Hahahaha.  I could just envision your battle.  But for one who knows better,
you are fine as it is.  Most of those things are broken off by now.  Lately
I make a better pull tab out of coat hangers.  But you can just pull the
hook from under the tray and it will release.  Just be a little careful not
to hurt yourself in the process it falls to the ground.  Once you know it,
it's nothing.
That bolt secures the tray to the body.  That catch is making sure you don't
get hurt while you are under the car.  So, you wold pull the tab after and
it falls dow to the ground.
And when you finished with the wheel change and put a wheel back in the
tray, you would slam the tray up with it inside and the catch will keep it
from falling back down.  After that you can put the bolt in and tighten it
back up again.
Once you done it, it will be more familiar.  It's one of the simple but
unusual thing on these vans.
Have fun.
Zoltan

----- Original Message -----
From: "David M" <covrambles@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 4:21 PM
Subject: How to get that (bleep) spare tire out (continued)

> Finally got time to wrestle (very apt word) with this problem. After
> liberat applications of bolt-buster and wrist-crunching hammer blows and
> 1/2 hour of back twisting contortions with a lug nut tool of unknown
> source (not VW but a perfect fit), I got the bolt off. Bolt says DERA 88
> on the head if that means anything. I breathed a sign of relief and
> visions of bikini-clad babes on a tropical beach wafted before me. Then I
> pulled the plastic pull-tab thingie to release the mechanism and... snap.
> This pathetic piece of inadequate German engineering snapped in two. What
> a sorry excuse for a mechanism this is!. Now I am in need of even more
> urgent help as to how to release the spare tire. I now dare not even risk
> driving the van to a tire shop. I'm hoping there is some arcane trick to
> operating the release. H-E-L-P!
>