Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 13:55:01 EDT
Reply-To: Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Westy Luggage rack seal fit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 7/12/2006 5:24:52 AM Pacific Standard Time,
dellaone@GMAIL.COM writes:
>I see that
>he seal does not contact large areas of the roof skin, but I understandt>hat
this >type of seal does allow for water drainage.
I've found that luggage rack seal tricky since I upgraded mine years ago. So
much so that I always swear I'm gonna get the OEM seal from VW.
The aftermarket seal I have is not a seal at all like the original, it is a
trim piece. As I recall the original seal was somehting of a square shaped
piece of weatherstripping. The original definatley sealed the luggage rack to roof
of the bus. The aftermarket "seal" does not.
The original luggage rack set up does allow water to drain at the rear of the
luggage rack by design. This idea that a poorly fitting aftermarket seal
allows water to drain "better" unecissary in my opinion. It's like saying a hole
in a dam allows for better water flow. But...why the dam, then?
Problem with an unsealed luggage rack is wind get under their and either
makes noise. And even if it's not making noise I don't think getting air under
there is optimal. I think other problems arrise.
My new idea, instead of installing a factory seal (if it's even availalble
$$) is to try to seal the unit with a bit of black RTV silicon sealant. Of
course I won't seal over the 'factory" water drain at the rear.
Large section of my pop top also fluxes up and down in an annoying way at
highway speeds rapping on the overhead bar/lifting mechanism and I'm wondering if
air getting under the luggage rack is the culprit.
Also on the stock seal the rubber across the front of the pop top has a metal
reinforcement through it, which I'm guessing helps keeps this seal in a
better position to seal the front of the pop top. I have no way to view this seal
at speed, but I wouldn't be surprized if it gives a little.
As for the main part of the aftermarket pop top seal with the bulb for
sealing, this seems to work great. In fact something like it might work better to
actually seal the luggage rack rather than the simple trim piece provided.
However, I had a devil of a time reinstalling the luggage rack and that extra bulb
could make it harder to install--could make it easier I suppose?
I don't recall the exact number of rubber washers on the hold downs, but my
memory implies there was one rubber washer for each hold down screw.
I had to shim the back of the luggage rack where it bolts to the roof to get
it to seal with the pop top closed. The whole project took a bit of finesse
and patience and I've never been pleased with the job as a whole--largly because
of the luggage rack seal "fit".
Best,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA
