Official Side Tent thread FAQ

[busdaddy]

[bustedtype2]

Hi all
I recently bought a Westy tent for my 71 bay. But yes I use it more with my 64 but could anyone tell me the difference in openings in the back? I see all others with full openings in the back. Mine seems to have a small opening and what looks to be a window in the back. It also have a flap that I can't figure out on the back lower right side.
Any help?

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Gas, Grass or Ass ? No one rides to the show for free!!

[notchboy]

Early ones have the big opening, later ones have the smaller door and windows.

THat pocket is to accept the sliding door of a bay. Do you have inspection stamps inside the door area? Not all have them.
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[bustedtype2]

No instructions.
It's easy to put up but connecting it to the bus I am lost. It did not have the tent bag and I am missing some clips for the stakes. But only paid $400.
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Gas, Grass or Ass ? No one rides to the show for free!!

[bustedtype2]

What year did they go to that style opening in the back ?
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Gas, Grass or Ass ? No one rides to the show for free!!

[66311]

[bustedtype2]

Thank you please do.
Would like to know the year of the tent if you have any info?
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Gas, Grass or Ass ? No one rides to the show for free!!

[notchboy]

So I own a tent with a inspection stamp of 1971 with the small opening - window style. A page back is a 1970 inspection stamp with big opening.

So 1971 is the first year of the change? But here is the bad part. Not all tents are stamped - both big and small opening. So unless you have a stamp its only a pre 71?

All this info is gained from back pages - I welcome others to review and give input.
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[bustedtype2]

Interesting. So where would the stamp be? So no stamp it's pre- 1971?
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Gas, Grass or Ass ? No one rides to the show for free!!

[66311]

Show the stamp if you can.
I really was sure 74 was the first of the rubber nail loops and small back door.
My 73 has a small door with alloy nail loops and is a well documented bus. If there was a misfortune to cause a replacement it would be weird to get an older model. But anything goes in the history of buses and tents.

[notchboy]

[66311]

That's a 4

I will look for stamps. If my later model is correct for the 73 then that is good for me.

[notchboy]

More money shots

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[66311]

As far as differences. The side windows and the rear openings differ along with the nail loops.

[66311]

Various how to use and differences between models. There is a variety of pole bags, stake bags and tent bags also.

[notchboy]

An interesting dating fact is the color of your poles. If you have the original pole then the earlies have the gold coated ones and the laters have brown painted ones.

This coincides with the westfalia trailers I have. You are all like what? I have two canopy tent covers for my Westfalia tents. They have tent pole to make the cover. These came with my late 70's trailers. The poles - similar to the side tent pole construction are painted the same brown. My 71 tent poles in pic 1. Professed og tent to the bus - 1978 - brown poles.

[img]http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=1308729[/img]

My first one I bought that I didnt check for date stamp - brown poles later small opening no window.

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[bustedtype2]

Interesting. Mine have gold poles, rubber stake holders and small door in the back. Strange they would put a window in the back with no mesh. Wonder why?

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Gas, Grass or Ass ? No one rides to the show for free!!

[Rubber Duck]

Wow...I never realized what I had (have). My bus came with the tent, it had all those pegs and the very cool tensioners. I always thought those things were the cleverest idea. And always thought it was bought by the PO as an add on. Now I know it came with the tent. And those odd looking pegs too!

The one with the orange bus could be mine lol!
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Rubber Duck
1974 Westfalia

[66311]

My pictures and pole sets make them look mixed.
My 73 poles are gold with the early back door
The other tents and poles I have are mix match
The " window" with no screen is for access to install the tent not a window for ventilation.
None of the above is absolute but observation.

[notchboy]

I think the pole painting is a mid late 70's deal based on the samples I have around me. Your tent would be later than 71 but earlier than say 75 maybe 76??

Not sure either why there is no screen on the back window?
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