Here's a solution that does not require replacing the struts at all:

Get a piece of 3/4" PVC conduit.  With the hatch open and held by a helper,
measure the distance between the point where the hatch strut attaches to
the bus and the opening in the housing where the metal rod goes into the
strut housing.  Subtract about 1/4 to 1/2 inch, measure the PVC conduit to
that length, and cut with a hacksaw.  Pop the circlip that holds the
hatchstrut to the bus, slide the cut PVC piece over the metal strut rod,
and reattach the rod and circlip.  When you open the hatch the PVC falls
into place to take the weight of the hatch.  To close, lift the hatch a bit
and slid the PVC up over the strut body and let the hatch fall.  Not
factory, but it works.

Alan Bosch
& Phred ('88 Wolfsburg) - with a hatch erectile support :o)
Rochester, NY

Keith Adams <keith_adams@TRANSCANADA.COM>@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> on 02/14/2000
04:43:58 PM

Please respond to Keith Adams <keith_adams@TRANSCANADA.COM>

Sent by:  Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>

To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
cc:
Subject:  Hatch Struts

Once again, I got overwhelmed by info from the archives (BTW, can you do
compound searches?), so a quickie...

What are the best replacement hatch struts, without breaking the bank?
Are the ones from the FLAPS good enough?

Chers!
Keith in his 86 Westy WBX