Since removing the rear AC unit in my 90 GL some years ago, I chose to
install a 4 or 5' long piece of 1" square aluminum tubing to mount on
top of the exposed metal brackets left up there.  I was thinking that it
would be helpful in pulling my lazy hiney up from a good night's sleep
on the Z bed, but rarely used it for that.  Then I thought it would make
a great clothesline for drying out funky paddling gear after a long day
on the river.  Did that maybe three times.  Then last week the real
brainstorm kicked in.  I had the Vanagon loaded to the gills with flea
market tables and such and needed to access the engine compartment to
add some oil(no license plate access for this Vanagon) and didn't wanna
unload all that crap for  the oil fill.  Slid a 5' long oak 1x4" under
the base layer of plywood and on top of the rear mattress and then slid
cam straps under the ends of the 1x4 and looped them up over the
aluminum bar as close to the steel anchors as possible.  Pulled hard on
the cam straps and got the whole mess up high enough to wiggle the
mattress out and then raise the load even higher.  that allowed me to
get the hatch open and fill the crankcase with oil and then do the
reverse order and got back to normal.  I think i otok a photo of it in
action somewhere on dropbox......being lazy sometimes is more like being
ingenious.

DM&FS