Walter the Dormobile

**gromit** · 26th January 2026, 04:43 PM

I removed the roof vent & seals with help of one of my daughters.

The original perspex vent & operating mechanism must have been replaced many years ago by an owner who loved making things from aluminium.
The seal holders comprised several pieces of aluminium and a lot of screws. I can replace multiple parts with some pinchweld, it seems some VW suppliers offer this type of seal for Combi Dormobiles. I can buy pinchweld very similar locally.

Next problem will be the vent opening mechanism. Something like the original is available from Dormobile UK.

I can't find anything similar 'locally' so I may re-fit the previous owners mechanism. I'll have to drill through the pinchweld to install but that shouldn't be a problem.
Not sure if/how I'll install flywire in the vent.

Shopping tomorrow.....nuts & bolts, pinchweld and undercoat.

Colin

**V8Ian** · 26th January 2026, 06:25 PM

Colin, are the vents the type that can open in two directions? If so try a Kenworth dealer or Kenworth Australia at Bayswater. If they can't supply them, they might tell you who supplies them.

**gromit** · 26th January 2026, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Colin, are the vents the type that can open in two directions? If so try a Kenworth dealer or Kenworth Australia at Bayswater. If they can't supply them, they might tell you who supplies them.

Hi Ian,
They only open in one direction, hinged on one side, the picture shows the 'style' of opener. I did a Google picture search and only came up with Dormobile UK and a VW supplier.

I'm reasonably happy with the 'home made' solution it was just the number of pieces of aluminium that held the seal in-place. Fitting a pinch weld resolves that problem.

Colin

**gromit** · 27th January 2026, 08:01 PM

Too hot to do much today so I went shopping.
Managed to get the bolts I needed plus some for other projects.
Also collected 2-pack undercoat, pinchweld and stainless hinges (for the roof vent).

The formers and hot weather did a better job of getting the Masonite to take a permanent curve.
One side of the former is plain, this is against the side that will be on display. The other side has holes to help the drying process.

I've been looking at Dormobile photos online and there's a few other panels needed, luckily they are all flat.

Colin

**gromit** · 1st February 2026, 04:06 PM

Slowly getting the roof sanded down and filling in holes made by a previous owner.
I found a couple of small cracks & stars in the gelcoat that will have to be ground out !

Back to work tomorrow so I'll have to hope for a weekend soon with good weather for outdoor spray painting......

Colin

**gromit** · 7th February 2026, 07:18 PM

Spent the morning doing some final prep on the Dormobile roof, then masked up & undercoated.

Spraying outside as no room in any of the sheds. Up and down ladders each side was a pain but no other way to reach !
2-pack undercoat applied, need to lightly sand and apply 2-pack topcoat, maybe tomorrow.

Next the roof cap, problem is where to store it between coats. May get undercoat applied tomorrow but potentially rain at some point.

Colin

**gromit** · 8th February 2026, 01:47 PM

The Dormobile was in the garage last night, undercoat hardened so after a quick going over with 400 grade I was ready to apply the Limestone 2-pack.

After the roof was finished I painted the vent lid. Once it was touch dry I parked it back in the garage.

After masking up I managed to get undercoat on the roof cap, it had just flashed off and looked like rain !
Moved it under the eaves of the house right outside the back door, SWMBO isn't impressed.

Colin

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