I got two of the strong struts from BD and use a Saris Bones hatch-mount 3-bike rack.� I remove the bikes for ease of access and the hatch stays up easily without the bikes.� Have not tried with.� Guess I need to test that this weekend.� My concern is that with the hatch lifted and the bikes in place the bikes would swing to a more paint-damaging position.� Probably not an issue with a tray-type rack like the Fiamma or Paulchen that holds the bikes rigidly in position.
�
Stephen

--- On Fri, 4/10/09, The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM> wrote:

From: The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject: Re: rear hatch struts
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Friday, April 10, 2009, 4:32 PM

> I'm glad this topic came up. Does anybody
> have a substantial weight on the hatch, AND
> struts strong enough to hold it up?

I have had customers tell me that the with two of the stronger right-hand
struts the hatch will stay up with a Fiamma bike rack (but no bikes)
attached, whereas with the one-strong-strut / one-weak-strut setup it won't.
I wouldn't call this "substantial" weight, but the rack is moderately heavy.
I don't think you'd want to go much higher-pressure than that, or it would
be very hard to close the hatch under normal (no-added-weight)
circumstances.

- Ron Salmon
� The Bus Depot, Inc.
� www.busdepot.com
� (215)� 234-VWVW

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