Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2004 11:54:35 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Towing & sliding door
In-Reply-To: <20041211145504.21350.qmail@web54105.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
My access panel was very difficult, and I got a tip from Unca' Joel that
really helped.
Soak with WD 40 or Marvels Mystery Oil (the actual penetrating oil - not
the MMO additive we add to gasoline and engine oil) the joint where the
panel slips down in next to the rubber bead. Let it stand and soak for a
good while.
Be sure and keep any excess that runs down the side of the vehicle wiped
up and keep the paint clean. Not that it will hurt, necessarily, but it
doesn't belong there, and who knows what long term effects it might have
if left there.
Later, use a rubber mallet to bump the panel up and out of the groove.
Start the removal bumping at one end rather than the middle.
While you have the panel off, look closely at the pivot point where the
front arm the raids in the track changes direction for door closing.
There should be a hard, molded rubber or polyurethane bumper up in the
metal bracket whick guides the door closure. If it is not there,
eventually metal stretching, and metal failure will occur. Not a good thing.
Good luck,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
TJ Hemrick wrote:
>All,
> I'd like some help with the sliding door hinge access panel. The
>long narrow one on the exterior that covers the sliding hinge and it's
>track. My manual is packed away from a move but I'm fairly certain
>that it only has two screws that hold it on. After that, best I can
>tell is that it moves nearly straight up to come off. I don't want to
>put anymore pressure on it without knowing the proper way to remove it.
> Maybe it's just tight with the rubber beading strip in there but I was
>working really hard and it's barely move more than a hair. I'd
>appreciate some input.
>
> Now for my comments on a previous post about towing. I've done a lot
>of towing and moving vehicles and stuff around our great country(and a
>few others) and have to say in response to Chuck Reisinger's comments
>about U-haul and his vehicle weight. DON'T go to U-Haul. I find their
>equipment to be substandard. Check the net and you will find sites
>that list multitudes of problems. I will say on their behalf that the
>trailers are better than the trucks but I will only use them as a last
>resort. Just recently I had move a 2WD vanagon and my trailer wasn't
>fixed up yet to my liking(just got another after someone pinched my old
>one). I was persistant/picky and got a "newer" tow dolly from U-haul
>but I put the FRONT wheels on the road not the rear. I see people tow
>all sorts of vehicles with the driving wheels on the road and if it's
>OK for them but I avoid it. That's just me.
> If you want to get a great deal(they'll price match at a minimum) and
>rent new well serviced equipment, I'd say go with PENSKE rental. I
>have had such great luck with them in the past 10 years I wish I had
>bought stock in them. No, I'm NOT affiliated with them. I'm very sure
>their dual axle trailer (and I'm sure the U-haul is the same) can
>handle the weight of the van with no problem. I have to agree with
>Jeff that finding the few sharp individuals at any rental place can be
>difficult and having your own trailer (no matter what a pain of
>space/money/wife) is worth everything. According to my local trailer
>expert, most of the dual axle trailers are in the 7K load range.
>That's GROSS vehicle weight. Subtract the weight of the trailer and
>that's the max load it can carry. I suspect that while a Westy is
>plenty heavy, that the weight of the trailer PLUS the Westy is only
>close to the max gross weight. Even if it's pushing the limit, it's
>probably well within the safety margin of design limits. If you need
>to tell them it's just a Vanagon and not the Westy than do that. Just
>my .02 so everyone chill if you see it differently.
>
>
>Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2004 14:15:28 -0800
>From: Jeffrey Schwaia <jeff@VANAGONPARTS.COM>
>Subject: Re: Vanagon weight
>
>The U-Haul website lists the maximum trailer capacity at 4,000 lbs., a
>non-syncro Westy weighs in at 3670 lbs. (empty). As I said before, a
>lot of
>these U-Haul guys are not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Jeff
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
>Of Chuck Reisinger
>Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 10:02 AM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Vanagon weight
>
>
>They advised me their car carrier would not handle the
>weight...also...refused to rent me one based on make and model....
>
>
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