Date: Sun, 26 May 1996 22:42:35 -0400
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: BusBoys@aol.com
Subject: Re: Propane Tank Regulator
Tim Smith writes (from Misc. Westie Questions-Propane Tank)
>This type of regulators are available in RV store near me for under $25Cdn.
>Made by same US company as makes the "OEM".
>$87 indeed, harumph
Yeah, I'ved used those "cheapie" regulators on my Westy. Speaking from
experience they are not the same, at least in quality. About $15 here in the
US and yes made by the same company. But they're pieces of JUNK and I could
never get them to last more than a summer's use out of 'em. In doing these
research for the exact replacement relay 3 years ago, I discovered that the
OE company made several DIFFERENT Part Numbered Regulators that all looked
the same, sometimes even functioned the same with varying degrees of quality.
I wanted the EXACT regulator that Volkswagen sells and the info needed was
not easy to obtain (specs, etc.). And yes I wanted to know why some
regulators cost anywhere from ten bucks to up over a hundred bucks and why
Volkswagen & Westfalia chose this particular one (I'm a nosy guy and a
stickler for as good or better quality than VW). Actually the "square"
regulator is really rectangle in shape. I coulda stocked the CHEAPIES and
sold them to repeat customers every year or offer a quality product ya can
buy once and forget it for the next ten years. But then the CHEAPIE could
last a few years too - Itsa crapshoot. You can harumph at $15 ($25Cdn) or my
price or even the outrageous $97.15 at US VW Dealers all ya want - ya get
what ya pay for. Of my annual sales of these, it seems I sell more of these
to Canadian Westy Owners than US Owners. You guys must treat yer stuff
pretty rough up there.
Oh, BTW, I did make an error in pricing. I looked at the wrong part number
in the book - price should be $69.95. Both Euro American RV (the company
that bought out Delta Six's inventory,) and Bus Boys carries the proper OE
Regulator.
Jim / BusBoys@aol.com
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