Thanks James!  Am wondering if s price of 3/4" metal conduit will fit for you?...

Great info and thanks for sharing. 

The salesman hasn't gotten back to e yet in regards to the adjustable ones yet. 

Roman

Sent from someone's plumbing

> On Apr 10, 2017, at 02:02, James Vogl <jamesvogl@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> Glad it was helpful, Allistair. My guess is that there's a higher force
> option out there, and I know there are some fully-custom and reduceable
> force set-ups available, but at under 30 bucks each, these turned out to be
> a nice option at a really good price.
> 
> To clarify on the connector ends:
> 
> The ones I bought come standard with steel 10mm ball cups at BOTH ends.
> (these are different than the nylon sockets/clips on the stock struts, but
> they are compatible and recommended/required on 200lb+force struts).
> Anyway, since, this cup/socket works with the ball on the hatch side, you
> just have to have them change out the other end to fit over the "van"
> side's clevis/pin connection. So, I was instructed to state in the comments
> section at checkout: "Please customize: Eyelet Hole=8mm for the shaft", and
> voila. Lou also suggested that I shoot him an email about the customization
> after the order, just to be sure. (just use the contact link on the website)
> 
> Again, here's the struts I bought
> https://www.liftsupportsdepot.com/lift-supports-depot-st200m1-250-gas-charged-lift-support-strut61083w/
> 
> If you do a search on that site for STOCK Vanagon struts, you will see the
> specs for the stock struts and you can compare.
> https://www.liftsupportsdepot.com/shopby/1986/volkswagen/vanagon/campmobile-van-camper-3door/
> 
> Hope this helps. Let me know if I can answer any other questions.
> 
> James V
> 86 Syncro Westy
> 
>> On Sun, Apr 9, 2017 at 10:00 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>> 
>> This is great info james, thanks very much for posting.
>> 
>> Just to be clear, when ordering you specify the ball and clevis end set up?
>> 
>> Cheers
>> 
>> Alistair
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Apr 9, 2017, at 9:44 PM, James Vogl <jamesvogl@gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I just installed a set of 250lb force struts from LiftSupportsDepot. Lou
>> seems to be the owner and is fairly responsive via email. 250lbs seems to
>> be about the max force they carry that will fit the Vanagon. (but perhaps
>> he can get you something custom). The higher pressure factory strut I
>> believe to be 140lbs. The heavy duty struts from GoWesty are 150lbs. Here's
>> what I bought:
>> 
>> Part #: ST200M1-250
>> Force: 250lbs
>> Extended length: 20"
>> Compressed length: 12"
>> Body connector: 10mm ball socket cup
>> Shaft connector: 8mm eyelet hole
>> Total cost: $60 w/ CA tax, free shipping
>> 
>> These are nice beefy struts, with larger diameter body/shaft. They come
>> standard w/ steel ball/socket ends on both sides, which are different than
>> factory, but work fine for the ball side. You have to specify an eyelet for
>> the shaft side (no extra charge).
>> 
>> So, these *just* support my loaded (more on that below) hatch in the fully
>> open position. It takes just a small amount of pressure to pull the hatch
>> down from there, and it will not stay open at any in-between position.
>> Overall, though, I'm super pleased. I can actually open the hatch now with
>> all my crap on it, whereas before I had to remove everything!
>> 
>> Still, I'd be nervous bent over the engine, so I'm thinking I'll use some
>> sort of slip-over safety stop, like the tube-over-the-strut method. (These
>> struts are larger in diameter, though, so the 3/4" PVC I was using on the
>> stock struts won't fit. And a larger 1" PVC has too large an O.D. to fit in
>> the channel when closed.) I was thinking a thinner-walled metal tube
>> instead. Or...?
>> 
>> With everything removed from the rack (but rack still attached), it does
>> take some effort to close the hatch, but it's certainly do-able for someone
>> of moderate strength/weight (I'm a small guy). Others may have more
>> difficulty. In this config, the hatch will *just* stay open with only one
>> of the 250lb struts installed. So, for the majority of the time that I
>> don't have a full load, I may swap back one of my old stock struts on one
>> side, for a happy medium.
>> 
>> Back to my full load:
>> 1 Gary Lee custom Multi Purpose Rack: ~30lbs (? - just a guess, don't wan
>> to take it off to weigh it)
>> 2 Yakima Boa Mounts + fork mounts: ~8lbs (?)
>> 1 Scepter gas can + mount + 3 gallons gas: 30 lbs
>> 2 bikes: 45 lbs
>> 2 tie dow straps: ~2lbs
>> Total: ~115lbs
>> 
>> Removing the stuts, then supporting the hatch vertically with 2x4 at the
>> strut connection point, the weight supported by the 2x4 is ~230lbs. So in
>> my case, the total strut force to hatch weight ratio is about 2.2:1. This
>> would vary depending how the load is dispersed.
>> 
>> Pics: https://goo.gl/photos/hLRmCUX2ysAouMHD6
>> 
>> James V
>> 86 Syncro Westy
>> 
>> 
>>> On Tue, Mar 28, 2017 at 9:05 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi,
>>> 
>>> My friend Simon bought some 1250 N struts from Germany for the similar
>>> reason. They're great, lifts his spare tire rack and bike rack ( with tire
>>> and bike) that I made for him.
>>> 
>>> Without anything on the hatch it's hard to close.
>>> 
>>> Unfortunately the German source has dried up, but I mention it so you
>>> will know that 1250N is strong enough for a good load on hatch.
>>> 
>>> Oh, and before anyone asks, it's been almost three years now with the
>>> struts and no adverse effect noted on the hatch.
>>> 
>>> I've been looking for similar struts but not found any yet.
>>> 
>>> Alistair
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On Mar 28, 2017, at 7:24 PM, Roman Haag <romanhaag@YMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> I recently got a Gary Lee multipurpose rack, which has my spare, a gas
>>> can, and a hi-lift jack on it.
>>>> 
>>>> I need some stronger struts and am having a hard time finding info
>>> about them.  Does anyone hear have any experience with them and could
>>> possibly recommend me some?
>>>> 
>>>> All of the GoWesty/Bus Depot ones sound good, but they don't really
>>> give nay specific information.
>>>> 
>>>> I've found these but I'm not even sure they'll fit.  I know the Vanagon
>>> ones compress to 11.75", as well.
>>>> http://www.siraweb.com/gas-prop-c16-23835
>>>> 
>>>> Any help is appreciated.  I'd hate to be the guy responsible for our
>>> local Vdub mechanic getting hurt by a hatchback ;)
>>>> 
>>>> Roman
>>> 
>> 
>>