re trimming dormatic seats

Top of Forum Technical Land Rover re trimming dormatic seats

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  • #628

    I have a set of 2A seats, all need retrimming. Ive seen Exmoor do elephant hide retrim kits. My foam is 44 years old and ought to be replaced. Has anyone got horror or success stories on their DIY efforts. Where does this job sit on a scale of 1-10 or should I head to the nearest specialist trimmers immediately?

    Any recommendations on the last point?

    Thank y’all

    #2998
    jkhackney
    Participant

      I’d like to know, too, please! I think I could struggle through it, myself, and do a nice job. But my seatcovers aren’t original and won’t give me hints as to how to install the Exmoor replacements. A more direct how-to would be great, rather than trial-and-error.

      My seats smell like a wet dog. I’ve had a few comments from passengers … might also be time to look at replacing the stuffing.

      -Jeremy

      #2999

      Hi Jeremy,

      Ive opted to send them up to a trimmer in Lancs who has done a Bedford CA very nicely from what I can see on his website. Ive had the same misgivings about launching out with the Exmoor kit.

      I’m sending the seat bases and backs up next week for a quote, I’ll report back! Good news is he’s sourced Elephant hide trim

      #3000

      If indeed he has sourced Elephant hide trim then he has the key to the holy grail and can I be first in line please for his contact No.

      I have bought but not yet installed the Exmoor offering and am very happy with it but it is not the same engrained pattern as the original.

      Contact No. for trimmer please?

      Kind regards

      Paul

      PS the original seats were not foam, they were sprung with detailed wadding, hessian, horsehair and all sorts

      #3001
      jkhackney
      Participant

        I have ordered the Exmoor covers because even if I found the ideal covering material it would likely cost the same, and I don’t have the originals for patterns, anyway. It’s a project I’d have loved to do, myself, but I can spend the time on other things that are even more fun.

        I’ll photograph my progress with the seats, probably in summer sometime, and make the pictures available. I have this horsehair stuff all over my seatbox, and springs poking my behind. So even if my seatcovers aren’t original, the insides probably are.

        -Jeremy

        #3002

        He has contacted Exmoor so he will be using the same material as them. They will supply material at about £29 per metre

        His contact details are http://www.classiccoachtrimming.co.uk/ Colin Bleasdale. Nice chap

        #3003
        jkhackney
        Participant

          I got my Exmoor “doormobile” seat covers today! About 4 weeks after ordering from Craddock.

          It seems to be a finely-textured vinyl-coated fabric with a photograph of original Elephant Hide printed on it? Quite strange stuff. Very rubbery.The real Elephant Hide I still have on the seat bases is hard, slick, and deeply gnarled.

          The Exmoor stuff will certainly do, until someone starts making Elephant Hide again.

          The question is, do I install them, now, and let the kids destroy them, or do I leave the haggard seats in until the kids are old enough to remember not to abuse the furniture?

          -Jeremy

          #3004
          wyvern
          Participant

            Hi Jeremy,
            I’d fit them and put covers on them to keep them protected from said children – that way you ahve a finished project that you cah admire and use the waggon with out the worry of the seats being trashed!
            Happy Camping !

            #3005
            AlexB
            Participant

              @jkhackney wrote:

              I’ll photograph my progress with the seats, probably in summer sometime, and make the pictures available. I have this horsehair stuff all over my seatbox, and springs poking my behind. So even if my seatcovers aren’t original, the insides probably are.

              -Jeremy

              How things on the seat re-trim front Jeremy?

              It would be great to see your progress.

              Alex

              #3006
              jkhackney
              Participant

                Hi Alex,

                I only re-covered the driver’s seat, which was poking me with a spring and dropping hairs all over the seatbox.

                [attachment=4:t2rxfqws]OldSeat01.jpg[/attachment:t2rxfqws]

                I foudn a “Martin Walter” label loose inside the seat, so I’m pretty sure the innards are original.

                The seat has a coil spring frame with about 50 springs per cushion (driver’s seat, rear seats). These are covered with a composite cushion consisting of a layer of burlap, a layer of cotton felt, and a 5/8″ (16mm) thick layer of foam rubber.

                I found two broken springs and removed one, using the best “halves” of the two to make a new, complete one, and replacing the removed one with a roll of foam rubber. I removed or re-bent some of the springs around the edge of the spring assembly which were responsible for poking me. I lubricated all the springs with old motor oil before re-assembly. After I rebuilt the seat I found a source for inexpensive new springs. Someday I may open it up again …

                The soft cushion is rectangular and is folded over at the sides, then again over the ends of the spring frame, where it is stapled to the spring assembly. The vinide cover goes over this.

                [attachment=3:t2rxfqws]TheTwoOriginalFoamPadsWithBurlapLiner.jpg[/attachment:t2rxfqws]

                [attachment=2:t2rxfqws]OriginalFoamOverSprings.jpg[/attachment:t2rxfqws]

                I replaced the fabric with muslin and synthetic fleece I had left over from another sewing project. I had a choice between 15mm and 20mm foam rubber and chose the latter; perhaps I should have stayed with the thinner version as the Doormobile covers had to be manhandled on.

                [attachment=1:t2rxfqws]BackrestWithNewFoam.jpg[/attachment:t2rxfqws]

                [attachment=0:t2rxfqws]BackrestWithDoormobileCover.jpg[/attachment:t2rxfqws]

                I also stripped the black paint, sanded off the rust, primed and re-painted white.

                The Doormobile seat looks good when finished, and it’s much more comfortable, now. I’ll do the rest of the seats when needed.

                -Jeremy

                #3007
                AlexB
                Participant

                  Many thanks Jeremy
                  Looks really good and worth the effort.

                  Mick will be impressed when you see him next week(?)

                  #3008
                  jkhackney
                  Participant

                    @AlexB wrote:

                    Many thanks Jeremy
                    Looks really good and worth the effort.

                    Mick will be impressed when you see him next week(?)

                    I think I’ll impress him if I can keep up with the TDI ;^)

                    The effort on the seat is minimal because the reward is high; the Exmoor products do fit well and look nice.

                    We were just camping last night with a newly re-commissioned 1962 LR Dormobile from Lucerne. It’s the third LR Series 2A Dormobile I know of in Switzerland including mine. It has RED Dormobile seats, tan exterior, and bright green curtains.

                    I had wondered if the red was original but the owner thinks that any original seat would have piping, which his don’t have.

                    -Jeremy

                    #3009
                    AlexB
                    Participant

                      I have posted a couple of photos on the welcome bit of my progress so far.

                      A long way to go though.

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