Date:         Mon, 11 Jan 1999 10:39:51 -0500
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
Subject:      Re: camper tops
In-Reply-To:  <3.0.5.32.19990111085342.01112160@po-2.openmarket.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

>> I have had this problem since I changed the seal on the luggage rack. It
>>can make a big racket up there if the wind catches it just right. Mine
>>usually shows up going into a stiff head wind at interstate speed and then
>>passing a truck just as I am over taking the cab.

>Ron (of Bus Depot), do you have any ideas???



Yes.

The original VW luggage rack seal was more cosmetic than functional, and
shaped sort of like a lower-case u.  Its purpose was not to actually seal
the luggage rack (by design the seal is supposed to allow rainwater or
melting snow is to drain out from under it into the rain gutter), but more
to match the poptop seal cosmetically.  However, it did have a very small
"tail" on one side of the "U" which may have aided in wind noise reduction,
particularly as the van aged and the luggage rack did not sit as snugly as
when new.

The aftermarket seals are not made that way.  (You can get the "correct"
seal from VW for about $200, versus under $20 for an aftermarket one; it is
original in every way, including its tendancy to rust out.)  Many
aftermarket luggage rack seals use a large insulation bulb, because they are
merely a shorter length of a seal actually designed for use on the poptop
itself.  This seal looks sort of like "Uo", with the "o" attached to the
wall of the "U".  Others lack the bulb and look basically like an upper-case
"U".  I have some concern about the former, with the large insulation bulb,
as it is the farthest from Volkswagen spec and may interfere with rain
drainage, allowing water to sit in the roof area longer than intended.  So
by default I ship the latter version (for $14.95), which is closest to the
stock design, although I do carry the other version as well (for $19.95).

For the most part, this seal seems to work very well, and eliminates any
risk of water drainage problems.  However, to date I have had less than a
dozen complaints of wind noise using this version.  (By comparison I sell
almost this many luggage rack seals each and every week, so this many
complaints in total is a miniscule percentage of people who are using this
seal.)  Apparantly this occurs because that particular luggage rack is not
sitting as snugly against the roof as it could, and the little "tail" on the
factory seal was helping to compensate for this. I am convinced that this is
due to the luggage rack slightly loosening or lifting over time, as if it
were supposed to be that way, 100% of the seals would be causing a slight
wind noise, not less than 1/2 of 1 percent.

There are three "fixes" for this.  One is to position the seal just slightly
lower (just push it down a fraction of an inch), or even slightly higher in
a few cases, either of which may eliminate minor wind noise.  Second is to
put a bit of weight on the luggage rack (to  reposition it slightly lower)
and retighten it.  The third is to replace the seal with the version with
the insulation bulb.  This bulb is considerably larger than the stock "lip"
(hence my drainage concern) and will certainly seal the luggage rack from
wind.

Anybody who buys their seal from me and has this problem, and would like to
exchange for a "bulbed" seal may do so at no charge. You can also order the
"bulbed" seal in the first place for $19.95 (versus $14.95 for the standard
one) if you prefer.  If you are already using a bulbed seal and still having
wind noise, you must readjust your rack as this seal already has much more
rubber between the luggage rack and roof than Volkswagen intended, and if it
is still not enough the rack must be very loose indeed.

Please note that I am referring only to the luggage rack seal here.  The
poptop seal (which I sell for $49.95) does use an insulation bulb in every
case, as it is intended to shield from both wind and rain. My poptop seal is
actually closer to the original VW seal in all respects (height, finish, and
position of the bulb) than **any** other aftermarket seal regardless of
price, and (like the luggage rack seals) uses imbedded aluminum clips so it
won't rust like the stock one did.  Also, my flat seal for across the top of
the poptop ($24.95) is the correct seal for that application, not just
another strip of poptop seal which is what many erroneously sell for this
application.  List members get $10 off the whole 3-piece set, but MUST
request this discount in the "comments" section of the website order form
(or when calling or e-mailing) in order to receive the discount.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot
  http://www.busdepot.com