Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 13:13:19 -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: What's your after market canvas recommendation?
In-Reply-To: <978B3AE5-FDDC-4B00-9908-3EE846C05822@eoni.com>
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> Got mine through http://www.aabestco.com
Other than our canvas (we use multiple sources, as I'll explain), virtually
all poptop canvas sold in the U.S. comes from the same factory, whether you
buy it from AA Best, GoWesty, CIP, myself, or whoever. So if you want the
common cotton or acrylic canvas that you see advertised , you might as well
buy it from whomever has the best price (which, I believe, is us). The U.S.
factory offers a cotton and an acrylic ("Sunbrella") poptop canvas. (I cn't
comment on the "hemp blend" version - which I believe is actually primarily
cotton - as we don't carry it.) The fit is a bit snug by many reports,
despite the fact that they based their pattern on original samples (perhaps
a Q.C. issue?). The cotton canvas is a course textured material with dark
screens, which is quite functional and of good quality, but looks absolutely
nothing like the original. The acrylic material looks less rough and closer
to stock, and is quite a bit more expensive. The main advantage of
acrylic/Sunbrella is that it is resistant to fading with prolonged exposure
to sunlight. That's why it is commonly used on boats, where it will be
exposed 24/7 and see 12 hours a day of strong sunlight reflected from the
water. (That is very strong sunlight. Think of the risk of getting sunburn
near the ocean versus elsewhere.) However, fading is much less of an issue
with VW campers, which do not live on water and whose poptops are not open
24/7. The negatives of acrylic are cost, breathability, and stiffness
(making it harder to fold in when you close the poptop).
We can supply these U.S. made repros, in any color currently made, and at
the lowest price. But they are not even remotely our best sellers. That is
because, unlike other poptop canvas suppliers, we also import several
superior alternatives directly from Europe.
We offer genuine OEM Westfalia canvas, which is in my opinion by far the
best you can buy. The look, quality, fit and finish are as good as what
came on your van, with one improvement: we have it made with 3 windows
rather than one, so you get improved ventilation. For about the same price
as the acrylic poptop canvas, this will look far more original, fit well,
and should last you another 20-30 years just like the original did. When
the time comes to replace my canvas, this is what I will buy without
question. It's a big job to replace the poptop canvas, so I would use only
the best and be done with it.
We also offer a European sourced repro, for less than the price of the U.S.
made cotton repro. While it is not quite up to the quality of the
above-noted genuine one (thinner fabric, etc.) it is the best budget-priced
canvas out there. For less than the price of the U.S. cotton repro, it looks
MUCH closer to stock, fits better, and is at least as good quality. Because
of its value-for-dollar, this is our best selling canvas.
Finally, we offer OEM replacement poptop canvas for the ASI/Riviera and
Country Homes campers (with "straight-up" poptops), made by the original
U.S. manufacturer using the original patterns and materials.
Our poptop seals are also superior to all other aftermarket products, and
exclusive to the Bus Depot, for less than others charge for the
off-the-shelf generic weatherstrip that they sell as poptop seal. But
that's another story.
You can find info on our poptop canvas and seal offerings here:
http://busdepot.com/details/canvas.jsp
- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot, Inc.
www.busdepot.com
(215) 234-VWVW
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