Camper Fabric
John Burnett
1. Does "Evolution" typically have a 12 year life?
2. Is "Sunbrella" really that much better?
3. And, how about that stuff called "Canvas"?
I am aware of three fabric replacement companies, all located in Wisconsin. (Bearcreek,Canvas Replacements, and Canvas and More). Some use canvas and others have Sunbrella available.
Does anybody have any suggestions regarding any of the above companies or choice of fabric? Thanks, John.....
John Burnett
meldx
I'd use any of them, as long as they are garantied to be waterproof!
Mel
John Burnett wrote:
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MELDX....FAMILY AND CAMPING SITE
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Mike Mason
If cost is not a factor I would go with Sunbrella. Canvass would be a
good 2nd choice, and I believe it is cheaper. I would not consider
Evolution 3 at all...I don't even know if Evolution 3 is still offered
by any of the above mentioned companies (including Fleetwood/Coleman).
I have posted to several threads concerning Evolution 3 over the past
3 years. I did a google.com search, and cut-n-pasted several of my
past threads on the subject together below:
I have had campers with canvass, Evolution 3 and Sunbrella. We
replaced the worn-out Evolution 3 on our 87 Sequoia with new Evolution
3 in 1994, and we replaced the original canvass on our current 77
Valley Forge with canvass. Our 98 Bayside had Sunbrella. The
"breathable" aspect of any of these materials was never an issue for
us...I've never noticed any difference. However, when it comes to
durability and light diffusion or darkening there are big differences.
Sunbrella is the most "transparent" material of the 3...it's great
during the day, however if you camp in a spot next to a bright street
light,
the interior of your camper will be well lit all night. The shadows
of your movements inside the camper are also telegraph thru and are
more visible at night due to the transparent quality of the Sunbrella
fabric. Canvass, on the other hand is virtually opaque. Frankly we
prefer the dark inside our camper at night. Evolution 3 is an opaque
fabric like canvass.
For durability and ease of cleaning, I would give the edge to
Sunbrella, then canvass and lastly Evolution 3. All 3 fabrics will
last a long time if taken care of properly.
In my experience, I don't think Evolution 3 holds up the the everyday
rigors of being popped-up and taken down, and regularly cleaned. If
you look closely at the bed boots just behind the roof posts you may
see the material pulling apart like a kitchen paper napkin (the 3
layers are de-laminating).
Also check the ends of the bed boots where the bed bow engages and
supports the boot. These are points where the fabric has been
stressed
over and over and can wear the fabric thin.
Also you can hurt Evolution 3 by scrubbing it with too
coarse of a brush. I believe canvass may be cheaper than Sunbrella.
I don't know if Bear Creek Canvass or Canvass Replacements Co. offer
Sunbrella.
New canvass will run you about $700. (I found a set of new canvass
for my 77 Valley Forge on ebay for $200)
When we bought the 87 Sequoia we knew we would have to replace the
Evolution 3 but the price we paid for the camper was low enough to
allow us to do that and ultimately we did not loose any money on it
when we sold it. We bought the 87 Sequoia in Oct 92 and the Evolution
3 was not in good shape. I think he may have left it popped up for an
extended period of time or maybe over a winter. The layers were
de-laminating. It looked like this: if you take a dry tooth
brush and rub both faces of a kitchen paper towel, the fibers of
the paper get a "fuzzy" look. Also, at the stress points (such
as just behind the zipper where the bed boots attach to the
roadside panels) the stuff was pulling apart. I noticed the
same thing happening to other similar model Colemans at the
time. We bought a couple of yards of Evolution fabric from Coleman
and
sewed/reinforced the weak spots (sewed to the interior face to
reinforce the weak spots) and we made it last a couple of years
longer. We finally ordered a new set of Evolution 3 repalcements in
May 1994 for $695. This was pre-internet and I had no way of getting
the information & life experience from others like is available thru
this news group now. If I had known then what I know now, I would
have gone with canvass. I'm not sure I've ever read a thread here
that tells the true story of what happened to Evolution 3, and why
it's use by Coleman was discontinued after the 1994 models in favor of
Sunbrella.
Mike in Austin
Gerald Loring
and was ugly! I ordered replacement from Bear Creek, they have a
website.
The service was prompt the fit beautiful and the tinted plexi and the
screen help to block the sun. The inside window covers are a great
improvement over the original.
Mine is a 1984 Coleman Sequoia and it now looks great. Bear Creek was
also less then Canvas Replacement Co.
IMHO
Gale L.
like-new condition. And, the boat guys down at the Marina where we keep our
Pontoon Boat all highly recommend SUNBRELLA for boat covers. It stands up
very well to harsh wind, rain, and the sun's beating U.V. Rays every day on
a boat while in the water.
--
Gale L.
Wauconda, ILL
"meldx" <me...@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:3C63E8E6...@sympatico.ca...
Alicia Howard
of spots where the fabric touches the lift towers from time to time. When we got the camper from my
in-laws, it had been stored in Houston, TX for 5+ years and the last 2-3 uncovered with a leaky A/C
gasket, so the bunks and tenting had a bad mildew problem. I used the cleaning solution from our
Coleman owners manual (I've posted the receipe a few times) and a cloth and the mildew washed right
off with no stains, damage, or rot. We now have the camper in South Florida and have used it several
times with no noticeable degradation in the fabric, we just have trouble getting the darn thing to dry
out after we use it (I've lived in central Texas, trust me, you don't have humidity unless the grass
in the sun is still wet at dinner time!) I'm not saying that I would by Evolution 3 if I had to
replace it, but I would consider all options.
Mike Howard
01 Saturn L200
97 Ford F-150 4x4
84 Coleman Sequoia
Matthew S. Whiting
>
> Our '84 Sequoia has Evolution 3 tenting, and it is ALL in like-new shape. The only "wear" is a couple
> of spots where the fabric touches the lift towers from time to time. When we got the camper from my
> in-laws, it had been stored in Houston, TX for 5+ years and the last 2-3 uncovered with a leaky A/C
> gasket, so the bunks and tenting had a bad mildew problem. I used the cleaning solution from our
> Coleman owners manual (I've posted the receipe a few times) and a cloth and the mildew washed right
> off with no stains, damage, or rot. We now have the camper in South Florida and have used it several
> times with no noticeable degradation in the fabric, we just have trouble getting the darn thing to dry
> out after we use it (I've lived in central Texas, trust me, you don't have humidity unless the grass
> in the sun is still wet at dinner time!) I'm not saying that I would by Evolution 3 if I had to
> replace it, but I would consider all options.
I had a Coleman tent with the Evolution fabric (probably not 3 as this
was in 1984) that leaked like a sieve. Took it back and got a
replacement, same problem. I forget the model, but the tent had a
semi-dome shape. Traded the second tent in on a Coleman Classic with
standard fabric and the problem was solved. Maybe Evolution 3 has
evolved enough to be a good material, but it sure made a lousy tent!
Matt
Ron
understand in the manual me/we have the sunbrella maybe I'm wrong i dunno
but mines in great shape except the bunk ends as it sounds like yours. same
place this was no prob. to fix and have not had any leaks from the canvas
itself. we do have a small amount of mold on the inside top of bunk ends but
i don't think its from leaking . could you post your cleaning recipe again
I have the manual but have never tried the solution it has in it and your
right it takes a long time to dry but nothing a good sunny day wont cure
Ron
97 Chevy Venture
84 Coleman Sequoia
1 ( thinks she's boss ) wife :o) snicker snicker
2 Snot nose brat kids :o)
1 Hairy Mutt ( woof woof )
"Alicia Howard" <hor...@gte.net> wrote in message
news:3C65F993...@gte.net...
Alicia Howard
Evolution 3, maybe the sunbrella units had a different manual or it is a
replacement that you didn't know about. The receipe from the Coleman manual is
as follows:
"In about eight ounces of water, dissolve two teaspoons of salt and two
teaspoons of concentrated lemon juice. Wash the mildewed cloth with this
solution, then rinse with fresh water."
I applied the solution with a rag and just kind of blotted and drenched, no
scrubbing! (I was afraid of the material delaminating and I had never even
heard of the stuff before) Warm water seemed to work faster and you will need
to use ALOT of water to make sure you get all of the salt and lemon juice out
(like a running hose). I did use the mix on the inside tops of the bunk ends,
but I pushed the beds in and held the tenting up to rinse. We even had mildew
on the vinyl tops of the beds and this solution took that off as well. There
was some yellowing of the vinyl where the mildew was, but the sun bleached that
out and now they all look just like new. This stuff even worked on the matress
covers, but we did have to replace one of the pieces of foam.
Mike
