RE: Cruise Control
I have no experience with the VW cruise control on a Vanagon but understand
from the list that they can be problematic and a retrofit is complicated.
I (and many others on the list) have installed the Audiovox CSS100 like this
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00029WQTW/ref=nosim/arm06-20
and BTW that's not a bad price though you might do better on eBay.
I have   added a vacuum canister (from JC Whitney) and it was added to a
previous cruise control that was in my rig when I bought it, a setup that
quit and was replaced with the CSS100 three years ago. I don't know that the
vacuum canister is actually needed though Audiovox recommends it for 4 cyl
engines.
Install was done by a guy in Oregon that had done a number of Vanagons,
about four hours IIRC.  The cable needs to be extended because of the
distance between the engine and the passenger compartment.
Mine is flawless, works absolutley perfect, and gets a lot of use on the
road, especially if I'm in a hurry and driving freeways.  I find I can even
use it on many 'blue highways' for long fairley straight stretches.
Any good auto electric guy that know the Vanagon should be able to install
it for you.