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Series III Dormobile |
A hole is cut in the roof; a molded fibreglass side-lifting roof then covered this. It was designed to accommodate 4 people, two folding roof bunks for upper accommodation and the seats formed the lower accommodation, these were designed to fold flat creating either a double bed sized sleeping or two single beds.
The standard internal layout consisted of a table that could be folded on the inside of the back door, a cooker, a sink, 2 plastic water bottles and either a wardrobe or refrigerator. Although is should be noted vehicles were built to order so the standard layout can be very different.
Optional extras available included a front roof tropical shield or a front roof rack. Some Dormobiles only received a pop up roof and had no caravan interior features others had sidelights remounted so that fuel and water cans could be carried above the front bumper.
Five 3-door Range Rover Dormobiles were produced for a special order during the 1970's. These had the lift up roof and 2 cloth covered top bunks but no cooking facility.
The company closed for business in 1994 but has now been resurrected and are once again offering they services. A simple Lifting Roof for a 110/109 Landrover is £950, a full Landrover conversion including lifting roof, 2 bunks, kitchen, cooler, dual batteries, storage lockers and roof rack is priced at £4550.
Carawagon
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Carawagon |
Body modifications were Land Rover approved these included adapting the rear side benches, cutting down into the wheel wells to provide storage space, also the bulkhead behind the front seats of 3-door vehicles was removed. Fold down front seats were added that made a twin bed and in the 4 berth 2 roll-out hammocks were added.
A Carawagon can be identified by the full length elevating roof which is formed by the aluminium and marine plywood pop up structure that when extended produces up to 6’ 2" head space inside the vehicle, a short roof rack is usually fitted above the cab. Although most vehicles have the pop up roof some do not, these usually had a full-length roof rack fitted.
The standard internal configuration was either twin opposing rear bench seats that convert to twin beds with a removable table in the middle or a single bench seat to the left with a cabinet to the right. Features of both options included storage cupboard, sink with either a hand or foot pump, 9 gallon water storage, and a 2 burner stove with broiler normally mounted to the inside of the rear door and folded up for storage and florescent lamps. Although is should be noted vehicles were built to order so the standard layout can be very different.
Optional extras include a dual fuel refrigerator, roof mount hammock beds, dual battery, air conditioning, fuel fired heater, a portable toilet and fly screens. A rear tent or awning was also available, this had a built in exrending slide out frame.
Models are "Ultimate" 109" 2/4 berth elevating roof, "Continental" 2 berth 109" or 110", "Ulysses" 110" 2/4 berth with elevating roof or the "Safari 88 88" 2 berth vehicles.
The MoD are known to have ordered 34 vehicles for use as tactical command and control vehicles.
Other Campers
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Various Camper conversions |
PSI based in France produce a vacuum-molded polyester body with a galvanised sub-frame giving good insulation and rigidity. The interior includes a fridge, 2-ring gas cooker, a sink supplied by a 120 litre tank and a toilet. The 4/5 berth body will fit a 110 or 130 Defender.
A similar vehicle to a Dormobile was built in the USA on the 88" chassis. It was called the "X-Panda Cab" it had a pop up roof that was hinged at the rear. These vehicle’s were sold through the US Land Rover dealerships, these were not popular to the limited space available.
A number of vehicles are one-off projects such as the 6x6 in pictured here.