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Fri Apr 30, 2010 6:01 am

tev wrote:
Don't want to rehash anything, but with a smaller opening, I'm still wondering how you'll be able to pull the rear down or latch it in the up position - it takes two of us to do it quickly with a full opening. Another thing is that a bigass opening is the primary benefit of that top -- it's just huge. Tons of space and you don't have the roof just above you when you're sleeping. Too bad about the belly pan issue. Good luck!

Hi, Tev, I assume you are responding to my query.

In my mind the hole won't be that small, surely I'll be able to reach over to release the catch, even if I have to put a foot up on the edge of the R&R bed.

By the power of (a very rough) photoshop (lifted from xavi's recent image, ta) heres how it would look. Still plenty of light and space IMHO. Anyway each to his own, I would really rather not cut the structure and this gives me more space and light than I could ever need.

Thanks for your input.

Regards
Richard

Fri Apr 30, 2010 6:22 am

That shot is the coolness! 8)

Fri Apr 30, 2010 7:16 am

Pics look great. Dormy tops at night are really cool.

You're right - it still a lot of space up there. While you're camping, you could use that as a shelf.

Fri Apr 30, 2010 7:30 am

Sweet! :P

The way the dormys are so light inside is really nice.

Fri Apr 30, 2010 12:43 pm

richardab1967 wrote:
By the power of (a very rough) photoshop (lifted from xavi's recent image, ta) heres how it would look. Still plenty of light and space IMHO. Anyway each to his own, I would really rather not cut the structure and this gives me more space and light than I could ever need.

Thanks for your input.

Regards
Richard

cut the whole hole for the dormy metal frame.

you still need to attach the rear leather strap (unless you change the closing method to another one thaan the strap)

Fri Apr 30, 2010 1:09 pm

as promised... some process pics I missed to post...

corners...

hinge and aluminium trim bolts with polyurethane sealer

wood headliner triming...

plastic trim corners...

front turnlock installation...

cabinets cleaned and fitted again... that looks a westy again ;)

closed...

some exterior shoots I took after work...

After all that hard work I have to say that I look at the bus and think that it really worth the time and money I spent on restoring the top. I didn't counted it but I spent many many many hours since I got the top in feb '09... more than a year to see it completed.

I have to thank all the people who, in a way or another, were involved in this project, I'm sure I forgot someone:

Wife and son and my father for helping and letting me spend so many hours appart from they,
Corey as part supplyer, mentor, inspiration and adviser,
Bob at BBT as the top supplyer,
Jim at Dormobile as repro parts supplyer,
Aaron, Pyro, Clara and some other samba members as info supplyers and advice givers,
Neil Pickett as a moral support and encourager.

And thanks to all of you that are wasting your beloved time reading me :)

that's how it started at all...

Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:16 pm

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Now get out for your first camping trip of the year. :P

Sat May 01, 2010 12:45 pm

took the Dormy and set the westy tent I also got from BBT for the first time... looks good!

Sat May 01, 2010 2:31 pm

VERY nice! Love it, excellent work... 8)

Sat May 01, 2010 3:42 pm

Man! That looks great! But what is the deal with this:

Sat May 01, 2010 4:03 pm

Keysar wrote: Man! That looks great! But what is the deal with this:

my guess is that since he does not have splash pans on his bumper, which help reinforce the ends of the bumpers, the additional weight of the tent/poles makes the bumper and tent sag if the bumper is not supported in such a way as pictured.

looks great Xavi! did you bring any stoves on your little outing? ;)

Sat May 01, 2010 11:50 pm

you're right Jon... splash pans are in the garage ready to install... didn't had enough time.

I always carry my Enders Baby in my spice rack. You'll see it if you look carefully in the pic ;)

Fri May 07, 2010 3:38 am

Brilliant work and brilliant thread. It's been a great help. I'm putting a dormobile roof on at the moment. Can you tell me what this is though? I dont seem to have it on mine ...

Fri May 07, 2010 9:43 am

Tent mount for the Westy side tent.

Fri May 07, 2010 11:31 am

well done, great job!
even at dormobile they wouldn't do it better ;)

I was always wondering how long is dormobile top? is there enough space in bunks to sleep for adult?

Fri May 07, 2010 1:04 pm

BRANDEN HOY wrote: Tent mount for the Westy side tent.

x2

Michal,

Martin Walter's brouchure claimed 1,80m tall and 80kg weight. I'll test it (I'm 1,85 and 75kg) and tell you...

Fri May 07, 2010 1:51 pm

<< just changed my avatar... :)

Fri May 07, 2010 2:06 pm

Fri May 07, 2010 6:03 pm

Absolutely phenominal! Work and patience paid off. 8)

Fri May 07, 2010 7:18 pm

xavi_242 wrote: << just changed my avatar... :)

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Now what will it take to get you to raise it back to stock hieght? Maybe if someone was willing to throw you an OG EMPI camber compensator. 8)