Karl, the Vanagon comes with a built in "ladder".
Assuming that you have a metal bumper, attach a nonskid adhesive strip to the
top of the bumper. Step up onto the bumper strip and you are there.
Larry
PS. Rolls of this nonskid stuff are available at "Camping World".

karl wrote:

> Has anyone ever designed or made a collapsible ladder or step that would
> allow one to reach approximately a foot (.3048 metres) or so above the
> roofline of  a Westfalia, and hook into the rain gutter? I need a better way
> to access items in my Thule� car-top carrier, other than standing in the
> doorway and reaching like heck, or standing precariously on the sliding
> door's lock pin. Optimally this would fit in to the luggage carrier in
> front. Of course, if it hasn't been made, guess I'll have to design and
> build a batch for others needing the same.............
>
> Karl von M�llendorf
> Westy Ventures
> 1987 Syncro Westfalia 1.9 TD 'Otto'
> 1988 Audi 80 Quattro 'Car'