Date:         Mon, 9 Jul 2001 14:25:55 -0400
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Canvas Replacement ?? OEM  Quality ??  Three Window??
Comments: To: steve@syncro.org
In-Reply-To:  <3B49E21B.3E7F52D7@syncro.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

>> Bus Boys, WCM, RMMW, JC Whitney, myself, and just about everyone else
ship the
>> identical canvas from the same factory, which is the only major supplier
of this part in the
>> industry.

> Sure this is correct?  I have seen several different
> types of replacements.  Is the stock VW replacement
> still available?


Well, I can't say that there aren't any independent shops or individuals
that make one or a few by hand and sell them privately etc. But as far as an
actual poptop canvas manufacturer who sells to the trade, yes there is just
one, and they supply just about every VW parts retailer, from the big
companies to the smaller ones.  Some of the retailers buy them direct from
the factory (as I do); others get them indirectly via middlemen, but either
way it's the same canvas.

The stock VW replacement canvas hasn't appeared in their cost sheets for
quite some time. Given that a $50 poptop seal is about $300 from VW, I can
only imagine how much a whole canvas must have cost when last available. :-(

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215) 234-VWVW



>
> The Bus Depot wrote:
> >
> > > I need a source for high  (OEM) quality replacement canvas.   Must be
> > > grey color with white screens.
> > >
> > > (I returned one from Busboys ..not up to OEM quality and side windows
> > > too small)
> >
> > Well, then you'll probably have to make your own.  Bus Boys,
> WCM, RMMW, JC
> > Whitney, myself, and just about everyone else ship the
> identical canvas from
> > the same factory, which is the only major supplier of this part in the
> > industry. Only the price varies from source to source. Actually
> very good
> > quality, according to many of my customers.  Sunbrella fabric
> is optionally
> > available at additional cost, but the window size would be the same.
> >
> > - Ron Salmon
> >   The Bus Depot, Inc.
> >   www.busdepot.com
> >   (215) 234-VWVW