Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2005 20:56:09 -0700
Reply-To: millo fenzi <fenzi@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: millo fenzi <fenzi@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: new pop top canvas installed
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.4.61.0508011024530.30089@piper>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Recently replaced the pop-top canvas (Gowesty) on my 86 Westy Weekender and
would echo Matt's comments with some variations:
First remove the existing canvas, bottom edge first. Use plastic cups to
capture the 8 million screws that come out. Upper screws are different from
the lower screws. Mark the metal strips so that you can put them back where
they came from.
1. Remove the pop-top from the bus. Leave the rear hinges attached to the
pop-top. Leave the front hinge attached to the bus. This is a 2 person job!
Even easier with three TALL people. Remove the upper bunk cushions (the
covers need to be washed anyway!)
2. Measure and make mid-point marks on all eight (4 top, 4 bottom) edges of
the canvas. Make 4 midpoint marks on the pop-top and 4 on the roof of the
bus.
3. Put the poptop upside down on some saw horses and attach the canvas to
it. Line the canvas mid-points up on the pop-top midpoints and start putting
in the 8 million screws thru the metal strips at those midpoints. Then work
towards the corners. Do the corners last. While doing the corners loosely
group the fabric as necessary to avoid wrinkles
4. Tie the rear poptop hinges shut. Flip the poptop over and put the pop-top
and attached canvas back on the bus. Bolt it on. Use sealant so the bolts
don't leak.
5. Use a 2x4 to prop the pop-top up about 3 feet.
6. Line up the lower edge canvas midpoint marks with the roof midpoint
marks. Put the screws closest to the midpoint marks thru the metal strips
first, then work towards the corners. The corners, in particular the front
corners, will be a pain as the canvas is so tight that one cannot get a
screw driver lined up on top of the screws. While the canvas is not as tight
on the back corners you are squashed into the claustrophoic back end of the
pop-top as it is only propped up about 3 feet. I used a cut off very short
stubby screwdriver and a ratchet screwdriver I have that is only 1/2 in
tall. Push hard on the canvas and scream obscenities at it. Crying also
helps. (I cried at one point after spending 20 minutes to get exactly one
screw in) Key learning - DO NOT attempt this on a hot sunny day as it gets
very steamy in the cramped upper bunk area.
7. Put the upper bunk cushions back in.
8. Take a well deserved rest in the upper bunk and revel in the gentle
breeze wafting thru the 3 screened openings.
While the four lower corners were an absolute *%$@!!!~~~**&% to do this
approach yielded a wrinkle-free canvas.
Total time - about six hours over three days. Time breakdown as follows:
1 hour to remove old canvas, pull upper bunk cushions and unbolt the pop-top
5 minutes with a buddy to lift the pop-top off and turn it over on sawhorses
15 minutes to measure and mark all of the midpoints
1 hour to attach the canvas to the upside down pop-top
10 minutes with a buddy to get the pop-top back on the bus
30 minutes to bolt the pop-top back on the bus
3 hours - including 30 minutes for each corner - to get the lower edge of
the canvas attached
cheers
Millo
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Matt Barclay
Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 4:30 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: new pop top canvas installed
"White Man's Burden" got a new pop-top canvas and lived up to its name:
http://gallery.openfbo.com/PopTopCanvas
My recommendations if you get a new canvas:
1. Take the damned pop-top off the camper and screw in four screws per
corner. The corners are the tightest part of the canvas. I tried to save
time and effort by installing the canvas with the pop-top still on the
camper. HUGE mistake. Wasted a good 10 hours altogether. Once I got
the pop top off, it was a 5 hour job.
2. With the top corners holding the canvas to the pop-top, put the
pop-top back on the camper.
3. Screw in the middle of each bottom side. The bottom of the canvas has
a rubber strip that butts up against the metal tacking strips. Work your
way out to the corners stretching the canvas out a little bit at a time.
4. Screw in the rest of the top of the canvas, taking up slack in the
fabric. My canvas has several inches of slack at the top:
http://gallery.openfbo.com/PopTopCanvas/img_3898
5. Find a local supplier for the screws and pop-top attachment nuts.
Those screws get stripped or lost in the grass easily.
I sure am happy with it, now that its done. The breeze through the three
windows is great during these hot summer days.
Cheers,
Matt
