Date:         Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:34:15 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Wheel/hubcaps "look" options
In-Reply-To:  <CAAzKkH8xOtHsbiBPnr2spJ=2p+FDEJ8WV7qciEUZsRBKu9na9w@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

   I had the original hubcaps on my van for a while...The kinda fake spoke
wheel looking things.     I thought they looked fine until I lost one.  I
began looking for a replacement but sellers were asking like $25 for one,
plus shipping...Then Jim Arnott kindly offered me some for free,  but I
never got around to Baker City, Or. to pick those up.....

   Anyhow, I got some 5-spoke looking plastic cheaps from Buy Mart for
about $13 for four....and guess what?   They look better than the original
ones.   My wheels are black behind the wheel covers so it sort of looks
like I have alloy wheels even, but I don't have to worry about fracturing
or denting alloys, nor did I have to spend a premium to have less durable
wheels than the normal steelies.   I have about 10 of kicking around
now...   And I don't have to polish any rims nor worry about curbs, should
I ever park downtown.  From about 5' they look just like any alloy
wheel...Try some on, at under $20 they are cheaper than spray paint cans.
  Don Hanson

  I know, they aren't "the real deal' but my vanagon is not my collector
car, it's my main ride right now.  I really don't 'stress' much about
whether or not I have it all tricked-out......looking.   I do put
performance and durability before fancy parts.   I would like some of those
Van Cafe 15" steel wheels for the wider selection of tires and the added
ground clearance....but for now the 14s get the job done just fine...


On Mon, Nov 26, 2012 at 8:23 PM, Rocket J Squirrel <
> camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I pulled the silver-painted OEM plastic hubcaps off my '84 van and just
> > painted the wheels with satin black rattlecan paint. With a new set of
> > 195/75R14 BFG AT tires, the van's feet have a nice chunky utilitarian
> look.
> >
> > However, Mrs Elliott is less than pleased with the appearance of the
> > wheels. Too "Road Warrior" or "cop car" looking.
> >
> > She likes the hubcaps. I think they are dorky and cheap-looking.
> >
> > Can this marriage be saved?
> >
> > I'm willing to compromise but am uncertain if there are any other
> > options. Maybe I can paint the wheels or hubcaps some other color, I'm
> > thinking.
> >
> > The van's body is "ivory" (a very pale yellow), with mainly black
> > details, except for the ancient red and black Hi-Lift that Pensioner
> > sold me a while back replacing the rear bumper.
> >
> > An Ivory, Black and Red color scheme? Tractor red hubcaps?
> >
> > What we need here is a web-based Vanagon paint application where we can
> > try different color schemes before committing ourselves.
> >
> > --
> > Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> > 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
> > Bend, Ore.
> >
>