Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2020 11:38:57 -0500
Reply-To: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Other Vanagon items I hope someone can create
In-Reply-To: <CANg6y=qdiB=6GA9iy2hubCN0RO6jm4OwyeOubhU0b13EscWNMw@mail.gmail.com>
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Ouch!
Not the direction I wanted to go!
I’m a semi purist.
Eric Caron
> On Feb 6, 2020, at 4:05 AM, Cary Chiang <ccchiang1@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> Has anyone looked into or installed one of those large (approx. 22 inch
> diameter) emergency / ventilation ceiling hatches, as used on school and
> city buses? I just did a quick Google search, and there seems to be a
> variety of models, that are designed to open at the front, back, or
> straight up. I would think they would be readily available at wrecking
> yards that junk buses, would have approx. 3-4 times the size / ventilation
> of the original skylight, and be built to be very durable due to their
> commercial / safety application? Definitely not for the Vanagon Purist,
> though!
>
> On Wed, Feb 5, 2020 at 11:56 AM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net <mailto:ericcaron96@comcast.net>> wrote:
>
>> Yes,
>>
>> But thanks, the lifter arms are way to fragile and the plastic itself. I
>> only raise during summer camping.
>>
>> Currently it is completely intact. I’m just anticipating a future
>> failure. And, I like improvements that also maintain the form and function
>> but maybe add some function and durability.
>>
>> I also like keeping thee weight down but still have strength.
>>
>> I have ideas just not the manufacturing skills to create them!
>>
>> Eric
>>
>>
>>> On Feb 5, 2020, at 11:38 AM, ddbjorkman@verizon.net wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Eric;
>>> Are you aware that the skylight should not be open while driving. That
>> causes early failure.
>>>
>>> Dave B.
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
>>> To: vanagon <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>> Sent: Tue, Feb 4, 2020 3:08 pm
>>> Subject: Re: Other Vanagon items I hope someone can create
>>>
>>> Hi tom,
>>>
>>> Not sure,
>>>
>>> My van arrived with an ok skylight but in a few months I realized I had
>> a leak. I replaced it with one purchased from Frank at Bus Fusion and that
>> lasted about 5 year. When the van came back from it’s first stay with
>> Dennis over the winter he noticed something was leaking and when I got it
>> home I found the skylight cracked along the hinge edge. So now have another
>> from Vanagain but suspect it won’t last forever. I got the single layer
>> one and probably should have gotten the double but the double didn’t last
>> the first time so I didn’t go for it.
>>>
>>> I keep the opening curtained but it blows down when driving.
>>>
>>> I am amazed you have the original. You must be the only one!
>>>
>>> Eric Caron
>>> 85 GL Auto
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Feb 4, 2020, at 1:37 PM, Tom Buese <tantonbz@GMAIL.COM <mailto:tantonbz@GMAIL.COM> <mailto:
>> tantonbz@GMAIL.COM <mailto:tantonbz@GMAIL.COM>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Eric, why are you going thru skylights? I still have my original 36
>> year old one, which still works, but I replaced the rubber seals at the
>> hinges which had died & started to leak. The lumber yard items were about
>> 25 cents each.
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>
>>>>> On Feb 4, 2020, at 1:17 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net <mailto:ericcaron96@comcast.net>
>> <mailto:ericcaron96@comcast.net <mailto:ericcaron96@comcast.net>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Alistair and others.
>>>>>
>>>>> I’ve been wondering about a few improvements. And wonder if anyone
>> has created such a thing.
>>>>>
>>>>> The first is, I like the sky light for the ventilation but don’t care
>> about the light. OK, I’m blind so that is pretty understandable. But I
>> also don’t like that it fails on a regular basis, cracks or leaks. But,
>> more then that it lets in heat during camping season.
>>>>>
>>>>> I’d love a Aluminum replacement that is the same shape and then I
>> just need a screen and no more sun shield fabric falling down, and no more
>> cracked skylight.
>>>>>
>>>>> Only improvement would be for a simple up and down latch to replace
>> the weak crank up system. But I can live with that.
>>>>>
>>>>> Of course a improved latch could also make it possible to open the
>> skylight completely then folks have the option to look at the sky or to
>> reach out and adjust, inspect, or clean things up on the roof.
>>>>>
>>>>> My van is on skylight number 3 in 7 years so I’m up for a solid
>> improvement.
>>>>>
>>>>> Anything like that out there?
>>>>>
>>>>> Is that a reasonable metal fabrication?
>>>>>
>>>>> Eric Caron
>>>>> 85 GL Auto
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