After reading Scott's comments, I feel better about trying this.  Scott has a lot of Vanagon experience.  He said he has done this multiple times, and that it works very well.  I would follow his recommendation to spread the force over the entire height of the undamaged side, absolutely evenly.  And then, if you damage the thing further, don't blame either of us :-).  mcneely

---- Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote: 
> Bret,
> 
> Your approach sound just like what I would do. But Dave is right, I
> would be inviting further damage.
> 
> You might want to try this: spread the load on the good side to the
> corners and jack something right on the point on the bad side. A wide
> triangle on one side with a two-by-four end on the other.
> 
> Better yet, take it to a body shop and see what they would charge for
> the use of a frame straightener.
> 
> Jim
> 
> On Thu, Mar 3, 2011 at 6:09 PM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
> > just sounds to me like a recipe for further damage.  mcneely
> >
> > ---- Bret Berger <bretberger@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> >> In the all-to-common right side swipe, the right rear corner of my
> >> Vanagon, about 2/3 the way up on the hatch, was pushed inwards about 1
> >> inch.  I am thinking of fabricating two wooden braces, fitted to the
> >> shape of the opening on each side and using a bottle jack to spread the
> >> opening.  The brace on the left (undamaged) side would be larger (2
> >> feet?) to distribute the force so to prevent that side from distorting.
> >>   The brace on the damaged side would be smaller (6 inches?) and would
> >> hopefully push out the corner.
> >>
> >> Any thoughts on this or alternate suggestions?  I notice Habor Freight
> >> has a selection of hydraulic tools for body repair.  Should I be using
> >> those?
> >>
> >> -bret
> >>
> >> Saint George, Utah
> >> 1982 Diesel Westfalia
> >
> > --
> > David McNeely
> >

--
David McNeely