I'm looking at replacing the poptop skirt on my old Viscount. The current one is vinyl and someone mentioned canvas might be better. The current poptop has a couple of tiny holes and a couple of the zippers are starting to come away.
There is not a significant price difference between the two materials according to the fitter. But in any case I want the best option.
I would use vinyl , new technologle verus old. The canvas would be heavier and you would need to make sure it was dry before packup which is not so crictical with vinyl cheers blaze ps by the way hi
I have the same situation as Ellen with my Hi Ace and had thought that canvas would be the best option, it has had canvas for many years and now has various stitched and patched areas.
I had associated vinyl with plastic and was concerned that constant sun would degrade and cause vinyl to split or discolour and stitching vinyl would not be an option.
Also interested in further views before making a decision, my quote was $1250 for canvas with 4 openings flyscreened.
I have the same situation as Ellen with my Hi Ace and had thought that canvas would be the best option, it has had canvas for many years and now has various stitched and patched areas.
I had associated vinyl with plastic and was concerned that constant sun would degrade and cause vinyl to split or discolour and stitching vinyl would not be an option.
Also interested in further views before making a decision, my quote was $1250 for canvas with 4 openings flyscreened.
John
I had a 2006 pop top caravan with a vinyl skirt and it split on the corners where it folded, seemed to have deteriorated although visually the vinyl looked ok. I put a couple of vinyl patches on it using vinyl tape from a caravan parts store.
__________________
Vic
Hi Ace Pop Top Campervan & A'Van A'Lite Camper Trailer.....
Khalil Gibran says "We tarry forward - not backward".
Spread the laughter Share the cheer Let's be happy While we're here.
The canvas is new and also a bit thicker than the previous version so it is hard to secure the anchor clips, I also asked for the elastic cord to pull the sides in whilst dropping the top down and that pulls against the anchor clips stretching the canvas inwards. Not to worry it took a while but was locked down eventually and I expect that the newness will wear off and the material will become more flexible. There is another option and that is to put the elastic on the outside I might try that next time it is put up.
Intend to wet the canvas and massage it, trying to take away the newness.
John
-- Edited by yeoeleven on Friday 16th of December 2011 11:15:28 PM
All the new one's seem to have the elastic on the outside John, I know mine does and also KEA Campers use them on the outside among others.
Be careful massaging the canvas you may weaken it's waterproofing properties, I know they tell you not to scrub canvas for the same reason.
Have you tried lubricating the outside tracks, runners and springs etc? I did this recently and it worked for me (silicone spray) not too sure how long it will last though before I have to do it again.
The Mrs came up with an idea but I haven't tried it yet. Get a length or rope/cord and attached a clip on each end. Make the rope long enough to reach almost to the floor but perhaps about about nine inches higher in a skipping rope configuration one end of the rope attached to each of the pop top pull down handles in the middle of the roof.
When you want to pull down the roof attach the ends of the rope to one handle each with the clip ons, put your foot in the middle of the rope/cord like a stirrup and use your leg to push down to the floor to initiate the downward movement of the roof at the same time using your hands in the pull down handles as usual. Worth a try and may just do the trick.
-- Edited by Vic on Saturday 17th of December 2011 03:27:38 AM
__________________
Vic
Hi Ace Pop Top Campervan & A'Van A'Lite Camper Trailer.....
Khalil Gibran says "We tarry forward - not backward".
Spread the laughter Share the cheer Let's be happy While we're here.
Thanks for your insights Vic I will remember them when the poptop becomes a chore to pull down. Now I can handle that part easily it is the connecting of the clips to hold the top down that is hard. The material is thicker and being pulled towards the centre causing difficulty making the clip anchor to the holder.
I take note of your comment re the waterproofing qualities.
It looks good yeoeleven. I have the canvas too. Not sure what you mean by the elastic on the outside, do you mean on the outside of the vehicle. I saw your photo and that is how my setup is. You use the elastic to pull inwards. Am I not understanding what you are saying. It is a bit harder to hook the anchors, you just need a strong wrist. Or are you talking about the outside hooks.
Not sure what you mean by the elastic on the outside,
Marj
I'ts like a big elastic band that goes around the middle of the canvas and forces the canvas into the middle when you pull the top down, This stops it from getting caught when the top comes down. I hope you can understand that. I have only seen it on one camper and it seemed to work.
Looking at yeoeleven's photos up above, he has that on the inside, just the same as mine. I can't see how you can pull it in if its on the outside, you would be pulling it outwards, if that makes sense, I'm confused.
It looks good yeoeleven. I have the canvas too. Not sure what you mean by the elastic on the outside, do you mean on the outside of the vehicle. I saw your photo and that is how my setup is. You use the elastic to pull inwards. Am I not understanding what you are saying. It is a bit harder to hook the anchors, you just need a strong wrist. Or are you talking about the outside hooks.
Hi Marj,
Claire has right about the elastic.
Stronger wrists would be great, over the years I have lost muscle density, or so the doctor says when I was proud of the fact that I had lost weight over successive 6 month periods. No amount of strength fixes the problem when the new canvas is thicker than the previous and won't clear the space between the hook and the clip, it has to be eased out of the way whilst it is being pulled into the way by the elastic strip. Hence my problem.
I can't see how you can pull it in if its on the outside, you would be pulling it outwards, if that makes sense, I'm confused.
Marj
You don't pull on the elastic, you pull the top down and the elastic hold the canvas in out of the way. Hard to explain but simple when you see it on action
I know clare, as I've said I have exactly the same. You can hold the elastic to make sure it is coming in and pulling the canvas with it. I do it all the time. You wouldn't be able to do that if its on the outside. Yeoeleven, mine is very thick when I try to hook the clasps up, you have to manouvre it out of the way and squeeze it back in behind the hook going into the hole.
when the poptop is up the elastic is stretche, it doesnt matter (to the elastic) if its inside or outside, it still wants to 'pull' the canvas inwards when the top comes down
Thats interesting Mergatroy, have never seen it on the outside. But I do hold onto it on the inside as I'm pulling my top down. It helps the canvas come further in without crinkling in a lump in the closure.
I dont have elastic so I have to stop my poptop part way down and pull the canvas in. I miss read your post HW, I see you help the elastic. Wondered if that was neccessary, seems it is.
Hop, hop Mergatroy. I feel if you don't help it in you get it all bunched up in the line of where it needs to clamp. If the elastic was on the outside it would be getting caught in there too. It all needs to be pulled in flat and not scrunched up, then when you go to clamp it you just push the bit back in that area so its lout of the way of the clamps. I also have outside clamps now too thanks to the great Ken Thomas, that helps it from lifting in the wind and also keeps it lined up properly so it doesn't warp.
No, it works fine on mine Marj, I think you can buy these from camping stores or a campervan conversion place, can't see why you couldn't have one inside and outside.......
__________________
Vic
Hi Ace Pop Top Campervan & A'Van A'Lite Camper Trailer.....
Khalil Gibran says "We tarry forward - not backward".
Spread the laughter Share the cheer Let's be happy While we're here.
I don't have any problems with mine Vic. it works perfect on the inside. Thats why I thought yeoeleven should have been ok.
I did put the elastic on the outside and it was harder to clip the hooks in place, The elastic was in the canvas when clipping it in place making the job much harder.
I have been spraying the canvas with water and leaving it in the sun to dry and intend to leave it up as much as possible in an effort to get it to weather.
