments as it's given me plenty of food for thought.

[mikeonb4c]

I think you have to weigh up which is more important, having a versatile vehicle or carrying a kitchen around everywhere you go.

My kitchen only gets carried when I'm going camping and it all fits into a rectangular washing up bowl and a similar sized cardboard box. I don't do any cooking in the van which requires more than the provision of boiling water. On day trips the water gets boiled at home and comes with us in flasks. On the rare occasions when I carry a fridge, that sits immediately behind the passenger seat, ready to go into the awning if we are on a campsite.

I may have been spoilt by having the useable space of a VW type 25 as a benchmark but I don't find that the Bongo has quite the right volume or layout for wasting valuable space on fitted units.


Frank

I'm with Frank on this. Having happily ferried 7 adults around to a wedding and reception, I'm so glad I kept the Bongo versatile (and for those who don't know, I moved house and furniture using it in van mode a couple of years back) . The Bongo's relatively small length and width make it better than a VW when it comes to going down narrow country lanes etc too (albeit less stable when heavily loaded). And me, my kids, and now my partner I camp very happily in it using a removable tailgate unit and a quick erect Khyam Motordome side awning. I think an option that could be explored more is the swing out rear kitchen concept. Coupled with a throw-over tailgate awning you could retain versatility, a proper double bed, and have the effective enclosed space of a Toyata Hiace type vehicle. Properly designed, it should only take a minute to deploy, and it could be made easily removable.

Having said all that, if I was single, or a couple prepared to sleep one up one down, then a decent side conversion could tempt me

[flarts]

I think an option that could be explored more is the swing out rear kitchen concept. Coupled with a throw-over tailgate awning you could retain versatility, a proper double bed, and have the effective enclosed space of a Toyata Hiace type vehicle. Properly designed, it should only take a minute to deploy, and it could be made easily removable.

Yes I've pondered that idea... in fair weather you don't even need a rear awning.
Strikes me an underseat kitchen-in-a-drawer could be fitted than comes out backwards, 2 legs swing down et voila, one kitchen unit under the shade of the tailgate or rear awning. Has anyone seen that done or was it just a dream I had? In fact in adverse weather, you could open it inside too to bang the kettle on at a push.

Having said all that, if I was single, or a couple prepared to sleep one up one down, then a decent side conversion could tempt me

Yeah I think a lot of it comes down to who you've got on board. REALLY I'm quite keen to leave our Bongo as it is BUT our dog is quite large which means one bench is pushed right back or forward to accommodate him thereby making it unusable as a seat so it basically becomes a chunky shelf. So it makes sense to lose the mid bench as it's in the way more often than not and therefore a mid conversion then makes sense. Unless I have another brainwave before I take the plunge of course

[flarts]

Strikes me an underseat kitchen-in-a-drawer could be fitted than comes out backwards, 2 legs swing down et voila, one kitchen unit under the shade of the tailgate or rear awning.

Yeah... this sort of thing... http://celticmotorhomes.co.uk/?page_id=44

[mikeonb4c]

Strikes me an underseat kitchen-in-a-drawer could be fitted than comes out backwards, 2 legs swing down et voila, one kitchen unit under the shade of the tailgate or rear awning.

Yeah... this sort of thing... http://celticmotorhomes.co.uk/?page_id=44

You're quite right. Being honest my mind too has drifted to the idea of just using fold out legs. But whatever approach is used I think it needs to be able to be positioned to one side when in use so that there is easy step-up access to the bed. My Bongo has a towball mounted rear step fitted for that, but a folding footstool might be another way.

I did email Ed at Celtic Motorhomes about this years ago but never got a reply. Suspect he's just too flat out fitting conversions!

[helen&tony]

Hi
It really does depend on how you go camping...If you use the Bongo as a Day Van...which is what it is, then a conversion is good and with anything decreasing the overall width of the bed, it becomes a "one up one down" sleeper, and fine for a weekend or a one night stay. The JAL conversion with the 47 inch bed breaks that rule, but for long camping trips, then the awning on the side is great...which is what we do....I sleep in the awning with one dog, and "Him Indoors" sleeps on the downstairs bed with 2 dogs.
We always found in our Type 2 that whilst we fully converted it, we always cooked outside anyway...even with our caravan we cooked outside, so we don't have any conversion in the Bongo...FAR too useful as a load lugger and shopping wagon / dog carrier. 12 years of ownership have tempted me occasionally to get a rear conversion, but then I just don't see the practicality in filling the vehicle with unnecessary weight and carrying it everywhere....besides, it would reduce the volume of shopping we could get in on the monthly "vittles" run
Cheers
Helen

[mikeonb4c]

Hi
It really does depend on how you go camping...If you use the Bongo as a Day Van...which is what it is, then a conversion is good and with anything decreasing the overall width of the bed, it becomes a "one up one down" sleeper, and fine for a weekend or a one night stay. The JAL conversion with the 47 inch bed breaks that rule, but for long camping trips, then the awning on the side is great...which is what we do....I sleep in the awning with one dog, and "Him Indoors" sleeps on the downstairs bed with 2 dogs.
We always found in our Type 2 that whilst we fully converted it, we always cooked outside anyway...even with our caravan we cooked outside, so we don't have any conversion in the Bongo...FAR too useful as a load lugger and shopping wagon / dog carrier. 12 years of ownership have tempted me occasionally to get a rear conversion, but then I just don't see the practicality in filling the vehicle with unnecessary weight and carrying it everywhere....besides, it would reduce the volume of shopping we could get in on the monthly "vittles" run
Cheers
Helen

Guilty as charged m'lady. You're quite right but I just love knowing I've got all the stuff on board that I need should I decide to impulse camp. I've ever done that in 9 years but I still love knowing I can. And there have been occasions when it has proved handy on day trips. It does at least save loading, unloading and checklisting things every time. I suppose those with side conversions may also make the point that conversion and contents may still weigh less than the heavy bench seats that got discarded as part of the conversion process. I agree about cooking outside - never much fancied doing it inside in case of lingering smells. Also, unless a top-loading fridge is used (and for some reason they generally are not) there's the irritation (in designs I've seen) of a fridge that can't be used once the bed has been deployed.

[flarts]

we always cooked outside anyway...even with our caravan we cooked outside

I'm starting to realise that this is a very recurring theme... even when you've got a conversion, lots of people cook outside anyway... and why wouldn't you! I have a friend who's just bought a sparkly T5 with full conversion and they love it. But they mostly cook outside, use the sink as somewhere to stand dirty mugs and even use an electric kettle to make the tea rather than the gas stove.

I think the premise of being totally self contained in the Bongo, door shut on a rainy day, is at the forefront of my mind but it may be a romantic thought rather than what we REALLY want which would be sitting in the sun with all the doors and windows wide open, drinking a cold beer standing over a BBQ.

I'm going to make a decision and hold off on any conversion (I'll change my kind by this afternoon) until we've got a few trips under our belt to see if we do need it or not... as long as I can get my fussy dog in and out without too much hassle

I agree about cooking outside - never much fancied doing it inside in case of lingering smells

Yep that too.

One question to the unconverted, have you had a zig unit put in and if so where does it go?
A leisure battery is easy obviously but it would be better to have it charging away on site I would think via hookup?
(sorry I'm straying off topic slightly but it's sort of a natural progression from the original inquiry)