So COPICH@calvin.cc.duq.edu says:
> Vanagon owners!
> 	I'm relatively new in the vanagon scene but I've noticed
> with many of the vanagons that the ...I'm not sure what they are
> called...maybe support struts that hold up the back hatch have
> been under designed.  They must go bad after about 7 years.
> It was interesting to see the creative ways of proping   ping up that
> deADLY hatch.  I'm currently using a tomato stake.  Anyway
> is there or has there been anything designed to replace
> these wimpy struts?  

Well... as an alternative to the deluxe stick in the hatch routine, here's
an exerpt from a previous posting about a place that had those shocks on
sale:

> On Thu, 6 Jul 1995, Joel Walker wrote:
> 
> > "Hatch shocks for Rabbit, Scirocco, Golf, VANAGON, Audi, as low as 
> $25.00" > 
> > Marin Motorsports     (415) 927-7090
> > 63 Industrial Way
> > Greenbrae, CA 94904
   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is the place they're talkin' about.

> > 
> > 
> > anybody out there want to call and see whether this is just hype??
> 
> They gave me a price quote of $29 each for the Vanagon.
> 
> Mike <mjcatlin@wheel.dcn.davis.ca.us>

Steven 

sjohnson@pcocd2.intel.com