New Member ‘Doris’ 110 Dormobile

[jcbayfield]

Hello to all! Please welcome ‘Doris’

My family and I have just become the proud owners of a slightly newer Dormobile conversion. We have called ‘Doris’
The roof I believe was fitted 4-5 years ago onto a solid, but high milage 1996 110 SW.

As part of our quest to improve Doris, I wonder if anybody in the forum can help uswith ideas and solutions to a few improvements we would like to make.

1) As with Stig’s post (2006). Fold flat seats for a 110 Dormobile. Other than the £2,000 set supplied by Dormobile UK, which look impressive, does anybody know of anybody who has come up with a different solution. The four seat set fold into two single beds but with the loss of two seats which we need for the constant child taxi service. I am looking for 2nd row fold flat seats which fit a 110, the aim to make a double bed. Any Ideas?
Any spare 2nd row Folding seats?

2) I would like to put in a dual battery system with a mains hookup as well, I understand how to do this, in theory…… but would appreciate anybody’s experience / ideas on the best way of achieving a flexible system.

We live in Devon and recently parked next to a newly converted TD5 completed by Dormobile UK based in Romsey, which I understand for all the original Dormobile purists may be a step too far, but it is an impressive modern conversion with a lot of features I hope to add to in the coming months.

My thanks goes out to Martin the owner who gave me some very helpful information about a front and rear rack combination he has on his vehicle.
Yes…. I know rear rack…. Where do you attach it…. He has a rear bar with a roller that allows him to carry a 16ft Canadian canoe over the top of his roof. I was very impressed. Doris has the front rack, the back rack is a winter workshop project.

I would also like to point anybody who is thinking of a new conversion towards Dormobile in Romsey. (Just off the M27) Tim De Bues the owner is very helpful and when I visited was repairing an original roof from a wrecked Dormobile.

[Jonny]

Hi Welcome to the forum, if you have any photos you can post we would love to see them. I can’t help with the seats, but can offer advice on the second battery.

I have two Dormobiles, one Landrover and one Sherpa, both have duel battery one with 240v as well (Sherpa) and one without (Landrover) Both were installed by myself and are quite easy, but I’ve learn’t a few things along the way.

Landrover – Second battery is under the passenger seat and links to the charging circuit via a switch relay.

Advantages – fit and forget it does all the work for you, once the vehicle has started the relay detects the increased voltage and switches on allowing power into the second battery.

Disadvantages – If your second battery is already fully charged when you start the vehicle and the relay allows power in to the battery the charge in the circut is at it’s maximum as the car starting battery requires a top up following starting the car, this can cause overcharging of the second battery and it’s life can be shortened.

Sherpa– Second battery in the engine bay manual switch under the dash board. 240v hook up

Having learnt from the landrover experiance I put in a manual switch, at any time I can link both batteries to charge in either direction main to spare and the other way round. The battery lasts a lot longer and if the second gets low I can boost it with the engine starter (risky if this gets flat you can’t start the engine)

The 240v system is separate, the mains hook up is via a panel in the side, it goes to a domestic RCB, then to an extension lead with multi plugs which in turn go to the different areas. I’ve installed a trickle charger which works from 240v but charges the 2nd battery. This is great when the vehicle is not in use. Because I can link both batteries I can keep the engine starter charged at the same time.

The trickle charger is only 1.5amps and will turn off when not needed. I’ve not needed a bigger charger yet as the altenator copes will most scenarios for putting power back in when on the move, and if you are using 240v then you’ll not be using the 12v. Having said that I’ve not used the vehicle in winter when more stress would be on the 12v system (lights on for longer etc) battery efficiency decreases in colder weather as well.

Regards
John

[jcbayfield]

Thanks Jonny,

I will post some pictures up.

Any chance of a simple diagram, info on type of switch relay you have used?
Over charging the 2nd battery was what I am worried about, a friend in a camper wrecked his battery in a summer due to over charging.

The trickle charger sounds perfect, especially since it can charge either battery.

Many thanks for your suggestions.

John

[Jabbawocky]

Hi John

I have a spare pair of dormatic rear folding seats, but they are pretty useless on there own, without the front seats? Remember that the 109″ and the 110″ are the same vehicle. If you get a full set of seats they will fit in your 110″. The only problem is finding a set.

Mick 07815 882365

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