I replaced my canvas with the help of my uncle,yes do have a third party helping!!! Ended up putting a few ugly blemishes in my 3 day old paint job!! We took the top off and made it so much easier and cooler being August. The hard part was notching in the correct place and replacing the strips and screws upon re assembly!! Velma 82diesel 1.6 na westy On Jul 23, 2012 6:45 PM, "Bill M" <billmonk@gmail.com> wrote: Having replaced or assisted in about a dozen canvas replacements over the years I find yanking the top off a time saver. With three people pulling the top only takes 15 minutes. Then the canvas can be centered and put on the top while comfortable. If you don't have the man power to yank the top it's still manageable to do on the van as others have done. Couple tips: Pull a couple screws and get a bunch of spares from the hardware store. Mark the locations where any screw holes are over sized so when the canvas and metal brackets are off you can put a dab of wood glue in the hole. That way when installing the new canvas the threads will grab. Make sure the canvas isn't inside out. Did that once on a buddies van who is very very particular. He was upset and thought we ruined his tent but it was fine. Use painters tape to hold the tent up while putting the top back on the van. Make sure you seal any bolts you remove that go through the top so it don't leak. A new canvas is one of the more affordable things you can do that will really spruce up the vans looks and usefulness. Last,don't try and patch an old rotten canvas thinking it will hold your kids up there. I witnessed the aftermath of a five year old that leaned up against the canvas in the middle of the night and fell out. I ended up driving the child and father to the ER in my van as we were pretty much packed to leave early and it would have taken them a long time to breakdown. Five staples and a concussion were the end result. Worst part is he had the canvas under his seat but never got around to install it. Bill
On Jul 23, 2012, at 3:48 PM, Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET> wrote: > > Taking the top off seemed... |
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