Gary suggested to me to use some thin carpeting to protect my rack I just
bought from him, and someone he knows used a piece of plywood (but that
person also used plastic gas cans. What I have done is wrap the metal where
"wear and tear" might occur, with thin carpet and plastic ties. Works for
me. Gary is also sending me some neoprene rubber to glue on these areas.

I'm going to wrap a thin piece of plywood on both sides (all around) with
that "indoor/outdoor carpet" to make a platform for gas cans etc. that will
not scratch the metal. I've also thought of using that rubber material from
which sleeping bag mats are made instead. By the time I go to Baja, Mexico
on a camping trip I will have found the perfect solution. I plan to do a few
dry runs to the mountains and desert of S. California to check thins out.

William P.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Lussier" <rlussier@LENSCRAFT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2001 9:15 AM
Subject: Neat vanagon expedition accessory

> Folks,
>
> I've been urging Gary Lee to design a way for Vanagon folks to carry
> extra gasoline on the vans.  He had already designed a really cool rear
> hatch-mounted ladder that seemed like a perfect place to hang stuff
> from, and I asked him to try to figure out how to use it to hold
> 5-gallon gerry cans of gasoline.  (On the South American trip, I carried
> them in the luggage rack, which significantly abraded the gel coat.)
>
> I'm happy to report that Gary has come up with a wonderful array of
> options for his ladder which allows you to carry 2 gerry cans 2 spare
> tires, or one of each.  Check it out at:
>
>         http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/ladder.htm
>
> Joyous Solstice,
> Coyote
>
> ---
> ron lussier / lenscraft                 fine art giclee prints
> rlussier@lenscraft.com                  67 crescent avenue
> ICQ 23581466                                    sausalito / ca 94965
> http://www.lenscraft.com/                       +1 415.331.3687