Update: vanagon mailing list guesses include prop to keep loose vent window open and holding notes to metal dash. Good guesses and would work, but not the primary intent.
Good friend Stephen gave me this idea. Handy bit of wood with magnet on one end. It’s 1 1/2″ long, 3/4″ diameter. It could be another 3/4″ longer but works fine as is. Extra points if you can guess the wood (I’m looking at you, oldfussbudget). Wood hint, it’s never going to rot.
Oh and yes, can have more than one use, with that magnet and all.
Ok, the anticlimax, the reveal. It’s used to prop open the license plate hatch when checking fluids. Yeah I know you can use the oil fill cap, but I think this is better 🙂
If you want you can store it stick to the hatch. Or maybe better idea is to use it to hold down notes on the dash.
shooftie 
#1 by oldfussbudget on July 5, 2017 - 10:39 am
Does it sink in water? Minus the magnet, of course.
No clue on purpose other than a magnet with a handle is a handy thing to have around.
#2 by albell on July 5, 2017 - 11:51 am
Yes, the wood sinks. I know you have it, yes lignum vitae. Got a few scraps.
And yes, it’s handy to have a magnet on holder to pick up stuff, dropped screws in dirt etc.
But that’s not the main use. You’ll groan when you find out 🙂
Ab
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#3 by edbee on July 5, 2017 - 1:58 pm
hmmm, think some sort of hint may be required (at least for my mind to have a chance)
#4 by albell on July 5, 2017 - 2:17 pm
Ok Ed,
If you have three hands you don’t need it.
🙂
Ab
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#5 by oldfussbudget on July 5, 2017 - 2:06 pm
Bender Rodriquez’s prosthetic nipple?
#6 by albell on July 5, 2017 - 2:23 pm
His third one?
Ab
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#7 by oldfussbudget on July 5, 2017 - 2:38 pm
In my scenario he had an accident.
#8 by oldfussbudget on July 5, 2017 - 2:07 pm
Self-adhering “new course” generator for steering compass?
#9 by albell on July 5, 2017 - 2:24 pm
Man I wish you had said it was to correct the magnetic compass I don’t have on the dash 🙂
Ab
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#10 by oldfussbudget on July 5, 2017 - 2:41 pm
I have a nice ?Ritchie? bracket-mounted 3″ steering compass I could send you if you promise to mount it. It would dominate the dash. Has a hole in the side for red lighting but you’ll have to make your own light socket.
#11 by albell on July 5, 2017 - 4:32 pm
I might be approaching that level of eccentricity to have such a compass on the dash, but I’m not there yet 🙂
But thanks for the offer. I wish I had a wee boat to put it in.
Ab
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#12 by oldfussbudget on July 5, 2017 - 4:42 pm
Long ago Radio Shack made a sweet little flux-gate compass with a vertical rotating card. I had it in the Westy and loved it. Far superior to the current crop of cheap LCD flux-gate compasses IMO. Zemco DE-700 appears identical except for face markings.
#13 by albell on July 5, 2017 - 4:59 pm
I had one of the cheap one in the van. Something broke after a few years. I kinda liked it, had time, indoor outdoor temp and compass. But now with gps….
Ab
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#14 by oldfussbudget on July 5, 2017 - 2:09 pm
^^Refers to a Yachting Magazine ad from the steel beer can days, “Chart a new course with Michelob”. Yep, six inches from that lovely Constellation compass.
#15 by albell on July 5, 2017 - 2:28 pm
Good one 🙂
Ab
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#16 by edbee on July 22, 2017 - 7:35 pm
never would have guessed that one…
#17 by albell on July 22, 2017 - 9:12 pm
Sure is a trivial gizmo though, ain’t it?
Ab
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