Date:         Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:35:08 -0700
Reply-To:     "Mike \"Rocket J Squirrel\" Elliott" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Mike \"Rocket J Squirrel\" Elliott" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Sliding door handles mystery
Comments: To: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <bfb5ccc40706141113m17f716cn706357a034277408@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

On 6/14/2007 11:13 AM Old Volks Home wrote:

> Mine's horizontal, the way it was when I got it in 1997.  Maybe not the
> factory position, but it sure helps in closing the door when sitting on
> the bench seat or laying down in bed.  Certainly a lot easier to close
> the door there than trying to reach the front handle.

You must be da man, then. To close Mellow Yellow's door one must haul it
forward mightily in order to build up enough momentum to get it to
latch. SssssssSSSSSHHHHHH-THWUNK!!!!

There's no way I can do that with the rear, horizontal, handle. With the
door closed so much that the handle is exposed and grabable, there's not
enough distance to get that door up to speed to latch.

>
> At the VW Classic in Irvine last weekend, every 80-91 Westy (about a 1/2
> dozen or so in the Car Show area) I saw had one in either the vertical
> or horizontal position.  Who cares?  Some things are best left to be
> mysterious ;-)
> --

I know, I know. I have studied this handle from every which way since I
got the van a few years ago. I was on the brink of asking about it more
than one, but always pulled back before hitting the "send" button. I was
almost able to just leave this as a mystery. But as you can see, I faltered.

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR