Neil -

While yer yankin' stuff, yank the curtain straps and the screw-in snaps on
each side of the door.  What happens is the screw-in snaps (when the door is
closed) rests on the "bulb" seal of the Rear Hatch Seal and creates just
enough of a gap to allow moisture through in the rain.

In the almost 9 years of full-timing in my Westy, I discovered early on that
when it rained, I often found a west mattress and sleeping bag near the Rear
Hatch Door.  I even replaced the Rear Hatch Seal with no success in
preventing the leak(s) until I discovered what the strap screw-in snap heads
were doing to the "bulb" seal.  Since then I've had a dry mattress and
sleeping bag, even in the heaviest of storms.

I usually drive with Rear Curtains closed anyway, so I don't miss the
hold-back straps, even when I keep the curtains open there.
--
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
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On Jan 21, 2008 12:26 PM, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi all.
>
> Last week I opened the rear hatch and found it would close part way on
> its' own. ?? I put in new supports just over a year ago. Shouldn't
> happen I thought.....
>
> My theory is that water gathered and froze, adding extra weight. Today
> in warm sun, water ran out of bottom of hatch and it functions as it
> used to. Mystery solved. But rear matresses are kind of wet. Water is
> getting into van.
>
> My Westy is parked on an incline with rear end pointed downhill.
> Recently weather has been cold.
>
> Where are the typical water leaks points on the rear hatch?
>
> Water normally gathers in rear hatch bottom and drains out when opened
> when parked on incline. Is this normal?
>
> IF it isn't a water leak, could it be that with a frozen chunk o ice
> at the bottom of the hatch, any "new" water coming in would overflow
> into/onto the rear?
>
> TIA, and hope my questions make sense!
>
> Neil.