Chris,

The length of the PVC piece for this fix is 8 3/16" and 3/4" pipe is the
right size.  Karl Bloss, a former list member, had a file on his now
defunct web page about how to use just one piece of PVC to hold the
hatch up if your struts were bad.  I use this fix on my older vans.

I have this as an Adobe pdf file and have distributed it in the past.

I would like to see a picture of your setup that shows what you are
talking about with the velcro.  That isn't clear to me.  You say to use
it so the pipe won't fall into place, but then you say you want the pipe
to fall into place.  I realize you are using two of them not one,
although I am not sure why you would need two with new heavy duty
struts.  Maybe the bikes are heavier than I realize.  I haven't ever
tried to use the PVC to hold up the hatch with bikes on a rack.

I will send the file to anyone who asks by midnight end of Labor Day.

Sam

--
Sam Walters
Baltimore, MD

89 Syncro GL
85 Westy Weekender
84 Vanagon, original owner, soon to be retired, just too many problems

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