Galley Hatch question

[Nigel]

Sorry measure was wrong, mine are 16" long when fully open and 10" long when closed.

Finn the best place to install them is the furthest you can from the hinge. Less force needed to hold hatch open. So get some long ones and then fit them were they fit

If you draw a plan of them (when you get them) and the hatch you can figure out where to put them so they hold the door shut too.

Didn't get mine right but was close enough, they try and shut the hatch when it id about 18" open. But this is OK as when the hatch tries to slam shut the air trapped inside gives it a soft shut.

WarPoney
You sure that cat didn't rip that wood up? Mine always look innocent like that when they have done something wrong.

What is it about cats and workshops, two of mine are always under my feet or lying on the bit of wood I need whenever I'm working.

[Classic Finn]

Thanks Nigel

Im going to go looking for some tomorrow morning..see what I can find.
Hopefully I choose the correct length now..UGH

Classic Finn

[deacon328]

Thanks everyone. Before I read the post we had already gone to the junkyard, I found a pair that was holding up the hood of a 90's Buick, they only wanted $8 fo the pair so I bought them.

Even if they don't work, it's worth $8 to find out.

[CAJUN LADY]

My galley hatch feels like it weighs 200# but it is probably just 50 to 60...it is very heavy. How hard is it to build a new galley hatch? I just may have to figure out how to or else figure a way to lighten this one. Does it have to be insulated? Does that add weight to the hatch? I just am a bit afraid that it would seriously hurt someone if it ever fell. I do have a very sturdy steel rod holding it securly up but just for piece of mind, I would like some HEAVY DUTY gas struts. What's the maxium weight that struts can perform?

Sorry about all the questions. I'm sleepy and heading to bed. Goodnight.

[Miriam C.]

Becca if you get them too strong you will have trouble getting it closed.

I still don't have mine up.

[shawnkfl]

this site may help
http://www.sgs-engineering.com/gas-struts/technical.php

it's really not that bad figuring out what you need. start with where you want to mount them and measure the open length you need. then plug in some numbers and run the formula.

[shawnkfl]

Do you have pics of yours installed?

Sure do.............







The first pic is of the hatch after I tore off the interior skin. When I glued it on I got it out of whack and it twisted it REAL bad so Bob (the cat) said, "GET IT THE HELL OFF AND DO IT OVER!!!!!!!"

may not matter much, but these struts are upside down. there is a small amount of oil in the tube that keeps a seal lubricated. mounted upside down, the oil cannot do it's job. i don't know how long it takes before the seal dries out, but just thought i would point that out. i would flip them.

[WarPony]

When the hatch is closed, the fat end of the strut will be above the piston rod and almost all the way compressed. Actually, the hatch comes within about 18" of closing before the struts over-center and then pulls it shut.

I figure the hatch will be closed more than open so mounting it like I did will keep all the "juices" in contact with the right thing-a-ma-bobbers longer.

Hope that made some sense.................. .

Jeff

[bassman]

I have just spent this afternoon doing this!








They might be a bit short but work real well. Best bit is that as you shut the door they close then as they get past a certain point they start to open, pulling the door shut. Took me hours to get that to work.

hi nigel, i see you have designed your td to reflect the shape of your landy ,im seriously considering doing the same for my morris traveller, although i've decided to have a slight slope front to rear on the roof so that i dont get a private swimming pool for free .i like your gas struts idea i'd also come up with another idea for the galley area, as my rear door/hatch is almost vertical as per the morris i plan to use a single lift up hatch but have two vertically opening aluminium sheet doors attached permanently by piano hinges to the body and will attach to the base of the hatch by short bungee whilst open to act as wind breaks for the galley area, not sure if anyone else has considered this as i think it would only work on a near vertical rear hatch .

[Nigel]

Bassman it would look really good if you could match your traveller. Some nice bits of wood framing on the outside the same as the traveller. Or maybe get hold of an old traveller and use it to make a trailer? I have seen some land rovers done like that.

I decided to do mine the easy way, no curves and all sides 4x8. The landy has no curves so don't have to worry about aerodynamics!.

I decided not to worry about the swimming pool problem as I thought that I would never get it perfectly level anyway.

[bassman]

Bassman it would look really good if you could match your traveller. Some nice bits of wood framing on the outside the same as the traveller. Or maybe get hold of an old traveller and use it to make a trailer? I have seen some land rovers done like that.

I decided to do mine the easy way, no curves and all sides 4x8. The landy has no curves so don't have to worry about aerodynamics!.

I decided not to worry about the swimming pool problem as I thought that I would never get it perfectly level anyway.

the panelling on the sides i'm going for, but i'm going to cheat and cut an overlay from thin ply to keep the weight down lack of horsepower dictates ! and i'm going to try and use traveller rear wings too as they're a nice shape, as for aero dynamics the minor is about as aerodynamic as a shed so 'a bed in a shed' (as my missus calls the project ) kind of describes the shape i'm going for

[CAJUN LADY]

Shawn/Aunti M:

Ok, this is a real blonde moment ...I just took a closer look at my galley and I already have hatch struts. Probably didn't realize it because they are useless against the weight of my hatch. I think I need to replace them with heavy duty ones. Please don't laugh that hard.

[shawnkfl]

well, if i find my way to tampa, i can have a look and get the weight of your door and calculate them for you. you can get struts at autozone or advance auto for $20.00 or so.

[Miriam C.]

Shawn/Aunti M:

Ok, this is a real blonde moment ...I just took a closer look at my galley and I already have hatch struts. Probably didn't realize it because they are useless against the weight of my hatch. I think I need to replace them with heavy duty ones. Please don't laugh that hard.

Becca, not a blond moment at all. I understand they can fail so............. I can't even figure out where to put mine. I think I need a different kind of bracket.

[CAJUN LADY]

Shawn:
I would welcome your help. If you are ever in this area, please PM me and I will guide you to my home. Thanks!