Exterior Gas strut force rating.

[Herbertclan]

Hi all,

I,m thinking I need to replace my struts on the poptop. Has never been easy to lift but never took the time to pop a strut off and check it out. Anywho, ripped one off today and looking at the info on the strut it looks to be a 500n unit (50kg) (820ish mm long x 22mm x 10mm ), it wasn't knackered nor did it feel like 50kg. Our van has a single solar panel, Sparrow roof top ac and a wind up snow flake antenna.

My reasoning for the required replacement is as follows, when the roof is up the over center jobbies at the front and rear need the little clip in place to stop the roof falling down. Not the roof doesn't fall far but my thoughts are it shouldn't fall at all (please correct me if I'm wrong here?)

Now to the point, does anyone actually know what force struts I should be running as I know the solar was not ex factory and find it unlikely that the dealer would of changed the struts. I would like it to be easier to lift as my wife has no hope in lifting the roof in its current state but don't want the roof trying to pop up against the latches either.

Not really interested in air lifts ect ect.

Cheers Max,

 

[G Daddy]

I replaced my old ones, after 1 started leaking. Old measured 40 kgs and leaking one 20kgs, new ones measured 54kgs. Made lifting a lot easier.




ORDER TOTAL
AU $77.30
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Order Gas Struts Pair 830mm long x 500N Caravan Camper Trailer Tradesmen Tool Boxes View similar items - ORDER DATE 10 Feb, 2015View seller's other items - ORDER DATE 10 Feb, 2015
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Gas Struts Pair 830mm long x 500N Caravan Camper Trailer Tradesmen Tool Boxes
( 191440102541 )
Quantity: 2

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[bigcol]

just went and had a look at mine out the back

I need new glasses, as I cannot read the writing on the damn thing -
mind you, I couldn't get closer than 3 feet away, so that may have something to do with it

but

at nearly 4 years old, there is a lot of surface rust on it........... not good

 

[Herbertclan]

I replaced my old ones, after 1 started leaking. Old measured 40 kgs and leaking one 20kgs, new ones measured 54kgs. Made lifting a lot easier.





ORDER TOTAL
AU $77.30
See description
Order Gas Struts Pair 830mm long x 500N Caravan Camper Trailer Tradesmen Tool Boxes View similar items - ORDER DATE 10 Feb, 2015View seller's other items - ORDER DATE 10 Feb, 2015
More actions - ORDER DATE 10 Feb, 2015
1 item sold by wgit*sales

Gas Struts Pair 830mm long x 500N Caravan Camper Trailer Tradesmen Tool Boxes
( 191440102541 )
Quantity: 2

Add note
ITEM PRICE:

Thanks @G Daddy

Will get looking for some new ones I think, do you have similar weight on your roof??

Cheers Max.

 

[G Daddy]

No, I have no roof top ac or solar panels. When I push the rear up the front nearly popes up by itself.

 

[bigcol]

I was wanting to read mine, as I have the Truma & Solar panels on the roof

 

[mikerezny]

Hi,

is it not possible or economical to have gas struts re-gassed?

cheers
Mike

 

[G Daddy]

In Toowoomba it's $40.00 each strut to get re-gassed, I bought 4 new ones for $77.30 delivered with 12 months warranty

 

[mikerezny]

In Toowoomba it's $40.00 each strut to get re-gassed, I bought 4 new ones for $77.30 delivered with 12 months warranty

Hi @G Daddy,
I misread the invoice you posted earlier in the thread, thinking you paid $77.30 for just one pair of struts.

cheers
Mike

 

[Herbertclan]

No, I have no roof top ac or solar panels. When I push the rear up the front nearly popes up by itself.

Cheers @G Daddy , exactly what I was looking for. I will work on something a little higher than 500n, the local guy can increase the charge on a strut once for free so I might start at 600n and try that, if that isn't enough I will take a punt on the next pressure.

Cheers Max.

 

[chartrock]

Don't forget that by making it easier to lift, it gets harder to pull down. We had struts changed on a previous van and my wife had trouble pulling the roof down, and it was not a solo job as I could pull one end down but as I walked to the other end of the van to pull it down the first end went back up. I had to pull one end down then my wife held it down while I went to the other end and pulled that down.

No big deal but something to be aware of.

 

[Dobbie]

That's a great mental image @chartrock .....a bit like kiddies on a seesaw.

reggers:reggers::tea:

Our new van has a sign on the pop top.....open the end closer to the door first .....as they suggest that reduces the vacuum effect when the pop top lifts....and close that end last.

I'd never seen that sign before so just throwing it out in case it helps anyone. The pop top is certainly heavier than we've been used to ....aircon weight....but two people can do it in a weightlifters stance with relative ease.

:minion_big:

 

[Drover]

For many years I have bought gas struts from The Gas Strut Guys, found them to be very helpful and with good gear, you can email them and get a reply with a decent answer also......http://www.gasstrutguys.com.au/ they have an Ebay store as well.

With the door or window open push up roof, then your not fighting a vacuum, with the roof up, a bit of silicon spray wiped over the shaft of the strut every so often will keep the shaft clean of any build up which in turn can slow it's movement and chew out seals.........to replace a strut use a small tie down strap to compress then pop it on the knuckle joints, give your self a hernia if you try to compress it yourself.......
http://expandasdownunder.com/threads/roof-strut-refit.7473/

 

[Herbertclan]

Don't forget that by making it easier to lift, it gets harder to pull down. We had struts changed on a previous van and my wife had trouble pulling the roof down, and it was not a solo job as I could pull one end down but as I walked to the other end of the van to pull it down the first end went back up. I had to pull one end down then my wife held it down while I went to the other end and pulled that down.

No big deal but something to be aware of.

Thanks @chartrock

Something I hadn't taken into account but was very mindful of having a strut that is too strong and pulling on the latches when in the lowered/transport position.

I will buy local as I know I can start with lower pressure/force and increase it if required.

Cheers Max,