Date:         Fri, 16 Jul 2004 12:17:10 -0700
Reply-To:     "Griswold, Virginia J." <Virginia.Griswold@MED.VA.GOV>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Griswold, Virginia J." <Virginia.Griswold@MED.VA.GOV>
Subject:      SF Area body shops, awning, bike rack, carriers,
              and computer set -up questions
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Greetings,

 

I an a new-again list member - I unsubscribed over a year ago since I had
become addicted to hours a day of reading valuable advice and tips and
couldn't get my work done. But I am re-subscribed again and have a few
questions to ask, if possible to the list members.

 

I am in San Francisco and I have met BenT and have emailed to a few other
local members. But I would like to ask these questions of the whole list:

 

1.      Does anyone know a good body shop or restoration shop in the SF Bay
area? Any experience with any SF Bay Area shops, good or bad? Also
interested in work on the camping equipment (kitchen and inside). Any shop
in SF area good for that? Anyone had any work done at www.VWRestoration.com
<http://www.vwrestoration.com/>  in Concord? 

 

2.      What is a good awning for a Vanagon? Brand, length, vendor or
location to find them etc? What do you look out for and what goes wrong? 

 

 

3.      What is a good bike rack - front or back? I see a lot of vans have
rear ones, but a few have the bike racks in the front as well. Doesn't seem
like a bad idea, it doesn't interfere with road visualization.  Any
suggestions and any brands that are actually easy to put on and take off? Is
it best to put the weight in the front or the back? Has anyone had problems
with the back hatch after attaching the bike rack and traveling with bikes
on it? I am not interested in the top bike racks. Is Yakima a good brand and
fit for a Vanagon?

 

4.      Is there any serious problem with attaching carriers on the roof -
making holes in the fiberglass resulting in any stress and cracks or
fractures later in the fiberglass? Any other racks that mount without
attaching to the fiberglass poptop? 

 

5.      How does one outfit the van for a computer? Does everyone go to an
Internet Café to send back all the stories from the road? 

 

6.      Does anyone know where to buy the mud flpas which say "Vanagon" or
if they are not any longer available plain ones or "VW" ones that would fit?

 

Thanks, Virginia 

1990 2.1 L Automatic Multivan Westfalia