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kuleinc
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Joined: August 10, 2007
Posts: 1412
Location: East Bay Area, California
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 Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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I find the screws need to be sealed around the heads if anything...
_________________
1987 Wolfram Gray 2WD Vanagon GL Westy (1.8T Powered!)
2001 ALH Jetta TDi (Hers)
1998 ALH New Beetle (His)
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=496946 |
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madspaniard
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Joined: August 18, 2008
Posts: 2790
Location: Alameda, CA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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| hankster2 wrote: |
Is that what you were asking? |
Yes, thanks!
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1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
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RBEmerson
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Joined: November 05, 2011
Posts: 772
Location: SE PA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 2:56 am Post subject: |
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A few thoughts on this subject...
The original Delta Six parts on our '90 Westy were looking pretty sad and pressure water connection, particular, said "show's over" as the door hinge tried to disassemble itself one evening as I started to connect to the campground water system.
Almost out of reflex (with apologies to Ron at Bus Depot), I popped for the GW replacement set, which was drop shipped to a friend's house down the road from the campground.
The units all say Go Westy on them. Meh... GW isn't shy about self-promotion. At least the lettering isn't neon yellow on Day-Glo green... [/shrug]
I also ordered the silver "how-to" stickers for doors. DOH!!!! Geeze, GW, at least make them the right size instead off being too wide for the depressions in the doors! FAIL!
The replacement process is fairly simple. No gripes there.
The new click-on fitting seems like a good idea (although, in the back of my mind, I can picture an ugly tug on a hose snapping off the male fitting and otherwise doing ugly things... a good strain relief is in order here). The fitting GW supplied for the hose, however, leaks like a sieve! Unless the hose is held at some magic angle, to relieve all lateral stress on the fitting, the damn thing leaks. A lot. WTF!!! (And, yes, I have a pressure reducer in the line to keep things to 40 PSI or less)
The new doors with their, according to GW, vastly improved hinges have one little problem. After a door stays open over night (power connection or pressure water connection), the door flaps and flutters until the hinges "remember" their original form. And this is only after about 3-4 weeks of camping. I shudder to think how they'll act after a year or two...
The tank filler is the least problematic fitting. The door's only open for 5-10 minutes. Of course the fitting leaks, too, but at least it's only for 5-10 minutes. With the miracle click-on fitting there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of pouring water into the tank- it's going to be water under pressure or nothing.
The power connector has the flappy door issue cited above. And not enough clearance for the stock VW power cable and the bump on the plug designed to ensure the plug goes in "right side up" as it were. A little sanding and a little jiggling get the plug on the prongs but, for a newly engineered piece, one would expect no problem with fitting a plug.
At the end of the day, I've replaced a leaky, self-disassembling pressure water fitting with iffy gasketing, a power connector with iffy gasketing, and a water tank filler with iffy gasketing with parts that are purported to be NEW! IMPROVED! In fact, they are new. Improved? Nah.
And because all of these less than stellar parts have GO WESTY emblazoned on them, I know where I won't look first for more replacement stuff.
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Not all who wander are lost. Which still leaves room for a few lost wanderers...
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'90 Westy - "The Silver Flash" |
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Corwyn
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Joined: December 29, 2009
Posts: 680
Location: Olympia, Washington
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| Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:31 am Post subject: |
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Got 'em, use 'em, love 'em. No leaky at the water connections. If I had redesigned these connections, I'd put my name all over them too. Thanks GW for an effective redirection of your efforts! Now do something with the 'fridge vent that most don't use anymore.
_________________
'90 White Westy ("Needy")
Automatic, 2.2 WBX
Olympia, Washington USA
"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~ |
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RBEmerson
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Joined: November 05, 2011
Posts: 772
Location: SE PA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:10 am Post subject: |
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Rethinking the "pressure water or nothing" comment, it dawned on me I could cut a hunk of hose, attach a click-on fitting to one end, stuff a funnel into the cut end, and pour in water to my heart's content. Um... a lot of work to duplicate what Delta Six did, but it can be done.
On the matter of that seldom-used vent... I guess our OEM fridge didn't get the word. Ours worked like a charm for 4500 miles, in ambient air temperatures from the 30's to the upper 80's. It needed to be primed with pre-heating before we left, and odd gusty winds blew out the flame on occasion. In that situation the gas section re-started even after being off for a couple of hours. No complaints there!
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Not all who wander are lost. Which still leaves room for a few lost wanderers...
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'90 Westy - "The Silver Flash" |
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kuleinc
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Joined: August 10, 2007
Posts: 1412
Location: East Bay Area, California
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| Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Corwyn wrote: | | Got 'em, use 'em, love 'em. No leaky at the water connections. If I had redesigned these connections, I'd put my name all over them too. Thanks GW for an effective redirection of your efforts! Now do something with the 'fridge vent that most don't use anymore. |
go westy sells a block off plate, I have it, I like it.
How did you get your hose to not leak, mine does!? I don't have a rattle door problem...
I'm still thinking what to do with the city water connection as I don't use it, except to fill the hole in the side of my van... Maybe an air compressor... I dunno, I don't air down very often...
_________________
1987 Wolfram Gray 2WD Vanagon GL Westy (1.8T Powered!)
2001 ALH Jetta TDi (Hers)
1998 ALH New Beetle (His)
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=496946 |
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Altoona
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Joined: November 14, 2011
Posts: 130
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:32 am Post subject: |
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| RBEmerson wrote: | | The new click-on fitting seems like a good idea (although, in the back of my mind, I can picture an ugly tug on a hose snapping off the male fitting and otherwise doing ugly things... a good strain relief is in order here). |
Pretty much the same situation as the original city water, may or may not come off easier than the screwed on fitting, either way, easier to replace a small piece than the whole enchilada. Least that's how I look at it.
| Quote: | | The fitting GW supplied for the hose, however, leaks like a sieve! Unless the hose is held at some magic angle, to relieve all lateral stress on the fitting, the damn thing leaks. A lot. WTF!!! (And, yes, I have a pressure reducer in the line to keep things to 40 PSI or less) |
At first, I thought the same thing, but then I popped the fitting on there a bit harder and it snapped into place and worked like advertised. I just wasn't fully seating it into place, maybe try that and see if it fixes it, if not, I'm sure GW would send you a new one if yours is defective.
| Quote: | | After a door stays open over night (power connection or pressure water connection), the door flaps and flutters until the hinges "remember" their original form. And this is only after about 3-4 weeks of camping. I shudder to think how they'll act after a year or two... |
You should talk to GW about that, doesn't sound right to me. I haven't done a ton of camping with mine, but have left them open overnight with no issues the following morning. Maybe yours has defective springs in it?
| Quote: | | The power connector...not enough clearance for the stock VW power cable and the bump on the plug designed to ensure the plug goes in "right side up" as it were. A little sanding and a little jiggling get the plug on the prongs but, for a newly engineered piece, one would expect no problem with fitting a plug. |
Mine measures exactly the same as my old D6 unit, same manufacturer of the plug insert and everything.
| Quote: | | ...iffy gasketing... |
Huh? Why is your iffy?
| Quote: | | Rethinking the "pressure water or nothing" comment, it dawned on me I could cut a hunk of hose, attach a click-on fitting to one end, stuff a funnel into the cut end, and pour in water to my heart's content. Um... a lot of work to duplicate what Delta Six did, but it can be done. |
If you want to pour water in a little bit at a time, why not just go through the cabinet, it is a much bigger hole? Besides, this idea won't work due to the check valve in the hookup, you need pressure to get anything in there. |
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Royb
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Joined: May 24, 2008
Posts: 90
Location: Sierra Foothills
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:39 am Post subject: |
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Can you install these (either brand) from the outside, or do you have to go in back of the cabinets inside too? I thought mine were fine, then looked at them and they are getting pretty funky.
Btw, my Gowesty plastic fridge flue cover crumbled into dust when I touched it. It may have lasted 3 years....
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1990 Westy |
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RBEmerson
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Joined: November 05, 2011
Posts: 772
Location: SE PA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:19 am Post subject: |
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The three GW fittings do not require access from inside the vehicle. Four counter-sunk Phillips screws hold each panel in place. You'll need a flat blade screwdriver for hose clamps and wiring terminals.
Bummer about the "cat's dish" cover failing. Why not spray the next one with your favorite color, using Krylon's plastic-adhering paint? That should limit UV damage to the plastic.
_________________
Not all who wander are lost. Which still leaves room for a few lost wanderers...
- - - - -
'90 Westy - "The Silver Flash" |
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Summers420us
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Joined: June 14, 2010
Posts: 443
Location: Amissville, Virginia
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:24 am Post subject: |
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| RBEmerson wrote: | | <snip> ...the stock VW power cable and the bump on the plug designed to ensure the plug goes in "right side up" ... <snip> |
Do you have a pic of said stock VW power cable? I did not know there was such a beast. |
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Summers420us
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Joined: June 14, 2010
Posts: 443
Location: Amissville, Virginia
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:29 am Post subject: |
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| Royb wrote: | | <snip>...Btw, my Gowesty plastic fridge flue cover crumbled into dust when I touched it. It may have lasted 3 years.... |
I painted mine with some of the plastic paint after replacing it twice because of UV damage that causes the crumbling. Now it seems to be holding up much better. Plus, I like it grey instead of looking like a "pop light". |
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RBEmerson
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Joined: November 05, 2011
Posts: 772
Location: SE PA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:32 am Post subject: |
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| Summers420us wrote: | | RBEmerson wrote: | | <snip> ...the stock VW power cable and the bump on the plug designed to ensure the plug goes in "right side up" ... <snip> |
Do you have a pic of said stock VW power cable? I did not know there was such a beast. |
Jog my recollection on this topic this coming weekend. I'm in Switzerland at the moment. Taking a picture of the cable is a bit of a challenge right now. 
_________________
Not all who wander are lost. Which still leaves room for a few lost wanderers...
- - - - -
'90 Westy - "The Silver Flash" |
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msinabottle
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Joined: September 20, 2005
Posts: 2965
Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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| Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:58 pm Post subject: No Door Memory |
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After reading about the Go Westy flaps staying open, I was quite worried--Winston's power socket cover stays open literally for months with his batter tender plugged in. I unplugged it during my panels/lifting mechanism projects--no problem at all, closed right down, latched back up again. Perhaps you just got a bad example.
I want to get some spare hose fittings. I wonder if anyone else might have them at a lower price?
Best!
_________________
'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence." |
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kuleinc
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Joined: August 10, 2007
Posts: 1412
Location: East Bay Area, California
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The Skylight Guy 
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Joined: August 06, 2004
Posts: 45
Location: Gibsons, BC
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| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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| vwbeta wrote: | Some pics below -
first of all here is the comparison of them all front and back of cover.
2012 GoWesty, new Delta 6 cover and Original Delta 6
now side by side.
this is Original Delta 6, New Delta 6, and GoWesty 2012
note that in the above, the GoWesty appears the thinnest - HOWEVER - in the following pic you can see that the GW 2012 doesnt have the cutout that the Delta 6 does - so the GW is actually thicker across - it is solid and not hollow feeling
What cut out are you talking about?
SO. the original Delta 6 and the new Delta 6 are extremely close in size and identical in design -
Very close indeed! Because they are made from the very same OEM molds!
but the new plastic is somewhat warped/rippled, ?
This may be that you received a door that was made prior to our refurbishing the mold - these original molds are between 30 to 40 years experienced!
and feels lighter-weight.
Dont think that the mold has changed any, except with refurbishing, we may actual carve a mm or so in the cavity making it require slightly more plastic.
I think you can see in the photos that it is also shinier, more glossy and less matte.
This is possible then that this was previous to mold refurbishing as with time and use the the mold finish would have definitely polished smooth any matte finish.
i didnt put on the new delta 6 cover because it didnt match the old plastic at all - i know some of that is because it is weather-beaten, but i really feel like it is a DIFFERENT plastic.
How old is your Van? How long have these been exposed to UV?
We manufacture with the exact same plastic from OEM specs today.
The GW design, imho - feels more like the original in texture and is heavier as it doesnt have the undercut/hollow inside on the cover. the full enclosure feels sturdy, and seems well designed. time will tell.
Yes, time will tell, the OEM Delta Six has indeed got a proven track record!
already happy about the 3-way door catch..no more springing back enclosure! i'm happy! i bough the kit and will be getting them all installed this week.
Good Luck! I hear these doors develop spring fatigue within three weeks of use.
chris [who is not affiliated with GW or Delta 6] |
If you want specifics clarified, we would be happy to answer them rather than have speculations...
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Cheri & Trevor
1985 Westfalia 'Rock-on'
www.vanagonwestfaliaparts.com
Gibsons, BC Canada
604-740-1018 |
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The Skylight Guy
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Joined: August 06, 2004
Posts: 45
Location: Gibsons, BC
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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| 82WestyMan wrote: | So let me get this straight
... for the 'Complete Set of Three"
GoWesty - $139.95
TheSkyLightGuy - $189.95
... |
Delta Six are made on refurbished OEM molds...by The Skylight Guy ...Trevor & I...
We've improved on the past decades deterioration of parts production, which occurred after the previous owner of Delta Six Industries passed.
These are the parts that have held up for decades on most of our Vans...
We manufacture these 100% from plastic chips straight through to the bag to the new owner...right from BC Canada.
We stand behind our products, we service our products and keep looking for ways to keep up our quality and service.
Any questions? Please call us!
_________________
Cheri & Trevor
1985 Westfalia 'Rock-on'
www.vanagonwestfaliaparts.com
Gibsons, BC Canada
604-740-1018 |
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msinabottle
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Joined: September 20, 2005
Posts: 2965
Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 9:44 pm Post subject: We Love You! |
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I have one of your old, great skylights, I am VERY grateful that you are working to support the Vanagon Camping Aftermarket--couldn't respect and appreciate you more. I hope you'll find other plastic fittings that no one is building, build those, and gain market share!
Best!
_________________
'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence." |
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kuleinc
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Joined: August 10, 2007
Posts: 1412
Location: East Bay Area, California
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| Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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I have a "the skylight guy" Skylight, works great, fit is perfect!
_________________
1987 Wolfram Gray 2WD Vanagon GL Westy (1.8T Powered!)
2001 ALH Jetta TDi (Hers)
1998 ALH New Beetle (His)
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=496946 |
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timichango
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Joined: April 07, 2012
Posts: 225
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 4:54 am Post subject: |
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| Mark wrote: | | The rivet construction of the same new/original design 115V connector was very weak, and you could easily flex the end connector. I didn't trust it, so I drilled the rivets and installed the metal conduit the original Canadian model came with that shields the cord under the flap, and use the original hardwired extension cord. YMMV. |
My van's got the original hardwired extension cord as well, and I'm considering the gowesty hookup boxes—are you saying that you essentially needed to bung pieces together from the original OEM box (some sort of metal conduit) and the gowesty box in order to preserve the OEM retractable cord setup? I'd love some details s'il vous plait!
Neither the product information about the 'new' Delta Six hookups nor the gowesty ones seem to mention anything about a Canadian version of the 110v hookup (or list it as a product), so I can only assume that it's a) an edge case that only affects a small subset of vanagon owners up here, b) an easy mod, or c) both. |
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The Skylight Guy
Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2004
Posts: 45
Location: Gibsons, BC
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 6:58 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Neither the product information about the 'new' Delta Six hookups nor the gowesty ones seem to mention anything about a Canadian version of the 110v hookup (or list it as a product), so I can only assume that it's a) an edge case that only affects a small subset of vanagon owners up here, b) an easy mod, or c) both. |
Since the D6 is our mold and we are in Canada, we were going to offer the electric hookup as an option without the plug for the Canadian Van with the cord, we just haven't put it up on our website yet....
No jimmying necessary...comes with mounting gasket, screws, decal.
I will be posting it on our website this month! If you want one now, please contact us!
_________________
Cheri & Trevor
1985 Westfalia 'Rock-on'
www.vanagonwestfaliaparts.com
Gibsons, BC Canada
604-740-1018 |
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