Here are some pictures of our canvas. You can see the mosquito net on the side is torn but the rest of the canvas seems ok. I have contacted a few companies about replacing just the mosquito net but all of them are saying to replace the entire thing. Obviously for a significant cost. What does anyone else think? Can anyone recommend someone who can just replace the torn bits (ideally near cambridgeshire)? Also should the front be open like this or should there be a net? There doesn't seem to be any residual netting if it was there orginially
Id imagine the front opening is to gain access to the roofrack from inside so wouldent have a net If you can find a sailmakers they would be able to sew new net into your original top im sure
It's not a conversion I've seen however it's similar to the westy idea, the front one will be like that to load the roofrack - westys have a double zip for the net - if you show no evidence then it's probably never had one...... the reason i'd imagine people want to replace the lot is A. cost but B. you'll need to take it off anyway and after the faff you might as well replace the lot, i'd imagine it's gone very fragile and will rip easily and have lost it's water repellelency (?) while that could be recovered it's all only time before the canvas is u/s..... i'd use it as is for now until you're sure of the way the van suits your needs - you may have to have one made and if you've used it a few times and realised you would have made one differently (more/less zips/holes etc) you'll be cross..... for now why not do what many of us do to hide a poor canvas? make a cover from that silver bubble stuff for insulation, it get's you out of the mire for a bit and looks a bit better than a gash canvas.
The canvas itself looks in pretty good nick but as you say have no idea whether it's still water repellent. Like the idea of insulation and trying it as is to see what we want in the future. Would also appreciate recommendations for companies/people who could do a good job repairing or replacing.
as paradox says, some sort of boatyard or sailing club affair? i'd doubt a u.k supplier like just campers stock that canvas but you never know, you could try to ask one of the upholsterers like delilahs or Bromsgrove auto trimmers if they can make one or put you in touch with someone but other than that i'm stuck, try to join the samba forum if that conversion is more popular in America, they may know a supplier but it won't be cheap - and if it is cheap then the quality won't be great - westy ones range from £100 to £350 and the grade and quality is widely different - mine is absolutely shabby as hell so I hide it with the silver stuff, I got given a very good 2nd hand one but it's blue - however it's gonna have to do for a while as i'm not buying a £100 one that won't last and I can't afford a £350 one...... so i'm gonna put the blue on for a couple of years and sod it.....the tatty one's been on in the 2 years I've had my bus and nobody died....
spay it with garden hose mate ,(as a lot of bay owners do to test their door seals)but have someone inside to shout "STOP"!
spaceroofs (spaceroof.co.uk) came back to me and said they could use mine as a template and have a new one made for around £350 plus VAT. Anyone used them before?
i'd cut the net out with a sharp Stanley knife and not worry.......... it won't look as bad then and it will cost £0.00
Fabsil will restore the water repllency As ricky suggested just cut the old mesh out for now and see how you get along
