Bus Depot's Pop Top Canvas "In House Brand"

[dabaron]

i installed my BD tent in place. i started with the front top center and worked to each corner, then did the rear top center and worked to each corner. then i did the front bottom center out to each corner and then the rear center putting two screws in on either side. then i worked from the front to the back on each side and finally worked on the rear bottom corners.

it was a PITA and i never want to do it again, but in the end it looks good.

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1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic

[VicVan]

[kamzcab86]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

^^^

yea, X2

didn't realize you hadn't pinched the canvass along the side

FWIW I have done a staple in and screw in tent. it's suicide to do either one on the van imho. I wouldn't do a screw in on the van.... it's just a pain in the ass

top comes off in 5 mins
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[PDXWesty]

Are you doing this with the top still on the van? All your photos that show sag are of an incomplete installation. Until you have all sides attached, it's meaningless to look at the sag. With the top up and the sides NOT attached, it will sag.

The front will also tighten up when the top and bottom are fully attached. you're judging the install before you're done.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

[VicVan]

Thanks Skills. There is indeed a learning curve.

I talked with BusDepot, they could not figure out what was wrong. From their end, and from the pictures I've sent them, the only problem they could think of was an incorrect install procedure. We went over my installation procedure and concluded it was as per instructions. The final recommendation was to send it to a professional who is used to doing this job.
Not thrilled by the conclusion, I was hoping there'd be a fix somewhere... I will take it down, and put it back up again. We'll see if it still sags.
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH)

[MsTaboo]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

I shifted mine around a bit after my install. It helped the middle sag a lot and looks great now. I don't have a current photo but here is what it looks like

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9496949#9496949
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[VicVan]

Nice install!

Indeed, both written instructions and the video indicate to start at the front, then the back, and finally the sides. ,
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH)

[Ahwahnee]

I suppose you shouldn't take advice from anyone unless you've seen how their install looks.

Original/Factory:

Replacement:

[Ahwahnee]

I (BD tent but many years ago) started at the center front and worked back along each side ending with the back edge. I did the top circumference first then the body.

Did you find instructions that had you doing the front and rear before fastening the sides?

[VicVan]

I've got the front and back dialed in, but I was exepcting more tension on the sides... Both are sagging like this:

I'm thinking I've pulled the front too tight maybe...

I've contacted busepot and am waiting for their response. Any thoughts in the meantime?
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH)

[VicVan]

Thanks, that helps.
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH)

[MsTaboo]

Just fyi, I had the top off the Westy for repairs and painting when I installed that tent.
I did not "stretch" (might be some relativity here, I did pull) the canvas but was careful with placement. Before I took the old canvas off I made some witness marks so I could measure on the new tent between the seams and try and align with those marks starting with centerlines. That did require some tugging.
It's been ten years since I did that install so I do forget some of the finer details.

The first time I lifted the completed tent it was fairly tight and I worried I got it too taut but it came out ok.

The factory tent has those same vertical wrinkles. My Westy in 2008

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Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec

The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
When you stir up shit you're bound to get some on yourself.
Resist Kleptocratic Oligarchy (and Idiocracy)!

[VicVan]

I appreciate the pictures, but that doesn't really answer my question. Of course I want that clean look
Do you have to pull on the fabric hard enough to actually stretch it, or that too much?

edit: Looking at the video once more, it seems that their front upper side also has that wrinkle, indicating a very tight fit. I am happy with that and will now proceed to the back.

(Hopefully I get it to look as nice as MsTaboo's)
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH)

[DanHoug]

[MsTaboo]

Depends on how you want it to look. I like the factory look of a smooth finish so worked our OEM brand of tent to get it tight.

I was a little worried about wear from being so taut but the above picture was taken in 2013 and here it is ten years later;

No problems with any tears. Also seems to me a tight tent is gonna flap around less in windy conditions.
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Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec

The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
When you stir up shit you're bound to get some on yourself.
Resist Kleptocratic Oligarchy (and Idiocracy)!

[VicVan]

How taut is taut? Do you have to pull on the fabric just enough so there is no slack, or do you have to pull harder and actually lightly stretch the fabric?

I went for the latter, and here are the results (i only did the front upper part). You can see there is a small horizontal fold on the top, due to the tension in the fabric:

When I pull gently downwards, fold disappears. What are your thoughts, based on your experience?

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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH)

[Ahwahnee]

I made replacement blocks from pieces of plywood. I had to sand the thickness just a bit to get a snug fit.

Installed edge-on they easily accept a staple. Being long you can use a normal sized staple, not those skinny ones that were originally used.

[VicVan]

Thanks. I guess I'll decide when I get to the corners! Starting this tomorrow, weather permitting...
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH)