The tire placement also has to do with the vehicles near 50/50 weight distribution. 

Karl Wolz
Sent from my electronic umbilicus

> On Apr 9, 2015, at 3:13 PM, Jeff Schwaia <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> FYI... the spare tire is part of the crash protection design of the Vanagon.
> 
> We usually put a rear swing away tire carrier on the Westies we refurb, but we always leave a stock spare in the clamshell.
> 
> Cheers, 
> 
> Jeff
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Ralph Meyermann
> Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2015 2:25 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Need a shower? Got tools?
> 
> I am kicking around the idea of using my modified clam shell for tool storage, thinking my 215/75/15 bfg all terrain may be restricting air flow through radiator. Thinking on how to  build my own swing away spare tire carrier.
>> On Apr 9, 2015 12:05 AM, "Alistair Bell" <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>> 
>> Geneva,
>> 
>> Thanks for posting those two blog articles. Pretty darn interesting.
>> 
>> Cheers
>> 
>> Alistairs
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On Apr 8, 2015, at 10:46 AM, Geneva Saint-Amour <
>> genevasaintamour@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi there-I recently did a couple of blog posts that might interest 
>>> other
>> list members.  One is about a portable, hot water unit.  I 
>> photographed and described how we use it for an outdoor shower on the 
>> van.  Here is a link to that story.
>>> http://slowcarfasthouse.com/2015/03/20/hot-water-to-go/
>>> I also wrote up a bit of info about the tool box, front skid plate,
>> spare tire modification that we made.  There are some photos here too.
>>> 
>> http://slowcarfasthouse.com/2015/04/06/front-tool-boxes-for-storage-an
>> d-safety/
>>> 
>>> ? ? ? PEACE ? ? ?Geneva Saint-Amourwww.slowcarfasthouse.com
>>> 
>>