🛒 Canvases for VW T3 / T25 roofs
"Will it fit my van?" is the question we hear most often. For the VW T3 (also called the T25 in the UK and the Vanagon in North America) the honest answer is: it depends on who built your pop-top roof and which year your van is. The van itself was made by Volkswagen, but the pop-top roofs were made by several different converters, and each one needs its own canvas.
A canvas made for one roof will not fit another, even if the two look similar in photos. This guide walks you through four simple checks so you can order the right canvas the first time.
Why the Roof Maker Matters
Westfalia built the best-known T3 campers, but Reimo, SCA, Carthago and other converters also fitted pop-top roofs to T3 vans. Every maker used its own roof shape, hinge position and canvas pattern. Some makers also changed their pattern part-way through T3 production, which is why we offer two Westfalia canvases and two Reimo canvases split by year.
We have seen it happen more than once: a customer orders the Reimo canvas for the wrong year, and it doesn't fit. Ten minutes of checking saves weeks of waiting for an exchange.
Check 1: Find the Year of Your Van
Look at your registration document (title, V5C, Fahrzeugschein or similar) for the first registration date or model year. Then note which side of the split your van falls on:
- 1979–1985: early T3
- 1986 onwards: late T3 (production ended in 1991–1992, depending on the converter)
If the roof was fitted later than the van was built (this happens with aftermarket conversions), the year the roof was made matters more than the year of the van. Old paperwork from the conversion helps here.
Check 2: Find the Roof Maker
Most converters marked their work. Look for:
- A maker's plate, sticker or logo on the roof, inside the roof, on a cupboard door or on the B-pillar
- The maker's name moulded into the fibreglass or printed on the old canvas
- The original sales or conversion documents for the van
- The interior: a factory Westfalia camper usually still has its Westfalia furniture and fittings
If you find no marks at all, don't guess. Take photos (see Check 4) and we will identify it for you.
Check 3: Look at the Roof Shape
Two roof styles are common on the T3:
- Tilting pop-top: the roof is hinged at one end and lifts at the other, so the open canvas is taller at one end than the other. Most T3 pop-top roofs are this type.
- Mushroom roof: the roof top is wider than the van body and overhangs it, like the cap of a mushroom. Reimo and SCA both made mushroom roofs for the T3, and they need their own canvases.
Also count the windows in the old canvas. Most canvases we make for the T3 have 3 windows; the Carthago canvas has 2.
Check 4: Still Not Sure? Send Us Photos
We would much rather help you before you order than exchange a canvas afterwards. Send us:
- A photo of the whole van from the side with the roof open
- A photo of the van from the front with the roof open
- A photo of any maker's plate, sticker or logo you found
- The year of the van
Send your photos through our contact page and we will confirm the right canvas.
Quick Match: Your Roof → Your Canvas
| Roof maker and style | Years | Canvas |
|---|---|---|
| Westfalia | 1979–1985 | Westfalia 1979–1985 canvas |
| Westfalia | 1986–1991 | Westfalia 1986–1991 canvas |
| Reimo (not mushroom) | 1979–1985 | Reimo 1979–1985 canvas |
| Reimo (not mushroom) | 1986–1992 | Reimo 1986–1992 canvas |
| Reimo mushroom | — | Reimo mushroom canvas |
| SCA (not mushroom) | — | SCA 3-window canvas |
| SCA mushroom | — | SCA mushroom canvas |
| Carthago | — | Carthago 2-window canvas |
| Another maker | — | Custom canvas made to your drawing |
What If My Roof Isn't on the List?
Many smaller converters fitted roofs to the T3. We can still make a canvas for most of them. Send us your old canvas (we can arrange a prepaid FedEx label) or a technical drawing with measurements, and we will make a custom canvas to match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the T25 the same as the T3?
Yes. T3, T25 and Vanagon are different names for the same Volkswagen van. What changes the canvas is the roof maker and the year, not the name.
My van is a 1986. Which canvas do I need?
For a Westfalia roof, the 1986–1991 canvas. For a Reimo roof, the 1986–1992 canvas. If your roof was fitted later or came from another van, send us photos to be sure.
Can I choose the colour?
Yes. Every canvas is made to order in our workshop in Latvia, in 14 fabric colours with black, grey or white mosquito mesh. A colour swatch card is available if you want to see the colours in real life first.
How do I install it?
Our step-by-step T3 canvas replacement guide covers the tools, the steps and the most common mistakes.