Westy's with Dormobile Roof

Rippers · Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 1:22 pm Post subject: Westy's with Dormobile Roof

I have a 1970 LHD tintop Westy and the Family have out grown it! The kids are too big to share the cot now Laughing

I really like the bus and have done a lot of work to it and the kids and wife are sentimental about it so its not going!

I had read about Westy's that had Dormobile roofs fitted as an option from new and I really like the Dormobile roofs and when one popped up for sale I jumped at it and picked it up last night!

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

It came from a RHD complete with the roof cut, both bunks, all the metal frame, wooden battens, canvas, hoops, shaving mirror, lights & fittings, interior trim parts the lot. It needs repairing on the fibre glass cap and both of the opening vents are missing, the roof canvas is surprisingly good and it lifts up and down fine.

Now from the research I done over the last 24hrs I worked out out that the Dormobile buses had the roof mounted a lot further forward like the one on my transit vans roof rack, but Westfalia fitted them further back almost inline with the B-piller. I'd like to get this to look as factory as possible so if anyone one could get me some measurements of one of these uncommon conversions I'd really appreciate it

First question/problem I have thou is the position of the sink units vent (stink tube) which come out of the roof in a position which I would say would be under the roof cap possibly even under the canvass.

I haven't yet found pictures of a Westy with Dormobile roof that has the sink unit can anyone advise? I could remove it I guess as it seems unnecessary anyway?

Picture of my van and the reason I need more room! lol

busdaddy · Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 2:49 pm Post subject:

There's some good pics in this thread, look carefully in the backgrounds.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=539958
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jakokombi · Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 7:31 pm Post subject:

I too am adding a Dormobile top to a Tin Top.
A few years ago I bough a rotted Westy with a Dormobile top that I am using for parts.

The top is placed about even with the slider door.
I can get you the exact measurements tomorrow morning when I get home from work.

My donor bus was a 69' and had no sink vent, I'm not sure if 70's had them either.
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grandpa pete · Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 8:48 pm Post subject:

The sink vent is totally unnecessary Shocked

...It was put in ONLY to comply with California"s building codes for "mobile homes" Confused

...If you have a working inline trap under your sink you can't get any toxic fumes from your grey water tank.

I have cut the roof off a bus and dropped it on another...not as big of a challenge as you might think

trim off the old roof leaving two inches on the back and sides ,up to the front door post,cut straight across from door post to door post leaving the original roof over the front seats...I cut the outer lip off the "new"top roof gutters and dropped it into the original gutter(200 holes plug weld the new top to the old along the flat bottom of the gutter)
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jakokombi · Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 11:30 pm Post subject:

Westfalia used sunroof busses for early bay, pop top, conversions. However, they used a regular Kombi when installing a Dormobile top, so no need to graft on a whole new top. Just cut a hole and drop the frame in. Very Happy

I plan to install belly pans, like my sunroof Kombi has, although Westy did not do this.
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Bulli Klinik · Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:22 am Post subject:

Westfalia Dormobiles most definitely had belly pans. The SO-69 conversions, of which the Dormobile top was one of the options, was also available with a sink. No vent is present on the sink with a Dormo top.

You are correct about the placement of the top on Westy's, The frame goes right up to the overhead support above the B-pillar. Martin Walter built VW Dormies moved the top forward to vent the cooker located behind the passenger's seat.

Looks like a nice Bus for the conversion. Belly pans will be a must as the hole in the top is BIG.
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jakokombi · Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 1:59 pm Post subject:

Measuring from the widest part of the forward roof support, the hole is cut 10mm rearward of the flange (where the flange is glued to the top).
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Rippers · Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 8:18 am Post subject:

Rippers · Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 8:19 am Post subject:

Found a few spare minutes to have a play with the new roof and inspect the damage

Roof cap need refinishing and the support where the tape is if broken so needs fibre glass repairing

Canvas is actually ok but too ratty for me, Pretty sure I'm going to change it

Hoops look ok

Top curtain rail is missing

Put a small amount of lube on the bunks and they opened and closed fine both sides

Bunks where ok ish but too ratty again so I'll replace them too

I think one of the springs has snapped

Going to try and keep this original sticker

So next job with be dismantling the entire roof

jakokombi · Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 10:24 am Post subject:

Rippers · Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 9:43 am Post subject:

Made a bit more progress with the roof, some of the screws are rusted badly and where a bugger to undo.

Sorry for the bad quality pics they looked better on the phone at the time.. must have been the dust in my eyes Laughing

Removed the alloy frame holding the canvas on the roof cap

Roof cap off

Bunks and hoops removed

Roof cap lifting assembly, sadly one of the springs has snapped to will need replacing

After some advise from those with Dorma roofs or that have restored one before.. do I cut the hinge mounting plates out of the roof incase they had gone rusty?

I think as I'm going for a fairly stock look I'm going to replace the canvas with 13mm Red and White Candy like what was on there

Sallyvan · Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 11:39 am Post subject: dormobile roof

Just removed the roof on my 71 dormobile as the final stage on the refurb. One of the plates had completely rusted and the fibre glass cracked , so I took a chance and cut the fibre glass away from the other two and found they had both rusted into oblivion. I would recommend cutting the old ones out and replacing them.

Sallyvan · Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 12:18 pm Post subject:

Found this if it helps

http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=31348

richparker · Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 10:28 pm Post subject:

Just get an add a room. Westy or bus depot brand. That's my plan. A ton of less work and keeps you bus in tact
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Rippers · Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 6:13 am Post subject:

FAO of Westy/LHD Dormobile owners.. do you guys have the Dormobile Plaque like this:-

..and if so was it mounted to the right hand or left hand side of the dash board.

I have seen them on the left passenger side on the Right hand drive Dormobiles but I haven't manged to spot if and where Westy/left hand drive Dormobiles had them

jakokombi · Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 5:50 pm Post subject:

I have never seen that plate before, are you sure that they were installed on Westies?
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Rippers · Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 1:47 am Post subject:

That's what I was trying find out as I haven't seen a picture of a Westy Dorma dash to see if it has the plate.

jakokombi · Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 1:59 am Post subject:

It seems unlikely that Westfalia would put a nameplate from a competing company anywhere on the bus.
Of course stranger things have happened.

Here in the states we have very little experience with the Dormobile, as only the top was available from Westfalia, probably as a premium priced option.
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