Mine's horizontal, the way it was when I got it in 1997.  Maybe not the
factory position, but it sure helps in closing the door when sitting on the
bench seat or laying down in bed.  Certainly a lot easier to close the door
there than trying to reach the front handle.

At the VW Classic in Irvine last weekend, every 80-91 Westy (about a 1/2
dozen or so in the Car Show area) I saw had one in either the vertical or
horizontal position.  Who cares?  Some things are best left to be mysterious
;-)
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************************
On 6/14/07, Mike Rocket J Squirrel Elliott <camping.elliott@gmail.com>
wrote:
>
> I give up. I have stared at the rear handle on the inside of the sliding
> door for ever and ever. I have tried to use it when closing the door. If
> it was vertical instead of horizontal, I might see how it could be to
> assist closing the door from within. But it's just this slender,
> slippery thing that doesn't seem to assist with any useful function near
> as I can tell. The vermiform appendix of Vanagon interiors or something?
> --
>
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
> KG6RCR