1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

Canvas top

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by ReLoaded, Mar 28, 2009.

  1. Mar 28, 2009
    ReLoaded

    ReLoaded Professional Drunkard

    Santa Ynez, CA
    Joined:
    May 24, 2008
    Messages:
    94
    Anybody have any experience with this kind of thing? I know the canvas tops are pretty popular with the FJ40 crowd. I'm looking for something other than bestop here, I refuse to pay a third of my Jeeps total cost for a lame *** top.

    I'm pretty sure that the m38a1 model will fit my CJ5, and at almost a third the price I'm thinking even if it doesn't last I can replace it cheap.

    Thoughts?
     
    ReLoaded, Mar 28, 2009
    #1
  2. Mar 28, 2009
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,197
    Who is your source? If it's Beachwood you'll come away thinking Bestop is a steal...
     
    Boyink, Mar 28, 2009
    #2
  3. Mar 28, 2009
    ReLoaded

    ReLoaded Professional Drunkard

    Santa Ynez, CA
    Joined:
    May 24, 2008
    Messages:
    94
    ReLoaded, Mar 28, 2009
    #3
  4. Mar 28, 2009
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,197
    All I can say is I hope you *really* like the smell of canvas.

    I bought 2 tarps for my Bantam from them...and ended up selling them both as I just couldn't take that smell. You could smell it 50 ft. away from the trailer.

    I also bought black -- and the color leeched something terrible when it rained. I had to use alot of elbow grease and rubbing compound on the paint to get the black streaks out.
     
    Boyink, Mar 28, 2009
    #4
  5. Mar 28, 2009
    ReLoaded

    ReLoaded Professional Drunkard

    Santa Ynez, CA
    Joined:
    May 24, 2008
    Messages:
    94
    I wasn't aware of any particular canvas smell..Hmm. Thanks for the heads up. I take it you didn't find a way around it huh?

    Yeah, I'd probably hit 'em with some treatments before I get wet.

    You have any thoughts on the strength of the material? Weight? How would you compare the wind noise to your bestop?

    Personally I like the look of it much better then the plastic type look of the bestop.
     
    ReLoaded, Mar 28, 2009
    #5
  6. Mar 28, 2009
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,197
    Have them ship you a sample of the canvas - it should be enough to get a whiff...;)

    What I had was trailer tarps rather than a Jeep top so can't speak to the wind issue. It is heavy stuff.
     
    Boyink, Mar 28, 2009
    #6
  7. Mar 28, 2009
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2003
    Messages:
    8,131
    Yup, canvas used for mitary tops has a smell, comes from the paraffin based waterproofing, I kinda like it myself :).

    Smell aside, frankly, unless you're going for a full resto on a jeep that originally would have come with a canvas top, a vinyl or synthetic sail cloth top will be better wearing and longer lasting than canvas, plus it won't be so loose you can hear it flapping from two miles away when you're driving and so tight it's impossible to put up when it dries.

    H.
     
    Howard Eisenhauer, Mar 28, 2009
    #7
  8. Mar 28, 2009
    ReLoaded

    ReLoaded Professional Drunkard

    Santa Ynez, CA
    Joined:
    May 24, 2008
    Messages:
    94
    Ok, so I read up a bit on the canvas smell. Although i couldn't find any regarding a Jeep, it seems that this is a common problem with boat covers. I read a few threads in a boat forum that said this is issue can be cured with some canvas treatments and some care.

    I'm thinking if this is the only real problem with 'em I see a purchase in my very near future. The bestop just doesn't even compare in terms of the look. I think I might be willing to deal with the noise and the smell (until I get some petroleum based treatment for a cure).
     
    ReLoaded, Mar 28, 2009
    #8
New Posts