Date:         Tue, 5 Sep 2000 00:40:14 EDT
Reply-To:     Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey R <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject:      SA mudflaps report
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Since there was interest by some in the South African Mud flaps I got from
Joseph Cohen in NYC I figured I'd offer a performance report.

For those interested I am very pleased with the SA mudflaps I installed
before this trip west from the east coast. In the past up in Wyoming where
the the road can be rough, under construction, covered with loose gravel,
dirt, mud, and the like I used to cringe as the tires kicked up all those
stones that hit the paint on my bus. With the new mud flaps in Wyoming this
month nothing hit the paint--not even mud. I mean within reason. You know
what I mean the full splash that can come with muddy roads on the side of the
bus was thwarted off by the mud flaps.

These mud flaps mount IN the wheel well, NOT a few inches behind the wheel
well like the ones VWOA offered as an option. The VWOA mud flaps are the type
you see on the westy  behind the left front tire in front of the propane tank.

I'm not saying they're definately better than the VWOA style mud flaps but it
seems they may be in that they bridge that 3 inch or so gap between the
mudflap and the wheel well that the VWOA flaps create. IMHO the SA mud flap I
purchased  look much cooler.

I mention all this because some listees had interest in this style mud flap.
FWIW to the best of my knowledge there are 3 styles of SA mud flap. One is
similar to the mud flaps VWOA offered as an option and standard on the left
front wheel of the Westy. Two is the one you can see on the SA VW site under
accessories which looks like a passenger car mud flap you might see on a
Jetta or Golf--fine for routine conditions. And the third, the style I have,
which seems to come standard on SA Vanagons (Microbus) which is what I would
call a heavy duty "truck style" mud flap. Not decorative as much as
functional, but still very neat in appearance--and very functional.

For those interested I got the from Joseph Cohen at   jscohen@sprynet.com

I am not affiliated with Joseph and send on the information only to
enlighten. He travels a fair amount and it can sometimes take a while to get
in touch with him

Jeff
83.5 Westy
currently in Boulder, CO