Date:         Wed, 9 Jul 2008 17:53:57 -0400
Reply-To:     Jonathan Poole <jfpoolio@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jonathan Poole <jfpoolio@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: What's your after market canvas recommendation?
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Since I have the 3 window westy top that Ron is talking about I thought I'd
chime in to add a bit more info on the subject.

I installed the westy 3 window canvas from Bus Depot about a year ago.  I
installed the top by myself in a full afternoon and evening of difficult
work.  You definitely want to get this right and never do it again.
Fortunately the fit for me was just about perfect.  I did lay the original
top over the new one and marked the position that it needed to be mounted in
top and bottom etc. which I think helped me avoid the tight back problem
that some encounter.

My first impression of the top was that it was beautiful, fit perfectly but
that it was too thin and fragile.  I even put a few hole in it when
installing it by doing things that I didn't think would damage the top.  The
fabric seems a bit more delicate than the original though I may be wrong on
that?  The zippers on the side windows are also a bit delicate and mine
catch a little where they were halfway unzipped for a few days on the breezy
pacific coast of Mexico.

I have only gotten a few more little holes in the top since I installed it
and have been very careful with it since I don't want to replace it again.
I camp a lot and have had my top up a ton in a variety of conditions for the
close to 12 months that the top has been installed and under normal
circumstances it has held up really well.

I know that I am not being to conclusive about the top being fragile and I
am sure that others can offer more insight on this but if you think that you
need an unusually durable top then you may at least want to research the
westy top a bit more to make sure it is right for you.  The fit and finish
is certainly beautiful and it gets lots of compliments.  The front window
with it's zip out screen is nice though I do miss the rounded full dual
zipper that was on the stock flap.  this top has velcro up the sides and a
zipper across the top.

Hope that helps the top researchers out there.

Jonathan Poole
'83 ac westy