For several years I used a piece of copper pipe on one of my '84's
struts.  It was thin enough, did the job, and didn't rattle with the
hatch shut.

The only problem was with "Others" trying to shut the hatch for me.
There were too many instances of someone tugging against the brace so I
decided to spring for new struts.  I got two "Heavy duty" units and
haven't had any problems since.  Short light weight people might have
issues, though.

Mike

mad madeline wrote:
> I tried the idea but found the PVC actually pooched the door out ever so slightly because thePVC OD was ever so slightly too large.  I didn't think was a great idea so I removed.  I'm going to see if there are slight differences in the OD of white vs. gray PVC.  I had gray electrical PVC.
>
> AAG - Larry Word <word_aag@COMCAST.NET> wrote:  I cannot locate the Vanagon.com article about using PVC tube to slide into place to hold up my hatchback>
>
> Ideas...better idea.....that article
>
> Larry
> Georgia