LRCC

Has anyone got some detailed pics of how some of these fold flat seats work?

I'm considering trying to re-make a set for myself!

Cheers

Matt

If you mean the ones in Dormobiles, they are called Dormatic seats.

I'm sure someone with a Dormobile would be able to take some pictures for you, though they don't just fold - they fold and slide at the same time so the mechanism isn't simple

If you do a google image search for Dormatic seats, you'll find loads of pictures, though perhaps not in the detail you would need to copy them.

HERE, I've done the search for you

Cheers,
Robin.

Thanks for the start Robin!

Are the ones in a carawagon any different?

Yep, to make these from scratch could be quite the task.

are there readily available frames around which people use to start a resto where the interior is missing?

I'm coming at this with a very basic knowledge of carawagon and domobiles. Much more knowledge on a standard 109!!

m

Hi Matt. dormatic seats are as rare as rockie horses droppings for the land rover.At present mine are out getting recovered I can take photo,s if you would like, but in my opinion they are quite a complicated thing to copy/remanufacture .Hopefully mine will be back together shortly and up and running and then start to use it.Even after the seats re-fitted it will still be an ongoing project curtains/carpets/furniture gas and water to fit,if I can be of any assistance give me a shout and ill do my best to help... cheers Les

Hi Matt,

The Carawagon seats are generally separate squabs and backs which are not permanently fixed and can be moved into different positions.

For example, in the standard 2 door 109" Carawagon, there's a plywood/blockwood base in the back with a long bench seat squab which fits on top using blocks of wood underneath to locate it. When using it as a bed, the bench seat pulls out towards the cupboard, and is supported on three legs on the 'pulled out' edge and the wooden base at the back.
The seat back then drops down horizontally to fill the gap between the squab and the side of the Carawagon.
There's a 6" or so gap between the bed and the cupboard.

The front seat arrangement is to remove the squabs from the passenger and middle seats, fold the seat backs down, then put the squabs on the back of the seat backs.
There are wooden sections etc. to locate the squabs so they 'lock' into position.

That's just one arrangement - there are others, for example the SW version like Patrick's and a twin bed version like one of my projects, and sometimes the centre seat is a cubby box with a padded top, but none of the Carawagons, as far as I know, use a mechanical folding system.

Here are a couple of pictures I have to hand - not one of my Carawagons, but they show the rear seat of a 'standard' 2 door Carawagon with the bed out and put away.
It looks like this one has the centre cubby box, and that the front passenger seat hasn't been folded yet.





Cheers,
Robin.

That's VERY interesting, thanks Robin!

If anyone has them, i'd be interested in seeing some shots of a front seat folded ready for sleeping and a carawagon arrangement for a station wagon!

many thanks,

Matt

Does anyone have some pics of a carawagon station wagon or a carawagon front seat set up for sleeping?

Cheers!

I'm sure Patrick will oblige when he next uses his, but meanwhile, here are some brochure images showing the arrangement for the Station Wagon version (Carawagon Ultimate Continental):




Dining:


Bed:


I do like the table lamp - I must look out for a similar one for mine


I must admit that, apart from the bed being a bit of a faff to set up compared to the 2 door version, Patrick's does have more usable space once set up due to the side door area, though it is has less cupboard space.
Oh, and the forward facing double rear seat is really comfortable on long journeys - Susan spent most of our Morocco trip asleep on there on the 'boring' long stretches



Robin.

HI Matt

The seats are complicated and very clever. They slide forward when they fold and this makes best use of the space. It leaves space for the good sized cooker unit and wardrobe. It also leaves a space in the center of the vehicle to stand in for dressing/undressing and also enough space for the Porta Potti. This last feature is probably the main reason why Louise has traveled around Europe and Morocco in our Dormobile.

When I restore the Carawagon, I plan to try and make a simplified version of the Dormatic seats. When I get the first set made, I may make some sets to sell. The only problem would be the price! I bet there is a good weeks work making the frames and then there would be the cost of the seat cushions. I guess the price would be £1000 - £1200. Would anyone be prepared to pay?

Cheers Mick

I was pondering the mechanisms myself, and thinking that all the nice flat, simple linkages would be very easy to waterjet/laser cut...

You could make a killing selling proper replica Dormatic seats, but I suspect there would be a copyright problem...

Ant