Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 09:41:01 -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: Bus Depot Canvas Questions
In-Reply-To: <1406118485.81859.YahooMailNeo@web164603.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
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> Debating about the OEM ($399) vs
> the Bus Depot version at $249
> I ordered the Bus Depot model
> I installed one of the Bus Depot/Just Kampers ones
> I replaced mine with the 399.00 OEM style 3 window
> that appears by the tag to be made by vwbusshop.com
> This leads to another question. I see various tents advertised as "OEM
3-window"
> and wonder what this means. If the original tents had only one window,
what's
> OEM about a 3-window tent? Everything else, dimensionally and
material-wise?
Allow me to chime in here since there is understandably some confusion. OEM
stands for Original Equipment MANUFACTURER, so it means it comes from a
supplier to VW or Westfalia but is not necessarily identical to the original
in every way. In this case the difference is the three windows. Also they
use the later style removable front flap and screen (used by Westfalia from
1990 on) which can be replaced if you are unfortunate enough to get it
caught in the latch and rip it. We distribute the OEM canvas in the U.S.
and vwbusshop (who is not the actual manufacturer) distributes it in
Germany. (GoWesty also lists it on their site, but for a much higher price
because they buy it from a middleman.)
The Bus Depot one is quite frankly a nearly dead-on clone of the OEM one. We
tried to match it as closely as possible, right down to the weight, look,
and feel of the material, the screens and stitching, and of course the
dimensions. We did enlarge the side windows slightly, and increased overall
size by an inch or so to make installation just a tad easier (although it is
still a tight fit as per original spec), but for all intents and purposes it
is an OEM clone. If you looked at them side by side you'd have a really
hard time identifying which was which. I know because I spent about two
years doing just that with sample after sample until we got it right.
(Incidentally, referencing the above quote, ours is not made by Just
Kampers, but at one time we did offer theirs so that probably explains the
confusion.)
The problem with aftermarket canvas is that historically none of the
aftermarket suppliers have been able to match the quality control of the OEM
supplier, which is absolutely impeccable. The original spec allows almost
no margin for error, and somehow the OEM supplier gets it just right every
time. By comparison, aftermarket ones historically vary by a pretty
significant amount, resulting in finished installations that are either too
billowy, or so tight you can see the lift arm knuckles pushing at the
canvas. Worse yet is getting most of the way through the installation and
discovering that the canvas is way off, cut unevenly, etc. Frustration with
this inconsistency was a major reason why I decided to produce our own. In
order to ensure that each Bus Depot brand canvas meets OE spec, each one is
independently measured a second time once it reaches our warehouse, and
issued a serial number that corresponds to the measurements of that specific
canvas. If it doesn't meet spec it doesn't leave the building, plain and
simple. With this extra level of QC (which no other poptop canvas undergoes
besides ours), our return rate is equal to that of the OEM canvas (well
under 1 percent). That being said, it will still be very tight, which is by
original design. You must pull the canvas very taut every step along the way
while you install it, or else by the time you reach the last corner you may
not be able to get it to reach. That is by far the most common mistake when
installing a (properly sized) poptop canvas.
So, which one to buy? In my opinion you can safely save your money and go
with the Bus Depot one instead of the OEM one and you'll never know the
difference. We've been selling it for years now so it has a strong track
record in terms of both fit and quality. I'd put one on my own Westy without
hesitation. On the other hand, the OEM one is unquestionably the best
quality you can buy at any price, and some people would rather pay a bit
more for a top-of-the-line original than for a copy no matter how close, so
that's why we offer both choices.
Of course there are other options as well. We offer an Acrylic (aka
Sunbrella or Outdura) version that is made by the same U.S. factory that
supplies GoWesty and other retailers (although we sell it for less). I am
not a tremendous fan of acrylic as a poptop canvas material but some people
love it so we offer it. There are also two materials that other companies
use for poptop canvas which do not meet our standards. One is polyester (not
to be confused with acrylic, despite advertising copy that makes it sound
similar; a bit deceptively IMO), and the other is hemp. While there are
perfectly good uses for both of these, poptop canvas is not one of them.
You can see my article on the various fabric options and canvas choices at
<http://www.busdepot.com/details/canvas/> .
Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot, Inc.
www.busdepot.com
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