After 129,000 miles and ten years on my '90 Westy, I am still wondering:
    Is there a right side up for the spare in the tray? If so, why?

I just had it out yesterday to clean the last of the sand out after going
through a sandstorm on I8, returning from a recent trip to San Diego.  I
also bought 4 qts of Redline MT-90 and changed the trans oil this week.
Having done that, I also decided to lube the rest of the shift linkage.
Hence, the reason for removing the spare, to clean out that square metal box
under the floor with the shift linkage inside. A bear to get at, but full of
cruddy, thick, sandy grease. Much nicer now.

As we head into 2001, I would remind you of these words by the late John
Muir, in the introduction to his book HOW TO KEEP YOUR VOLKSWAGEN ALIVE:
        "Come to kindly terms with your Ass for it bears you"
    ...the type of life your car contains differs from yours by time scale,
logic level and conceptual anomalies but is "Life" nonetheless. Its Karma
depends on your desire to make and keep it -ALIVE!

All the best bus and Vanagon Karma in 2001!

Jerry
In central Arizona, where it should hit 70 today.