Good replacement for the bunk bed fabric

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DrivingDutchman
Posts: 392
Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2014 11:44 am
Location: Raunds, Northants

Good replacement for the bunk bed fabric

Post by DrivingDutchman » Fri Mar 14, 2014 10:24 pm

Hi all,

I have found a very suitable and cheap replacement fabric for the bunk beds in the Dormobile.
Actualy my wife thought about it. The 2 bunk beds in my Dormobile have a rip in it. I looked at Dormobile website and found they are £110 :aaagh: .

I happened to have a couple of stretchers lying around gathering dust.
This is the one. Cost about £11 in sale.
Image

So this is the bunk before.
Image

And this is the bubk after.
Image

It is a nearly perfect fit. The fabric is just a cm too long, but it does hardly show once stretched. It is imho stronger fabric than the original from Dormobile.
Ok, mine happened to be black, but I think they do different colours and maybe different designs, maybe from different makes. You also need to adapt the fabric a little bit, undo the sewing on the top ends where the poles go in and sew a couple of stretches shut where the original poles slide into the fabric.
Very easy adaptation and very cheap in comparison with the original.
Maybe in time I will get the originals, but for now, the money is a bit tight, so this is a good alternative.

Michiel
1969 109 sw dormobile Dora
1996 overland defender sw 110 Nellie
1962 109 sw safari diesel Hannie (sold)
1973 88 series 3 soft top in various bits on the drive...
phin
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Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 6:49 am

Re: Good replacement for the bunk bed fabric

Post by phin » Sat Mar 15, 2014 12:00 am

Now that is an excellent idea!

cheers
Phin
AlexB
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Re: Good replacement for the bunk bed fabric

Post by AlexB » Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:09 am

Very impressive!
Toots
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Location: Sutton in Craven, North Yorkshire

Re: Good replacement for the bunk bed fabric

Post by Toots » Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:51 am

Top marks that man :cheers:
We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.
Eddi
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Info: Carawagon Continental
Location: Johannesburg South Africa

Re: Good replacement for the bunk bed fabric

Post by Eddi » Sat Mar 15, 2014 12:29 pm

Thanks, great idea !
RobW
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Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:16 pm

Re: Good replacement for the bunk bed fabric

Post by RobW » Sun Mar 16, 2014 10:21 am

Excellent - I can see the Vango label, is there a product ID? From memory of a similar unit watch the stitching around the leg holes.
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RMS
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Location: Near Wakefield, UK, in God's own Country!

Re: Good replacement for the bunk bed fabric

Post by RMS » Sun Mar 16, 2014 10:30 am

We used an ex-army canvas camp bed to replace the material on one of Patrick's Carawagon bunks :cheers:

Cheers,
Robin.
1967 109" Carawagon 200TDi
1972 109" SW Carawagon 2.5NA
1958 109" Carawagon 2.25P (project)
1972 109" Carawagon 200 or 300TDi (project)
1974 Dormobile 2.25D (project)
(Robin on S2C forum)
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DrivingDutchman
Posts: 392
Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2014 11:44 am
Location: Raunds, Northants

Re: Good replacement for the bunk bed fabric

Post by DrivingDutchman » Sun Mar 16, 2014 5:23 pm

RobW wrote:Excellent - I can see the Vango label, is there a product ID? From memory of a similar unit watch the stitching around the leg holes.
Hi,

Looked at the label and there is a product code.
ACXCHAIR 36FW17

Cheers,

Michiel
1969 109 sw dormobile Dora
1996 overland defender sw 110 Nellie
1962 109 sw safari diesel Hannie (sold)
1973 88 series 3 soft top in various bits on the drive...
Jabbawocky
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Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2012 10:11 pm
Info: Barney the Dormobile
Location: Yorkshire Dales

Re: Good replacement for the bunk bed fabric

Post by Jabbawocky » Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:25 pm

Hi Michiel

Glad someone has tried this, always wondered if they would fit. I have a blue one I bought years ago, but it has probably too much stretch and your bum would hit the edge of the roof.

We made our own bunks from thin canvas we bought from the local fent shop. We knew it was too thin for an adult to sleep on, but William was only two at the time. He is now seven and getting heavier by the day. We will need to replace the bunks in the next year or so. I look forward to you fitting these bunks and see how well they support an adults weight.

Keep use informed.

Cheers Mick
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DrivingDutchman
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Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2014 11:44 am
Location: Raunds, Northants

Re: Good replacement for the bunk bed fabric

Post by DrivingDutchman » Sun Mar 16, 2014 11:09 pm

Mick,

I have fitted them yesterday and tried them myself. I'm about 75kg and they hold me just fine. I'm much more confident with the new setup then with the ones that were fitted. The kids have tried them today and they can bounce around on them without fear of ripping the fabric.

I even don't have the plastic bits fitted anymore. I cut some thread into the holes where the pop-rivets were and used screws only in the outer holes to secure the poles to the hinges, but I didn't put them through the fabric, but under it so they are not visible. Because of the slight oversize of the fabric there is no way the fabric will slide.

We'll just have to see over time how much the fabric will stretch and sag etc. But I'm confident we will not have to do anything to those bunk beds for a long time to come.

Michiel
1969 109 sw dormobile Dora
1996 overland defender sw 110 Nellie
1962 109 sw safari diesel Hannie (sold)
1973 88 series 3 soft top in various bits on the drive...
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