Loading capacity of a bongo

[neilrenault]

Hi all,

Anyone know of what the load capacity of the bongo itself is? i want to transport some sand and paving slabs. Assuming I load over the rear axial (2WD) 2.5D, would it cope with 500? 750? 1000kg?

Thanks,
Neil

[g8dhe]

From the Spec's:
WEIGHT
Kerb weight: 2wd: 1770kg / 4wd: 1790kg
Gross weight 2260kg
Axle weights (from Mazda Europe):
Front: 950kg
Rear: 1250kg

[Bob]

Very close to 500 kg/half ton.

Remember the Bongo was never built as a van and has softer suspension for passenger comfort.

I'd also slide the middle seat forward and spread the load evenly over the rear compartment, too much over the rear axle and stearing will be badly affected, it'll ride like a speed boat.

Sand and slabs are known weights so easy to calculate, and remember you could use a trailer if you have a tow bar.

[sotal]

Is that all it is?

Probably got very close (if not past) when I had to pick up some some sand and cement.

IIRC it was 10 bags of sand, 6 bags of cement and 4 bags of ballast. Think they are roughly 25kg per bag - so probably right on 500kg.

We have a mid conversion but that might be lighter than the original bench seat that was in the middle!

I had to put the load in the middle - the rear seat was right at the back and the bags were stacked across the floor.

It rode quite low but handled fine. Wickes is only 3 miles away luckily!

[Bob]

Yep, that's all it is.

As I say, the Bongo was never built as a van but as a people carrier for slightly built Japaneese and normally a family of three generations living together.

ie Parents, children and likely a frail Grandparent or two.

If you plan to move loads approaching 1/2 ton it might pay to pop it on a weighbridge and find the actual empty weight.

DVSA And insurers will take a very dim view of overloading.

If its only 3 miles a second journey might be a good option rather than risk it.

[sotal]

Completely agree, didn't realise it was that low though!

On that particular job - I had a couple of tons of waste - but I use the trailer to get rid of that! That was two loads.

So far that is the only proper work the Bongo has done!

In all seriousness I do think that a converted bongo like ours is likely to be less in weight than the original given the huge weight of the bench seats.

[Bob]

Agree with that, the middle seat is a monster.

[mikeonb4c]

Blimey. I once had 9 adults in mine, for a short distance. Had to avoid potholes and go slow, but we all survived it.

[rita]

As a matter of interest, if carrying 8 people what would the maximum weight of each person need to be to keep within the load capacity upper limit.

[Bob]

Yes.

8 Seats is not permission to carry 8 Sumo Wrestlers.

Gross vehicle weight and axle weights must not be exceded.

As above, Bongy isn't really built for eight bigguns.

[mikeonb4c]

Yes.

8 Seats is not permission to carry 8 Sumo Wrestlers.

Gross vehicle weight and axle weights must not be exceded.

As above, Bongy isn't really built for eight bigguns.

Absolutely Bob. I'm not saying what I did was right, just that I did it. Exploring the envelope and all that

[sotal]

As a matter of interest, if carrying 8 people what would the maximum weight of each person need to be to keep within the load capacity upper limit.

Approx 60kg each (About 9 and a half stone each) - so not 8 big adults!

Average adult male is just over 80kg, female 70kg.

[Bob]

Yes.

8 Seats is not permission to carry 8 Sumo Wrestlers.

Gross vehicle weight and axle weights must not be exceded.

As above, Bongy isn't really built for eight bigguns.

Absolutely Bob. I'm not saying what I did was right, just that I did it. Exploring the envelope and all that

Not pointing the finger or criticising, Mike.

Just answering Rita's question, this has come up before with some peeps swearing that 8 seats means they can carry that many adults regardles of weight.

I'm sure lots of us 'Explore the Envelope', and as good Brits why wouldn't we - there is a school of thought that rules are for Germans.

[mikeonb4c]

No worries Bob I know that. The risk perhaps more than anything is one of instability the more the Bongo is loaded (especially with people, as the resultant centre of mass will be higher than with cement bags laid out on the floor.). So I wouldn't be very happy on the open road, with all its twists and turns.

[Bob]

Good point, Mike.