JK Canvas replacement

[chriscburgess]

Anyone have a view on the JK poptop replacement canvas?

I have seen a couple of vans with this replacement and whilst it looks good my worry is it is also thin and therefore may be draughty and not waterproof.

[..lee..]

spot on, jk canvass is thin but if waterproofed properly it sheds showers ok. i`ve not tried mine in propper rain as i have a thermo wrap i fit in not so good weather.

depending on the price differance i`d think about buying a better quality one if doing it again or get one made as i did for the joker.

[chriscburgess]

Thanks! I have a thermal screen as well but sometimes just prefer to have the canvas so will probably spalsh out on a more expensive one from concept. Thanks for your feedback.

[Red Westie]

My JK canvas fitted last summer.....has been rained on hard without leaks although I too have a thermal..OK not the thickest but fitted well. doesn't leak and half the cost of anything else...does what it says on the tin.



Martin

[jiffies]

Concept poptops in Poole have a massive range of materials & custom make whatever pop top canvas you want. I'm getting my Viking canvas replaced in the next few months

http://www.conceptpoptops.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheers

Jiffies

[purplecrocs]

Red Westie - did you fit it yourself? Easy? Just ordered mine....

[Red Westie]

Yup..fitted myself and took ages
I remember posting my experience on here and others posted back saying that they had done theirs single handed in half a day! well......Michelle and myself took a day and a half...with breaks. It's the same old....could probably do one in around 5 hours second time around I suppose.
The corners are the most difficult, you need a stubby screwdriver (philips but check your screw heads to be sure) fit the top first, starting from the front center (mark the centre point of the canvas) take it left and right from the centre, don't leave any slack. The canvas is trapped and secured by the top trim (so you can JUST see the material coming out the other side of the trim)
Big point here....top trim on the outside (so you see the strip from the outside)
Bottom trim on the inside.
Front corners need two V's cutting as they go through 90 degrees (thats two V shaped triangles cutting out of each corner, through the bead to the stitch) this way it will fit neat into the corners.
Just evenly distribute the elasticated rear section at the rear.
Best tip I can give you is not to go around the canvas fastening in one circular motion BUT TO find the middle at the front and work your way evenly one side then the other...don't leave slack, pull taught but don't load.
To seal on the lower section you will notice that the aluminium trim has several kinks and these have small lumps of sealer that are placed in the corners of the contours....Bluetack works a treat! and ouses out when tightened to form a water tight seal (just a pea sized lump is needed in each corner)
Martin

[purplecrocs]

OK, I got my canvas from JK and am confused...!

Turns out there are 2 styles - a late and and early, which isnt made clear on the JK website - it just looks like they have 2 colour options. My van is an 85 so on the changeover, does anyone know whether the picture below is and early or late canvas? JK mentioned something about elastic on the later ones, is this what I have highlighted?



If so, bit annoying the later one is grey as my original is tan...!

thanks

[Red Westie]

Early ones are stapled along the top edge, later ones are fastened with metal strips and screwed to fasten the canvas....sorry but I thought you were already aware of the differences otherwise I would have mentioned them earlier.
85 is on the cusp of change but more likely the earlier stapled type.

Martin

[purplecrocs]

ok...think i'm actually on the later as I'm pretty sure I have metal strips. Does yours have that elastic bit marked on my image above?

[Red Westie]

Yes mate...mine has the elasticated section on the rear,,,,thats why I mentioned when fastening evenly distribute this section across the rear.

Martin

[purplecrocs]

ok... as long as what I have marked is the elastic everyone is referring to, it looks like i have a late style.... but in tan. Nevermind, the grey will look nice from the outside at least anyway!

[Red Westie]

Just Kampers definately do a TAN canvas....give them a ring.
Martin

[purplecrocs]

they only do tan in the early style... grey is the later style, hence I just want to make sure mine is the later style! I think i must be on the changeover - where they changed to the metal fixing but havent changed the interior colour yet

[Funkyoid]

How did you get on? I am just thinking about ordering one so thanks for pointout out there are two types so going to double check mine. Got a few tiny holes in mine and not sure how to repare them (is it possible to just glue it somehow, or patch as a temporay measure?) but in the middle of renovation so ideally want to replace but maybe not until van completley finished.

Was it kind of ok to fit? Or do you recommend paying someone to do it?

Martin - is yours the grey one the JK sell now? Looks very good by the way, worth the hassel!

Cheers

Beckie