Jon, I just did this job on Friday.  If you buy the Canvas from me or
other reputable list vendors it will come with detailed instructions on
how to install it.  Be warned it took me over 6 hours to do this latest
one and I have done many over the years.  I keep trying to find ways to
go faster but my main concern is that it turns out well.  One other
issue I have had over the years is with the tents made for the early
Vanagons 80-83.  These are the ones that use the tack strips on the top
of fasten them.  They require that the top of the tent be squared in the
corners and the bottom be rounded in the corners.  So far I have never
found this to be the case.  The tents have been rounded in the top and
bottom corners of the rear part and will not fit like the old ones.  I
have solved this problem by adding small blocks of triangular wood to
the upper corners and it solves the problem but I am going to share my
concerns with the tent makers because an average person may be stymied
by this problem in the midst of having the top of their van off and on
saw horses sitting beside the van.  Not a fun problem to run into
especially if you are under time pressure.

It is not a difficult job, take your time, read the instructions.  If
you can't work inside start the first thing in the morning and have a
fan to try to circulate the air for you.  You may want to do the work
over the course of two days because by the time you get the top off and
put the new canvas in it, the day will be getting toward noon and doing
this work outside with the noon day sun hitting your top makes you feel
like you are sealing yourself inside your own casket in an Asian
prisoner of war camp.  Not a fun experience but if you are
claustrophobic this is not the job for you.  There is no pleasant or
happy way to fasten the rear section of the tent to the top of the van
that I have found.  You can't have the top fully popped up, there is no
air flow and I was sweating my guts out inside an air conditioned shop
with a huge fan blowing up my way simply because nothing could reach me
wedged back in the rear of the partially closed pop top.  I really hate
this job worse than any other I have ever done on a Vanagon probably
because I am somewhat claustrophobic to start with.  If you only ever
have to do yours, you can survive it and feel the pride of a job well
done.  I usually do two of three of these over the course of a summer
and then am happy when winter comes and they become nothing but a vague
memory :-)

Let me know if I can help you further.

Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

Jon Kanas wrote:
> Good Afternoon,
>
> It seems to me that earlier this year there was a posting or reference
> to a site where there was a good procedure published for replacing the
> poptop canvas.  I've been digging around in the archives with no luck.
> If anyone remembers this post or link, I'd appreciate a pointer to it.
> --
>
> *Best Regards,
> Jon B Kanas
> Email: kanas<at>qadas.com <mailto:kanas@qadas.com>
> LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkanas
> Website: http://www.qadas.com/~kanas <http://www.qadas.com/%7Ekanas>
> *
>
> *"When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always
> one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command.
> Very Often, that individual is crazy."
> --Dave Barry
> *
>