Retrofitting an AC and PS in Bolero camper

nepalken · 30th August 2010, 06:21

Hello all,

Our office as 4WD Mahindra Bolero Camper 2008 as a crew cab. It has turbocharged engine, 4 speed tranny.

It is very competent pickup for mountainous road, goes anywhere with 4WD. However, having no PS is very tiresome for driver. Other thing our crew complained during hot summer is the cabin temperature. It has pretty compact double cabin when the windows are rolled up, it is very suffocating and hot.

So I am thinking of adding PS and HVAC to the camper. I went to Mahindra dealer here in my local town, but he says it is not possible. He says I have to sell my current camper and buy the one with AC and PS

.

Can anyone tell me what parts do I need to add for Power steering and AC. How much do they cost in India. Since I leave near to Indian border, going to India (Gorakhpur in Uttarpradesh) should not be problem.

My vehicle has already crossed the warranty period. So warranty VOID should not be a problem.

I am looking forward to making it as neat as possible just like factory fitted.

I would be very grateful for suggestion from other Bolero/Camper owners who have taken the retrofiting route, which I plan to take.

SPIKE ARRESTOR · 30th August 2010, 09:29

Hi Nepalken,

I presume you are running a MDI engine in your Camper. The above mods can be easily executed as boleros with similar front suspension setup and Instrument panel are under production. You can use the HVAC unit, Compressor, PS pump from regular bolero, route the AC pipes accordingly. Get this done from a competent mechanic.

Spike

coloneljasi · 30th August 2010, 11:22

@ Nepalken: best get in touch with a fellow member with username 'desigNation'.

He's got a nice and subtle Bolero Camper with retrofitted aircon and PS.

nepalken · 30th August 2010, 20:07

Thanks @spike

Thanks@coloneljasi, I have PMed designNation, I hope he responds

GTO · 31st August 2010, 17:23

@ Nepalken and DesignNation : A request. Whatever information is shared, please do so on the public forum itself. That way, it stays archived for life and will be of help to innumerable other members & guests. Exchanging useful information via PM kills the purpose of this community.

Thanks. Also, here's a thread that touches upon retrofitting air-conditioners in Jeeps & Gypsies Link to thread

nepalken · 3rd September 2010, 12:14

Hi GTO,

We will keep that in mind. As per Designation, he performed the upgrade to PS and HVAC at Mahindra A.S.S.

vivekgk · 20th September 2010, 19:17

I went to the Mahindra showroom today to take a look at the Camper for my cousin. But we were disheartened to find out that even the Gold version with AC and PS cannot be registered as a private vehicle, but only as a goods carrier. Stupid archaic RTO rules. The driver has to wear khakhi shirt and the front and rear have to be painted yellow. There goes my dream of pimping up a 207 or Camper. Does anyone know any workaraounds for this?

coloneljasi · 22nd September 2010, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivekgk

I went to the Mahindra showroom today to take a look at the Camper for my cousin. But we were disheartened to find out that even the Gold version with AC and PS cannot be registered as a private vehicle, but only as a goods carrier. Stupid archaic RTO rules. The driver has to wear khakhi shirt and the front and rear have to be painted yellow. There goes my dream of pimping up a 207 or Camper. Does anyone know any workaraounds for this?

@ vivekgk: Get in touch with DesigNation for this as well. He told me that he had taken it up legally and go his Camper registered privately. I have seen another KL11 reg Camper and a few out of state ones on white boards.

jeeva · 22nd September 2010, 12:59

I wonder why on earth cannot one register and use a pick up as a private vehicle. Atleast here in Bangalore/Mysore and coorg, there are lots of them registered as private vehicles. Most of the construction group's mahindra pick-ups are white board. When they can let white boards on auto-rickshaws in Kerala, what kind of lunatic rule is this!

I guess, with a good lawyer, you can make use of that court case won by Designation for good.

@vivekgk: Why don't you get one from the neighboring TN. As far as I know, using out of state vehicles in KL isnt much a deal as here in KA.

Blue Thunder · 22nd September 2010, 17:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivekgk

... Stupid archaic RTO rules....

I don't think the RTO rules are to blame, in this particular scenario. Probably, the manufacturer has also a role to play.

phamilyman · 22nd September 2010, 17:57

Even in delhi/gurgaon - you can't register either a bolero camper or a Tata 207 as private. Bah

h14 · 22nd September 2010, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by nepalken

Hello all,

So I am thinking of adding PS and HVAC to the camper. I went to Mahindra dealer here in my local town, but he says it is not possible. He says I have to sell my current camper and buy the one with AC and PS

.

Hi nepalken, this sort of modification is pretty straight forward. We do have a camper and have done these mods. Got them done in the local garage, but its not the HVAC.

The powersteering unit was a used one borrowed from a Mercedes Benz and the AC unit too was a used Super-King II. The AC ducts were borrowed from the regular Bolero and hence the fit was perfect. Hence you can very well go ahead with the modifications

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivekgk

But we were disheartened to find out that even the Gold version with AC and PS cannot be registered as a private vehicle, but only as a goods carrier. Stupid archaic RTO rules. The driver has to wear khakhi shirt and the front and rear have to be painted yellow. There goes my dream of pimping up a 207 or Camper. Does anyone know any workarounds for this?

Hi vivekgk, this rule is specific to the respective states. Even we came to know about it while buying in Coimbatore and decieded against it and in turn got the vehicle from Bangalore and registered in Bangalore as private. I guess registering in Bangalore is one workaround for this.

Have only this picture for now, will get some pictures of the works when I get down to Coimbatore but that will take quite a while.

Retrofitting an AC and PS in Bolero camper-ka05-mc-2518.jpg

SPIKE ARRESTOR · 22nd September 2010, 20:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

I don't think the RTO rules are to blame, in this particular scenario. Probably, the manufacturer has also a role to play.

A manufacturer does not frame any rules, he has to just abide by them. The governing body which frames these rules is to be blamed, RTO is only a custodian of these rules.

Spike

Sridutt · 20th February 2016, 09:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by h14

Attachment 428087

Hellos. How's this vehicle doing?

30th August 2010, 06:21	#1
nepalken BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Nepal Posts: 87 Thanked: 26 Times	Retrofitting an AC and PS in Bolero camper Hello all, Our office as 4WD Mahindra Bolero Camper 2008 as a crew cab. It has turbocharged engine, 4 speed tranny. It is very competent pickup for mountainous road, goes anywhere with 4WD. However, having no PS is very tiresome for driver. Other thing our crew complained during hot summer is the cabin temperature. It has pretty compact double cabin when the windows are rolled up, it is very suffocating and hot. So I am thinking of adding PS and HVAC to the camper. I went to Mahindra dealer here in my local town, but he says it is not possible. He says I have to sell my current camper and buy the one with AC and PS . Can anyone tell me what parts do I need to add for Power steering and AC. How much do they cost in India. Since I leave near to Indian border, going to India (Gorakhpur in Uttarpradesh) should not be problem. My vehicle has already crossed the warranty period. So warranty VOID should not be a problem. I am looking forward to making it as neat as possible just like factory fitted. I would be very grateful for suggestion from other Bolero/Camper owners who have taken the retrofiting route, which I plan to take.
	() Thanks

30th August 2010, 09:29	#2
SPIKE ARRESTOR Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 2,854 Thanked: 1,532 Times	Hi Nepalken, I presume you are running a MDI engine in your Camper. The above mods can be easily executed as boleros with similar front suspension setup and Instrument panel are under production. You can use the HVAC unit, Compressor, PS pump from regular bolero, route the AC pipes accordingly. Get this done from a competent mechanic. Spike
	() Thanks

30th August 2010, 11:22	#3
coloneljasi BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: KL-11 Posts: 686 Thanked: 251 Times View My Garage	@ Nepalken: best get in touch with a fellow member with username 'desigNation'. He's got a nice and subtle Bolero Camper with retrofitted aircon and PS.
	() Thanks

30th August 2010, 20:07	#4
nepalken BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Nepal Posts: 87 Thanked: 26 Times	Thanks @spike Thanks@coloneljasi, I have PMed designNation, I hope he responds
	() Thanks

31st August 2010, 17:23	#5
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,546 Thanked: 300,761 Times View My Garage	@ Nepalken and DesignNation : A request. Whatever information is shared, please do so on the public forum itself. That way, it stays archived for life and will be of help to innumerable other members & guests. Exchanging useful information via PM kills the purpose of this community. Thanks. Also, here's a thread that touches upon retrofitting air-conditioners in Jeeps & Gypsies Link to thread Last edited by GTO : 21st September 2010 at 19:20.
	(1) Thanks

3rd September 2010, 12:14	#6
nepalken BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Nepal Posts: 87 Thanked: 26 Times	Hi GTO, We will keep that in mind. As per Designation, he performed the upgrade to PS and HVAC at Mahindra A.S.S.
	() Thanks

20th September 2010, 19:17	#7
vivekgk BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 984 Thanked: 1,986 Times View My Garage	I went to the Mahindra showroom today to take a look at the Camper for my cousin. But we were disheartened to find out that even the Gold version with AC and PS cannot be registered as a private vehicle, but only as a goods carrier. Stupid archaic RTO rules. The driver has to wear khakhi shirt and the front and rear have to be painted yellow. There goes my dream of pimping up a 207 or Camper. Does anyone know any workaraounds for this?
	() Thanks

22nd September 2010, 12:59	#9
jeeva BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DXB / Nilgiris Posts: 769 Thanked: 1,278 Times View My Garage	I wonder why on earth cannot one register and use a pick up as a private vehicle. Atleast here in Bangalore/Mysore and coorg, there are lots of them registered as private vehicles. Most of the construction group's mahindra pick-ups are white board. When they can let white boards on auto-rickshaws in Kerala, what kind of lunatic rule is this! I guess, with a good lawyer, you can make use of that court case won by Designation for good. @vivekgk: Why don't you get one from the neighboring TN. As far as I know, using out of state vehicles in KL isnt much a deal as here in KA. Last edited by jeeva : 22nd September 2010 at 13:05.
	() Thanks

22nd September 2010, 17:57	#11
phamilyman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 5,968 Thanked: 4,642 Times	Even in delhi/gurgaon - you can't register either a bolero camper or a Tata 207 as private. Bah
	() Thanks