E3 Jr. Complete / A Day at Bear Creek Canvas

[sdn40]

Well after a 3 month process of wingin it to provide my daughter with a "yerrow campa daddy," my quest to build an E3 Jr. culminated in a trip to Bear Creek Canvas on Saturday.

After speaking with Al at Bear Creek off and on for the last 2 months, he answering a million questions and talking campers a lot, I made the 2 1/2 hour trek for installation. Al is the owner/operator/puplic relations etc. person who 9 times out of 10 is the person that will answer the phones when you call. By the way, big ups to him for even agreeing to a Saturday visit.

After greetings,salutations, and small talk about my resto, he and a fellow worker he called in, whose name I apologize for not remembering, started their work.

Less than an hour later they were finished and explained every question I had and took care of my camper as if it was their own.

Some guy called in the middle of all this with an emergency repair, which required re-creating two borders on a long canopy. I watched the repair - not ready to get on the road so soon and the guy was charged a whole $5 for the repair. I told Al and his co-worker that they need to adjust their pricing just a tad and I was quickly told that it was only 15 minutes labor, a few yards of thread and the next time that guy needed something else, he would return. Hows that for not screwing people !

After offering me a soda, we chatted about canvas, campers, old cars, and just hung out for another hour or so. I asked if he could spare any pieces of canvas for future repairs and he quickly gathered up enough canvas, vinyl, repair glues to last a lifetime.

By the way if you need the glues to repair canvas or vinyl, he gave a quick demo and I was blown away by the strength of the glue after about 10 seconds of setting. I will get the names of the glues when I get a chance to unpack everything.

So after an hour or so of just chatting, I decided to let him have the rest of his Saturday to leisure and started my way back home very much comfortable with the choice I made.

I am pretty skeptical of people in general, and I can tell you Al and his team are good people. His intentions are not to make a buck off of you, but to exchange a quality product for that dollar.

Thanks Al
Thanks to all of you for the info I used to help on the build

Pics of the completed camper here
http://community.webshots.com/user/sdn40

[beacher]

WOW!  Very nice job!

An axle flip, some shocks, larger wheels and knobby tires, exterior speakers, (with black grills)!!;)

For over twenty years I have seen old 8', 10', and 12' Coleman PopUps converted for serious off-road use.   But even with diamond plate front, back, (and under) panels they still tend to restore to the original colors.  This is the first E3 jr.  I have ever seen! :-()

[sdn40]

beacher:
Dont give me anymore ideas !!!! I just finished - LOL

I do have to add a cargo carrier to the front yet - the speaker idea is one that will haunt me until I finally give in and do it.

Thanks for the kind words

[waygard33]

As the owner of an E3, I'm Jealous!

Love the diamond plate on the cabinet doors. Great job!

wg

[sdn40]

waygard33

I'm jealous of anyone who can afford an E3 so you're one up on me for sure.

I certainly wont complain as I have just under $2000 invested all in.

[Kelly]

WOW!  That is one "yerrow campa".  

Congratulations on a job well-done.  

[Done Working]

It really is nice to hear that there are some businesses out there that are proud of their work and actually want to produce a quality product for a fair price. I hope Bear Creek is still around for the time when I need to purchase new canvas for our trailer.

Thank you for sharing.

Oh BTW great looking trailer.

[AustinBoston]

So...how does she like the "yerrow campa?"

Austin

[sdn40]

Boston
My little girl loves the camper -- and in true 2 1/2 year old fashion, her favorite part is hiding in the lower galley cabinet.

I just shook my head - LOL

[AZsix]

They didn't have any yellow canvas?   Just kidding. Fantastic job. I love the diamond plate and the chrome wheels.