I'm still using my original seal and it drains to the front.  There is no
noticeable gap, however.  It has done this since new.

Karl Wolz
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeffrey R" <Oxroad@aol.com>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2000 9:18 PM
Subject: Re: Luggage rack seal...

> In a message dated 7/16/2000 6:56:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> marcperdue@adelphia.net writes:
>
> << > My luggage rack is positioned as it came from the factory, with all
>  > fasteners fastened. It's apparent that the new seal allows air to get
>  > into the space below the rack, causing a racket at speed. There is a
>  > tiny 1/32 gap in a spot along the front, and this must be what's
causing
>  > it. >>
>
> I've gotta say my luggage rack seal from the bus depot doesn't seal the
way
> the factory seal sealed either. I was blaming it on the idea that my
luggage
> rack warped, but maybe the stock seal is just thicker. I've got a 1/4 gap
> where the seal meets the passenger side a-pillar. Possibly the original
seal
> would fill such a gap in that if it is thicker it would pull the driver's
> side over a bit and use the remaining bit to close the gap.
>
> And this idea that the seal has to leak I think is sales BS as in "Yes
Mrs.
> Jones all gas tanks are supposed to leak a little bit." Because in my
> estimation the water is meant to leak out the back where the rack is
clearly
> designed to be wider and not seal against the roof. I mean it's only about
a
> sixteenth of an inch wider but that's all it should take. I'm not willing
to
> concede that these things came from the factory with a gap in the front.
And
> I'm also not willing to concede a gap is desired, necessary, or even ok.
>
> I wish I kept the original seal to compair it, but of course I tossed it
when
> I took it off. Does anyone know if the OEM seal is indeed thicker?
>
> I've gotta say if I had it all to do over again I'd get all the facts up
> front about the original vs. aftermarket seals. And if it was "better" I'd
go
> with the OEM seal no matter the cost. I mean yes, the original seal is
> flawed, but it did last more than 15 years. And no one is doing me a favor
> selling me a less expensive seal that is "almost" as good at sealing as
the
> stock seal. I've gotta say pulling that F#@@%%$ luggage rack on and off a
> dozen time was a huge PITA--and it's still not **#@! sealing right!
>
> That's my 2 cents
> Jeff
> 83.5 Westy
>