Chris,

I had the same thought before buying my 89 16" Syncro Double Cab and most
recently the 82 RHD Single Cab. I got both for the price of regular. The Doka
of course cost almost 50% more to transport and license here. Still turned
out to be cheaper than cutting and welding a Vanagon into one.

However, I still feel that there is room in this world for a converted
Vanagon. I have actually been contemplating on doing this very thing to my 82
GL which has a stripped interior anyway. Doing this to a Vanagon will makes
it a less cargo friendly IMHO. You lose all weather protection afforded by a
van body. The only practical advantage would be the ability to load cargo
that would be too big for a van. That's hard to justify considering the
Vanagon can swallow a wide variety of cargo w/o complaint or difficulty.

OK, with that aside, my thoughts were as follows. Cut the victim van at the
high beltline just below the windows. Then take the edge and finish off by
welding a pipe or square section tubing of the appropriate diameter. Another
alternative would be to make a hardwood rail which goes all the way around.

Roof cut can be at C pillar for a double cab look. Or at B pillar for single
cab look. Or how about a cabriolet fair-weather pick-up and cut at the A
pillar? I thought of leaving the roof section with an overhang so that it is
more like those firetrucks for the Doka and single styles. An old rear hatch
can be cut and welded to finish off the back end. If you are a truly talented
welder, you ought to consider welding in the entire rear hatch and opening so
you still have a functioning rear hatch.

As for the sliding door, I thought of keeping it as a slider for low lift
height. Sorta like a Corvair ramp side but w/o the ramp. This will all depend
on what you do with the bed. For the Doka-style, you can cut the slider so
that you can still put a half window in ala' Doka.

Well, anyway, this too much rambling for a Monday. After you've done all
this, you would have expended as much energy as I invested in getting a real
Doka. Cost about the same too. What the heck I still plan on doing this once
time permits. I need to learn how to weld anyway.

BenT
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