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Winter Checks
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:26 pm
by Ian
Up here in the grim north, winter can strike at any moment. But there are a number of things that can be done to protect your Bongo (and, indeed, other vehicles) during the dark, icy days. Here's my quick list. Perhaps you'd like to add to it:
1) Check your glow plugs/spark plugs. Once one goes, the others will pop!
2) Consider changing to winter tyres
3) Make sure your coolant is a 50-50 mix of anti freeze & water
4) Change your screen wash
5) Buy some de-icer and an ice scraper
6) If you have a fresh water tank (campervan conversion), drain it out
7) Carry a snow shovel, hessian sacks, ice-grippers for shoes, in back of vehicle
Any more?
Re: Winter Checks
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:38 pm
by munroman
Maybe add good quality Jump leads, a sleeping bag, a torch and high vis/reflective tabard?
Re: Winter Checks
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:47 pm
by Alison01326
In terms of "supplies", all year round I always have a blanket each and an inflatable pillow in case we have a long wait anywhere for the RAC or become stranded for some other reason. And florrie vests. Possibly more important in winter (with the addition of a decent pair of gloves each and a woolly hat each in your emergency kit. If you've got water and the means to heat it - a hot water bottle and a Pot Noodle and/or a pot of instant porridge don't take up much space).
We don't normaly even get Winter here but I like to be prepared
Re: Winter Checks
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:49 pm
by missfixit70
Ian wrote: 5) Buy some de-icer and an ice scraper
Obviously a bongo fury ice scraper would be best
Re: Winter Checks
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:00 pm
by Simon Jones
Bottle of drinking water, in case you get stuck somewhere, but also useful in case of coolant leaks or topping up windscreen washer bottle. Also worth carrying some emergency rations such a cereal bars. In all the snow in 2009 I got stranded in Basingstoke
and had to abandon car to spend night in the office. I wish I'd had a sleeping bag and some warm clothes too so now I have a box of emergency supplies in the car at all times.
Re: Winter Checks
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:01 pm
by daveblueozzie
A full tank of fuel, if you can afford it.
Re: Winter Checks
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:16 pm
by Bob
Where can you get an ice scraper?
Tow rope and wellies or walking boots + thick socks, OS map in case you have to walk, head torch, 12v charger for phone.
Off cuts of old carpet will help get you moving and smell less bad then old sacks.
Also handy if you have to lie on the ground for a repair.
Also if it is forecast bad let someone know where you're going.
Re: Winter Checks
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:17 pm
by The Great Pretender
Ian wrote:Up here in the grim north, winter can strike at any moment. But there are a number of things that can be done to protect your Bongo (and, indeed, other vehicles) during the dark, icy days. Here's my quick list. Perhaps you'd like to add to it:
1) Check your glow plugs/spark plugs. Once one goes, the others will pop!
2) Consider changing to winter tyres
3) Make sure your coolant is a 50-50 mix of anti freeze & water
4) Change your screen wash
5) Buy some de-icer and an ice scraper
6) If you have a fresh water tank (campervan conversion), drain it out
7) Carry a snow shovel, hessian sacks, ice-grippers for shoes, in back of vehicle
Any more?
Bu**er that.
You have convinced me, I'm off to where the sun shines...........
Re: Winter Checks
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:34 pm
by B*Witched Blingo
The Great Pretender wrote:Ian wrote:Up here in the grim north, winter can strike at any moment. But there are a number of things that can be done to protect your Bongo (and, indeed, other vehicles) during the dark, icy days. Here's my quick list. Perhaps you'd like to add to it:
1) Check your glow plugs/spark plugs. Once one goes, the others will pop!
2) Consider changing to winter tyres
3) Make sure your coolant is a 50-50 mix of anti freeze & water
4) Change your screen wash
5) Buy some de-icer and an ice scraper
6) If you have a fresh water tank (campervan conversion), drain it out
7) Carry a snow shovel, hessian sacks, ice-grippers for shoes, in back of vehicle
Any more?
Bu**er that.
You have convinced me, I'm off to where the sun shines...........
Ok found the perfick destination for you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VLYpKGVBUg
Re: Winter Checks
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:05 am
by The Great Pretender
B*Witched Blingo wrote:The Great Pretender wrote:Ian wrote:Up here in the grim north, winter can strike at any moment. But there are a number of things that can be done to protect your Bongo (and, indeed, other vehicles) during the dark, icy days. Here's my quick list. Perhaps you'd like to add to it:
1) Check your glow plugs/spark plugs. Once one goes, the others will pop!
2) Consider changing to winter tyres
3) Make sure your coolant is a 50-50 mix of anti freeze & water
4) Change your screen wash
5) Buy some de-icer and an ice scraper
6) If you have a fresh water tank (campervan conversion), drain it out
7) Carry a snow shovel, hessian sacks, ice-grippers for shoes, in back of vehicle
Any more?
Bu**er that.
You have convinced me, I'm off to where the sun shines...........
Ok found the perfick destination for you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VLYpKGVBUg
..........I'm far to refined for Yorkshire.......... I only serve mushy peas with pan fried salmon drizzled with lemon, balsamic vinegar and cracked black pepper................... 
Re: Winter Checks
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:28 am
by mikeonb4c
In case the stranding becomes a long term thing, I always keep a Christmas pudding and a bottle of single malt in the Bongo. Oh and some de-icer for the pee-tube.
Next....................!
Re: Winter Checks
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 1:00 pm
by Doone
Re: Winter Checks
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:25 pm
by Jezza
Seem like you just need to keep your usual camping gear in the van
Sleeping bags (& pillows)
Cooker & gas
pot'n'pans
Tea, coffee, UHT Milk
Water
tinned food
chamber pot (or nearest 21st century equivalent)
and make the most of it if you get stuck in the snow
Re: Winter Checks
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:04 pm
by Alison01326
Bob wrote:Where can you get an ice scraper?
I believe the Bongo shop sells them, Bob! It might be worth enquiring of Ian. They appear to be specifically for the Bongo, and I would imagine that your insurance could be invalidated if you were to clear ice with a non-Bongo ice scraper.
If the Bongo shop has run out of ice scrapers, they also sell teddy bears which could be a suitable alternative for clearing the windscreen of snow and rain, but not ice.
Re: Winter Checks
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:34 pm
by missfixit70
Alison01326 wrote:Bob wrote:Where can you get an ice scraper?
I believe the Bongo shop sells them, Bob! It might be worth enquiring of Ian. They appear to be specifically for the Bongo, and I would imagine that your insurance could be invalidated if you were to clear ice with a non-Bongo ice scraper.
If the Bongo shop has run out of ice scrapers, they also sell teddy bears which could be a suitable alternative for clearing the windscreen of snow and rain, but not ice.
If a Bongo Fury spot check were to be carried out & the member found not to be in possesion of a functioning official Bongo Fury Ice scraper, I believe the penalties can be quite severe
