Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
Subject:Re: Magnets on tail light assembly
From:Alistair Bell
Date:Sun, 23 Feb 2020 21:04:43 -0800

I think there might be enough wire length for the hinge to be on the inboard side. Not sure. Will have to check before going further.

Ab

> On Feb 23, 2020, at 6:12 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Nice,
> 
> Off to a good start.  Did you feel like there was plenty of wire for the light to open? 
> 
> I do love the idea of a hinge on the license plate side and magnet  or friction latch on the outside.  But the low profile makes it a challenge. 
> Actually the hinge depends on where the wire is and I don’t have my van here to reference.
> 
> If the hardware brings it out a bit   then you would want to do both lights so it matches.
> 
> Looking forward to the next possible solution! 
> 
> Eric 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> On Feb 23, 2020, at 8:03 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>> 
>> Clarification, the magnets do hold the assembly to the van, I doubt it would drop off. Just not secure enough for my liking.
>> 
>> I think magnets still have a role, maybe as the “latch” to Eric’s original idea of a hinge mechanism 
>> 
>>>> On Feb 23, 2020, at 4:59 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Decided to try the super easy thing first. Magnets.
>>> 
>>> They hold the assembly to the van, but not a good enough sideways locator, nor , I think strong enough to hold overall.
>>> 
>>> I did try screwing in a couple of the stock screws, backwards, facing out, as locators. But that made placing the light assembly onto the van too fiddly.
>>> 
>>> Private blog post showing pics of magnets etc here
>>> http://shufti.blog/2020/02/23/private-magnets-on-tail-light/
>