Date:         Thu, 14 Dec 2000 09:57:06 -0500
Reply-To:     Tim Hannink <hanninkt@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tim Hannink <hanninkt@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Subject:      Rear Hatch Lock extension
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I was browsing ebaY looking at Vanagon & Westfalia items and came across an
auction for a rear latch extension for a Eurovan that holds the rear door
open for ventilation purposes. I have made one of these to work on my 87
Camper using two  5/16" eyebolts with lag type threads screwed into a short
piece (6-8") of hard plastic tubing, the kind they use for homes instead of
copper these days. The diameter of the "eye" needs to be large enough (mine
is 3/4") to fit over the stud on the latch. You will find that the eye won't
just drop on the stud since the plate it is welded to is "L" shaped and the
distance between the stud and the plate is less than 5/16". In order to get
the eye over the stud, you need to line up the gap in the eyebolt with the
gap between the stud and latch bracket. Its a lot like those metal ring
puzzles we used to have with the two interlocked pieces that can only be
separated by lining the gaps in the pieces up correctly. The advantage of
making it fit together this way is, when installed, you can't remove the
eyebolt from the stud when the other eyebolt is connected into the latching
mechanism on the door. If you lock the rear hatch, you can't remove this
assembly without unlocking the hatch.

I'm sure this is all as clear as mud, but it really is simple and works
great.


Tim Hannink
Winter Park, Florida
1987 Wolfsburg Edition Westfalia Camper - "Goldibox"
http://hanninkt.home.netcom.com/