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Subject:Re: Can't find the jack
From:Scott Daniel - Turbovans
Date:Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:44:37 -0700

Hi.
I would not recommend that type of jack for a vanagon.

the stock vanagon vertical screw type jack is very good, if not excellent,
as car jacks go.

I am short on them myself, but I know where I can get perfect ones, with
even the original white plastic bag.
people often hide them under the front passenger's seat - not a good spot
for one really .
( under the rear seat is the safest and best place in terms of weight
distribution in the van. )

and I see people put them on the rear shelf that's 'up there' when you open
the rear hatch in a Westy.
anything like that's a little heavy ........you want it low in the van, to
help keep center of gravity down, which helps handling.

you also want something better than the stock lug wrench.
they're 'all right' if you are careful with them.
Many people don't know that while you are applying a twisting force, you
also need to counteract a tilting force..
when people wrank hard on the stock lug wrench, and allow a tiliting force,
it just splits the lug wrench in the hex area where it goes over the wheel
nut or bolt.

and you want some sort of cheapter pipe or bar to use with it. It's too
short to get a lot of lug bolts or nuts off by itself.
Or a nice solid generic one. The nut or bolt size is 3/4 inch,  ( 19mm )

and ....I hope you have checked your spare tire.
It's too common to find them 20 years old, never used, and flat.
I have yet to hear of a tire shop selling a vanagon person a set of 4 tires
and even thinking about the spare tire...lots of sales lost there.
 ( and be careful with tire stores, many don't know that vanagons take Light
Truck or reinforced tires. Vanagon defeitely do not like "P" passenger car
tires.

what fun !
Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Susie Ingham" <dingham605@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2011 1:52 PM
Subject: Can't find the jack

Hi All-

 Is the jack for the vanagon  normally under the rear seat ? ( 84 Westy) if
so, ours is MIA.
 Do you recommend the  OEM or this scissor type?

http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=237011031

thanks!

Ps We did change the oil and took  our van out for a good drive today-- no
issues-- plus  turned over to 309,000 miles!

Susie