In my Carat, the swing-out table latch was stuck closed when we bought it used. The dealer replaced the latch, and after a while it also became stuck closed.

To fix this, I removed the latch and attached a magnet from a hard drive to the wall of the van, and a metal plate to the underside of the table. Now it closes securely and without rattles, and is not too difficult to open by pulling outward on it.

Hard drive magnets are very strong neodymium, in most cases. I've collected quite a few, and find new uses for them all the time.
Better hurry up and salvage all these magnets you want from old hard drives (also renders the old drive unreadable if you trash the platters while salvaging).  The newer SSD (solid state drives) do not have magnets in them, and are replacing hard drives in most new equipment.

Ron Antaki

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Eric Caron
Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2017 19:28
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Magnets and Vanagons

Hi folks,

        For some time I had a battle with a led light I wanted mounted over the bed over the engine compartment.  I don’t like drilling wholes when I can avoid it so I used velcro.  the light was handy for folks seeing the back  area at night or for night view of the engine compartment.  The velcro adhesive refused to stay connected to the roof.

        Today I took a strong magnet a 1.5 inch disk.  I placed it in the upper storage area above where I wanted the light to be mounded.  I attached a magnet to the led light and perfect, it stuck firmly to  the ceiling and no drilling or adhesive needed. I can even easily remove the light  use it somewhere else and then it snaps back in place like magic.  I duct taped the upper magnet in place. 

Any other creative vanagon magnet ideas out there?

Eric Caron 
85 GL Auto 
P. S. 
I may not be able to see but I make sure those camping with me can!