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Date:         Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:05:08 -0800
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: changing pop-top canvas
Comments: To: Jonce Fancher <streetbugs@VERIZON.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

hey there ...... didn't mean side tent, meant poptop canvas. I had a fine used one but sold it, wouldn't mind having one back.

It could very well be the convention in camper trailers that is screen on the outside. I just notice that almost all white screens on westy tops have holes rotted in them.........and for the reasons I mention .........exposure to alternating moisture and light in the day/night cycle. I have seen just ONE westy poptop screen without holes in it. ( it happens to be on an 83 Westy I have for sale.......the absolute best poptop original tent I've ever seen )

The side tents I've seen.........german ones I think......seemed pretty big and serious. Like if you're going to live one place for a month ........fine, but otherwise they're too heavy duty and take up a lot of room. when packed in/on the van. Saw one guy selling his for just those reasons. So nope, don't need a side tent.

personally, I believe in comprising the camping a little, and maximizing the over all driving dynmaics of the van, as a higher priority. Like I don't want a big heavy side awning thing on the van, for example. . Now if I saw one that depolyed nicely, I might not mind, but the ones I've deployed.......takes 3 people and 8 hands to keep the poles from scratching the paint, or the screws are ripping through the body of the van .......all hokey. I'm happy to rig up a 'fly tarp' with poles and stakes when I need shade. I happily sold the roll up awning off the side of my Adventurewagon........thing stuck off the back end, wieghed 60 lbs at least........ and was poorly mounted etc........and fiddly as hell to deploy. Goodbye on that thing !

I like to keep the outside of the van as clean as possible, without junk on the roof etc...........kayaks and other sports equipment sure, but things like a hgue spare tire up there, or gas cans.........no thankyou. I faired over the front roof rack on my personal 85 weekdender. I know one guy who carries his syncro spare tire in a huge roof rack on top of his van, wwith the tire not tied down or secured in any way. That could kill somebody. It's not just ourselves we can hurt with our worn shocks, lousy brakes, wrong tires etc.

Things might be in a recession right now, but generally............I think boat people are used to spending serious money on their boats, like many synco vanagon people. c-ya , scott

----- Original Message ----- From: "Jonce Fancher" <streetbugs@VERIZON.NET> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 1:14 PM Subject: Re: changing pop-top canvas

>I agree with what your saying anything can be done and can be built any way >you dream up. I know why they built it the way vw did it and I know they >way > your saying for the tent. Either way it all works. Still most pop ups do > make the screen on the outside with a flap on the inner as do most all > trailer style set > ups. Not a biggie it is just what is done and how it is done. I dont make > them other then for boats which is a total custom gig everytime which > makes it cost > effective to make it. I build what they want. The fancier they want it the > fancier I make it. its always a one off set up. > not a biggie > as for the side tents Ive got a used 70s era tent that is really nice but > probably not what your looking for. Ive got a tent I use for camping and > another 70s > era tent that is for my bay. Ive not set up the spare one in some time not > sure if it needs anything but I think it is prestine. Not sure if I will > sell it or not. > I like the Just kampers tents just not the way they attach to the Vehicle. > they are lighter and more roomy. > C-ya Jonce > > >>hey there....... >>all good insights, and it's Your Thing of course........ >>as a professional, >>but...........when the screen is on the inside, you do not go outside to >>open or close the outer flap. > >>You just unzip the screen, then zip up, or unzip, the otter weather shield >>flap. >>Just look at ANY modern high quality mountaineering or back packing tent. > >>The system I'm talking about is fine. And since you don't need the screen >>often......it's nice when it can just be tied aside or out of the way. > >>Actually, it's exactly like a westy front screen and flap are arranged, >>but >>in reverse order. And like the stock system, no need to climb up on the >>roof to do whatever is on the outside. All done from inside. >> Full zip flap outside, full zip screen inside - would be perfect. Easy >> to >>do, for someone that works on tents and covers and canopies and boat >>stuff. > >>Got any good used Westy tents for sale ? >>btw........if anyone wants to buy an entire Westy top and front portion >>and >>hardware........I have one for sale. Southern Oregon. >>Scott > >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Jonce Fancher" <streetbugs@VERIZON.NET> >>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> >>Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2008 7:58 PM >>Subject: Re: changing pop-top canvas > > >>> Another is that the flap should come Down and Roll Up. The flap should >>> be >>> on the outside and the screen is mounted permenant not removable in most >>> cases. I do loads of repairs on pop top camper tents and they have all >>> sorts of goofy ways of doing it. But most of the time the screen is on >>> the >>> outside not >>> removable and the flap is internal (or inside the camper) that will flop >>> down when unzipped. same as the vanagon. But on Boats they roll up to >>> expose the >>> screen or have a seperate zip in screen or even zip in privacy for the >>> real High end. Its all available and can be done but cost is always an >>> issue. Also with >>> having a permenant screen and the flap on the outside you need to go out >>> side to zip up or down. not an easy task in the rain on the roof of a >>> vanagon. It >>> would be nice if the privacy portion was on the outside but you would >>> have >>> to pull the screen every time. Either way you look at it, it is a pain. >>> all in the >>> persuit of a camping trip. >>> C-ya Jonce >>> >>>>It would be nice if repaired screens could be put on the inside, rather >>>>than >>>>the outside as original. >>>>The white screen, mounted on the outside......is bound to deteriorate >>>>pretty >>>>easily............because..........it gets wet at night from moisture >>>>and >>>>dew ( unless in the desert or something ) .........then sunlight hits it >>>>...........that's how you make drift wood - alternate moisture at night, >>>>sunlight in the daytime. >>> >>>>Check out any serious mountaineering tent, the screen is always on the >>>>inside, the coated outer 'weathershield' is on the outside. As if that >>>>is >>>>so >>>>hard to figure out ! >>>>lol, >>>>Scott >>> >>> >>>>----- Original Message ----- >>>>From: "Jonce Fancher" <streetbugs@VERIZON.NET> >>>>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> >>>>Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2008 5:44 PM >>>>Subject: Re: changing pop-top canvas >>> >>> >>>>> Hi >>>>> Pending what is wrong with your canvas if it is just time to replace >>>>> then >>>>> replace by all means but if the screen is bad just replace the screen >>>>> only. Save some >>>>> coin for the next camping trip. >>>>> http://fanchers.com/223/Screen%20Replacement.htm >>>>> Im also working on a bad zip and Bad screen gig as well. May also put >>>>> together a side screen add on. Not sure at that point if it would be >>>>> cheaper to >>>>> replace. But if the canvas is in good shape it would be a Upgrade is >>>>> all >>>>> not a replacement. All in good fun. >>>>> C-ya Jonce >>>>> >>>>>>Here's an article that may help: http://www.limbobus.org/poptop.htm >>>>> >>>>>>-----Original Message----- >>>>>>From: dj <djct2@YAHOO.COM> >>>>>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >>>>>>Sent: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:21 pm >>>>>>Subject: changing pop-top canvas >>>>> >>>>>>Hi, I am thinking of changing my pop top canvas, 84 Vanagon. I could >>>>>>use >>>>>>all the help and advice I could get. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Jonce Fancher >>>>> >>>>> 56 Single Cab >>>>> 66 Sunroof Bug >>>>> 66 Variant Squareback >>>>> 66 Porsche 912 >>>>> 71 Sunroof Bus >>>>> 84 Vanagon "Godfried" 24k Original Miles >>>>> 85 Vanagon Westi Zetec 2.0L DOHC >>>>> 2003 10 Passenger Sprinter >>>>> >>>>> Fancher's Upholstery Inc. - www.fanchers.com >>>>> Not-A-VW Club - http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jaransont3/notavwclub/ >>>>> Buses by the Beach - http://www.busesbythebeach.com/ >>>>> Full Moon Bus Club - http://www.fullmoonbusclub.com/news.php >>> >>> >>> >>> Jonce Fancher >>> >>> 56 Single Cab >>> 66 Sunroof Bug >>> 66 Variant Squareback >>> 66 Porsche 912 >>> 71 Sunroof Bus >>> 84 Vanagon "Godfried" 24k Original Miles >>> 85 Vanagon Westi Zetec 2.0L DOHC >>> 2003 10 Passenger Sprinter >>> >>> Fancher's Upholstery Inc. - www.fanchers.com >>> Not-A-VW Club - http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jaransont3/notavwclub/ >>> Buses by the Beach - http://www.busesbythebeach.com/ >>> Full Moon Bus Club - http://www.fullmoonbusclub.com/news.php > > > > Jonce Fancher > > 56 Single Cab > 66 Sunroof Bug > 66 Variant Squareback > 66 Porsche 912 > 71 Sunroof Bus > 84 Vanagon "Godfried" 24k Original Miles > 85 Vanagon Westi Zetec 2.0L DOHC > 2003 10 Passenger Sprinter > > Fancher's Upholstery Inc. - www.fanchers.com > Not-A-VW Club - http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jaransont3/notavwclub/ > Buses by the Beach - http://www.busesbythebeach.com/ > Full Moon Bus Club - http://www.fullmoonbusclub.com/news.php


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