You would have been better off getting some old lady to sew you up a custom tent out of canvas. Might have been cheaper and add roll down flaps that velcro into place for privacy and to keep the rain out. I use to own an interior shop and I hated doing cars or trucks and they send you the wrong kit etc.
I love this video! I cant stop laughing, this is the shit that would happen to me, I have a couple of good sized holes in mine and was ready to replace, however I will wait a while LOL, this shit is funny! thanks for making this vid, you deserve an award for doing this with such patience and not setting fire to your vanagon.. thanks again!.
I'm getting ready to install a new tent on my 1983 VW Transporter. Watching your video is/was, the funniest and most educational thing I've seen in a long time. Everyone else is right. You should do this for a living. Your deadpan is priceless. Hope your next project goes better for you and sorry about the tear... not fun.
I'm getting ready to install a new tent on my 1983 VW Transporter. Watching your video is/was, the funniest and most educational thing I've seen in a long time. Everyone else is right. You should do this for a living. Your deadpan is priceless. Hope your next project goes better for you and sorry about the tear... not fun.
Loved it! I'm converting my passenger van to a camper so your video has really helped out. That being said this it is one of the funnies videos I have ever seen. You are so deadpan. Have you ever considered a career in comedy. Kudos for keeping it together and not setting fire to the whole thing.
I actually re-watch this video all the time myself just for kicks. It gets funnier and funner the more time passes since I installed it. Stay tuned for this springs video where I take out the camping cabinets, fix the rust and paint the van. That should be interesting....
me and a friend did his tent, first of all you need 2 people, 2nd take the top right off, 3rd lay the top on the ground and install the roof of tent, 4th put top back on, 5th install bottom of tent, 6th sit back and puff puff!!.
I'd just like to say that I met Nostradamus once while camping in my T3/ T25. Just like me, he sensibly owns an Atlantic Hightop 1.6Td and so has no problems with 'tents'.
you are a saint sir, i'm just about to purchase a 1980 Westfalia Vanagon and this is going to be key in the restoration process. If you could maybe provide some tips or hints as to what to look for as far as red flags go when i go to look over the Vanagon i'm thinking of buying, that would be amazingly helpful. and again, thanks for the video
Supposedly its a genuine Westfalia. I heard there was a bad batch of wrong size tents going around too so if thats true then I got one of them. The new tent is no where near as thick and durable as the original but the 3 screen version I have now is priceless.
Supposedly its a genuine Westfalia. I heard there was a bad batch of wrong size tents going around too so if thats true then I got one of them. The new tent is no where near as thick and durable as the original but the 3 screen version I have now is priceless.
Lucky me, I had an airplane hanger with electric winches to lift the roof off. I set the roof off and did all the work while the lid was removed.
THEN, I completely revamped the interior... AND I fixed all the dents and repainted and added new chrome bumpers... During the summer, in Texas heat... NEVER AGAIN.
I forgot to add, our tent was VERY tight in the corners... The fabric later stretched, but still, it was a VERY tight (too tight) installation. It was a royal pain in the you know what.
Correct, the Bentley manual tells you to take the top off which would make stapling the top on ALLOT easier. The problem is I had no one to help me so I needed to do it myself with the top still in.
Funny comments. But I was surprised to see an install with the shell on the roof. The Westfalia shop down my street removes the camper-top, turns it over on a table, R&R's the tent, then 2-3 guys lift the assembly back on the van and finish the bottom. Still a 4 hour job though...
Just wanted to say thanks for putting together this video and posting it - really useful information, and I like your dry humour! I was considering doing this on my Westy. That is an awesome garden you have.
Yes, it's hard and time consuming to replace a Westfalia tent, especially our years with the staples, but I think the biggest lesson to learn is take off your old tent, measure it, then make sure the new one is the exact same size. If not, send it back.
Wonder if you could possibly give me a couple of basic measurements off of the tent its self, specifically length width and height of the tent in the open position. I have an older camper conversion that is a similar design but the canvas is NLA as the company that made them is long gone, I am hoping to use a westy canvas as they are available at a reasonable price.
You would have been better off getting some old lady to sew you up a custom tent out of canvas. Might have been cheaper and add roll down flaps that velcro into place for privacy and to keep the rain out. I use to own an interior shop and I hated doing cars or trucks and they send you the wrong kit etc.
JimmyRayhere 7 months ago
"It's tent-shaped" LoL!
MosesJonson 11 months ago
I love this video! I cant stop laughing, this is the shit that would happen to me, I have a couple of good sized holes in mine and was ready to replace, however I will wait a while LOL, this shit is funny! thanks for making this vid, you deserve an award for doing this with such patience and not setting fire to your vanagon.. thanks again!.
stemmmy3 1 year ago
I'm getting ready to install a new tent on my 1983 VW Transporter. Watching your video is/was, the funniest and most educational thing I've seen in a long time. Everyone else is right. You should do this for a living. Your deadpan is priceless. Hope your next project goes better for you and sorry about the tear... not fun.
spidercam1 1 year ago
I'm getting ready to install a new tent on my 1983 VW Transporter. Watching your video is/was, the funniest and most educational thing I've seen in a long time. Everyone else is right. You should do this for a living. Your deadpan is priceless. Hope your next project goes better for you and sorry about the tear... not fun.
spidercam1 1 year ago
FIRST, Take the top off !!!
badlychadly 1 year ago
Actually, first thing would be to measure your new tent with your old one. Also, you cannot take the top off if you are doing the job by yourself.
uprightbassghost 1 year ago
I love your background. :)
dubbified 1 year ago
Loved it! I'm converting my passenger van to a camper so your video has really helped out. That being said this it is one of the funnies videos I have ever seen. You are so deadpan. Have you ever considered a career in comedy. Kudos for keeping it together and not setting fire to the whole thing.
Orbitald 2 years ago
I actually re-watch this video all the time myself just for kicks. It gets funnier and funner the more time passes since I installed it. Stay tuned for this springs video where I take out the camping cabinets, fix the rust and paint the van. That should be interesting....
uprightbassghost 2 years ago
me and a friend did his tent, first of all you need 2 people, 2nd take the top right off, 3rd lay the top on the ground and install the roof of tent, 4th put top back on, 5th install bottom of tent, 6th sit back and puff puff!!.
That's how we did it, and it worked beautifully.
troll288 2 years ago
that was great and extremely funny..sorry about the tear in the back... great patience i would have lost my head
WilcoTributeOne 2 years ago
Great passionate work! Never mind the end result. I am dreading the day I have to put in a new canvas on my '81 Westy.
Mndwll 2 years ago
I'd just like to say that I met Nostradamus once while camping in my T3/ T25. Just like me, he sensibly owns an Atlantic Hightop 1.6Td and so has no problems with 'tents'.
Darryld1 2 years ago
hahahaaaaaaaa, too funny, great job you did there. I would have been bent out of shape 5 stars!
daddiono 3 years ago
you are a saint sir, i'm just about to purchase a 1980 Westfalia Vanagon and this is going to be key in the restoration process. If you could maybe provide some tips or hints as to what to look for as far as red flags go when i go to look over the Vanagon i'm thinking of buying, that would be amazingly helpful. and again, thanks for the video
Allgold912 3 years ago
Supposedly its a genuine Westfalia. I heard there was a bad batch of wrong size tents going around too so if thats true then I got one of them. The new tent is no where near as thick and durable as the original but the 3 screen version I have now is priceless.
uprightbassghost 3 years ago
What brand of tent did you use? I am about to start this job on my 82 diesel Westy using one from PLF VW.
membernumber134256 3 years ago
Supposedly its a genuine Westfalia. I heard there was a bad batch of wrong size tents going around too so if thats true then I got one of them. The new tent is no where near as thick and durable as the original but the 3 screen version I have now is priceless.
uprightbassghost 3 years ago
@uprightbassghost is it the tent from busdepot? I would really like to know because I am going to order one very soon
Artarous 5 months ago
@Artarous It is a known defective tent from that period where there was allot. They are all fine now.
uprightbassghost 5 months ago
@membernumber134256 i am going to do it to my 82 diesel now. :p
Artarous 5 months ago
Lucky me, I had an airplane hanger with electric winches to lift the roof off. I set the roof off and did all the work while the lid was removed.
THEN, I completely revamped the interior... AND I fixed all the dents and repainted and added new chrome bumpers... During the summer, in Texas heat... NEVER AGAIN.
Watch my Westfalia video when you have a chance.
tuutuutango 4 years ago
I forgot to add, our tent was VERY tight in the corners... The fabric later stretched, but still, it was a VERY tight (too tight) installation. It was a royal pain in the you know what.
tuutuutango 4 years ago
Correct, the Bentley manual tells you to take the top off which would make stapling the top on ALLOT easier. The problem is I had no one to help me so I needed to do it myself with the top still in.
uprightbassghost 4 years ago
Funny comments. But I was surprised to see an install with the shell on the roof. The Westfalia shop down my street removes the camper-top, turns it over on a table, R&R's the tent, then 2-3 guys lift the assembly back on the van and finish the bottom. Still a 4 hour job though...
Doggchop 4 years ago
Just wanted to say thanks for putting together this video and posting it - really useful information, and I like your dry humour! I was considering doing this on my Westy. That is an awesome garden you have.
justwanderingvids 4 years ago
Thanks for the comment.
Yes, it's hard and time consuming to replace a Westfalia tent, especially our years with the staples, but I think the biggest lesson to learn is take off your old tent, measure it, then make sure the new one is the exact same size. If not, send it back.
uprightbassghost 4 years ago
Hi Uprightbassghost,
Nice work and thanks for documenting the work!
Wonder if you could possibly give me a couple of basic measurements off of the tent its self, specifically length width and height of the tent in the open position. I have an older camper conversion that is a similar design but the canvas is NLA as the company that made them is long gone, I am hoping to use a westy canvas as they are available at a reasonable price.
Thanks!!
One4adventure 4 years ago
I have a 1981 Westfalia. You have convinced me not to attempt this. You had more patience than I would have. Bummer ripping the new top!
rej19 4 years ago