hatch extension

[vicali]

Looking for the rear hatch extension for my westy, GoWesty is out of stock and their source has dried up. anybody know another place that has them?

mike

[[email protected]]

EUROCAMPERS.COM
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Markus

[vicali]

[Yellow Rabbit]

How soon do you need it? I was thinking of making myself one.

[billybobrudebaga]

I got mine at evwparts.com
Good people, and super fast shipping.
Check it out:
http://evwparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=VanagonBody

Good luck.

[joetiger]

I have one from Eurocampers and it's worth its weight in gold. I can understand why everybody's sold out.

Had they been sold out when I got mine, I had thought about making my own.

Somebody on the Vanagon list posted about it a while back, using a large turnbuckle with an eye on one end and hook on the other end. You could probably get all the stuff for it at the hardware store.

Hope that helps!

Joe T.

[vicali]

[joetiger]

No, not for sale yet. I've been looking for a picture of a homemade one...I know I've seen a picture on the web somewhere.

Here's a pic of a machined homemade one from this site:

http://www.mts.net/~rrh/WestyMods.html

[amishman]

What does this hatch extension do?




tj

[vicali]

to keep the hatch open and allow for airflow when you are PARKED.

or like in Winstons case, to keep the black fuzzies out of your camper while your sleeping inside with the back door open.

mike

[msinabottle]

I'll take a picture of Winston's hatch extender this weekend and post it. I don't think it'd be that hard to make. Drat it, the parts are getting cheap but a lot of sources for good aftermarket are starting to dry up!

It really does make a difference in how much air you have back there.

Best!

[amishman]

[vicali]

[Muskrat]

howdy, first time post.i found an item at my local hdw store for 3 bucks that does the same thing as all those fancy hatch extensions. unfortunatly i dont know how to post picks so bear with me while i try to explain what it is. its called a turnbuckle. it has a hook on 1 end and a loop on the other, there threaded into an aluminum rectangular connector that when rotated will shorten or lengthen the assembly. this alternative is cheap, readily available at any hdw store and adjustable( turn it all the way out on those hot nights or closer in when leaving the vehicle unatended. i got the 3/8"x8". to install it just slide the hook around the post on the vanagon body then close the door on the loop. give it a try.

thanks, keith

[vicali]

hmm interesting..
good for camping, I like the adjustable idea.
not all that secure though, if the middle is unscrewed the buckle would come apart. but for $3 it might do the trick until the real thing becomes available again..

[Muskrat]

thanks for the pic,vic . i only use mine when camping so not too worried about the security part. unless someone knows its there they probably wouldnt know to do that. however fort knox it is not. good point

thanks,keith

[noganav]

Just got a 3/8' x 8' turnbuckle from the local hardware giant. I flattened the last 1/4 inch of each set of threads with a set of vice grips so that they can't be unscrewed. Works great, thanks for the tip!

[vicali]

beat me to it, but I did pick one up on the way home,

note the mangles threads.. to keep it from opening. But it would be used for camping when we are in there so I'm not too worried.

adjusted to the smallest gap;

adjusted to the largest gap;

and what it looks like underneath;

so grknvgn, cheers for your first post, I can't wait to read more...

Mike

[billybobrudebaga]

I'm sorry, I thought you were look for hatch struts that have the abilty to stay open at various intervals.
Sorry about that.

-Billybob

[peruvian]

I just bought a turnbuckle at my local hardware store. Best $2.99 mod I've done to my van!

Thanks grknvgn, vicali, etc.