Thanks for the suggestions.  I have a question below.
>
> Easy solution:  Carry the old steel wheel mounted tire as a spare, along
> with a set of nuts and bolts for it and get your money back for the
> fifth wheel.
>
I own all the wheels involved, so there's no money involved.  I also
currently own both vanagons.  I'd like to keep the steel wheels and alloy
wheels together as sets.

>
> Most elegant:  Buy and install the wire rods from a later model.
>
I can switch the wire rods from the '87 to the '85 (and vice versa).  What
is involved in this procedure?  I'm still wondering if there's a
difference between an '87 that came with steel wheels versus one that came
with alloys in terms of the spare tire space.  Do any of you know?

Thanks,
David