My Ultimate Camper Build, Dormobile Top Conversion

[ThatVWGuy]

[Birdmanhere]

Put some new shoes on.
I went with the 215/75 BFG All Terrain KO2.
Couple hundred miles so far, with no rubbing.

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66 Bus
71 Bug

[Birdmanhere]

Got a new Wiring Harness from Wiring Works.
My old harness had been cut and spliced, burned wires and a slow drain I tried to fix but could not find.
Old Birds Nest

All cleaned out

New wires in

Old wires out, stripped old harness and saved all clean and soft wires.

Took the time to solder up the fuse box and headlight switch, but didn't take time to take pics of the finished product.

Printed off and laminated a large colour diagram and had it laminated.
A little tight and you need to be able to bend.
I had no issues with mine, a couple wires didn't match up to the diagram similar to other people that have used the wiring works, but with a little wiring knowledge and some process of elimination all worked out well.
All in all a very nice kit and Ibwould recommend it.
Cleaned up all the grounds and connections, and used dielectric grease everywhere.
My lights are significantly brighter all around.
Switches are cooler.
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66 Bus
71 Bug

[vwjetboat]

Love the van.. sharp.. love the top conversion.. hate that fuse box....:}

[oakman]

Killer camper, love what you did with it. The color looks great. I think I have dormy top envy now!!
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Brandon

[Birdmanhere]

5 years since I last posted!
I guess I have been too busy enjoying the bus to post here.
I guess it is time for an update, for the most art I try to compete a new project every spring, I will update them now, so purist beware, may contain some hacks.

2018
I always take a spare tire on road trips, and with the 215/75 I had to come up with a solution with not much roof space due to the Dormobile top.
I purchases a Single Cab HWE style roof rack kit, shortened it and had two pieces bent to accomadate the spare tire, had a friend that is a welder by trade weld it up for me.
The lights and antenna are routed through under the top and through a corner of the tent.

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66 Bus
71 Bug

[Birdmanhere]

2019
Looking to install a 12v auxiliary system to power some future accessories, I took a trip over to the Vanagon forums, those guys have figured out the auxiliary systems well and lots on info there if you can stomach Vanagons and their Drivers.

Decided on a BlueSea battery isolator, and a 35 amp shore power plug in charger/converter. the BlueSea isolator allows charging of the AUX battery while driving, and also charging of the starting battery while plugged in.
Paired with a 110ah deep cycle (for now), and a solar system in the future.
All tucked under the rear bench with the tools and spares.

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66 Bus
71 Bug

[Birdmanhere]

Being in Canada the camping season can be short, I was looking for some heat for the spring and fall to get a few more months of camping in.
Installed a Chinese Diesel Heater, they are an Ebercpacher clone.
I put it in the westy cabinet, I created a false floor in the cabinet so I didn't loose any storage. and it is quiet and out of the way.

it is right above my batter so it is ducted through the engine compartment and out the back.

small exhaust for furnace

I run it off Kerosene kept in a small tank in the driver side "battery tray"

It is the 5kw model.
It cranks out so much heat it will sweat you out on the coldest nights on low when the windows are closed.
The 2kw model would have been enough for the bus.
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66 Bus
71 Bug

[Birdmanhere]

2020
Looking for a 12v fridge, I once again found myself browsing the Vanagon forums.
Picked out the Truckfridge T65 for use in my bus.
designed a cabinet that would incorporate the westy sink and water tank I already had, and made the cabinet in the same style as the original cabinets with the T mould edges, westy cabinet handles, stained close to match.
The back of the fridge is well vented and some sound deadening in there, I do not hear it cycle on and off. There is also a 12v water pump.
Not a square inch of space wasted, tons of storage.

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66 Bus
71 Bug

[Birdmanhere]

2021
Every year I take a trip with each one of my Kids separately , they are big enough to ride in the front now.
To make it a little safer I installed 3 point seat belts, and had my late bay seats recovered and the headrests installed. The upholstery guy installed heated seat kit at this time.
The fabric is a commercial grade thick synthetic canvas. Super durable.
And the pattern resembles the original seats.
3 point upper mount welded in

Helper!

seat fabric close up

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66 Bus
71 Bug

[Birdmanhere]

2022
Type-E front disc brake installed.
This kit is fantastic. well made, simple and effective.
still no rubbing with the larger tires and slight increase in offset from the kit.

Love the braking power and the wear parts are all inexpensive, and easy to find local.
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66 Bus
71 Bug

[Birdmanhere]

A few more things over the years, first was sound deadening.
Used dynamat type sparingly throughout the bus, and on the back off all the wood panels I used a closed cell foam with a few pieces of the dynamat style on the back side of the wood.
This is what helped the most with the sound deadening and also temp control while camping and driving.
It made a huge difference while on long trips.

My old 1600 was tired, I rebuilt the top end on an old motor with a w100 cam, and paired with a old set of Kadrons cleaned up and tapped for SVDA, and a vintage speed bus exhaust.

for the Dormobile guys, I came up with a solution for the roof vents and their lack of screens.
Take off the skylight vent, and the surrounding seal. place fine mosquito netting over the hole and install seal, leaving the screen baggy,

install vent cover over screen, with mechanism front bottom.
trim the screen to fit

keeps the bugs out all summer and allows them to stay open all night with the kids up top.
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66 Bus
71 Bug

[earlywesty]

Amazing upgrades Jon! Bus is super functional now!

[mandraks]