TheSamba.com :: View topic - Newly acquired SO-42 Westy big-top tent

Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:24 pm

Picture of my newly acquired big-top tent. Just arrived via UPS today.
The tent itself is in fantastic shape with the only issues being a hole in the original tent bag, missing the pole bag, stakes, and one top pole for the front flap.

It still needs to be stretched out slightly for a better fit. It assembles like my OG canvas on my single cab.

See my gallery for more pics of it in various stages of assembly. Thanks to my SO-42 instruction maual for assembly guidelines.

Dave

Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:33 pm

rubb'n it in uh Dave? :lol:

Wed Jun 29, 2005 10:04 pm

The tent is really nice. The whole transaction worked out great with the seller on the East Coast.

I forgot that I also need the small tent rail section that mounts on the bus if anyone has one.

I'd be interested in seeing pictures of other big-top tents. People post your pictures!!!!!

Dave

Wed Jun 29, 2005 10:11 pm

Nice tent.
I wonder how many types of big top tents were made?
I have seen two types so far.
one with blue botom flaps and the other gray.
There are a few other diffrences like...
extra strap on side awnings
strings instead of straps for doorway
gray or tan leather tent poles holders

looking for nos poles for big top

Wed Jun 29, 2005 10:58 pm

I'll set my tent up in the coming months and post pictures.

It also looks nearly new and I believe I have every original peg, stringy thing and bags that goes with it. The orig tent and peg bags are in great shape. I have the orig pole bag also, but it was kind of beat so I had a repro made in the correct color blue canvas.

One of those little white rubber rings on mine broke. It was rolling around inside the bus when I got it and I had no idea what it was. I almost threw it out but didn't. I glued it back together carefully and you would have no idea that it was ever broken. Which is good because there is no way to replace those suckas once they're gone.

If you need a tent bag for a pattern, let me know and I'll send it to you to copy. They are really easy to sew; it's silly to pay PLF for one, especially since theirs is the wrong color.

Thu Jun 30, 2005 5:03 am

Tent looks great!
Be careful stretching that old canvas over the pole tips. They tend to get a bit tight with age.
Mine was nestled in the back of my Bus when I bought it in '87.

Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Thu Jun 30, 2005 5:23 am

why does - circus music come to mind...dent, dent, dent, dennity, dent, dent, dent.. :lol: -

sweet tents none-the-less

Thu Jun 30, 2005 6:24 am

Time to get one of those old kiddie rides from out front a grocery store to go with it. And ya know, I don't even own a Westy but seeing that...yeah definitely jealous!

-Taylor

Thu Jun 30, 2005 7:58 am

[email protected] wrote: Nice tent.
I wonder how many types of big top tents were made?
I have seen two types so far.
one with blue botom flaps and the other gray.
There are a few other diffrences like...
extra strap on side awnings
strings instead of straps for doorway
gray or tan leather tent poles holders

I have seem three different styles of front awnings. The one pictured seems to be the most common. I have seen one with the bay window striped style door and one with a blue striped door. The blue striped one was on ebay a few years ago, that is the only one I have seen like it.

Congrats Dave, it's been a while since we've talked. Tent looks good, I quess I need to get a want ad out there.

Thu Jun 30, 2005 12:13 pm

There's mine, I haven't set it up for a few years but it's all there. The image was somehow flipped though...

Thu Jun 30, 2005 1:46 pm

Here's two pictures that shows both tents with similar awnings/doors. My guess would be a material transition before going to the add a room/drive away tent. As for the blue striped tent, I recall it only having 2 colors and would guess it to be one of the early big tops. Nothing to support my assumptions though. Here is possible a fourth style door.

Note the wider blue stripe in big top. Probably an illusion.

Note same size red and blue strip like bay tents on this one.

Thu Jun 30, 2005 1:50 pm

Love this thread!

Thu Jun 30, 2005 2:23 pm

Hmm. My tent is the original to the bus, an April of '65 UT Pop-top. Maybe the UT had something to do with it? Ya got me.

Thu Jun 30, 2005 4:37 pm

Thanks for all the info and pics I've seen.
It appears that there is some differences based on years. My tent came out of a 66, although not original to my 66 westy.
My Westy does have the tent and rack m-code so it'll be nice when it comes out of the paint shop this fall.

Dave

Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:43 pm

Here's that third big top awning I was talking about. Thank's to SO L42Y. This is my favorite style.

Mon Jul 11, 2005 5:58 pm

Wow, that is different. Cool tent.
I wonder if that was an early or late SO-42. Any way to tell?

Dave

Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:11 pm

i have an extra tent rail,the one that mounts on the roof.

Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:19 pm

turkis-deluxe wrote:
I wonder if that was an early or late SO-42. Any way to tell?

Dave

The bus is May '67, UT; delivered in June. The tent is original to the bus.
Craig

Mon Jul 11, 2005 7:21 pm

Thanks again Craig. I would have guessed it to be an early one. My bus was built at the end of april, wonder which style tent mine came with originally. Time to dig out my owner list again and start bugging the P.O.'s for old pictures.

Mon Jul 11, 2005 7:26 pm

Cool tents, but GOD what were they thinking with the color choice? :-&