Overnight in Vintage Japanese Imported Van (Mazda Bongo Micro Camper)
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- Опубліковано 22 кві 2023
- #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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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
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.
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
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 UA-cam Channel. Who watches TV nowadays anyway?
@@WillsWhereaboutshere in America our version of that kind of van is a VW Westfalia
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
Mate your video editing and presenting skills are pro! You are officially my Sunday night viewing.
Thanks very much!
Great vid. I love my Bongo - and mine has electric operated curtains on the tailgate window too :)
Greatest thing that happen to vanlife on UA-cam is Will with this series. Informative. Funny. Versatile. Great video Will. Cant wait to see you experience some more of micro campers 😉
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
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 ❤
Just wanted to say bloody good job of reinventing the channel and pushing forward. You are killing it. 😊
Really loving this new series, it’s almost like it’s relit a fire for your passion for content creation, it’s amazing to see
I think this is one of my faves so far. I like how narrow it is (great for those South West country lanes) and that it can go to a lot more places off road. Lovin' ya work Will & Ben!
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.
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
Another excellent video Will, pure class getting better every time.
Brilliant 👏 Absolutely loving these videos of different camper styles. Great banter, well presented and a joy to watch mate 👍
Thanks very much! 🤙
Will & Ben wow I do love you Will your enthusiasm is infectious love you mate
Mate I've been really enjoying the videos. They're getting better with every next one. I hope you take all the experience you gather through this show at some point and apply it to your own van.
Cheers!
Always guaranteed to put a smile on your face! 👌
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
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.
Reminds me of what the original vw campers were like in the 70s. Great vlog and review. Best wishes
Awesome video will. Great series so far👍. Hope to see more of your amazing journeys ❤️❤
Glad you’re liking it!
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.
I really enjoy this series of yours (and by default too, Ben!). Really fun to see different, unique, or odd vans/campers/beds on wheels. Also I enjoy your style of videography, which really makes the series IMO. You're not there to palm us off on a fake "review" of them. You actually use them, which is nice to see. I know some of your viewers haven't liked the way you're taking the channel forward, and that's each to their own, but I'm loving it and love to look forward to see what you're gunna have next week. Good Job!
Thanks so much. Glad you’re liking the series! 🫶
Love watching your videos especially the back to basic ones. You keep going pal!
Great video once more!! Cant wait for the next one🎉
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.
These new videos are definitely more you Will. I think you’ve found your mojo again mate 👌
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.
Finding myself here daily since you started this series thank you
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!
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.
Another interesting camper, always great seeing what gourmet masterpiece you will create. Great series
A dish I usually cook when I'm camping. Easy as pie. Get some sweet chilli sauce, cooked chicken, pepper and some chilli flakes. Use about 1/4 to 1/2 a bottle of sweet chilli sauce. That with some white rice is the nuts! Usually buy the pre-cooked chicken and sweet chilli (or sweet and sour) sauce in a squeeze bottle. Can adapt to your own taste as well. Could always throw in some bean sprouts or mushrooms as well.
Loving the new series as well. The diversity with all the different camping is kind of an insight into their personalities. Glad to see no wood burner this week to burn yourself on. Hope you're doing well.
Great suggestion! And glad you’re liking it!
@WillsWhereabouts love it man. What a journey. From the galaxy to now. What an experience.
I very nearly impulsively purchased a Mazda Bongo a while back . . . Glad to see you’ve covered this great little camper! 👍🏻
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.
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
That is such a cool camper! Fantastic video, this series is so good 👍
Thanks for the support!
Great stuff Will. Loving the new content 👌
Thanks!
Those Bongo vans are underrated, there so cosy and sweet, when it’s hot you can sleep in the roof, brilliant , I also like the retro vans the best, they have character. Well done Will, I really enjoyed the video, the weather was crap as normal, but at least you have a roof over your head. Thank you xxxx see you on the next one. Xxxx
This new series is amazing
Best one yet
Liking the new serious. Your videos are getting better and better
Love the Bongos! Travelled around Europe in one for 6 months back in 2019 🤘
Best video so far will , with the different campers etc.much better. Dw bout the food stuff so much
Lovin this series! ❤
Thanks very much!
Great to see another bongo 👍
Love this series!! Binge watching after the first season is done, great fun!! Would love to see you in different size boats, for a few days each, over there! ❤😊❤
Enjoyed it very much.
Do not give up on the foods. Just RELAX & BREEEEAAATHEEE.
Great episode and cannot wait for the next one 😊
BTW quick and easy meals are hello fresh 😉
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
Will we love it when you cook, once again thank you for cutting back on cussing, oh you’re still funny with out all the cursing,
We truly enjoy your videos!
Absolutely loved the video. So glad I found your channel, it's such a laugh watching you, and your antic's. Keep it up.
Thanks so much for the support! 🫶
Great video Will, always entertaining 👍👍
Great entertainment especially the cooking and trying to find the rear blind 😁
Love your videos will and Ben top blokes keep up the amazing work stay safe god bless ya
Great review of the bongo... We bought one 6 months and love it.. Always a big smile on my face while driving it, got some trips coming up and i can't wait..me the wife and 2 dogs , cramped yes but they'll be downstairs and I'm sleeping up top.. got an awning for extra space.
I enjoyed the longer video, feels like more of the older Will videos, more of you cooking and chatting!!
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 😂
Love the pop top! That’s what I’d go for!
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!
My new favourite channel 😃
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.
I have a similar size Japanese camper but with a high top and I love it, loved the electric blinds.
My fav Meal in mine is pasta with onion, bacon, garlic, broccoli, pine nuts and pesto, doddle.
Lovin the series Will, keep em coming x
Keep the recipe suggestions coming!
I truly enjoyed watching this video, it was real and funny
This is an awesome series 😎😎👏👏
love Norman my bongo - thanks that was a fun video
Watch all the videos, really enjoying the new series! makes me want to get my own van and try it :)
Loved this video Will. I’ve got a much loved 1995 Bongo, a rare manual gearbox. Just started a conversion on a TGE as wanted a bit more room and a fixed bed. Bongos are definitely “quirky” 😅. They are great as a beach van, as are small enough for narrow Cornish lanes, but give you somewhere to change in after a day at the beach.
You should borrow “love Sundays” van and camp on the beach and use all his snorkelling and surfing stuff, would be a laugh to watch.
It’s terrific seeing this. I have a Bongo Friendee on the way. I’ve made a mental note to cook out of doors as well as to set up an auxiliary tent on the campsite where I can Store things I don’t want cluttering up the van.
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.) 😁
I have a 2001 Bongo! Love driving it. Rust is the biggest killer.
Loving the Bongo…..great camper 👍
Keep sharing love your awesome videos much love from your friend in Michigan Tam 💜💜
Loooove my bongo - awesome little vans.
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 is sick mate ❤
Glad you like it!
heyyyyyyy will loving this vid and what a great micro camper ....small but so unique!! and you make me laugh :) keep on rolling these out bud
Glad you like it! 🤙
Fantastic!!!!!!!
Brings back memories of touring around Tohoku and Hokkaido in 2002 in a Mazda Bongo. It was ACE! 😊
Will, much as I love your wanting to expand your culinary horizons, you picked a puzzle of a recipe there! LOL Loving the new format ^_^ Have a quick and tasty recipe for you here, 20 mins to sort.
Cheats Chicken Satay:
2 Chicken Breasts - slice into stir-fry strips
1/2 Onion - Slice up
1 Tsp Garlic Paste
1 Tbsp Honey
2 Tbsp Peanut Butter of choice
2 Tbsp Light Soy Sauce
2 Tbsp Curry Powder of choice (taste as you go, add more for extra kick)
2 Chicken Stock Cubes
500ml hot water on stanby to adjust thickness of sauce - use for cooking rice to save waste if you don't use it all :)
2 Tbsp Oil for cooking
Coriander & Spring Onion to garnish
Rice to serve.
Prep chicken , fry off with onions, add in garlic and curry powder and stirfry til fragrant ( or you require air ;) )
Add in peanut butter, honey & soy sauce, stir until combined, add in chicken stock cubes and a little water to dissolve them.
Cook out and adjust thickness with water until suitable. Taste, adjust seasoning with soy / curry powder as you like.
Serve with rice, garnish with green bits :)
Love my bongo and love this video nice review
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.
Surprising amount of room for such a small van. Great for the weekends. Quite like it.
Definitely good for weekends!
You got your production top notch mate. Great video(s).
Glad you like!
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.
your supposed to wait for the glow plug light to go out first before starting
Fantastic!
Nice,enjoyed that... Best wishes will,from Wales 🏴
I definitely want a Mazda Bongo now!
lol u made me laugh on this fine Sunday rainy day here in Canada, love the video and I await the next one, cheer mate!!
So glad you like it!
Loving these videos will… you crack me up 😂😂
Glad you like it!
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
Another very funny video Will. Your cooking segment was hilarious and left me with a stitch from laughing so much. And then to top it off was you trying to retrieve, from above, the back window covering, again very funny. Looking forward to the next one.
Love you added the bloopers at the end of video
Cool van Will 👌🏻
Had two Bongos. Absolutely loved them, apart from the coolant issues!