Roman – Yes, the stock struts probably compress a little shorter to ~11.75"
or so. When I was searching the LiftSupportsDepot, I was looking in a range
up to 12.25" compressed, which I think would fit. 12.5" might be too long.
Extended length is less critical, since it just determines how high the
hatch open. I would think anywhere between 19"-21" would be fine.

The strut body on the 250lb struts I bought have the same diameter as the
one's you're considering of 22mm / ~.87 inches. These fit easily within the
jam, and you might even be go up to ~1". The problem, in my case, was the
outside diameter of the 1" PVC tube I was using was a bit too large
(~1.3"?).

I should mention that with the thicker 10mm shaft of the new struts, I adde
a washer to push the eyelet/clevis side of the strut out from the mounting
point (toward the center of the van) by a couple mm. This way, the shaft
 more easily clears the mounting area. Let us know how yours turn out.
Maybe I missed it, by I didn't see which adjustable units you're
considering.

James V
86 Syncro Westy

On Mon, Apr 10, 2017 at 4:48 AM, Roman Haag <romanhaag@ymail.com> wrote:

> James, I just got word back that the adjustable struts are:
> "The stroke diameter is 10mm and the cylinder diameter 22mm. "
>
> If my google-fu is correct that is nearly a 3/4" strut body. In your
> experience do you think this will fit in the channel?
>
> 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
> >>>
> >>
> >>
>
>