Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:33:33 -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: Replacing Canvas on Westy
In-Reply-To: <BANLkTikhoA0kRH-MObXf4tTZNz-TXaZFHg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
> It has been on my van for a little over 3 years and while
> I do use my van more than most it should have lasted longer.
> It has started to break down and may be dry rotted as
> there are small tears that have shown up in odd places...
>
> For the record I've been buying from Bus Depot for years and
> have always been/still am happy with them, etc. and will keep
> buying from them, except for this tent. They are a great
> resource for sure.
Jonathan,
Sorry to hear about your experience with your canvas. When it comes time to
replace your canvas again, email me directly and I'll see what I can do in
terms of giving you a substantial discount on your next one.
I have to say I'm a bit perplexed because we've had no other complaints
whatsoever about the OEM canvas ripping prematurely, so yours would seem to
be an isolated case. As a rule, when a poptop canvas rips or rots it's due
to either being closed when wet and not reopened to dry out at the next
convenient time, or not being tucked in properly when closed (so a tiny bit
either gets caught, or hangs out and is exposed to wind and rain while
driving). A sticking zipper can also cause a rip, just like on a camping
tent, especially if the canvas is already stressed or worn for some other
reason. A periodic application of liquid soap, beeswax, or lip balm on the
zippers can reduce that likelihood dramatically.
We do sell other options (including an aftermarket European made one, and a
U.S. made Sunbrella one), but the OEM one consistently gets the highest
customer feedback. Customers of course do find plusses and minuses about
all of the varions options, but as a rule the only gripes I hear about the
OEM one are minor personal-preference type things (such as some people
preferring the late-style front-window zipper/velcro arrangement better and
some thinking it's worse), never quality issues. The fit has always been
dead on, the stitching quality is good, I haven't had anyone else report any
ripping, and I can only recall one other report of a broken zipper. I have
customers who have been using the OEM canvas for years and it still looks
like new (as might be expected given that the original one tended to last
10-15 years or longer). Based on the comparative long term feedback for all
the brands, I plan to use the OEM one myself when the time comes. But as I
said, we do offer an aftermarket Sunbrella canvas and an aftermarket Cotton
one for those who prefer another alternative. (The aftermarket European one
is actually our most popular one, because it is good quality and very
reasonably priced.)
- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot, Inc.
www.busdepot.com
(215) 234-VWVW
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Toll-Free for Orders by PART # : 1-866-BUS-DEPOT
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