Overnight in Vintage Japanese Imported Van (Mazda Bongo Micro Camper)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- #Mazdabongo #microcamper #stealthcamping
Join me this week as I take you on my first-ever camping adventure in this 1995 Mazda Bongo, a Japanese imported micro camper van. In this video we take a look at this tiny little camper and share my experience with you, from setting up camp to attempting to cook. I'll also give you a full tour of the van and take you through every step of the journey in this cozy little van. If you're looking at getting yourself a Mazda Bongo then this video is a must watch!
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Will & Ben. You are 'on fire'! This series is utterly fantastic in every sense. Funny as! And oddly inspiring! Together you are producing great content. Said it before, there is a TV series here for sure. Excellent. Thank you guys. And Megan & Jake for the amazing Mazda!
You're very welcome it was our pleasure 😊
Thanks very much!!
Why on earth would this want to be a TV series? it's perfect as a TH-cam Channel. Who watches TV nowadays anyway?
@@WillsWhereaboutshere in America our version of that kind of van is a VW Westfalia
Mate your video editing and presenting skills are pro! You are officially my Sunday night viewing.
Thanks very much!
Thanks Will, you've now made me feel really old, I'd served 8 years in the British Army by the time you were born, and was on my second tour of Northern Ireland
Thank you for your service ✊
And written ‘Heart of Gold’ that’s amazing
The secret to living well in a small van is two-fold. Ensure the van has a fridge; pre-prepare your meals, store in fridge and heat with a steamer. Or, only cook with a steamer
Yes! Loved our Mazda Bongo for three summers. Even though we now have a long wheel base T6, I still point out Bongos on the road. They have a truly deserved cult following ❤
The best video yet in this series although I’m biased as I own a Bongo which we love. Perfect weekend van, and our awning makes it even better when we’re away longer.
Window blinds and flare are awesome extras :) looking forward to seeing what you try next.
Will & Ben wow I do love you Will your enthusiasm is infectious love you mate
Reminds me of what the original vw campers were like in the 70s. Great vlog and review. Best wishes
As a suggestion in my family’s van it’s very very similar to that van but on the back door we have a table we can take out and clip it to the counter so it’s a table when sitting down my mum uses this to cook on so she can sit down and chop on the table then get up and cook on the cooker
Will you should be sectioned if the bloopers are anything to go by.
So glad that now you appear to have your mojo back. Loving this series 😂😂😂
Haha!
see the rail beneath the cooker, there should be a fold-out table that 'locks' onto the rail there, that would of given you a little more space to work your ingredients/prep space, its small, but its suprisingly useful. Maybe on the side-conversions that table isnt there, but seeing the rail makes me think its probably hidden away somewhere in the bongo. I use mine, but its a rear end conversion. Also when your lowering the roof there is a delay/pause when it comes down, you'll see at 14:43 the lining is caught in the push-roof, its better for the longivity of the green to check around the bongo and push that in nicely to stop it tearing/being damaged :) Great video and enjoyed seeing a bongo being well used.
Great series guys, this Mazda Bongo type I have looked at it for a couple of years, thanks for the review, most people I have spoken to who own one of these speak highly of them for certain aspects and most of them have a build quality that outdoes other small vans but they serve a purpose as you say for short trips take care.
I've almost finished converting a Bongo on a very low budget. Two back rows of seats removed, wooden single bed frame re-built from an old one that's been in my shed for 15 years, I made a kitchen unit from a little hall shoe cabinet, (removable to make space for a single airbed if grandkids want to accompany me and my 2 little dogs), under-bed storage, and a drive-away awning, electric hook-up, lots of solar powerpacks for charging and a puppy-cave for the dogs. I'm disabled, so its been a case of 10 minutes work, 30 minutes recovery time, another 10 minutes, Etc.
This looks just like my bongo! I've got the 2.5 diesel 4x4 and it's taken me all over Scotland in the middle of winter. Up Applecross in the snow just before they were closing it, no problem. It's also great down in Cornwall around small lanes and villages as it's so slim.
What’s the mpg like Dave?
@Coops1964 high 20s, low 30s depending on type of roads. It's not my daily and for an old 4x4 not too bad. A VW does better but the price premium means you would need to do a hell of a lot more miles to even break even. A lot of people also run diesel bongos on veg oil mixes without mods.
We had a Bongo for many years. As a family of 4 it was a fantastic vehicle. Packed with so many clever features, it really was the motor for all situations.
Love this video! It's great to see you taking older vehicles to test them out. Just shows you don't need to spend loads of money to get away on a adventure. Thanks for doing this
The Mazda Bongo Friendee was also sold as a Ford Freda here in Japan. This period in the 1990s saw a camping boom here in Japan and the launch of several leisure vehicles by major manufacturers. Honda sold the Odyssey which also had a pop-top roof as well as the Honda Fancy caravan (made by Yokohama Motor Sales). Subaru sold the Domingo Aladdin (made by Field Life in Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture). One reason for this boom and its demise was that in the 1990s you could have your vehicle registered as an '88' number classification by simply putting in a bed and sink. This made for cheaper road tax and other financial benefits. The law changed to make it more difficult, but has been recently updated again to make it easier, but not as easy as in the 1990s. This period really saw a boom in motorhomes and caravans, which were very scarce previously and that cemented towing and the leisure vehicle market has generally grown ever since. Now, there is a plethora of leisure vehicles, including camping trailers of all varieties and the boost to trailers was largely down to the jet-ski market. It still is nowhere near being on a par with countries like the UK, but continues to grow. Especially as Japan is currently undergoing another camping boom. In part, because of Covid.
3:23 - Bewdley (Wyre Forest)
Great to see Kidderminster (Tesco) and Trimpley (overnight stop)
Pork Fillet (tenderloin). cut up and tenderise with a rollin pin or something or similar. Season. Fry.
Add-
Mushrooms
Onion
Garlic
Double Cream
Butter
Beef Stock
Loads of cracked pepper.
Serve with Rice and maybe bread n butter.
Very quick tasty meal. Gotta smash up that pork though or can be a tough chew.
Brings back memories of touring around Tohoku and Hokkaido in 2002 in a Mazda Bongo. It was ACE! 😊
Enjoyed it very much.
Do not give up on the foods. Just RELAX & BREEEEAAATHEEE.
We’ve had a Bongo for 10 years. Find it fine for 2 bout wouldn’t want to do 4. Been all over Europe for weeks at a time. 4 wheel drive so has take us up many mountain tracks in Europe. We’ve got double cupboards at the back so loads of storage. You just need to be organised. Plenty of room for a potta potty and we fitted a diesel heater. Has swivel seats and a table to go in the middle, that’s far easier to prep food on that 😃 Never had any mechanical issues other than normal maintenance. We’re converting a Boxer at the no but will be keeping the Bongo cause we love it and it’s perfect for more adventurous trips the Boxer wouldn’t cope with.
Best video so far will , with the different campers etc.much better. Dw bout the food stuff so much
Liking the new serious. Your videos are getting better and better
Bongos are the best, especially for solo camper trips
I have a 2001 Bongo! Love driving it. Rust is the biggest killer.
Obviously being built for Japan, it's narrow, which makes it equally at home in the UK.
I want one, and then fit it out with anime stickers and cushions, etc.
I like your idea of cooking Japanese food in it, as well.
That's a cracking wee van. As you said, it looks a bit tight, but it's got everything you need for a few days away.
Brilliant work again. Keep 'em coming.
Really good video looking for a van my self so this help a lot in joying your stuff
A short vid testing the 4 wheel drive would be good.
Will you are a scream, but through all you bumps and hiccups, that van would suit my needs, and live it big time. Delighted you set up in this one.
will you still make content in your own van? or is that chapter over with? it was just so cool seeing you cruise around the place in a van you built your self and the problems you'd run in to and have to fix
Surprising amount of room for such a small van. Great for the weekends. Quite like it.
Definitely good for weekends!
Fantastic!
Will, go and find The Hedgecombers on TH-cam. Jane has done many many one pot cooking videos for camping. She’s a great person and a great cook. It’s what she does for a living. Been lucky enough to have her actually cook me a couple of meals and it’s very yummy :). Try her cauliflower korma if you can stomach the cauliflower lol.
Brilliant video as always. We have a Bongo and love it, but we cheat with an awning on it. Nice looking dinner too.
Beds not for 2 people we cheat with an awning too
Great idea!
@@WillsWhereabouts not very stealth 😂 but suits us
Great to see another bongo 👍
LMAO, try and find a Mitsubishi Delica 4x4 camper to have a night out in and take it off roading, such a cracking micro camper. Brilliant as always mate, great talking to you the other day ❤.
Another entertaining video. Try lowering the overhead divider before retracting the roof. Maybe cooking a nice stew in a pressure cooker, super simple and the potential for mayhem is unlimited 😂. They make pressure cookers specifically for campers.
Stew and dumplings. Nice and easy as long as you have somewhere to wash your sticky fingers from making the dumplings. And whilst I prefer beef strew can easily be chicken or any other meat as you prefer.
They say Mr Miyagi used to drive a Bongo and used to go for weekend training sessions/ Bonsai tree hunts with Daniel son .
Love this video reminded me of Bertie Bongo we bought in 2008 the roof switch failed and hubby had to dismantle it then crank it down by hand 😐 happy days 😂
Another excellent video Will, pure class getting better every time.
Lovin this series! ❤
Thanks very much!
This is sick mate ❤
Glad you like it!
Get an omnia oven, and make one pot meals, make sure you put a flame amer under it, easy
Just wanted to say bloody good job of reinventing the channel and pushing forward. You are killing it. 😊
My new favourite channel 😃
Loving the new series. have you ever had Gnocchi, Its pasta and potato balls cooks in five mins and you can do what ever you want with it like fry it or sauce it up Veggie or add meat. Keep it up Loving it so much
Great stuff Will. Loving the new content 👌
Thanks!
これはボンゴの壮大なビデオでした、ウィル。ベッシー・レグ - ケニー Kore wa bongo no sōdaina bideodeshita, u~iru. Besshī regu - kenī Sorry, Will but I could not resist in a bit of japanese commentry. Mate, you just get better every week. Respect- Kenny
This is a lovely car. Wish I could find one! Just what I'd need!
Great video once more!! Cant wait for the next one🎉
Will, can I suggest a video idea. Interviewing all the owners of the campers/vehicles you've camped in. The main question is "What's the story behind this camper / vehicle setup"
It could be a compilation video with clips from different interviews
Food wise, go simple, tin of new potatoes, tin of peas and carrots and a tin of stewing steak, go fresh Carrot and peas if you like, bang it all in a pan, 10 minutes done 😂😂😂😂
Great episode and cannot wait for the next one 😊
BTW quick and easy meals are hello fresh 😉
Good touch suggesting viewers to send in cooking menu. I don’t cook but you can try Chicken Adobo, it’s so simple it’s on google.
There’s a guy who asks people to send him recipes whiles he’s camping and he gives you like a shoutout if he uses the recipe cool
Idea
Nifty camper. The fact that a lot is power operated screams much to break. Hopefully the top can manually operate or that could become a big issue quick! Weather states side has kinda sucked too! Still keeps threatening to snow again
That small van is gona stink for weeks with all those spices. I’d be so pissed if u cooked that in my camper. 🤦♀️😂
WOW LIKE TO THE VIDEO! 🙂
I love my Mazda Bongo, you can get them so customsed no two are the same. Mine i cook out the back loads of space then. The kids love playing in the top box and it makes a late night setup real quick
Definitely should have bought a ready made Katsu sauce just like you buy a fajita mix ready made. Still do the chicken and rice from scratch though. Keep up the fun videos mate!
I have absolutely no idea why people trust you with these Van’s Will! 🤦🏼
Me neither! 😂
great video
Thanks for this Will .....I've been looking at a few Bongos lately
Recommended for weekend trips!
Could you do the NC500 in it with a few hotel stop offs ?
Has got a cool nice look to it, seems ideal for wk end trips 😊
Yeah it is!
You should cook chilie beans and I would happily see you in a left-hand-drive car 😊
Ahead of their time these vans. Loved mine
A lovely little van!
Greatest thing that happen to vanlife on TH-cam is Will with this series. Informative. Funny. Versatile. Great video Will. Cant wait to see you experience some more of micro campers 😉
Quick Japanese meals in a van? goto an aisan grocery and grab a golden curry or premix okonomiyaki pancake mix.
Now you have to be patriotic and try a Bedford Bambi! But brilliant otherwise. My go-to pasta dish...boil pasta add frozen broccoli...drain leaving a little water, add cottage cheese, grated cheese, tuna and sweetcorn... Done...the hot pasta melts the cheese and heats everything else.
Great vid. I love my Bongo - and mine has electric operated curtains on the tailgate window too :)
This made me really laugh… we have a similar size converted Elgrand with similar features…it’s small but perfectly formed…
Keep on doing this it’s great watching!!
Might want to check why the glow plug light is blinking...
Anyone interested in buying a bongo i would suggest getting a 8 seater pop top version so you can decide weather to convert or leave as is. awesome vans
Nice one Will, we had a Bongo for 12 years, we only sold it to buy our current van to convert. Every Bongo is different and has its own quirks. They are great to drive and being 4wd they don't even mind a bit of off road.
Such a great microcamper!
Really is!
Was this video shot in and around Kidderminster, Bewdley, Trimpley Reservoir / Wyre Forest?
Yes it was lol, this is our van and we live local to the area!
I have rented a van like this last month for a trip to Scotland. Nothing as fancy as this but does have a heater though. But it was a fun trip for me, would reconmend people who wants to toe dip to see if camping van is their thing. Yeah it is small and cramped but it has everything you need for a short trip away. That food looks tasty Will.
It definitely suits some people!
So a friend turned me on to this concept, originally she got the idea from a cookbook called Skinn Taste.... but it's super simple that once you do it the first time you don't really need much Direction. Basically you use little tiny mini Crock-Pot on low or you can use the baby instapot or whatever, you add a couple of pieces of chicken, a packet of chicken taco seasoning and then I like a packet of regular taco seasoning I did try it with fajita seasoning and it wasn't as good, you basically cook it to death, over many hours but then you shred the chicken up and you have it in wraps and in those taco shell bowls and it goes in all kind of things you can eat on it it for days and days... 🌮 🌮 (It also works for other types of meats that would normally go in those types of wraps/soft tacos/etc.) 😁
Can we watch you having breakfast as well? 😂😂😂😂
your supposed to wait for the glow plug light to go out first before starting
hello will here is a recipethe easiest dish to make and is very good that you should try in a video. Fry bacon champignons with and a little salt and pepper then fry tomato red green yellow pepper with the bacon and then any favorite seasoning add 2 to 4 tablespoons or 3 dl creme fraiche let it fry for a while or a minute so the creme fraiche doesn't become runny it should just be creamy and then is gone and filling, I cook it in. You can have other vegetables in it if you want
The worst decision i ever made was selling my Bongo.
Hilarious video, brought back lots of memories as we had a Bongo for three years. It started us off on our van journey. It was a bit temperamental at times, but we travelled all over in it.
Camping in a small camper van and a Mazda Bongo over 40 years ago the Mazda Bongo small van sold in Australia and the engine was in the back a inline small four cylinder motor with tge radiator at the back behind the motor not great idea l am sure it wouid have overhested a lot especially in an Australian summer
just get Ninja foody (ive got the one with integrated pressure cooker ) just every foood is sooo simple
What's the advantage of a van from Japan, are they cheaper or have more gadgets? Good video will.
Jon's Hawiian sweet and sour chicken
1 pound chicken breast 1x3x5cm cubes
1 small green pepper in 3x5cm squares
1 small sweet onion 3x5cm squares
1 jar of maraschino cherries no steem
1 can of pinaple rings cut the rings into 8 peices (Keep the Jucie it is needed for the sauce)
corn startch
brown sugar
garlic powder
ginger powder
black pepper
powdered chicken bulion
soy sauce
white or apple vinager
marinade/breading for chicken
2 oz corn starch a little soy sause ginger powder, garlic powder, and powdered chicken bulion. Then add water until it is thin enought to still see the chicken threw the marinade leave as you cute veg.
2oz oil to pan and lightly brown both sides and remove chicken you want it slightly undercooked at this point.
slightly soften the peppers and onion in the remaining oil. Then put the pineapple jucie, 1oz of brown sugar, .5oz white vinager or more, a little soy sauce, powdered ginger, powdered galic, and black pepper to taste and do taste it is the best way to spice. then add half the jar of cherries and the chicken. mix 1oz water and 2 oz cornstatch slowly add this a bit at a time till you get a nice sauce. Then add the pineapple, put on the lid and turn off the heat let set about 3 to 5 min to let the pineapple warm threw. If the sause is to thin add a half oz of water until it is the consistance you want.
to change it up add a couple of thai chili to make it a hot and sour
This is great over rice
I hope you enjoy
Prone to head gasket failing...
Hi will have you got a Roma home on your list to try out
Love the Bongos! Travelled around Europe in one for 6 months back in 2019 🤘
You should do a year with it, I have a Toyota granvia 1996 I did look at the Mazda bongo but they have a lot of issues and I didn't like the lack of access to engine.
Very interesting as always 👍 - loving the variety - how was the bed length ways (think you’re quite tall like me)?
These new videos are definitely more you Will. I think you’ve found your mojo again mate 👌
Love this video, and love my bongo! Thanks for showing them in a good way. Only downside we found is the coolant system (a low coolant alarm is a must) a chasing the rust. But hey they are old vans after all.
Thanks Will..once again i thoroughly enjoyed that..although i love the bigger more luxurious vans..these little'ns are me favourite..love the cosy feeling like being a kid in a den x
It is like a den!
@@WillsWhereabouts except my den was the coal bunker in the back yard ..but then im getting on a bit 😂
just cook spag bol u just need 2 pans mince onion and a jar sauce(ideally one with mushroom already in it)
very easy but satisfying camping food
Can’t go wrong!
@@WillsWhereabouts now all u gotta do is find an italian camper :)
Chinese music was very fitting