Carawagon roof or plans

Post Reply
Spurge
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 9:54 pm

Carawagon roof or plans

Post by Spurge » Fri Sep 29, 2017 10:11 am

Hi, I'm currently restoring a 1968 6 cylinder 109 and want to make it into a carawagon, does anybody have a good roof or plans for making one or know anybody that would build one? Thanks James.
User avatar
Peaceand
Posts: 274
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:00 pm
Location: Near Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Re: Carawagon roof or plans

Post by Peaceand » Sat Sep 30, 2017 11:43 am

I doubt anybody has detailed plans as such, and far as I know nobody has made one from a standard 109 roof (yet!) so all the rebuilds will have been using old pieces as patterns.

Your best bet will be to find somebody near you and take loads of photos and measurements.

BigDave on this forum has rebuilt his from scratch with all new materials, he may be able to advise? There's a useful list of materials on his rebuild thread anyway: http://www.rms1.co.uk/lrcc/forum/viewto ... f=10&t=916

When you get to flocking stage, an alternative to the electrostatic flocking is self adhesive flocking that comes on a roll - Steve (WhiteKnight on here) did it a few years ago and it looks really good. The idea is it stops the condensation drips from forming on the thin metal roof.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

Patrick
  • Holly - 1972 Searle Carawagon Continental Ultimate (200 TDi)
  • Basil - 1969 Searle SWB (Prima TD)
User avatar
RMS
Posts: 2236
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2012 12:02 am
Location: Near Wakefield, UK, in God's own Country!

Re: Carawagon roof or plans

Post by RMS » Sat Sep 30, 2017 12:49 pm

I think there are much simpler/easier elevating roofs rather than trying to copy a Carawagon roof.

It's not just the wood sides/ends, the flexible Duralinium sheets and the hundreds of rivets and tiny screws, but the roof frame and inside strengthening pieces as well which would need to be very carefully measured and replicated, and the original roof panel itself is not only cut out, but also re-shaped at the front.
Having replaced the woodwork on several Carawagon roofs, it's not something I would consider making from scratch unless I really wanted the traditional look.

Have a look at other designs first, like the Xpanda or other more modern ones which hinge at the back or front and use canvas or plywood sides.
I'm sure something like that would be much easier to make from scratch than a Carawagon roof, in my opinion :tiphat:

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

Re: Carawagon roof or plans

Post by DrivingDutchman » Mon Oct 09, 2017 1:53 am

Who was it on the LATP who had made the electrical roof of a Bongo to fit on the 109?
That looked fab...
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...
User avatar
RMS
Posts: 2236
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2012 12:02 am
Location: Near Wakefield, UK, in God's own Country!

Re: Carawagon roof or plans

Post by RMS » Mon Oct 09, 2017 5:52 am

Martyn, but don't ask him to do another as it was quite a job to make it fit :aaagh:
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)
woollen797
Posts: 238
Joined: Wed Nov 05, 2014 1:21 pm
Contact:

Re: Carawagon roof or plans

Post by woollen797 » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:06 am

Post Reply