Don,
I have an after market, tinted glass, opening and removable sunroof
installed over the front seats of my '84.  Love it.  Especially when driving
in the mountains.  Next best thing to a convertible.  I've had it for about
5 years.  No leaks, no problems except a bit noisy when it is opened.  I
carry various toys [bikes, skis, kayaks] on the roof racks which probably
contribute to the noise. I had it professionally installed at the store
where I bought it, in Spokane.  I've had one in a Toyota pickup for at least
8 years with no problems.  Thumbs up.
Doug E.
'84  Van-Go
'67 vw convertible  Vert-i-go
----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Hanson" <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 6:51 AM
Subject: Sunroof for 'regular' van? Recommendations?

> Hi all,
>
>  I have a non-pop, non-AC van and I'm interested in putting an
> after-market
> skylight in it.  I am thinking one of those transparent tinted panels,
> right
> above the front seats, the kind that open up a few inches to a slant from
> one edge.
> I had one, installed by the previous owner, in a VW beetle I recently sold
> and I liked the extra venting and the veiw of the stars, but that one was
> kinda cheapo.  It's hardware was crude and the rubber gasket was all
> cracked
> and dried up, the trim ring inside was kinda 'cheesey' too and it whistled
> and rattled driving down the road.  Has anyone encountered a unit like
> that
> but with some better quality?  Any 'favorite' places to look for that
> kinda
> thing?
>  The type I have in mind installs almost flush with the outside of the
> roof
> so it doesn't interupt the air flow when closed and you don't really see
> it
> (again, when closed) when you look at the van in profile.
>
>  By the way, My almost full time van co-pilot, Jake the Chesepeke dog,
> really loves the new 'hatch-latch-extender' I fabricated recently after
> seeing some posts on them here on the list.  The inside of the van stays
> much cooler with the extra cross-ventilation that new opening provides,
> and
> I can be even more certain (Jake is pretty intimidating to anyone
> approaching the van anyhow) that the contents won't be disturbed while
> it's
> parked.
>
>  Don Hanson