> Thanks, Bob - you're not the only one that has suggested I 
> let Ron at BD sort this out. It must be good advice!

A few words of advice here.

First of all, be sure to avail yourself of the Information pages that can be
accessed by clicking on the 'i" icons throughout BusDepot.com. For example,
the following page shows a diagram of the rubber for your Vanagon, along
with part numbers and prices:

https://pointer.webappcabaret.net/busdepot/details/vanagonrubber.jsp

(Note, we will be changing this URL to a busdepot domain URL within a few
weeks as part of our server upgrade, so if you bookmark it it will be a dead
link then. But you can always get there by choosing your Vanagon year, and
then clicking the green "i" icon next to the Body Rubber category.)  

Other diagrams are found throughout the site by clicking on those "i" icons,
such as exhaust, sheet metal, and coolant hose diagrams. I think that many
people overlook these useful sources of information.

Secondly, should you have further questions, I generally recommend emailing
rather than calling if time allows, as the luxury of time will allow the rep
to spend more time sorting through and accurately answering your questions.
We generally reply to email same or next working day. I'd suggest mentioning
that you already looked at the diagram page noted above but still have
questions (assuming that you do), just so the rep does not merely direct you
to the diagram. :-)

As for the yellowed plastic strips, while it is possible to buy new rubber
that will accommodate these strips (and new strips to match), I recommend
against it. The "plain" rubber that does not take the strips is much
cheaper, plus you won't have to buy new strips (which themselves will start
to yellow within a few years and look like crap again). The reason for the
price difference is that most of the world other than the U.S. (as well as
most U.S. models after 1987) did not get the plastic trim strips. This
leaves the rubber that accepts the strips as somewhat of a "niche" item
almost exclusively for the U.S. market ... hence the higher price.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215)  234-VWVW

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