🛒 T4 Weekender and California canvases
If you own a VW T4 (EuroVan) with a pop-top roof, you almost certainly have one of two roofs: a Weekender roof or a California roof. They look almost identical, and both were built by Westfalia. But the canvases are not interchangeable: the California canvas is a little taller and longer than the Weekender canvas.
Order the wrong one and it either won't stretch far enough or will sag and fold badly when you close the roof. The good news: one tape-measure check tells you which roof you have.
The 30-Second Test: Measure the Front Panel
Open the roof. Measure the bottom edge of the front roof panel, from corner to corner.
- About 118–119 cm → Weekender roof → you need a Weekender canvas
- About 124–125 cm → California roof → you need a California canvas
That is the most reliable way to tell them apart. The names on the van, the paperwork or an online listing can be misleading (see below), but the measurement never lies.
Other Clues
Is there a kitchen inside?
Vans with a built-in kitchen unit (cooker, sink, fridge) are usually Californias. Weekenders were usually sold with a simpler interior: a rear bench seat that folds into a bed, without a full kitchen. Interiors are often changed over the years, though, so treat this as a clue, not proof.
Where is the van from?
- A North American EuroVan Weekender uses the same roof and canvas as a European Weekender.
- A Canadian EuroVan "Westfalia" camper (the full camper with a kitchen) is usually a California roof.
- A Multivan with a pop-top usually has the Weekender roof.
Is it a long-wheelbase van?
Long-wheelbase T4 campers, such as the EuroVan Winnebago / EVC, have a longer roof and need their own canvas: the T4 Winnebago LWB canvas. The Weekender and California canvases are for short-wheelbase (SWB) vans only.
Weekender vs California at a Glance
| Weekender | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Front panel, bottom edge | about 118–119 cm | about 124–125 cm |
| Canvas size | standard | slightly taller and longer |
| Typical interior | bench seat / bed, no full kitchen | built-in kitchen |
| Common names | EuroVan Weekender, Multivan with pop-top | California, Canadian EuroVan Westfalia camper |
| Wheelbase | SWB | SWB |
| Our canvases | 3-window or 2-window | 3-window or 2-window |
2 Windows or 3 Windows?
Both roofs are available with either canvas. The 3-window version adds a front window for more light and more airflow. You can fit a 3-window canvas even if your old canvas had only 2 windows: it fits the same roof.
On the California, our 3-window canvas keeps the original retention strap that guides the canvas when you close the roof.
What About Other T4 Roofs?
Not every T4 pop-top is a Westfalia roof. We also make canvases compatible with the T4 Reimo roof, the T4 SCA 112 roof and the T4 EMC roof (SWB, 1999). If your roof has a different maker's logo on it, check those first.
Still Not Sure?
Send us a photo of your van with the roof open and your front-panel measurement through our contact page. We will confirm the right canvas before you order. Every canvas is made to order in our workshop in Latvia, so it's worth getting it right first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
My measurement is 121 cm. What now?
Measure again carefully from corner to corner along the bottom edge of the front panel. If it is still between the two sizes, send us a photo and we will check it with you.
Does the same filling profile fit both roofs?
Yes. Our T4 SWB filling profile (8 m) fits both Weekender and California roofs.
How do I fit the new canvas?
Follow our step-by-step T4 pop-top canvas installation guide. Most owners do it in an afternoon with a helper.