I spent an hour or so "adjusting" my pan.  Jacked up the center with a block
holding it open to re-shape it, bent the tab down, etc. and got another
1/8th inch of grab, and then couldn't get the bolt in since it no longer
lined up with the hole!  Several whacks with a 5 pound hammer (one of my
most useful tools) and some filing and I got it to fit.  The pan tab flexes
quite a bit with the tire loaded and pulls back a bit, but I think this will
work now when I'm on my back on the side of the road . . .

Thanks for the tip!

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Haynes [mailto:d23haynes57@hotmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2012 11:00 PM
To: 'Stuart MacMillan'; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: RE: Spare tire doesn't latch

I have been guilty of lowering a van on the lift with the tire carrier
hanging down. What a pain to bent it back up and out to get that tab to
reach. At some time that is likey why yours no longer reaches. It did at one
time.

Dennis