Good replacement for the bunk bed fabric

[Ian]

I had similar tartan material on my bunk beds when I first acquired the Dormobile. Quite took me back to deck chairs on the beach and summer holidays in Blackpool. But the material was torn so had to go. I did do one trip with the original bunk covers. Talk about living dangerously! But I survived that trip although the rear spring hanger didn't.

I spent the big bucks and bought the replacement bunk covers from Jim at Dormobile Ltd. I feel a lot safer at night now......

Ian

[Calum]

Very novel! I am going to look closely at my bunks before re-fitting. They might get a similar treatment!

[lightweightles]

Great idea will definately give this a go as mine have a couple of rips in them

[AlexB]

Brilliant Michiel

Thanks for sharing

[AlexB]

Now for the te3chnical bit
How did you fit them?

Did you take the end of the frame or unpick the stitching and resew ?

[DrivingDutchman]

Hi Alex,

I suppose you got the vango beds then?

You need to unpick the ends of the tunnels and resew the side so they are going from end to end. Obviously both ends of the tunnel have to be open.
You have to take the ends of the dormobile bunks to slide the fabric over the poles. I just took the complete beds out and did it all inside the house, much easier. Once the beds are reassembled, just bolt them back in place.
The fabric is probably 1 to 2 cm too long over the length of the dormobile bunk, but I didn't alter that. Over time it just sits perfect. I have used this now for a few seasons and they are still great, no sagging, ripping.

Michiel

[AlexB]

Thanks Michiel
I have some on order - they didn't seem that many about when I looked.

How easy to take the end off the bunk ?

I have managed to get one unsiezed and now moves (folds and unfolds) but have not looked at taking apart yet. DOes it just tap off ?

[DrivingDutchman]

It is fairly easy.
There are plastic plates that hold the fabric in place at each end of the bunk pole. They are fixed with pop rivets. You will need to drill them out or cut them off with a chisel. Once these are undone, the ends come off very easy. Maybe you might need to tap them off. When I refitted mine I used flat headed screws to secure the ends to the poles. You won't see them afterwards as the fabric slides over them.
I think these plastic plates were there to prevent the fabric from sliding to wards the centre of the poles when pressure is applied. I believe also that these rivets through the fabric promote tearing and ripping the fabric. So that is why I use screws under the new fabric rather than putting them through the fabric creating weak-spots.
Hope this helps a bit?

I will try and upload some pictures when I get home tonight or tomorrow morning as I'm working till 11 pm today.

Cheers,

Michiel

[DrivingDutchman]

Upon looking for pictures, I found that I posted them already in my original post. I havo no other pictures unfortunately.

Michiel

[AlexB]

Sorted Michiel

Once the rivets are off that hold the fabric on, the ends tap out.

One bunk needs just sanding and painting, the other needs repair to the ends, so won't be done very quickly, but now I have the knowledge and material. Thanks again