Date:         Thu, 8 Nov 2007 17:49:46 -0500
Reply-To:     Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: What ever happened to Westfalia?

I am looking for stainless steel tie downs that are cast in OEM style. Not
the $4 wire stamped tie downs that GW sells. Not OEM in Galvanized steel.
Dont think they exist.

I have searched the web under footman loop, tie down ,blah , blah , blah.
The ones that are avaliable are not the same as far as the distance
between the two bolt holes go. That makes them all useless, except for the
GW one. Suncor makes an interesting one, but again, the distance between
the two holes is either too small or too large. I searched luggage,
marine, ect ect.

I bought a few to try them , but they dont work or are not as good as GW.
Not theat the GW one is good enough.I think the footprint on the
fiberglass is half the size of OEM,and the supplied bolts are 2 sizes
smaller than the hole in the OEM bolt( I know, OEM is secured with pop
rivits). The washers is even smaller. About 3/8 in diameter. I got an etka
print out from VW today for a 1991 Vanagon.It shows a washer and a pop
rivit, where as the 1985 I have only had the pop rivit.Vw apparently found
out that a more secure back side of the luggage rack is necessary. The
bolts shown in the GW ad is not the bolts that come with the tie down.The
supplied bolts look much smaller in diameter.

Thanks for the responses,Roger