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dlb154 Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2006 Posts: 359 Location: Reno, NV
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:23 am Post subject: Re: Go Westy Tent - fitment issue? |
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Bead folded back on itself; now on the outside of the metal rail:
You NEED that bead on the inside to keep canvas from pulling away from the aluminum tracks. Doubling it back like you did may work but only if the material doesn't shrink over time... which it does.
Your original posted pictures look only slightly loose. On a hot day, mist the fabric with water and let it dry. It will shrink. I've installed several tents and have always used this shrink method to tighten up the canvas. |
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Vanuber Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2020 Posts: 411 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:35 am Post subject: Re: Go Westy Tent - fitment issue? |
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dlb154 wrote: |
You NEED that bead on the inside to keep canvas from pulling away from the aluminum tracks. Doubling it back like you did may work but only if the material doesn't shrink over time... which it does.
Your original posted pictures look only slightly loose. On a hot day, mist the fabric with water and let it dry. It will shrink. I've installed several tents and have always used this shrink method to tighten up the canvas. |
Where were you a week ago? You don't think the rails will hold the canvas without the bead? Unfortunately, I will have a number of screw holes in the canvas if I reverse the process. _________________ '85 Westfalia 1.9L
'72 BMW R75/5
'71 BMW R75/5
'02 Subaru Forester 2.5L |
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dlb154 Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2006 Posts: 359 Location: Reno, NV
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:39 am Post subject: Re: GoWesty Cotton Tent - fitment issue? |
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Sorry I missed your post...
I know how challenging installing these tents can be. I've done 4 of them.
If your screws are penetrating the vinyl portion of the tent, you might be good. Keep an eye out for any signs of it loosening. If you notice that, then you'll probably want to redo with the bead back on the inside before it tears away and spoils all you hard work. |
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Vanuber Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2020 Posts: 411 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:45 am Post subject: Re: GoWesty Cotton Tent - fitment issue? |
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dlb154 wrote: |
Sorry I missed your post...
I know how challenging installing these tents can be. I've done 4 of them.
If your screws are penetrating the vinyl portion of the tent, you might be good. Keep an eye out for any signs of it loosening. If you notice that, then you'll probably want to redo with the bead back on the inside before it tears away and spoils all you hard work. |
Yes, all screws are penetrating the vinyl strip. I will let it ride and see how it goes. Thanks for the input. _________________ '85 Westfalia 1.9L
'72 BMW R75/5
'71 BMW R75/5
'02 Subaru Forester 2.5L |
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Team WorldTour Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 2426 Location: Der Vaterland
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 4:24 am Post subject: Re: Go Westy Tent - fitment issue? |
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Um.....
About your tent......
I think it might be, um, upside down. _________________ 1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
Click to view image
H6 Subaru Engine Swap Thread
WV2ZZZ25ZFH094138(x)/ WV2YB0257LH057308(x)/ WV2ZZZ25ZLG113270/
"Where am I going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?" -Nicodemus Jordan
When All Else Fails: Lather, Rinse, Repeat! |
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Howesight Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008 Posts: 3274 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2021 8:33 pm Post subject: Re: GoWesty Cotton Tent - fitment issue? |
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That upside-down tent is not mine. The pic is from a years-old Craigslist ad. I was trying to be a little too coy in my remarks above in this thread.
My tent, shown in the pic below, is custom-made:
The pic of the upside-down tent just makes me smile at how badly things can sometimes go for the well-meaning but uninformed DIY Westy repair guy.
VanUber: Great work on that tent install. Having used the Sunbrella on my custom tent first without the vinyl piping, I can say that the screws will tear the screw holes in the fabric eventually if the vinyl piping is not placed on the inside of the aluminum strips. For me, this required marking the tent and vinyl with tailor's chalk or a pencil and having the vinyl strip sewn into the proper location. _________________ '86 Syncro Westy SVX |
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Vanuber Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2020 Posts: 411 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 5:29 am Post subject: Re: GoWesty Cotton Tent - fitment issue? |
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Howesight wrote: |
VanUber: Great work on that tent install. Having used the Sunbrella on my custom tent first without the vinyl piping, I can say that the screws will tear the screw holes in the fabric eventually if the vinyl piping is not placed on the inside of the aluminum strips. For me, this required marking the tent and vinyl with tailor's chalk or a pencil and having the vinyl strip sewn into the proper location. |
Yikes. Good to hear from experience. At this point, I am just going to let it go as there will be exposed screw holes in the tent if I move the piping back to the inside. Once it starts pulling out, I will look into moving the vinyl strip or replacement. Thanks for the input.
PS - nice tent! _________________ '85 Westfalia 1.9L
'72 BMW R75/5
'71 BMW R75/5
'02 Subaru Forester 2.5L |
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