> It's frustrating to pay 15X the price for the more rugged
>  VW cranks.  But it's also frustrating to have to replace
> the cranks every few months.  So I paid $30 each for
> a pair of VW cranks:
> http://gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=2297
>
> GoWesty has the $2 cranks as well:
> http://gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=3669
>
> Even more frustrating: I just replaced the speakers, and I
> couldn't find a less expensive source for the crank
> extension.  $58, ouch!
> http://gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=3678

You're shopping in the wrong place.

Crank extension for $45:

http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=155898595

Genuine VW German window cranks for $25:

http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=321837581A01C

Half decent aftermarket ones for $2:

http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=321837581

(These are the same Ellen brand ones mentioned elsewhere in this thread,
which Autohausaz sells for $3.10 and erroneously lists as German. Although
not German, they are the best of the aftermarket ones. They are also the
correct thick-shank Vanagon ones, not the thin-shank Beetle ones that
GoWesty sells. They should last longer than a couple of months provided that
your lift mechanism still works smoothly and doesn't stick, but of course
they still cannot compare to the $25 VW ones.)

All prices will be 5% cheaper once you apply your Vanagon List discount (if
your order exceeds $50).

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215)  234-VWVW

_____________________________________________
Toll-Free for Orders by PART # :  1-866-BUS-DEPOT