early dormobile rear seat questions.

[wilgartw]

just ripped the upholstery off the rear seat, and have a few questions.

1. i guess the wood is original, so is cut at an angle for a reason. was the foam angled or square
2. what is the piece of metal at the forfront of the picture? is it original? this would be nearest sliding door when orientated correctly
3. in the second pic, at the back of the base there were 2 strips of material held by cupped screws, and idea what these were for?

 

[Fortunate Son]

1. Wood is cut at an angle so that when the seat is lifted up it doesnt foul on the side of the interior panel (see photos)

2. Not sure about the metal strip. Dont think its original because there is a timber trim rail that runs where that strip is.

3. The cupped screws look like the same as the ones used for attaching the lifting handles (2 x No) - one that fixes pretty much where your metal strip is and the other fixes to the centre of the rearward edge of the horizontal part of the seat (see photos)

Hope this helps, FS

 

[wilgartw]

Hope this helps, FS

that certainly does.

so does is your foam also shaved at an angle?

the metal strip is further forward than the timber bar. looking at your photos, i think it may have been put there to give the front lifting handle some strength.

yes, the rear lifting handle looks to be just where the screws were. fantastic. does that rear lifting handle help with pulling up of the bed, ie does it make it a lot less awkward?

 

[Fortunate Son]

Hope this helps, FS

that certainly does.

so does is your foam also shaved at an angle?

the metal strip is further forward than the timber bar. looking at your photos, i think it may have been put there to give the front lifting handle some strength.

yes, the rear lifting handle looks to be just where the screws were. fantastic. does that rear lifting handle help with pulling up of the bed, ie does it make it a lot less awkward?

Yes, the foam follows the edge of the timber - I was trying to take my pics to show it but they came out lokking like its a right angle - it isnt. When the seat base is down the "rear to front" line of the seat base edge tapers inwards from the rear left corner (I think that makes sense?!!!)

The rear lifting handle doesnt make the job less awkward, its a real pain putting the bed up and when it is up and your lying in it your nose is afew inches from the ceiling!! Its the only real down side to a Dormobile but I guess its the price you pay for still having space to walk around when the bed is up.

 

[Toad]

I think the dormobile bed is great, and simple to use.
Why is your nose so near to the roof? Maybe try sleeping with your feet at the back of the van (like me), lots of space then.
It seems strange to me to sleep the other way round?

 

[wilgartw]

one last question (possibly) what is the use of the wooden bar that goes below the seat. it seams to make the bed lift at the front. does everyone's do that?

 

[pinheaduk]

quick question, im guessing that the table when stored is slid under the rear seat between the seat rails..

 

[Fortunate Son]

yep thats right. when I fitted my propex I only realised after fitting it that you cant get the table stowed there. A bit of a pain but propex is good!

 

[Benyon]

Sorry to jump on this thread but can someone tell me how long the table is?

 

[wilgartw]

i'll measure it for you tonight, but it is just smaller than the guide rails beneath the seat.

 

[Benyon]

Ah thats ok then 8) Most of my interior has been reproduced at some point and my table was shorter than the runners so presumed it had been made too small, but if it doesn't fit there anyway...

 

[Frankie]

The bit of wood acts as a pillow it raises the head end up a wee bit.

 

[wilgartw]

next question, related so not starting new thread :wink:

are the blocks of wood that stop the above engine bit from sliding about original? they don't look it to me. what does everyone else have?

 

[Trikky2]

are the blocks of wood that stop the above engine bit from sliding about original? they don't look it to me. what does everyone else have?

Yes they were fitted as original to stop it sliding around.

 

[wilgartw]

cheers.

 

[wilgartw]

OK I'm nearly done replacing all the wood and refurbing the metal.

on with the soft furnishings.

How thick is the original foam? mine had 4" foam on it, but that means i cannot lift the seat to get into the cupboard below.

when the seat back and base are parallel there is only 4" between them. 2" foam looks far to thin.

also - the wood above the engine is an inch or so higher than the seat in the bed position. was the foam at the back thinner to compensate? or does everyone have a very uneven bed?

 

[Trikky2]

OK I'm nearly done replacing all the wood and refurbing the metal.
on with the soft furnishings.
How thick is the original foam? mine had 4" foam on it, but that means i cannot lift the seat to get into the cupboard below.

The foam on the seat base and seat back is 4". When you lift the front of the seatbase to access the table and stowage, the foam simply squashes up. Are you using the original hinges?

when the seat back and base are parallel there is only 4" between them. 2" foam looks far to thin.

Sorry but I dont understand what you mean. There isnt any 2" foam.

also - the wood above the engine is an inch or so higher than the seat in the bed position. was the foam at the back thinner to compensate? or does everyone have a very uneven bed?

Just measured up on mine for you to check. The difference in height of the woodwork is allowed for by the foam on the rear section being 3" rather than 4".

 

[Benyon]

As Trikky says, the seat (base & back) foam is thicker than the bed section. In my dormie, the seat base and back never get parallel, when the base is lifted (with the back still in seating position) I can only get it to around 45* The foam of both parts compacts together to a certain degree I have have to hold the seat base up, or prop it open to get to the underneath storage compartment.

 

[wilgartw]

ah, that makes sense now.

thankyou.