________________________________________
From: JordanVw@aol.com [mailto:JordanVw@aol.com] 
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2007 7:26 PM
To: hecht.joy@GMAIL.COM; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: removing the A/C

bad idea..�� removing the a/c in your 89 westy will lower the vehicles
value.
any NOBODY owns their van forever.� there will come a time when you will
have to sell it, and you will have a harder time selling it without a/c� as
late model vanagons are expected to come with a/c.

>>> LOL!  Do you think the presence of a broken A/C system vs. more storage
will have any relevance some years down the road in the relative prices of a
new vanagon vs. an '89 that already has almost 180K on it?  

>>> The relevant concern for me is the possibility that I might ever want to
get the A/C fixed vs. the advantages of more storage.  Driving in hot
weather isn't fun, but camping in hot weather is even worse, which leads me
to mostly avoid hot weather.

anyway that being said,� the amount of cabinet space gained in the overhead
rear storage compartment is minimal. 

>>>  Relative to what?

the idea you had before about unsnapping the upper bunk cushions and using
low profile storage bins up there will give you more storage capability than
the overhead rear cabinet..

>>> I'm already planning to remove the upper bunk, but that is easily
reversible.

>>> I'm going to be traveling with another person for a month, storage is at
a premium.  When I lived in the van before, I had a smaller dresser for
clothes, a very narrow set of drawers between the front seats, boxes on the
roof, and a fairly large cooler that doubled as other storage, plus all the
built-in storage.  Full-timing requires a lot more stuff than holidays!
Files, books, work papers and hardware, work clothes, clothes for all
seasons.  But with two people I don�t want all the additional storage units,
hence the premium on built-in storage.  

>>>  When you've actually lived in a vanagon, Chris, you'll be in a position
to advise on the relative importance of interior space!  :-)

Joy