Date:         Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:30:59 -0600
Reply-To:     Finn Runyon <finnrunyon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Finn Runyon <finnrunyon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Canvas Replacement-I Regret Ever Buying This Van!!!!!!!!!!!!
In-Reply-To:  <045001cd1bfe$034b6bd0$09e24370$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

My two cents on this one,
About 10 years ago Dawn from PLF made me a sunbrella canvas for my 87.  At that point she had only made canvas for the earlier staple in tents.  when mine arrived it did not have the top bead in it, and as I had already removed the old canvas and was on a trip sour, I took it to a local marine canvas shop and had the top bead sewn in.  It was never a perfect fit, and Dawn graciously made me a second one for free which I have yet to install.  As I remember, it was a bear to install, but I must say after 10 years it still looks new.  I now have a second bus that I am in the process of restoring.  When I replace the canvas on this bus, I will most defiantly order a custom sunbrella tent.  I prefer the added thickness, its water repellency, and I believe it to be a bit warmer on cool nights.  In the beginning it was stiffer than the oem, but before too long it became quite soft and compliant.  The other big reason to go sunbrella in my opinion is the range of color.  I wanted something different to personalize my bus.  As I said, just my two cents!
Best,
Finn
87 Westy Pooh
89 Westy Roo

On Apr 16, 2012, at 12:23 PM, The Bus Depot wrote:

>> 2. Only use a cotton canvas.  I installed a Sunbrella canvas for a 
>> customer a few years ago and I swore never to do that again.  The
>> material is much thicker and stiffer so it makes install about twice 

>> as hard (if not more).  
> 
> 
> This thread emphasizes the importance of buying a quality canvas that fits well and lasts long.  This is a big job even under the best of circumstances. Add to that a canvas that is unusually hard to install (either a Sunbrella one that is stiffer, or an aftermarket cotton one that just doesn't meet factory measurements) and it's even harder. Worse yet is a low-end aftermarket one that fails in just a few years, leaving you to do the job all over again. There are cheap Chinese knockoffs out there. I know because the supplier tried to sell them to me a couple of years ago. They were dirt-cheap (about $75) but the quality was pathetic. The material was thin and when I compared two different samples they weren't even the same dimensions. Needless to say I declined the offer. Now they've turned up elsewhere (for about 3 times the wholesale price, I might add). I can't imagine going through this much effort to install a crappy product that is unlikely to last more than a few years and will probably fit poorly from day one.
> 
> We have genuine OEM Westfalia canvases that are 100% cotton and are 100% OEM quality and fit. This is not an area to cut corners. See http://busdepot.com/details/canvas.jsp for our article on the various canvas options.
> 
> - Ron Salmon
>  The Bus Depot, Inc.
>  www.busdepot.com
>  (215)  234-VWVW
> 
> _____________________________________________
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