On Apr 18, 2012, at 10:53 AM, Loren Busch wrote:

>> When my struts were getting weak I thought about that fix, it has
>> been done in PVC. Then someone mentioned 'forgetting' the lock was
>> installed and bending something trying to close the hatch.
>>
>
> That thought crossed my mind when I installed the PVC but over the years it
> hasn't been a problem for me or for anyone working on my Vanagon.  You
> would have to really put some weight on the hatch to bend anything.

That context/result is impossible for me to imagine, based on experience.

I have a bike rack/gas can, bike on the rack, and prop the hatch up
often when I'm out on the road, and have never had any problems
with anything breaking/bending/etc. I do have a mechanic's strut
clamp as a back up, that I place on the other strut sometimes, just
to be sure I don't get clobbered by a falling hatch, which has not
happened.

bob