Tom, whether you saw it or not, some of the commentary DID leave the impression that front and rear had different wheels.  Ron Salmon clarified the situation.

---- Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> Here's a simpler answer to your 3 questions:
> >>>
> >>
> >> So, were front and rear wheels different on these older vans?
>
> NO
>
> >> Does that mean that tire rotation required removing the tires from the wheels and remounting them?
>
> NO
>
> >>  Did one have to carry two spares in order to have a wheel to mount front if needed, and one to mount rear if needed?
>
> NO
>
> >>  All seems needlessly complicated and a real functional problem.
>
> Huh?
>
>
> >

--
David McNeely