We have a false bottom in our closet, accommodates about 6" of goodies
below.
Made of Westy-Wallpaper-covered plywood, which sits on small bracket
blocks attached to the interior cabinet walls. Fits snugly to avoid
detection.

Former owner was a Retired Red Cross Nurse who used the van as home for
a while when Eastern Europe/the Balkans were coming uncoiled. She used
to smuggle coffee to give to adults, and chocolate for the kids by using
this space, the space at the back of the upper bunk, the space for the
second battery, and the space next to the water tank.

A friend in Lithuania made the false bottom for her.

Developing business and guiding change since 1996,

G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett
Corporate Communications
Business: www.bulley-hewlett.com
Alliance: www.ntara.com
Phone: +1.919.658.1278

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of developtrust
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2002 11:36 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: storing valuables in a Westy

A visible padlock would draw attention and indicate valuables stored.
And
how would you padlock the table anyhow. What about the removable cover
over
the water pump area, or behind the pop top bed?

William
1989 Vanagon GL
1988 Mercedes 300SE

> There is a recent thread on cutting the mirrored closet door in order
to
> gain access while the rotating rear table is positioned over the
cabinet
> forward of the closet.  Consider this:  I have pondered on how to
protect
> valuables, cassettes, etc.  in my '84 Westy from the prying fingers of
> parking lot attendants, car wash employees, and casual burglars.
Placing
> those valuables in the closet or in the cupboard above the watertank
and
> padlocking the table in its at-rest position could be a first step in
that
> direction.  Thoughts on the topic of security anyone?