New Canvas supplier

[steve b]

I'm in the process of tidying up a '68 88" and when finished it will be with a full Canvas . My question is what experiences you have had with new canvas suppliers/fit/shrinkage ?

I'm aware of Exmoor Trim but another supplier suggested is AWT Trim Centre , any thoughts on either ,, or indeed any other options ?

No side windows and black canvas is the style being considered - thanks

 

Steve b

[Snagger]

Exmoor use cheap canvas that you will see pinpricks of light through and the seam tape and straps fade fast if parked outdoors.  Undercover Covers have the best ruptation.

[steve b]

Thanks Nick , just went on their website and I can only assume they are rebuilding the site as apart from a few pic's and the contact details there is nothing on any of the pages . Will get in touch and see what they can do for what sort of price .

Steve b

[Snagger]

If he’s upgrading his site, that’s a good sign about his business being healthy.  The small, high quality businesses often get squeezed out by the bigger names hawking Chinese rubbish.

My comments above were based on personal experience, by the way - the Exmoor hood on my wife’s lightweight had that sunlight penetration from new, along with the tied down loops wicking water in and dripping internally far faster than I’ve seen on genuine hoods, and the non-canvass exterior parts faded within 18 months to a lilac colour on the sun facing side.  I was deeply unimpressed by their replacement seat foams for my defender seats, too - just blocks of cheap foam cut with an electric carving knife and bonded together.  They may do moulded cushions now, but the ad back then showed a moulded cushion too and what I got was carp.

[steve b]

Did you change to an Undercover Covers one Nick ? thanks for the feedback , invaluable for such an important part of the finish and function

cheers

Steve b

[Gazzar]

The web site for undercover covers is rubbish, they aren't IT people. I've only heard good about what they make.

[Anderzander]

Massive vote for Undercover Covers here.

I’ve seen some really bad examples of poor products and service from Exmoor Trim - with Canvases rotting and put together badly.

Conversely I have an undercover covers tilt and seats and they are fantastic. The service was unbelievable too. I’ve also seen them well represented on other vehicles - and they’ve all been happy customers. 

[steve b]

That's very positive , I think I'll ring them tomorrow . I rather like the fact that it's not a web marketing presence that brings clients but great feedback . Old School .

cheers

Steve b

[garrycol]

I am with Snagger - be wary of who you go with - in Australia all suppliers from the UK have a poor reputation as the quality of canvas used in the UK is poor and does not stand up to our high UV levels but may not be such an issue in the UK where the sun no shines.  Our local canvas has a much higher UV rating.

However - while we know Exmoor use poor quality canvas I would take the advice of other UK suppliers that do provide a quality product.

The Aussie Army tilt on my 101 was bought used 10 years ago and is still on the vehicle but needs replacement.  I have a new tilt supplied by the original makers of the tilts from the UK so it will be interesting to see how it lasts compared to my old one.

Garry

 

 

[Snagger]

I’m believe Undercover make their own tops on site, but don’t know where they source their materials.  I have never heard a single criticism of them, only praise.  I think Exmoor Trim have theirs made in China, but wouldn’t swear to that.  Certainly, the materials are cheap, though the pattern and fit was fine.

Genuine tips are far rougher and thicker, but last much longer.  I think they typically lasted 15-20 years in the UK MoD fleet, and the majority are fully serviceable, just scruffy well beyond that.

[Anderzander]

Steve, of Undercover Covers, told me their canvas fabric comes from Germany and that if far exceeds the MOD specs. He did tell me some performance figures for It, but I’m afraid I’ve forgotten them ... 🤔

[Anderzander]

This is their business facing web page: http://www.comptons2000.co.uk/index.htm

Another contract they hold is that they supply Land Rover’s reborn programme.

[Romahomepete]

UnderCover Covers main business is all sorts of canvas products for the MOD

Land Rover tilts are more of a byline.

I have an UCC tilt, it has been on 18 months and looks as good as new.  I bought one for a 58 SWB, ie it has the leather protector for the bit above the fuel filler.  The canvas is much thicker and stiffer than the exmoor one that it replaced.  It is a perfect fit.

Criticisms are minor, the metal ferules on the  ends of the rope are brass plated steel and one has started to go rusty.  There are straps fitted inside to secure the sides when rolled up, they werent fitted in 58, ine of them acts as a bit of a wick sometimes when it rains and i can get a small puddle, The straps on the back flap that go through the pockets on the sides are only just long enough and the 2 rope hooks for the back flap should be inside the pockets and they are outside.

All other fittings are of a good quality and apart from mentioned above all ropes and straps agre gernerous in length.

I ordered over the phone, got a discount for being in the S2 club and was quoted 48hr delivery.  It arrived the next day, less than 24 hours after ordering.

They can be difficult to get hold of on the phone but persevere, the product is excellent.

Peter

[steve b]

4 hours ago, Anderzander said:

This is their business facing web page: http://www.comptons2000.co.uk/index.htm

Another contract they hold is that they supply Land Rover’s reborn programme.

That is good info. , I've emailed today and look forward to hearing from them

 

cheers

Steve b

[steve b]

Thanks Peter and Stephen ( and others ) for the reviews ,

I've spoken to UCC/Comptons today and they will be back to me with a price soon , the lady on the other end said they were on Salvage Hunters Classic cars last night , so I've just watched it to see the UCC part of making a new hood for a Mini Pick up . They did a very nice job , I'm looking forward to ordering . I had a good chat on the phone , as well as JLR Reborn they also supply the MOD too .

I do enjoy dealing with small well established Family businesses in and around Birmingham .

cheers

Steve b

[greenmeanie]

I hope UCC have improved their customer service over the last few years. I admit its been about 10 years now but when I bought into the hype I tried buying a 101 canvas from them. I chased them for about a year calling about once a month. The reply from the receptionist was always that 'Steve is very busy' and that he would call back - he never did or e-mail or anything. The overwhelming impression I got was that when they have a big MOD contract you LR hobbiest private sales are simply unimportant. I got fed up chasing them for business they obviously didn't want and took my money elsewhere. 

Over about 20 years of ownership I have had an AWT canvas that was put together well but rotted out sitting outside in Arizona waiting to be shipped to my current country and it is currently wearing an Exmoor Trim one which has lasted 5 years and is doing fine although, as stated above, the tapes have faded. I now keep the truck garaged and I apply some stone sealer stuff every year or two which keeps the canvas supple and fills any pin holes which goes a long way to extending the life. 

 

 

[Snagger]

I don’t know if products like Fabsil (silicone based fabric protection and water proofing) have UV stabilising properties to prevent fading.  If so, that might get around the Exmoor quality issues.

[Stellaghost]

12 minutes ago, Snagger said:

I don’t know if products like Fabsil (silicone based fabric protection and water proofing) have UV stabilising properties to prevent fading.  If so, that might get around the Exmoor quality issues.

I have used fabsil on a couple of occasions with no detriment to the canvas regards Stephen

[Boris113]

Another vote for Fabsil, I bought a new tilt from Britpart which was utter rubbish but 2 coats of Fabsil sealed it perfectly. By sealing the outside, it also stopped water reaching the inner straps and puddling inside as Romahomepete mentioned above.

[Snagger]

What about the fading of straps and seam tapes?  Did the Fabsil prevent that at all?  It happens very quickly on mine, so if yours are still the correct colour after a couple of years outdoors, then it does protect the dye too.

[Boris113]

The 90 lived outside for 6 months after fitting the new hood without any obvious fading, it had Fabsil applied within a week of being fitted. At the time of applying, it made the hood and straps darker (like its sodden wet) but once that dries it returns to it's normal colour and remained that way since.

Afraid I can't comment on the long-term effects of fading, after 6 months of use the 90 was mothballed into a shipping container and has remained there for the last few years seeing daylight a handful of times a year, looking at some photos from when it was fitted and one from last weekend, it doesn't appear to have faded at all though.

[steve b]

It's on order from UCC / Comptons  , expected end of next week in black with plain sides . I am still a few weeks away from finishing the paint work but it will be good to have it here ready .

Thanks for the experiences told and supplier info , most useful

cheers

Steve b 

[tony PEK]

Hello all

I wish I had found this forum before I bought an Exmoor's canvas. I was told that the new canvas had to be soaked first before fitting it to the car and let it shrink for perfect fit. But the canvas I received was about 10 cm short. I don't think soaking it will elongate the canvas by 10 cm. The worst part is that the distributor sent a complain to Exmoor without any respond at all. 

Should I start soaking it before fitting it to the car?

Steve b: How's the fit of the UCC canvas? 

regards,

TonyIMG_2647.HEIC

[steve b]

....not quite ready to fit , it's part of an extensive refurb/tidy up , but I don't have any worries at this point with the reputation they have and the many years of trading as a specialist supplier . 

Welcome to the forum - I see you are in Indonesia so any returns or disputes are going to be strung out but your contract should be with the company you bought from and any fluff about responses from Exmoor should be irrelevant as far as I understand purchasing law , I'm sure there are others on here that could expand on that , so I'm saying don't soak it yet but send the supplier pictures of the bad fit first and pursue a documented return for refund first .

Steve 

[tony PEK]

Thank you for the advise, Steve.

I won't do anything until I get any response from the store/distributor I bought it from. I've sent the distributor everything they need about the bad fit and I'm waiting for their response. Tried to contact Exmoor's fitting center to check with them on the technicality of installing/fitting a canvas without any success - no one answer the call.

Regards

Tony