Date:         Tue, 14 Mar 2000 08:58:08 -0500
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
Subject:      Re: luggage rack seal
In-Reply-To:  <852568A2.00403F26.00@abb-us01-ussmtp.abb.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> Inherited a new luggage rack and pop top seal kit from PO. Installed the
> luggage rack seal and am having problems getting the rack to fit
> back on the van. The actual seal is O-shaped (and sits
> next to, and sorta down a bit from the U-channel)

> I think your using the wrong seal.  It sounds like the seal you
> are using on the  luggage rack is meant to go on the pop-top part.
> The luggage rack seal isn't really a seal at all but a decorative edging.
> There is meant to be a small gap all around to allow the water to drain
out.
> Across the front of the pop-top portion is a flat seal.  It is different
from
> both the luggage rack seal and the pop-top side and back seal.
> I just put one on, looks great!


Eric is right. Obviously the PO didn't buy their seals from me.  Several
vendors (including the large ones) simply ship a shorter length of poptop
seal (with bulb) as their "luggage rack seal."  As Eric notes, this prevents
correct drainage, and it also makes it a real pain to install.  But it's
easier for the vendor because they can use one product for both poptop and
luggage rack seal.  Several vendors go a step further by including yet
another length of the same poptop seal in place of the flat seal that Eric
refers to!

All three of these are different seals with different jobs.  The ones I ship
are correct for their purpose. Even my poptop seal is designed slightly
differently from the others' for a better fit.  Without an insulation bulb
your luggage rack seal will install much more easily.  I have new ones for
$14.95, it would probably be worth just getting the correct one.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  http://www.busdepot.com
  (215) 234-VWVW