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Canvas or vinyl...

Discussion in 'Jeep Trailer Tech' started by speedbuggy, Jul 3, 2006.

  1. Jul 3, 2006
    speedbuggy

    speedbuggy Looking for a Jeep now

    Living the Good...
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    I would like to put a reliable top on the 416. The 2 obvious choices are a canvas military style cover, which I can get shipped for about $100 or a custom vinyl cover which will cost me in the $250 range.

    I am leaning heavily toward the canvas, due to price. Will I be disappointed? Will it keep me gear dry? Whadda ya think?
     
  2. Jul 3, 2006
    Rondog

    Rondog just hangin' out

    Parker, CO
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    Military folks have been using canvas all over the world for how many years now? Seems like a no-brainer to me. Gotta love that canvas smell too!
     
  3. Jul 3, 2006
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    Dennis, you should be able to get vinyl or canvas for the same price - New Life Resources would do either for $85, but last I checked they weren't taking new orders. Not sure if that was temporary or what. I checked with WeeBee Webbing, but can't remember the price - it wasn't $250 though.

    I had a black canvas version - actually I bought both a flat tarp and the covered wagon style from NLR.

    I didn't like the canvas tarps for two reasons. No, three.

    #1 - that smell is horrible on new canvas. We couldn't even stand downwind from it. Maybe old canvas is OK, but I had store those tarps in sealed containers or the whole house stunk.

    #2 - The black canvas leeches color when wet. Made a mess of my paint.

    #3 - The grommets put chips in my paint.

    I sold both tarps, and plan to have custom cover made with no grommets. I want to have long sleeves put down the edges, with gaps right by the trailer tarp hooks. The tarp will be held on by one long bungee, strung through the sleeves and hooked around the tarp hooks.
     
  4. Jul 3, 2006
    speedbuggy

    speedbuggy Looking for a Jeep now

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    I like that idea. Makes sense to me.

    I took the trailer to the local boat canvas guy and he wants $250 for a tonneau-cover like deal. Seems way too expensive. Where will you be having yours done? Do you think we could 2-for-1 it? Dimmentions should be the same, right? Or should I look elsewhere?

    Just not sure where to look yet.
     
  5. Jul 3, 2006
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    I *think* the 416 is a bit wider...post your measurements and I can compare. And don't you have 4 tarp hooks on the side? The civvies have 3...

    I know a local guy who works at a boat shop but does stuff on the side at his house. Haven't gotten a quote yet..
     
  6. Jul 3, 2006
    speedbuggy

    speedbuggy Looking for a Jeep now

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    I do have the 4 hooks on the side. Dimmentions at the top are 74 1/4" x 51 1/4" outside edge.
     
  7. Jul 3, 2006
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    I have had the vinyl toneau cover.
    My experiences:
    when very cold, it's brittle and it shrinks; makes it hard to re-install.
    when very hot, it stretches and expands, then fits loosely.
    I had a zillion snaps all the way around the tub edge; was constantly replacing bad/pulled apart snaps.
    you are limited by height what goes in; nothing higher than the cover.
    sharp edges along with flexing of the cover when driving, can damage/poke a hole in the cover.
    After that wore out, I would use canvas, would conform better to my loads; just throw it over and secure it.
    But now, I have the fiberglass cap, and it's a lot higher so I can store more gear.
     
  8. Jul 3, 2006
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    And this is different than a Jeep top how? R)
     
  9. Jul 3, 2006
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

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    My Bantam is 48.5 x 74 1/4 - so you do have a bit more width.

    I can see Jim's point about the wear issues, but I think going snapless with the bows and bungee setup will help with the fitmet issues. None of my camping stuff was taller than the bows last time out.
     
  10. Jul 3, 2006
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    the big difference is a Jeep top has many different seams that unzip; this gives you some extra "give" when installing the top in cold weather.
    You can pull down on each individual section till it is secure.
    the toneau cover doesn't give you that convenience; you are trying to pull and stretch one very large piece of vinyl, all at once.
    The toneau cover I had lasted 18 years....
    I would never go back, now that I have what I have.
    ymmv, fwiw, etc
     
  11. Jul 3, 2006
    speedbuggy

    speedbuggy Looking for a Jeep now

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    Do you still have the canvas cover?
     
  12. Jul 3, 2006
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    no
    it was just a universal canvas tarp
    nothing special made
     
  13. Jul 3, 2006
    speedbuggy

    speedbuggy Looking for a Jeep now

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    Should I try that first? Maybe it would be a better start than spending too much $.
     
  14. Jul 3, 2006
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    I remember one trip
    snowing when we arrived
    had to unsnap so we could get the gear out
    that didn't take long, but I couldn't resnap it, had shrunk enough in that amount of time
    never did get it re-snapped on that trip (weekend)
    your winters are colder than mine
     
  15. Jul 3, 2006
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

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    No snaps needed with that I have in mind...(and more than likely won't get used in the winter anywhoo)...
     
  16. Jul 3, 2006
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    not trying to talk you out of it
    the trailer looked great/sharp with it
    just some things to think about
     
  17. Jul 3, 2006
    speedbuggy

    speedbuggy Looking for a Jeep now

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    I'll go looking at some canvas tarps at TSC tonight. See how much dough they are. That and the bows Mike built may just be what I need. It'll be way cheaper than having a custom job made around here.
     
  18. Jul 3, 2006
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    sounds like a good plan
    go use it that way
    decide if your happy with it
     
  19. Jul 3, 2006
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    I've seen the toneau covers, the covered wagon canvas/bow look, the homemade A-frame metal cap with sides that open, the fiberglass cap, the folding wooden sectional cover, just about any that have been made.
    only limit is your imagination and fab skills......
     
  20. Jul 3, 2006
    48cj2a

    48cj2a http://bantamt3c.com

    Central Illinois
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    All our newer covers at work are a rubberized vinyl, and the nylon ropes have been replaced with a long round rubber bungie cord material. Seem to be holding up to the UVs a lot better that the vinyl and OHHH it smells better. Now if they would do something about the seat covers...

    http://www.gmacover.com/DefaultUS.asp
     
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