Date:         Fri, 21 Nov 2025 14:05:54 -0500
Reply-To:     smoketoxdoc@ICLOUD.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Lauterbach <smoketoxdoc@ICLOUD.COM>
Subject:      Sliding door -- 91 Vanagon
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I would like the wisdom of the list on how to fix or get fixed. This past summer on a very hot day I had to rescue my girlfriend's groceries after her Subaru failed to start.  When I got back to her home and my van in her garage, the sliding door would not close.  Part of the problem was that the pice of the rear sliding door hinge had broken.  I got the replacement door hinge from Ken as I hoped to get some help from local mobile mechanics or similar to help with the task.

It looks like I am going to.need to find a body shop.  Is the Vanagon sliding door  at all like the sliding doors of other vans of that era.  Is this something a good body shop can handle?  Right now van is garaged near Poinciana, FL. 

If I have to drive my Vanagon to a shop, what is best way to secure the door to keep it from flying open?

My girlfriend and I are both over 75 and cannot do anything that might be considered heavy lifting.  I have looked at YouTube videos and it appears that two guys are needed to guide the door onto an external support while the old hinge is removed and new hinge put on.  I have all the right tools. But not the muscle.

Thank you for reading.  John
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