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Silverghost500
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2018
Posts: 1198
Location: Atlanta, GA
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 Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2022 5:07 pm Post subject: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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It's time to replace my canvas tent, and this weekend the sunlight hit the material in such a way I could see how porous the old material is. That may be from years and years of use and abuse where the material has broken down over time.
How porous is the canvas material on the Bus Depot or GoWesty replacement canvas tents? Can you see sunlight through them, or are they a dense material?
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1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia "Von Westy"
Honda K24A conversion
3-Speed Automatic
Von Westy YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbhyZYxJEQrUuLnMbLleeIA |
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Howesight
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008
Posts: 3405
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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| Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2022 5:22 pm Post subject: Re: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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I can't comment on how porous those aftermarket canvas tents are or appear, but I can say that Sunbrella acrylic fabric is vastly superior and does not get moldy. The cost of the replacement pop-top is one matter, but after you factor in the work involved in installing the tent, whether you pay someone or do it yourself, it's well worth it to get the acrylic fabric. I have had several canvas pop-tops (all factory) on several Westies and none compare to acrylic in waterproofness, fast drying, and resistance to wear. It might be best to "cry once" on this one.
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'86 Syncro Westy SVX |
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vanagonjr
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Joined: October 07, 2010
Posts: 3629
Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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| Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2022 5:26 pm Post subject: Re: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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I installed a Sunbrella one on my old Westy and liked it.
Despite claims on being hard to put-away etc., I never found it a big deal.
There might be a difference, but it ain’t as hard as packing up an old Coleman canvas tent in a rain storm. Short version: everything is relative.
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John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
LiMBO (late model bus club) www.limbobus.org
LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 |
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17147
Location: Brookeville, MD
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calo1956
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Joined: April 18, 2011
Posts: 712
Location: long Island new york
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| Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2022 6:14 pm Post subject: Re: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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I went with the Bus Depot OEM canvas and love it! Ill save the sunbrella for the boat
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Enjoy the ride....
72 bug
80 westfalia |
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Ahwahnee
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Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10223
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2022 7:04 pm Post subject: Re: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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| The tent I got from Bus Depot was heavy canvas (hemp?) clearly not as thin as the original. It has held up very well for the past 16 years. That said, I do not know if it is the same material currently used. |
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DanHoug
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Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 5700
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2022 7:14 pm Post subject: Re: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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is Sunbrella noisy with rustling sounds in high winds? the OE canvas is very quiet.
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
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Vanuber
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Joined: February 16, 2020
Posts: 412
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2022 7:37 pm Post subject: Re: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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Put on a GW cotton tent last year. It was a little thinner than I had expected. Can't compare to synthetic, but these photos give you some idea. Overall, I really like the window design. Fit was tight on my '85.
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'85 Westfalia 1.9L
'72 BMW R75/5
'71 BMW R75/5
'02 Subaru Forester 2.5L
Last edited by Vanuber on Mon Feb 07, 2022 7:38 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
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Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
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Location: Brookeville, MD
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Silverghost500
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Joined: August 01, 2018
Posts: 1198
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2022 12:36 pm Post subject: Re: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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Thanks for all the responses and experiences. Vanuber, your canvas tent pic tells me a lot, and I can compare it to my current canvas tent.
Of those of you that have acrylic tents, is the material stiffer during cold weather when pulling the pop top down?
It may be a moot point of acrylic vs. canvas at the time of this writing, as many acrylic tents are out of stock.
_________________
1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia "Von Westy"
Honda K24A conversion
3-Speed Automatic
Von Westy YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbhyZYxJEQrUuLnMbLleeIA
Last edited by Silverghost500 on Tue Feb 08, 2022 1:53 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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valvecovergasket
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Joined: October 10, 2018
Posts: 1499
Location: pnw
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| Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2022 12:54 pm Post subject: Re: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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| Silverghost500 wrote: |
Of those of you that have acrylic tents, is the material stiffer during cold weather when pulling the pop top down?
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we had a gross, but at some point replaced, canas tent and i havent noticed any difference aside from the sunbrellas ability to not get soaked and to repel water.
pictures of the install and teardown in this thread
shortly after installing the tent i did the poptop struts to be able to better manage tucking away the new tent.
but i think id have done that regardless the fabric its just easier to keep it from getting pinched or tucked wrong.
being able to nearly stow the top, then do a quick walkaround leaving the top at that position while checking the tent, is a no brainer.
the only drawback was the relative lack of stretch of the sunbrella, which made for some wrestling during install, especially at the rear corners.
but it was a must IMO in our climate.
in fact i recently had a small breakout of moldy bits on the flocking from sitting over winter unused in the driveway. no sign of mold at all on the tent fabric.
other than the install hassle, no ragrets 
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kamzcab86
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Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 8457
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2022 1:45 pm Post subject: Re: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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| Silverghost500 wrote: |
| Of those of you that have acrylic tents, is the material stiffer during cold weather when pulling the pop top down? |
There are different types of acrylic fabrics. The type used for my boat's bimini cover is über-thick and stiff. In contrast, the type used for car covers and pop-top tents (both of which I have) is not nearly as thick and is not stiff whatsoever, regardless of conditions.
| Silverghost500 wrote: |
It may be a mute moot point of acrylic vs. canvas at the time of this writing, as many acrylic tents are out of stock. |
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~Kamz 
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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Vanuber
Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2020
Posts: 412
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 10:11 am Post subject: Re: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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| valvecovergasket wrote: |
but it was a must IMO in our climate.
in fact i recently had a small breakout of moldy bits on the flocking from sitting over winter unused in the driveway.] |
I understand that cotton is more breathable than synthetic and therefore keeps things more dry and mold-free. But maybe I am mistaken.
Cotton is also supposed to swell when wet to prevent water coming through (think old canvas camping tents). But that doesn't account for wicking. I've been pretty happy with a cotton tent and a Wasserstopper for serious rain.
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'85 Westfalia 1.9L
'72 BMW R75/5
'71 BMW R75/5
'02 Subaru Forester 2.5L |
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Silverghost500
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Joined: August 01, 2018
Posts: 1198
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 1:56 pm Post subject: Re: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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@kamzcab86, Thanks! Edited.
@Vanuber, I've seen the Wasserstopper on GoWesty's site, but never seen one in person. Does a part of it stay permanently attached to the pop top, or is it a complete refit every time you want to use it?
_________________
1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia "Von Westy"
Honda K24A conversion
3-Speed Automatic
Von Westy YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbhyZYxJEQrUuLnMbLleeIA |
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Vanuber
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Joined: February 16, 2020
Posts: 412
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 2:13 pm Post subject: Re: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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Only a handful of snaps stay permanently attached. These are screwed into the pop-top fiberglass front and sides. To use it, connect the snaps and a velcro closure at the back, rain gutter and bumper hooks. Goes up quickly. Check out the GW instruction PDF.
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'85 Westfalia 1.9L
'72 BMW R75/5
'71 BMW R75/5
'02 Subaru Forester 2.5L |
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Silverghost500
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Joined: August 01, 2018
Posts: 1198
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 2:37 pm Post subject: Re: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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Thanks Vanuber! I'll check it out.
_________________
1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia "Von Westy"
Honda K24A conversion
3-Speed Automatic
Von Westy YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbhyZYxJEQrUuLnMbLleeIA |
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coqcitywesty
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2018
Posts: 450
Location: Coquitlam, BC
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| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 2:51 pm Post subject: Re: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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After a bunch of research, reading and recommendations, I went with the Ateliers PK Sunbrella offering in Cadet Grey and pictured (yes, a crappy photo) as follows:
The installation was relatively straightforward with a couple of helpers over an afternoon and the fit was/is excellent. It is definitely bulkier than the factory offering and may look a tad more unkempt when folded in, but nothing major. The light transmission is also good - not much different than factory with the Cadet Grey colour.
Not sure of his wait times as everything is custom made, but ordering now should set you up for the spring/summer. Link to the website is as follows:
http://www.atelierspk.com/colors_sunbrella.html
Best of luck.
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1991 Westfalia EJ251, 1972 Volvo 1800 ES
Last edited by coqcitywesty on Wed Feb 09, 2022 3:30 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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dobryan
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Wellington
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Joined: September 21, 2004
Posts: 2000
Location: Montreal
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| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 3:58 pm Post subject: Re: Replacement Poptop Canvas Question |
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Ateliers PK Sunbrella
Another vote.
I installed one in my Westfalia and think its superb. |
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