The vans that had alloy wheels fitted from the factory have the
clamshell that takes the 205/70 R14 tire ..
which was on some vans with alloy wheels, or maybe all of them.

I know for sure by 1987 it could have the clamshell that has a 'drop'
built into where the bolt at the front goes.
I think the wire bars for the top of the tire are all the same.

what I don't like about the aftermarket spare tires I've seen pics of is ..
no sidewall protection for the spare tire. I think VW was very smart to
make it like they did ...
protects the tire very well ...like from rocks or whatever ...
has drain holes in it like any good skid plate..etc.

On 3/12/2014 12:37 PM, mark drillock wrote:
> I have the VanCafe spare carrier holding the spares up on 3 of my vans.
> I don't know how it could be much easier.
>
> The rad fan can't hit the spare no matter what you do.
>
> Mark
>
>
> Eric Caron wrote:
>> Exactly,
>>
>>          There is a fan and all kinds of moving parts near by. I
>> don't want anything getting loose and going where it doesn't belong.
>> I also want the tire safe.  It would be very bad to have it come out
>> during a trip or do damage while bouncing around.
>>
>> This is going to take some thought and work I think.  Dennis seems to
>> have the safest solution.
>>
>> though, if someone can tell me which year van would have the correct
>> clamshell and bars I could start calling around to see if I can find
>> a miracle.
>> Apparently this is not the easy bolt in solution I thought it was.
>>
>> Eric Caron
>> 85 GL Auto Westfalia
>> On Mar 12, 2014, at 2:22 PM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET> wrote:
>>
>