Also waiting for the answer. My hatch stays up with the Saris Bones rack on it but not if there's a bike on that rack. I currently have two of the "strong" BD struts on it but they're more than a decade old. 

Stephen

Mobile

> On Jun 23, 2019, at 10:27 AM, Steve Williams <sbw@SBW.ORG> wrote:
> 
> This is useful info!  Questions:
> 
> Regarding the 240-pound struts you mention, is that 240 pounds each, or
> 240 pounds total for the pair?  I wouldn't want one stock strut and one
> strong strut.
> 
> I rarely have two or three bikes on the hatch.  Most of the time, I have
> no bikes.  Often, I have one bike.  The bikes weigh, oh, 20-40 pounds
> each.  I have the stronger GoWesty struts, which holds the hatch open
> with just the rack, but I can't easily open the hatch or expect it to
> stay open with a bike on the rack.
> 
> So, when I open the hatch with no bikes, will these struts throw the
> hatch into orbit?
> 
> With no bikes, is it hard to close?
> 
> Fully loaded, the bolt fitting and the ball fitting handle a lot of
> force.  Are they up to it?  Are they heavier than the stock struts?
> 
>> On 6/22/2019 10:31 AM, Dan N wrote:
>> FYI... I use LiftSupport Depot.com
>> on this link, #3 at bottom of the page, they add 100 lbs (sku PM3645W) -
>> meaning on top of the regular ones (140 lbs) you will have a 240 lbs
>> struts, complete ready to install. I am very happy with it.
>> 
>> https://www.liftsupportsdepot.com/year-model-search/?#?Customfieldincludeinmmtysearch=Yes&Year=1989&Make=VOLKSWAGEN&Model=VANAGON&Trim=SYNCRO%20STANDARD%20PASSENGER%20VAN%203-DOOR
>> 
>>>> On Sat, Jun 22, 2019 at 12:42 PM Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>>>> I finally installed a pair of 250lb struts on my van back hatch. I’ve
>>>> installed similar on a couple of other vans, but never did get around to
>>>> doing mine.