There is a smartphone app called Row52 I use to check the inventory in local Columbus, OH Pick 'n' Pulls.  You might see if your local yards are associated with them.  The app has an alert feature that notifies you if a certain vehicle is available.  My experience with Vanagons is that they are often "misfiled" with American vans and trucks.  I look down those rows too when I'm in a boneyard.  

Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sat, Mar 8, 2014 9:17 am
Subject: Re: [VANAGON] [WetWesties] i went to alaska and for got my bus - no not really - but somebody did

Dave,
  You didn't mention your location, but I seem to recall it's OK.  If so,
be aware that there LKQ self-serve yards in OK City and Tulsa.
LKQ is a nation wide chain that seems to be trying to become a monopoly by
buying up yards everywhere.  They gobbled up at least 3 of them in Chicago
when I lived there and have now taken over at least 3 in W MI where I live
now.  My Dad helped one of those yards  get started back in the early 50's.
  The LKQ yards in W MI have an on-line listing of their "recently added"
vehicles.  I don't see any such feature for the OK City yard.
Probably $2 admission.  Pretty small chance of finding a Vanagon.

Larry A.

On Fri, Mar 7, 2014 at 2:56 PM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:

> So far as I have been able to learn, all the salvage yards here operate
> just like any parts vendor.  Go to a counter, tell them what you want, and
> if they have it, they bring it to the counter.  They break everything down
> to the degree they want to, sell those parts, which are in inventory, and
> then junk the rest -- to the crusher.  No pick and pull exists, so far as I
> know, in this area.  There is a place called Bethany Imports that used to
> have vehicles to pick over, but they've never had a Vanagon since I've had
> one, to my knowledge.
>
> mcneely
>
> > __,_._,___
>
> --
> David McNeely
>