Starting life with our Bongo Friendee 2L petrol

Anything non-technical about the Mazda Bongo Friendee van

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bongoDHG
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Starting life with our Bongo Friendee 2L petrol

Post by bongoDHG » Mon Apr 26, 2021 11:11 pm

Having just bought a Bongo Friendee and mindful of limitations of space inside could any member give me a list of what they have found useful essentials for the journey to the cost. We have the clothes, two seats for the beach, towels.......... any tips would be welcome!
We are so green we are struggling to remember things like connecting the water bottle for the cool box, fixing up the table, etc. And where are the lights for the interior - presume they come off the leisure battery? What is the best setting of the heater to drive with - does the green diagram always stay on? Bought a manual on line but it doesn't have some of our questions in it.
Best wishes and thanks.
Dave g
Bob
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Re: Starting life with our Bongo Friendee 2L petrol

Post by Bob » Mon Apr 26, 2021 11:33 pm

Loo roll and food.

First one is obvious, and always take it with you to a campsite toilet. If it's run out it can be a long walk back to Bongy and return to join the queue again.

Food - Even if you plan to eat out have something as back up. Beans, tin of curry, breakfast bars, basically anything to tide you over if the pub's shut, kitchen on fire, chef giving birth. We've had all of those, and more.

Head torch.

After 50+ years of camping we still make our first trip of the season very close to home. That way if we have missed something it's easy to pop back for it, or abandon the trip if it's a real disaster.

Remember most other campers are really friendly and helpful, don't be afraid to ask.

Have a written check list. Invaluable.

Bottle opener, can opener. Keep these in the glove box.

Hope that helps a little.
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g8dhe
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Re: Starting life with our Bongo Friendee 2L petrol

Post by g8dhe » Tue Apr 27, 2021 8:36 am

If you have a coolbox be aware that they are expected to be powered by the alternator not the battery, if its connected to a leisure battery then you will find that it will flatten the battery in a few hours. Not quite sure why you would need to connect a water bottle to a coolbox ?

Make sure that you do have a leisure battery (LB) and that there is a swap loom in place to make use of it. Not all dual battery setups have a leisure battery - cold start versions for Northern Japan have dual starter batteries not a leisure battery!
Geoff
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bongoDHG
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Re: Starting life with our Bongo Friendee 2L petrol

Post by bongoDHG » Wed Apr 28, 2021 10:28 pm

To Bob and Geoff
Many thanks for your replies. Not sure how to reply individually apart from using Private Message.
Re coolbox and leisure battery. I am aware that the leisure battery powers things on board but we haven't got round to really making use of facilities yet as our first trip is on Saturday. I am not sure how the coolbox is connected but we will not try and connect it at the moment and will probably rry and disconnect the gas canister as my wife is concerned about safety. we have bought 2 or 3 torches as we don't know whether the lesirue battery is supposed to power any lights when you are camping.
Best wishes
Dave G
(bongoDHG)
Bob
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Re: Starting life with our Bongo Friendee 2L petrol

Post by Bob » Wed Apr 28, 2021 10:39 pm

A post on here is fine, if you like.

The leisure battery would normally power the internal lights, radio, and blinds, although the blinds can be operated manually with no harm done.

Certainly can't hurt to turn off the gas cylinder overnight, likely a good habit.

It's not possible to say how the cool box is wired as this will have been done by the converter and they all have their own method, but ideally you want to run it when you're driving and switch it off when you park up.

If you can get along to Stourport, or one of the regional Meets I'm sure someone will offer helpful tips. We'll be there. 8)
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