I haven't looked inside for space ... but how hard would it be to install an
electrically activated solenoid to operate the latch?

Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: <JordanVw@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2004 11:10 AM
Subject: cool hatch acessory mod.. (fun easy stuff to do this weekend)

> most of you know about the mod that lets you open the rear hatch from the
> inside...if you dont, here is a quickie.. at the bottom center of your
rear hatch
> panel, on the later 85 up vans there was hole in the metal behind the
hatch
> panel..this was a finger hole to acess the lock plunger tab..on the base
model
> transporters there was a hole in the hatch panel to acess this..on the GL
> passenger vans and campers, the hatch panel covers this hole.  just locate
the
> hole, and trim a hole in the bottom of your hatch panel..viola..you can
open your
> hatch from the inside..   for those with earlier vans, you will have to
drill
> a finger hole, or just drill a small hole and attach a little string or
cable
> to the lock plunger (like a pull cord) and have that protrude from your
hatch
> panel..less conspicuous that way.
>
> so now that  you can open your hatch from inside the van, how can you
close
> it from inside the van?  kinda hard to close it without getting out of the
> van..  unless you do this..
> on the 93 up Eurovans there is a large assist strap tha hangs down from
the
> hatch panel, right underneath the rear glass..this allows you to close the
rear
> hatch without getting out of the van, or is also an idea way of closing
the
> rear hatch for short people..   anyway on the '87-'91 wolfsburgs and
carats,
> there were these black assist straps that were mounted inside , by the
coat
> hooks, on the window pillars.   what i did is to install one of these
assist
> straps at the top of the hatch panel..there is plenty of metal behind
there to
> drill into, and its a clean install, looks stock, and is something VW
should have
> done..
> if anyone is interested, i have these assist straps available.., as well
as
> pics of the mod in my van..
> install is simple, just a drill and 2 screws.
> so now you can open, and close the rear hatch without "getting out of bed"
:<
> )
>
> chris