Bongo Fury

Hi Folks, I am a Bongo newby, planning to buy a conversion from JAL. Does anyone have any experience of their larger bed and mushroom roof conversions? There looks to be very limited cupboard space with the larger bed option and I can't decide whether it is worth their several month waiting list for this. Also are the 'mushroom' beds much bigger than normal lift-ups? Any down-sides? Thanks!

The bongo quality is usually worth the wait from JAL. A good basic vehicle is worth it's weight in gold.

The mushroom roof (not bed!) is very heaving to lift and you need a long pole to pull it down again. If you're a strapping young man no doubt you'll have no problems, but if you're a solo female of the shorter variety (like me) then the mushroom roof is a big no-no. I've got the skylift roof and can manage that on my own, albeit sometimes a bit awkward if the bolt won't go through the hole in the post immediately. I've got a telescopic ladder just in case but I'm finding I don't need it as much as before.

You may want to consider the Skyline roof as an option, but Phil will try to persuade you otherwise. The Skyline roof is much lighter to lift and lower, I believe. Can recommend Den at New Dawn Conversions who does conversions and can fit these to a tintop.

Note: telescopic ladder makes cleaning the roof very easy!

Cupboard space with a wide bed - can't comment.

Better to consider your conversion/roof options carefully to ensure you get the best layout for you and your family.

Since the Bongoing season is getting into full swing do try and get along to one or two Meets and chat to owners.

Peeps will happily tell you good and bad about their particular set up and no sales pitch.

Do bear in mind that peeps often go out for the day so before 10.00 or after 16.00 are good times.

And welcome to BF.

I have a JAL mushroom with wide bed.

Roof ... if you do go for one then make sure you ask for ventilation flaps/mesh to be installed each end as it gets very stuffy in there.

Wide bed ... yes not much storage space but I went for a good nights sleep rather than storage.

JoeC wrote:Roof ... if you do go for one then make sure you ask for ventilation flaps/mesh to be installed each end as it gets very stuffy in there.

I asked Phil to fit mesh so the roof could be ventilated and he was reluctant to do this. In the end I went for the standard (closed in). Phil instals a mushroom vent at the rear end of the roof* but I have had installed two more of these at the highest point of the roof. These work well and you can always stuff sponge in if it gets too cold in the winter (I haven't yet).

*Phil said this was not for ventilation but to allow the air to escape when the roof was being pulled down. As the air escapes into the bongo when you pull the roof down I couldn't see the logic but hey ho!

Good to know that Phil still visits the site now and then

Oh yes, not everyone knows that.

Thanks all! Mind boggling options. I'm off to see an AFT that was originally converted by Southern Bongos. I'll see how it compares

Welcome mango_bongo. Good name choice. My daughter named ours Mango Bongo as soon as she saw it..... going on 11 years ago. She's a fully grown young lady now, the Bongo is still hale & hearty, and I'm retired. How time flies!

Thank you! It was my ebay name years before I even knew Bongos existed. Divine inspiration I reckon