I leave it in place.  It makes something soft to lay on.  You will have to
pull it out of your way in the corners but that is not a big deal.  I
usually use a small awl or ice pick to line up the holes in the aluminum
frame with the holes in the body.  You line up the next hole away from
where you are going to install the screw and this holds the aluminum frame
in place while you install that screw.  Then you move out one more hole
with the ice pick and do the previous hole that you were lining up with the
next screw.  That way things line up and you can do it all yourself without
a helper.  I have found this works as good as it is going to work.  Taking
the top off and putting it on a set of saw horses is all well and good, but
installing the bottom edge of the canvas requires you to lay up there and
do the work with the top not fully popped.  That is the part that stinks
especially if you have any claustrophobia whatsoever.  I recommend doing it
in the shade, first thing in the morning on a day that is going to get to a
max of 65 F.  Doing it in the sun, on a hot day, is just making it more
miserable than it has to be.

If you are pondering replacing your canvas this spring, now is actually the
time to do it.  Don't wait until the weather warms up.  You will thank me
later.

Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

On Mon, Mar 4, 2013 at 11:37 PM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi all
>
> Bentley says that for my '81, the closet and upper storage need to be
> removed before upper bed can come out. That in itself doesn't doesn't
> seem like a lot of work especially since I don't have AC.
>
> Will removing the upper bed make canvas replacement, top still
> installed, any easier?
>
> My canvas has the staples.
>
> Neil.
>
>
> --
> Neil n
>
> 65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly  http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp
>
> '88 Slate Blue Westy to be named.
>
> '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
> Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:
>
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>