Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 17:49:14 -0400
Reply-To: Chris S <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Chris S <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: What's your after market canvas recommendation?
In-Reply-To: <5EE6D7A77AFE483C8C8FF13611E9B742@RON>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Ron,
Thank you for the thorough explanation!
Chris.
On Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 1:13 PM, The Bus Depot <vanagon@busdepot.com> wrote:
> > 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
>
> _____________________________________________
> Toll-Free for Orders by PART # : 1-866-BUS-DEPOT
>
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