Yeah! the tropical top idea realld helps cool things down.
A good test is to put two old Land-Rovers together on a
summer trip, and we can seet eh difference in the faces of
the drivers!@  ;-)
They even hae ventilation from inside to the space between
to let the hot air inside gt sucked out too! It really
works. I have found that on my Discovery, having a sheet of
aluminum on the roof-rack works pretty well as it reflects
all teh heat back up before it gets to thr roof, and again
the sun-roofs do the same.
The problem many of us have in vw's is they are westy's!
so, not as easy as just strapping on a rack and a sheet of
thin alumanum or fiberglass...but witha  little bit of
thought it's not really be that difficult.
Personally, I am still thinking of the ol' swamp-cooler
idea. it really works well, and you could probably figute
out a way to make a lightweight one that doesn't take up
too much room.

Paul

--- Mark Sheflo <skjeflo@ATTBI.COM> wrote:
> Volkswagen actually offered this idea as an optional item
> on at least the
> early air-cooled busses for use in desert climates.
> Actually worked
> somewhat from what I've read.  Just a lightweight roof
> rack with some light
> colored canvas stretched to provide the roof some shade.
> I've seen a few on
> web pages.  I'll try and remember where....
>
>
> Mark
> 82 Westy
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> I had alway thought that a great big plate over the
> vanagon, would be a
> great heat shield.  I would have to be light, and aero
> dynamic.
>
>             Eric                   86-VW4x4
>             vw4x4@fyi.net          86-SS Syncro
>             Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler
>                                    92-Jetta GWC
>             www.fyi.net/~vw4x4/vw4x4.htm

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