How many does a mazda bongo sleep

Spherical Visions. Keep on Bongoing. We didn't keep it Mark Bongo 2. And Mike famously rigged up a 'pee tube'. Re: best setup for sleeping upstairs Post by Bob » Sat Jun 30, am You'd just need a colour code, say blue for water, red for 'used'.

Although that may not work so well in the dark. Re: best setup for sleeping upstairs Post by Merlot man » Mon Jul 02, pm Hello hills will the cat flap work for a couple of adults , be it short ones I assume yours still hinges on the original location at the rear of the bus?

Thanks Brian. Re: best setup for sleeping upstairs Post by BongoBongo » Mon Jul 02, pm Yes I would get a pee bottle with a screw top, might be safest, you tend to kick containers over up top. It is this steep depreciation which makes used cars in Japan economical enough to be viable for export throughout the world of right hand drive countries.

Japanese radios are designed to receive from 76MHz to 90MHz only and we have very few broadcasts in that range. They give a simple shift in frequencies so the radio will receive 86MHz to MHz. All Japanese speedometers are calibrated in kilometres per hour. It is a legal requirement in the UK for the speed to be shown in miles per hour. We offer a comprehensive range of quality conversion faces these are not stickers that show dual calibration. They match the original colour and finish and illuminate at night.

These plates will of course not change the odometer, that will still record the distance travelled in kilometres. Every aspect of serving imports can be carried out at our Poole depot. From basic speedo plate and band spreader fixing to complete engine rebuilds. If we can't fix it Service schedules can begin here with all belt changes and full services at highly competitive rates.

It already had the interior side conversion we were looking for, the AFT, a rock and roll bed where the back seats pull out to a bed , and it was mechanically sound! We checked the MOT history on this government site and it looked good. With the boy racer markings down the side, I was surprised to meet a sweet-natured retired couple selling it to us, and they had obviously taken care of it.

Aside from the paint work, there were just a few things we wanted to sort. The hydraulics of the AFT creeked a bit, we wanted an underseal added to prevent corrosion, and a coolant alarm. We also wanted to add a bike rack to the back and solar panels on the roof so we can be off grid. There were also a few niggly little things we had looked at by Bongo Spares who also removed the black vinyl markings.

The photos below are what our Mazda Bongo camper conversion looked like when we first bought it. Since then it has had a little cosmetic touch up check out our Bongo renovations here.

The boys sleep in the AFT. We sleep in the main section. The back seats fold out into a bed. For us, this side conversion is best way to sleep in Mazda Bongo, and whilst 6ft huby can stretch out fully, our bed is a little on the narrow side. Alternatively, some people prefer a rear conversion with the cabinets, sink and fridge by the back door. This gives you a wider sleeping area, but less storage space and better for those who are vertically challenged.

I'm still adding to the pick-up, in my spare time If you're passing and would like to see my Mazda Bongo pick up, pop in. I get asked dozens of questions about Bongos. Some only need a short answer, others are complicated and can take hours to reply to! I need to put my customers first, so unfortunately don't have time to answer all questions. There are also several Bongo forums and groups. This is my Facebook Mazda Bongo Group.

In , Steve Widdowson produced animated diagrams of the Mazda Bongo cooling system. It took him two enthusiastic years, from his initial query, to producing the animations! He was assisted by many of us enthusiasts, behind the scenes. Temperature sensors were fitted at various key locations and the data exchanged between us, with many interesting debates. The temperatures before and after the thermostat opens, the change of the coolant flow and the heater circuit, became clear.

I've included his final diagrams here, to share the knowledge. All credit to Steve. The blue shows cold coolant and red is hot. The purple shows the mix of hot and cold coolant. Here's a link to them and his investigation, on Bongo Fury. The Bongo de-gassing tanks is commonly called the expansion or overflow tank. They're usually discoloured, so the coolant level is hard to see.

Unless the tank was leaking, I'd keep my money in my pocket, and work out how to check the level on the discoloured tank. The level should be checked regularly, to monitor for coolant loss. Only open the expansion tank when the engine is cold. If you open it when the engine's hot, the coolant may spray out and could burn you.

I dip my finger in to check the level. If my finger tip touches coolant, I know the level's OK. With a bit of practice you'll get the hang of just how far to reach.

Or use a stick coffee stirrer , marked 2cms from the end - see the picture. Dip the stick in until it touches the bottom of the tank. If it's wet on the the 2cms line, there's enough coolant in the system. It shouldn't be above or below this level. If a top-up is needed, pour the correct coolant into the tank. The cooling system on the Bongo is pressurised. If you put in too much coolant, the excess will be expelled under pressure, when the engine is hot.

If this happens, re-check the coolant level when the engine is cold. If the Bongo engine overheats, the valve on the coolant tank cap opens. It releases pressure and coolant. This is the coolant boiling in the tank, then hissing on hot metal, as it is expelled. Do not change the tank for one from a different vehicle! The design of this 'de-gassing' tank is an important part of the cooling system.

It allows expansion of the coolant, which raises pressure to allow greater heat transfer to occur. It also releases absorbed gasses into the space in the tank, above the coolant. I can check the cooling system on your Bongo, flush the cooling system, replace any parts, fit alarms and kits. I have bled hundreds of Bongo cooling systems over the last 18 years. This coolant hose is old, worn out and ready to burst. There's no firm rule on how long a hose will last.

I've seen them fail after years, depending on the mileage of the Bongo. Some last longer; they've been lucky. Check hoses regularly, get used to what they feel like, so you can recognise when they're failing. Hoses wear from the inside out, so the wear is rarely obvious. As they age, the rubber can become very thin and you will sometimes see blisters on the outside. On this one, the wear is significant and a large portion of the hose has swollen but not cracked or blistered.

When cold, hoses should feel firm, not hard, spongy, or soft. Check for pinholes, surface cracks or abrasion. You may see weeping coolant around clips or stains left by leaks. It's important to know that coolant hoses can fail without obvious warning, so be aware of how old yours are.

If you're changing them yourself, I recommend you always fit good quality replacement hoses. You can buy genuine hoses from a Mazda main dealer. I don't fit silicone hoses as the quality is too variable. Hoses are held in place by compression or jubilee clips. Clips can lose compression, so may need to be changed at the same time. This Bongo Coolant Hose Guide can be downloaded as a factsheet from the links at the bottom of this page. Customers have often asked me to "change all the hoses".

I'm happy to do this. But there are a lot of hoses and changing them all at the same time, is not always affordable. And some may already have been changed, before you owned the Bongo. If you don't want them all changed, it is sensible to change the ones that fail most often. I can also just change just the hose that has failed and advise on the condition of the others. There are also metal pipes in the cooling system. These will rust and leak. They should also be changed as required. Low coolant alarms are available for the Bongo, which can warn of slow coolant leaks.

They are unlikely to save an engine from sudden hose failure, when a lot of coolant is rapidly lost. Get in touch, if you'd like me to change your Bongo coolant hoses or pipes. This provides a sleeping area for two adults. There are 3 different sizes of roof tents. The difference is hard to notice without measuring. And the tent of latest model Bongo is between the two sizes. If repalcing the tent, be sure to order the right size. My guide to removing the roof tent is below and can be downloaded as a factsheet from the bottom of the page.

The roof tent is the raising roof of the Auto Free Top model. Luckily they abbreviated this to AFT model! It's commonly known as the pop-top Bongo. Here are the most common reasons why the roof tent can fail to open.

They're all problems that are easy to fix, DIY. This information is all included in the 'AFT pop-top' downloadable Factsheet, at the bottom of this page.

To raise the roof: Apply the handbrake, the handbrake light illuminates. Press the roof button that's located on the roof, between the driver and passenger seats.

It will bleep as it rises. To lower the roof: There's a double hatch to enter the roof tent. It's sensible to close the large part, before lowering the roof. I find it helps to prevent the fabric from snagging. Press the 'unlock' button that's on the light in the roof. Then press the roof button. It will stop halfway down, so you can check there are no obstructions left in the roof. Press the button again, to full lower it. The rubber seal which surrounds the roof provides a seal between it and the body of the Bongo.

When the roof is rarely raised, the seal can stick to the body. Although eveything else is working, the roof won't raise. Simply run an old bank card or similar between the seal and the body. This will free it up. You can apply a seal lubricant, like that used on a sunroof, to keep it in good condition. If you press the roof switch and it doesn't bleep and the roof doesn't rise, check the handbrake light is on. If it is, then the roof switch could be stuck.

It can stick from lack of use and because dust and grime build up inside it. Flick the roof switch several times, to try to free it up. If this doesn't work, you can remove the switch to clean it. The most difficult bit is getting the switch out. It's held in by a rocker tab on each end. Push the body of the switch forward, insert a small screwdriver at one end, under the roof lining and behind the tab.

Lever it, the switch will come free. Once you have it in your hand, press the two ends and the black switch will pop out of its grey moulding. You then carefully separate the switch itself, by pressing the end tabs and levering. Remove dust and clean with electrical contact cleaner, not WD If you search on YouTube for 'vehicle switch cleaning Bongo' you'll find a video that clearly explains the process.

If you press the roof switch and it does bleep but the roof doesn't rise, the motors could be stuck or have failed. If the handbrake is on, check that the handbrake light is illuminated on the dash. This light completes the electrical circuit; the roof won't operate if it's not lit. If the light isn't lit, lift the centre consul. You'll see the handbrake switch. It has a small spring and a white clip, attached to a cable.

The switch can get clogged with dust. Remove the dust. Wiggle the switch a few times, the light should illuminate and the roof will operate. All the AFT information can all be downloaded in a Factsheet at the bottom of the page. The insect mesh mosquito net in the Bongo roof tent, keeps insects out and provides ventilation.

The holes and rips can be repaired almost invisibly, using clear Tenacious Tape. This is commonly used to repair sails. It's available from boat chandlers or online.

The mesh can also be replaced. Some Bongo owners have managed this, without removing the roof tent. It takes patience! Replacement mosquito net is avaialble online. Measure, cut out the old net, sew in the new. The AFT roof tent can be removed to undertake larger repairs. Two people are needed to move the tent to the ground.

Full instructions on removing the roof tent are in the downloadable Factsheet, at the bottom of this page. To minimise it, increase ventilation by leaving the roof flaps open. Open windows or doors if cooking in the Bongo. If you're sleeping in it, leave a window ajar at night, if safe to do so. If the roof tent is closed while wet, dry it out as soon as possible. When not in use, still raise the roof on warm days and open zips, to dry and air the tent. While it's closed, Bongo owners have found that containers of moisture absorbing granules, changed regularly, can help.

If mould is present, it can be treated. Bongo owners have found success with various products. These incluse clove oil, white vinegar and lemon juice in water and various mould and mildew removers. If using chemicals, they can degrade fabric.

Rinse any chemical cleaners after application and allow to dry thoruoghly. If the Bongo charge light and the sediment light illuminate at the same time, it means that there is a fault with the alternator.

It should be refurbished or replaced. Ensure the new alternator is rated at 90 amps. Some are only 80 amps so may fail sooner than expected.