I'm confused by your comments. All Vanagons take a Group 41 battery
(Group 91 is a substitute with higher specs. Every brand of battery
that >I< have ever bought as a Group 41, has included a plastic cover
to put over the positive terminal.

I have never bought batteries from Pep Boys, so I can't say what they
do. But I have bought at many a FLAPS, and Sears. All my cars (except
the Jaguar) use Group 41 batteries, which makes life easy.