Date:         Thu, 13 Jun 2002 12:30:34 -0700
Reply-To:     patrice b <prb@TELEVAR.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         patrice b <prb@TELEVAR.COM>
Subject:      More ?s  85 GL Mudflaps/driver's step
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I got a few p-mails-- thanks for responses.  And they included this one:

> Hmm.
> So this means you're a turnip hauling, midget, rock chipped baby that
lives
> in the boonies?
> How'd you get a GL?  Lucky.

                         <snort!> <guffaw>  <grin>

Well, I WOULD like to point out a couple things here, though, to set the
record straight  ;-)  I am 5'8"   but it's the POSITION of the front step
so far forward of the seat, and its having room for only one foot --NOT the
height of the step-- that's giving me a problem. So no more short jokes!
:-)  You step up with the left foot and have to 'climb' with the right leg,
or step up with the right leg and have to twist around backward as you push
up to get yer butt (that's my bruised turnip butt, thankyouverymuch) into
the seat. I'm tall, but I do actually have a muscle strength disorder, so I
can't easily do this all with the leg muscles of one leg...

QUESTION:
Maybe I need to install a handle (instead of/in addition to a step) on the
driver's side to help me pull up-- WHERE would not be a problem visually
when driving, though, that also has the strength to hold a handle? Maybe on
the outside to the right of the door? hmmm  I just want to stop using the
steering wheel for leverage, you know?  Can't be good for the wheel to get
yanked on....

Also, to the person who suggested using the sliding door--I do, and that
gets awkward, because I have removed the middle seat and built a
non-folding bed between the back of the driver's seat onto the the
three-seater in the back (it is two seats wide, allowing a third passenger
in the seat closest to the sliding door, if need be...I have storage under
the bed that I can pull out into the space a seat-wide by the door...I find
it convenient to not have to open and close a fold-out bed to get to
storage or to the engine. It has a plywood top and four 2x2 legs as well as
resting on the back seat for support, so I can get the thing out with no
more difficulty than taking out the rear seat when I have to do something
like change a rear heater core--BTDT)

The bed does block the middle opening between front seats, though. I have
to sit on the bed and swing my legs over the bed between the front seats,
and not step on my cupholder/cassette tape console that's there to get to
the driver's seat...
Gotta take some gymnastics lessons-- were these offered free to the
original '85 owner?  <heh heh>

QUESTION:
MUDFLAPS-- to those who gave pointers to places to buy them and prices,
thank you.  What I'm still not clear on is where you put 'em and if the way
to attach them is already there on an 85GL, or if I need to buy or make
hardware and drill holes etc to install. Anyone know?

--Patrice

> > Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 03:44:29 -0700
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Mudflaps and driver's step for an 85 GL?
> >
> > First I need to confess that I have been wondering if I have "GL" since
I
> > joined the list and started seeing "Westy" and "Wolfsburg" and "GL"
bandied
> > about...I looked in all the pamphlets the PO (and original O) gave me,
and
> > I looked at the sticker that has the chassis number and paint code, and
I
> > looked on the door sticker and and and...and just now it occured to me
to
> > walk out to the garage and look at the stoopid plastic dealie on the
right
> > of the back hatch that I've never really read (it says something about
it
> > being a VW, right?) and there it was-- "VanagonGL".  God my ass hurts
from
> > falling off that turnip truck after I was born yesterday....  Whew!  I
hope
> > that's the most trouble I'll have with this van (heh heh)
> >
> > ok, NOW-- did the 85 GL come with mudflaps? if not, are they available
and
> > how does the needed hardware work?  VanaBlue has no flaps, and the
PaintGuy
> > said that a lot of the lower sliding door area nicks could have been
> > prevented by a mudflap there. (I'm considering having a layer of
rock-guard
> > stuff painted on below the topcoat around the entire botom 6 inches or
so
> > of the van, as I live on a gravel road in the country.)
> >
> > Also, does anyone else feel like they are climbing Everest when getting
> > into the front seat? I have to grab the steering wheel to pull myself
up
> > off the step that is too far forward of the seat to be of complete
help. Is
> > there another step made for the driver's side door that could bolt on
or
> > something?
> >
> > --Patrice
> > 85 (ahem) GL "Vana Blue"
> >