At 03:13 PM 03/08/98 EDT, Joe wrote:
>hello,
>
>i'm looking to install curtains in my 86 vanagon gl. i have to completely
>install them, does anyone have any suggestions as to where to buy them or how
>much i should spend?>
>
>joe
>
>
Here is the cheapest and easiest new curtain assembly for Vanagons: 
buy enough material (heavy if you want to avoid see though for others at
night) for all windows including seams.

Front and front door windows:
attach with velcro, use the adhesive type on the rubber of the front window
and around the window frame on the side doors. You only need three short
strips of about 10cms (4") on the front window, and even shorter strips 5cms
(2") on the side doors. Sew velcro at appropriate locations on the material
you chose. Note that the doors have a slant, but you can leave the curtain
in rectangular format, just move the velcro piece in a bit.

rear windows including sliding door:
use the white expandable curtain wires. I don't know what their proper
technical name is. They are basically a spiralled wire in a plastic tube,
which makes the expandable. You can cut to lenght, attach a little hook
(which srews right into the end) with a sheet small sheet metal screw above
and below the window. Drill the wholes for the screws a little wider than
the actual window so that you can close the curtain completely.
Your curtain can be attched by either pulling the curtain wire through the
seems or by sewing little cloth hooks onto the back side of the curtain.

Other solution: raid a wrecked vanagon and spend some time washing, cleaning
and thinking "how was that attached again".

That's it.

Bj�rn Ratjen

Mill Bay, B.C. 

1987 Syncro Est Alia (self camperized)
1995 Passat TD
(1982 Vanagon Diesel)
1979 VW Bus (self- camperized)