> VW started using a "weaker" left strut so that the hatch would stay in any
> position placed.  It seems that short people were complaining that they
> could not reach the hatch when it opened fully on it's own.

Actually, the reverse is true.  Using a pair of right-hand struts, the setup
that I advocate, the hatch will stay open in any position placed.  However,
in every Vanagon I've owned that still had the stock
dedicated-left-and-right setup, this was not the case.

- Ron Salmon
 The Bus Depot
 http://www.busdepot.com