After removing all the winter extras from inside my 84 inline 4 gas powered
van, my mileage jumped from about 23 up to ~25 again.  I took out about
600lbs of tools, water and spare travel parts.  So, if you are using your
vanagon as a shed, maybe you ought to clean out some of the heavier items to
enhance your gas mileage.
  Don Hanson

 Pretty "Peppy" feeling now, too, without that excess weight and down at sea
level again..