Bongo Fury

Hello all

I've recently fitted an original mazda ladder to the back door with the intention of getting a roofrack but also the possibility of improvising extra storage on the ladders themselves but since I've put the ladder on the door is now rubbing on the 2 bolt heads that hold the catch on the bottom. is this normal? should i worry about straining the hinges and can i load it any more? I presume so because people fir allsorts of bike racks and stuff but I'd just like a bit of reassurance from the experienced massive on here

Sluggy wrote:Hello all

I've recently fitted an original mazda ladder to the back door with the intention of getting a roofrack but also the possibility of improvising extra storage on the ladders themselves but since I've put the ladder on the door is now rubbing on the 2 bolt heads that hold the catch on the bottom. is this normal? should i worry about straining the hinges and can i load it any more? I presume so because people fir allsorts of bike racks and stuff but I'd just like a bit of reassurance from the experienced massive on here

Have had no problems with the Terzo ladder (is that what you mean, or did Mazda make their own), which has been on the back of ours since before delivery - and that included nearly three weeks bouncing around on the worst roads this side of the Congo, in Southern Ireland. We've just got our space saver spare hanging on it, mind you. There are no fit/door close problems.

No problem with mine either!

Tony

Hello Sluggy. I've had problems with mine since I got it and I don't have anything hanging off the back. It seems that I need to loosen, readjust and retighten my hinge bolts every month or so. I'm not sure how to solve this or what is causing the problem. Maybe others have been able so fix this.

Joz wrote:Hello Sluggy. I've had problems with mine since I got it and I don't have anything hanging off the back. It seems that I need to loosen, readjust and retighten my hinge bolts every month or so. I'm not sure how to solve this or what is causing the problem. Maybe others have been able so fix this.

Have you fitted a tow bar at all Joz?

Hi Kirsty,

Just looking back at this post and wondered what the relevance of a towbar being fitted was?

Nick.

Ron Miel wrote:

Sluggy wrote:Hello all
We've just got our space saver spare hanging on it,

Eyup David do you mean you actually use the space saver
You are a brave bloke

Ron....How does the tailgate stay open ??? (uprated struts) ???

Sluggy wrote:Hi Kirsty,

Just looking back at this post and wondered what the relevance of a towbar being fitted was?

Nick.

When I fitted mine, it "pulled in" the floor slightly, causing it to buckle to very slightly, enough to catch on the bottom of the door, I had to put spacer washers in on the ends of the bar so it didn't pull in, problem solved.

try loosening the spare wheel wire slightly,if you wind it up very tight you may distort the floor.

Triple/R wrote:

Ron Miel wrote:

Sluggy wrote:Hello all
We've just got our space saver spare hanging on it,

Eyup David do you mean you actually use the space saver
You are a brave bloke

Eyeup Ray and Christine. No, fortunately never had to use it, although it looked good Long since removed again (and recently consigned it for proper disposal via ATS Tyres) - but at the time, it seemed to be the best of a bad bunch of "solutions". Spare wheel space taken up by toroid LPG tank, and Tyreseal was difficult to get washed out by most garages/tyre factors, so rather than write off punctured tyres that way, I would perhaps have had to very gingerly try the space saver for a mile or three, if the need had arisen.

Since then, several changes:

1.) Have joined Caravan Club's Mayday recovery scheme run by Green Flag, who guarantee to always recover to a garage by low loader - in the UK, anyway.

2.) Discovered that any branch of National Tyres will wash out Tyreseal from repairable tyres - joint promo deal with Tyreseal.

3.) Still don't use after the event Tyreseal though. Have now very successfully used Puncturesafe (Ultraseal derivative) permanent install puncture sealant, and mainly rely on that. At the time I hung the space saver on the back in desperation, I had previously tried Seal-a-Wheel, which had been useless - heavy unbalanced wheel vibrations at 55 mph plus (others have reported the same), and had had to get it washed out. No such problems with Punturesafe - also used by a number of big mixed fleet operators, including Royal Mail. It even runs vibration free straight after long periods with the Bongo unused - which ours has suffered several times while I recovered from surgery recently.

Cheers

David

haydn callow wrote:Ron....How does the tailgate stay open ??? (uprated struts) ???

No Haydn. I improvised a ground support pole, using a B & Q long reach paint roller handle (the telescopic twist and extend type), a rubber locating socket (I already had one in the garage) glued to the tailgate inside lower lip, and an ally sink strainer for wet ground grip. Stored the pole inside the van, immediately below the rear window using 3M self adhesive cable restraints also ex B & Q. No longer need it to keep the door open with a spare fitted but still carry it, as it is useful in windy conditions and to give a feeling of security when al fresco dining under the tailgate, using the rear kitchen access. Posted with pics at the time I did it but can't quickly find it now - if anyone's interested, try a search using "B & Q, handle, pole, telescopic...." Cheers, David

Hi David
Is it hard to lift the door with the spare wheel on it?...i have been considering solutions for a while to get the spare rear-mounted..It makes the rear of the car look a bit more imposing, as we get a lot of tailgaters here!. I had thought of using a landrover Series3 bonnet stay to hold the door up, and a prop for extra safety, but I can't lift much, as my elbows are....er, how shall I put it!!
Cheers
Helen

helen&tony wrote:Hi David
Is it hard to lift the door with the spare wheel on it?...i have been considering solutions for a while to get the spare rear-mounted..It makes the rear of the car look a bit more imposing, as we get a lot of tailgaters here!. I had thought of using a landrover Series3 bonnet stay to hold the door up, and a prop for extra safety, but I can't lift much, as my elbows are....er, how shall I put it!!
Cheers
Helen

Hi Helen. I can do it easily but Di can't. She's an 8 stone weakling, whereas I'm a 15 stone (on a good day) weakling. I think that with buggered (was that the word?) elbows, you might find it tricky although the existing gas struts help, of course - the problem's going to be at the top of the lift when they, and possibly you, run out of puff. Better solution might be "Back off or I'll fart", in Bulgarian. Oh golly gosh, I've lowered the tone again! Cheers, David