>How does one remove the luggage rack?

Hi Dave,

I just did this on the weekend so  it's rather fresh in my mind.Mine's an '84
(white top) and I think VW went to the coloured tops in '86 so your '85 should
be the same as mine. You have to drop the back of the headliner first. Remove
the two screws and one bolt that hold end cap onto the storage shelf above the
stove/sink. Now remove the 7 (8?) little screws that hold the headliner to the
roof. It should drop enough so you can slip your hand in.Raise your poptop and
crawl up on your luggage rack and remove the 4 plastic caps covering the nuts
and washers between the back of the luggage rack and the hole for the poptop
(Now that I think about this you could do it through your open screened window
in the poptop canvas).Now remove the nuts and washers --- you may or may not
have to slip your hand above the headliner to prevent the boltheads from turning
--- you will for sure when you go to re-tighten. Now remove the 4 large-headed
slot screws from the outside of the luggage rack (one on each side and two at
the front). I thought from the looks of these screwheads (rusty) that they'd be
a PITA to remove; they came out easily though -- the threads inside were in fine
shape.... Now close all the doors and windows to your Westy and get a helper to
assist you in lifting down the luggage rack --- it's light but awkward. Why
close the doors and windows??? --- I found that a rather astonishing amount of
leaves and dirt had been lurking under the luggage rack for the last 15 years.
Way too much of this garbage fell inside the open windows of my van. If you've
got the thing off anyway you might want to throw a new seal on the bottom ---
cheap from the Busdepot and quick to install with a rubber mallet (trim to
length with a pair of sharp sidecutters). The re-install is pretty much the
reverse. With your helper -- get the luggage rack seat on the four protruding
bolts ahead of the poptop opening. Put the nuts and washers on very loosely ---
enough just to keep from knocking the bolts back down. Now start the 4
large-headed screws in their respective holes. You'll find that if you shift the
whole rack slightly (as needed) it is relatively easy to line them up and get
them started. When they are all started --- tighten up the screws. Now tighten
up the 4 nuts --- sliding your hand under the headliner to hold the bolts as
necessary. Put the headliner/shelf-end  back in place when you're done this. Now
sit on the porch and have a beer --- well thats what I did anyway :-)

I wish I'd thought to replace my rusty tie-downs while I was doing
this...........

Cheers,
Doug Alcock
'84 Westy "Bluebelle"
Toronto, Canada