Date: Sun, 6 Jun 2010 23:45:08 -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: Pop-Top Canvas Replacement Video
In-Reply-To: <829403.52559.qm@web33501.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> The one that Curt had Kris install was a factory replacement
> canvas. Don't know where it came from, but it was very nice.
> Ron at Bus Depot, Peter at Van-Cafe, Ken at Van-again and I'm
> sure others all sell canvas. Ron says that they all get them
> from the same supplier.
> I bought my blue sunbrella canvas from AA Best & Co.
> The company purchased from is VW Specialty in Pennsylvania.
> It was the cheapest I could find, $199.00, The canvas also
> weighs almost a pound less than the old original
Since we’re in the season where many people replace their poptop canvas,
this might be a good time to review the available options...
U.S. made cotton canvas - This is what most vendors sell as their
entry-level canvas (including Van-Café, GoWesty, AA Best, Vanagain, etc.).
The product quality is good, although it looks nothing like stock (more
rough textured fabric, darker screens). The fit is acceptable if slightly
tight. I do not carry it, as I import a European aftermarket one instead
that is IMO much nicer as well as cheaper.
Chinese cotton canvas - This is a brand new entry to the market. It was
offered to me about six months ago. But after comparing it hands-on to what
I currently sell, I decided to pass on it, as the fabric was noticably
thinner and lighter weight. I never even got as far as trying to fit one, so
I cannot comment on fit. I have only seen this one sold by one U.S. supplier
so far - a Pennsylvania vendor advertising on TheSamba under the name
“Select VW Parts.” I’m guessing this is the one that Robert refers to as
“VW Speciality in Pennsylvania,” as they do indeed sell it for $199 and have
a Pennsylvania address. Given its extremely low wholesale cost, I’m sure it
will find its way into the supply chain at other vendors over time. The
lure of high profit and low price is very high.
European aftermaket cotton canvas - This is the entry level one I sell. It
is surprisingly close to the OEM canvas in fit and finish, especially given
the much lower price. It looks much more “stock” than the U.S. one and the
fit is a bit better IMO. My only criticism is that the late one still does
not have a bead on the top edge, which technically it should. That said,
many of my customers fit it to late model Vanagons with no issues. You could
double over the edge, or even put in a bead if it really bothered you. At
$279 it’s definitely the “best bang for the buck” in a poptop canvas. Better
than any other aftermarket option, and not all that much pricier than the
Chinese one.
OEM German Westalia canvas - This is the one used in the instruction video
that Curt posted. It is quite simply the best you can buy, in all areas.
Consider how long your original lasted, fit, and looked - now give it 3
windows. If you’re like most people, it’s likely to last you longer than you
will own your Westy, so it will be the last one you will ever have to buy. I
buy these in large volume and have hands-down the best price. Actually my
margin is razor thin on them. I made the decision that for marketing
reasons I needed to keep the price at $399, and as a result have absorbed a
couple of wholesale price increases and held my price. (Thank goodness the
Euro devalued - one more increase would have done me in!) While the
European aftermarket canvas is quite good (and our most popular), if it were
my Westy I’d put on the OEM one. It’s a big job, and I’d rather pay a little
more and feel completely confident that it will look great, fit great, and
last a very, very long time.
Acrylic (Sunbrella) - All of the sunbrella canvas comes from the same U.S.
supplier as the cotton canvas noted in the first listing (except for one
small Canadian supplier that makes their own). Only the price differs. Like
their cotton canvas, the U.S. factory’s quality is good, and the fit is also
reasonably good. We sell it (for the lowest price, I think) for those who
really want sunbrella. But frankly I’m not convinced that sunbrella is the
best choice for a poptop canvas. Sunbrella’s biggest market is marine use,
because after constant exposure to sunlight reflected off of water it won’t
fade (hence the name). A poptop canvas sees much less continuous/extreme
sunlight, so fading isn’t the primary concern. On the downside, sunbrella
does not breathe as well as cotton, and it is a bit stiff, making it
somewhat difficult to fold in when closing the top. Other than the
availability of some custom colors, I can’t honestly see any reason to pay
more for this than an actual OEM German canvas. But for those who disagree
(or want non-stock colors), we do offer it.
Hemp - Actually this is about a 50/50 cotton/hemp blend. I believe GoWesty
is the only one who sells it. IMO hemp is not an ideal choice for poptop
canvas. The funny thing is, if you read between the lines on their own
blurb, it would appear that GoWesty concurs. Their description states that
they have to mix it with cotton due to cotton’s “vastly improved
water-repellancy,” softness, and tighter weave. If cotton is so much better
than hemp in those areas (especially keeping water out of your camper!),
then why not just use cotton to begin with? As an old deadhead, I get
hemp’s “trendiness” in some circles. If the idea of having a “hemp” poptop
canvas matters more to you than a decision based solely on value or
practicality, that would be the reason to buy one.
Non-Westy campers - If you’re in the minority that has a straight-up poptop,
the only option is the OEM canvas from the original factory (which we do
sell, as well as various Eurovan choices).
As far as I know those are the options available to you. Of course others’
opinions may differ from mine, which is why there’s chocolate and vanilla
(and your choice of vendors). My main criterion when choosing what I sell is
what I’d feel comfortable putting on my own Westy. You can read more about
our offerings at http://busdepot.com/details/canvas.jsp .
- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot, Inc.
www.busdepot.com
(215) 234-VWVW
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