Story sounds a lot like mine on my '80. Finially parted company with original on
Navajo Reservation in Arizona. Solution was the same - bought a locking one so
the key stays with the cap and can't drive off without it. Now with the '84 and
original cap I put the keys in the cap as soon as I take it off. So far I haven't
left without it (yet).

Peace - donna
'84 Westy (Pepe)

Richard A. Jones wrote:

> It's not Friday, but just go to the highrise Holiday Inn in
> Emeryville, California--to the Chevron station there and ask
> for the gas cap that I left there a year ago.
>
> I made it from January '82 to May '99 with the stock gas
> cap.  I had left it in Colorado Springs for 2 days and
> Fruita, Colorado for 5, but always managed to pick it back
> up.  But, well, I wasn't going back to Emeryville when I
> discovered it in the Sierras.  Bought a locking one in
> Reno.  Can't drive off without it since the key is with
> the ingnition key....
>
>                                 Richard A. Jones
>                                 Boulder, Colorado
>                                 '81 Vanagon  Mr Bus