Hey from Carlisle

[jerryd]

Looks good Dan I like the colour

I'll take a few shots of my driver's seat tomorrow in daylight, will post them up for saturday am your time I think.
Do the previous owners not know what happened to the wardrobe

[DanC]

Yes, it got taken out to make some room for everyday use and was subsequently left at a house when they moved, either on the Isle of Bute or in Hertfordshire, not sure which...... Either way, it is gone.

The late PO's wife is looking to see if the seat is stored somewhere, but I don't hold out much hope. I suspect it was probably ripped and then the later seat put in instead, the Dormi was used as an everyday vehicle for several years with a one piece roof rack over the pop up roof.

Dan

[AlexB]

Dan
Looks a great buy.
I will be having a wardrobe made for my other Dormobile sometime (also purchased from Scotland and b'aht wardrobe). Can't remember the price - £250 ish I think. I could ask for 2 while he is doing it?

I have also had all the seats recovered and repadded. £250 and a nice job too.(Tony Archer Huddersfield)

Regards Dormatic seats, I can only wish you luck in your quest.

Alex

[DanC]

Sounds a great deal on the seats, I will give them a call... Would be nice to find the drivers seat or maybe I will have to make one if someone can measure the detail for me? Might be interested in wardrobe, Mick said he could make one as well, just not sure what configuration I want, thought about maybe modifying a filing cabinet so I have lockable drawers? Overall though I am well pleased with the originality (including owners manuals etc, I even have the instruction manual for the 8v strip light) and the general condition of the vehicle and the interior. This Dormy is February 1962, I take it that is quite early?

If anybody finds a drivers dormatic no matter what condition, keep me in mind, just be nice to complete it!

[DanC]

Well, for those that don't frequent the S2C Forum, 'The Wagon' passed the MOT today with no advisories and a lot of compliments from the tester!! She is now MOT'd and taxed and sitting outside my house looking rather splendid! Unfortunately the front n/s brake was cooked on the way home which makes me suspect a flexi has just given up on me (she did sit for several years and they were on the list anyway)... Observations during my 50 mile jaunt!

They cruise lovely at 55mph although you hear a lot more rattles due to sound proofing!
It doesn't like going at 30mph, just doesn't seem to be a gear to suit
The brakes are great (or were)
The steering damper makes a big difference
Everybody loves it!

Roll on spring (or winter if I can find a heater, had one on ebay but someone got it whilst I was at lunch, and it was in Carlisle)...

[Peaceand]

That's excellent news Dan!

Congratulations to both you and 'The Wagon', won't be long before you are off adventuring with her

Patrick

[RMS]

That's great Dan, well done on getting it through with no advisories.

Re. 30mph; have you tried 3rd overdrive? That would split 3rd & 4th which might be just right.

Soundproofing makes such a difference, doesn't it? we put a lot in to Patrick's Carawagon, including bulkhead soundproofing before the engine went in. Even door cards make a big difference.
You can carry out a normal conversation at motorway speeds, and that's with a 200TDi
Mine is a bit noisier as I haven't really got much to deaden the sound in yet.

Good luck with the heater search - hopefully you will get a couple of weekends away before next year's show season

We're looking forward to seeing it in the flesh

Cheers,
Robin.

[DanC]

Thanks both,

No overdrive fitted as yet, I have one but it has the 88" linkage, I am also wondering if it wouldn't get in the way of the double bed!! It is a pleasure to drive, just need to sort that darn front brake out now, was avoiding messing with the brakes to much as it starts with one thing and before you know it you have replaced the lot...

[RMS]

Ah, sorry Dan. For some reason I thought you'd mentioned an overdrive at some time

I know what you mean about brakes - I ended up replacing all the cylinders on my Carawagon, but that's because the PO had replaced them with new some years before and never got around to putting brake fluid in. It then sat on his drive until they all corroded from the inside - no red grease or anything to protect them

Hopefully it will just be the flexi - a cheap repair even if you replace all three.

I assume you know the trick to prove it? Pump up the brakes then after a few seconds crack the bleed nipple on the affected brake. If fluid spurts out rather than dribbling, you know that pressure is being held there

Cheers,
Robin.

[DanC]

I didn't Robin, but thanks I will do that...

I am not worried at the moment, it is road legal, taxed and parked safely outside my house, so no rush (and it is chucking down again!!!). I am fairly sure it is a flexi, the rear wheels are in perfect balance, the o/s wheel recorded a great result on the brake test, the n/s (the dodgy one) not quite as good, it started squealing just before home and was red hot, the others were all cool, so at least it isn't the MC this time!!!

Intending to wash and polish it tomorrow!! Take all the curtains out and wash them and generally give it a spruce up, it looks like it has been around the world already....