on the other hand ...
I always order 'medium ones' ..
and do all right.
I've never seen one get damaged easily,
although I'm sure a fualty new one is possible, and of the last 70 of
them I bought, they were all good.

for sure, extra low temperatures make them weak.

I think I would investigate where the poster actually has the strongest
ones ..
tell them you have a rear wiper blade system .

I find that 'too strong' ones make it hard to close the hatch.

you could also do this ..
there's the old 'strut in a tube' trick.
You find a metal tube ...just big enough to fit over the fat part of the
strut.

you cut it to length so that it can be captured between one end of the
strut and the end of the fat part ..
if you have the type of strut where the fat part is one the door ( and
not the body ) end ..
the tube will just drop into place, when you raise the hatch, holding
the hatch up.

you do need to remember to  reach up and disengage it, before you pull
down hard on the hatch ..
but this method works just great.

Scott
On 12/24/2015 4:54 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> The gas struts being new doesn’t always mean they are good. These are also very easy to damage. Just takes on pull on the strut itself let some of the gas out, Extreme temperatures can also mess them up. I miss the days of real torsion or tension springs being used to hold up hoods, trunk lids, and hatches. I know so many people injured by walking into sink hatches that I think all of them should be recalled.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Dan N
> Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2015 9:36 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: vanagon rear hatch
>
> yes... according to Van Cafe I have 2 strong ones... but I am talking about opening the hatch. I don't feel it's hard to close it.
>
> thanks
>