I recently engaged in same conversation on FB Vanagon group because I thought so too. I’m not so sure now because there does not seem to be a lot of structure behind the spare.  After 21 years of Vanagon ownership put me in the “plausible” club. 

Chris. 
Wysłane z iPhone'a

> Wiadomość napisana przez Rob <vwrobb@gmail.com> w dniu 4/1/21, o godz. 18:05:
> 
> The vanagon spare tire laying flat right up front like that is there to
> absorb energy when you run into something.
> 
> Rob
> Vwrobb@gmail.com