Roof springs
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Just reading through other posts and have realised that my (very heavy) Dormie roof should be spring assisted.
Can anyone tell me where the relevant mechanism should go, and what it looks like? No obvious signs I can see.
I understand that there is a company making new Dormobile roofs – do they also make spare parts or is it a question of getting your own made?
I was also wondering if it is possible to buy replacement folding material for the roof – mine has a couple of patches already and I suspect it might new a new one soon.
Any help much appreciated,
JohnThe company is Dormobile !
website http://www.dormobile.co.uk/
Just had my 110 converted.
They do spares (have to be a bit patient ) and manufacture and convert.Jeremy (of this forum) has done lots to his springs recently – he might be able to send you photos or post them. They go on the bottom of the supports – cant explain more without the aid of pictures
Thanks Alex. Maybe I need a few holes in the roof for ventilation, so perhaps can leave this for a while!
Would like to fix springs if Jeremy can help
John
The springs are two “spiral torsion springs” that fit around the roof support arm pivot point as shown at the right side of this pic (the rusty bits).
regards,
Carl K.
typical spiral torsion springs:
Hi,
just back from vacation so I haven’t been following the forums.In addition to the springs, there are brass washers you might need if they’ve been lost from your lifting arm assembly. I don’t remember how many or which order they are put into the assembly (next to the arm or next to the bracket, or both). The original bolt is slotted to accept the springs … see that you get a slotted bolt if yours has been lost.
The springs can apparently tolerate quite a tension. It was mentioned somewhere in Dormobile Lore that this is a dangerous job. Maybe, if you try it with the arms in place! But doing it sensibly isn’t scary at all.
Assemble the lifter arm/springs as in Carl’s photo, with the springs slack (you will see that they insert in the slotted bolt and that turning the bolt adjusts the tension), and install them in the roof. Lift the roof and lock the arms. One at a time, undo the top of one lifter arm from the fiberglass roof and collapse the telescoping part. Let the arm fall toward the hinged side of the fiberglass roof. Loosen the bolt that holds the spring such that you can turn the spring. Turn the spring until its little hooks touch the protrusions on the lifter arm. The bolt will have to be rotated to just the right angle in order to go back into the lifter arm assembly and lock in the setting. You might need to put a wrench on it (11/16″ i think ?) to get it rotated the last bit. While holding the bolt there with slight pressure on the spring, tighten the nut (5/8″ maybe?) until the bolt is drawn into the mounting bracket, which will hold its position. You can now pull the arm up against the spring, extend it, and re-install it in the fiberglass roof. You will definitely feel strong spring tension while doing this. Then do the other one. Takes 5 minutes if nothing’s rusty!
-Jeremy
Thanks for all your help with roofsprings and seatbelts – this is a great forum.
With a bit of closer inspection (and thanks to your help) I have discovered that I do have the correct springs in my roof after all, it’s just that the previous owner has fitted them the wrong way round. No wonder the roof was heavy to lift!
Had my first night in the Dormobile with my two boys yesterday – a great adventure for them.
Cheers
John
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