GoWesty Pop-Top Tent (Acrylic or Cotton) [Late Vanagon Camper]

Tent material: Cotton vs. Acrylic:
All vehicles and all tents not are exactly the same due to “tolerance stack.” That is, the body, lifting gear, and pop-top all vary slightly in dimension, and so do the all the panels of the tent that are sewn together to make a complete tent. The original Westfalia tent material was a cotton blend which had some stretchiness. Acrylic is a much more durable fabric than any cotton blend, but has practically zero stretch. It is all but impossible to end up with an acrylic tent that is not either a little too tight or a little too loose. If a perfect fit is more important to you than durability, choose cotton. If long-term durability is your goal, and you are willing to put up with a more difficult installation and a fit not as perfect as the original cotton blend tent, acrylic is the best choice.

Cotton Features:
• Budget-friendly 100% cotton tent body with an added UV-resistant and water-resistant coating
• Excellent breathability, yet less colorfast and mold/mildew resistant than our acrylic offering
• Cotton material has natural stretch to it, and will result in the easiest installation
• Cotton is a less durable material than acrylic

Acrylic Features:
• Upholstery-weight solution-dyed acrylic tent body with an added UV-resistant and water-resistant coating
• Excellent colorfastness, more weather-resistant, and better mold/mildew resistance than our cotton offering
• Acrylic is a more durable material than cotton

Cotton Maintenance:
Unlike synthetic acrylic, natural cotton fibers will readily absorb moisture. We add a water-repellant coating to our tents, but this will wear off over time. The most important thing you can do to extend the life of your tent is ensure that it is totally dry when stored long-term. After camping with the top up, be sure to let it air out and dry fully once you're home. Remember, a tent may feel dry to the touch, but still have some moisture deep in the fibers. When in doubt, air it out!

Acrylic Maintenance:
Our acrylic tents are manufactured out of a medium weight material designed for marine upholstery applications. It incredibly durable, does not absorb moisture, has a soft hand like cotton canvas, and is not stiff like the heavy materials used on sail covers. Our fabric has also been treated with a finish which gives it extra water repellency. THis stuff is all but indestructible!

Mark-off. What? In some instances, when an object scrapes across the fabric, white scuff marks can be left behind. This is known as 'mark-off.' Additionally, thin white lines called 'crazing' can appear when the material is stowed in a way that creates many small wrinkles. These two types of surface markings are more common on newly treated fabric, and will diminish and/or disappear over time. They are purely cosmetic, and do not indicate damaged fabric.

Should you wish to improve the appearance of your acrylic material, one approach is as follows:

• Spray Bio-Kleen H2O Repel onto a clean washcloth or other soft white cotton product
• Dab the affected area with the moistened cloth
• Let dry
• Repeat process if necessary.

Again, this phenomena is most prevalent on new fabric and if it occurs, will normally diminish or go away with normal weathering and will not affect the overall performance of the product.

At GoWesty, we strive to have our products manufactured in the U.S. as often as possible. We start by looking at local manufacturing first, then widen our net statewide, then nationally. After a decade of working with U.S. textile manufacturers on several iterations of pop-top tents, we found it impossible to maintain the price and quality we require and our customers deserve. As a result, we shifted our focus toward locating an offshore textile partner that shared our commitment to sustainable and ethical manufacturing, while being able to deliver excellent quality at an affordable price.

After a rigorous vetting process, we found an Indian manufacturing partner that adheres to globally-recognized responsible practices, a commitment to healthy workplace policies, and holds a highly-rated Intertek accreditation. Like GoWesty, they care deeply about their employees’ safety and well-being. We feel confident you will appreciate the level of quality and price point of your new pop-top tent.

Pop-Top Tent Installation Instructions