Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

We ordered 2 (two) 150# gas struts using the info I gathered here on the forum. Totaling 300lbs!
But now that I have them in hand, I'm thinking I should have purchased 2 (two) 60-75lbs struts to equal somewhere around 150lbs total.

I have not installed them yet cause I'm not to sure.

Thanks

MK

The gas strut thing is kinda tricky. I'd say to go ahead and install them, you can probably exchange them if they won't work out. I actually returned twice to get the right ones. I told the guy at Napa what I was doing and he had no problem with the exchanges.

I agree... They will prolly work fine. It takes a surprising amount of force to lift a hatch given the normal attachment point cantilevers most of the weight of the door outward from the lift points. I'm not sure that sentence made sense, but you prolly get the idea.

ummm....

Okay, boys. It just seems like a lot of force to me but I will install them tonight and let ya know.

Thanks

Mk

When you go to shut it and you hear wood cracking back off a little...when opening and it takes you off your feet and throws you against the wall you may need some lighter ones, but please video tape first before you change them.

I had two 8" 120# gas struts on my first tear and on this one I have 15" 150# struts, both worked great. The first TD I used napa struts and did exhanged them because I used too light of struts. My uncles TD has 10" 90# struts that work great. I ended ordering the strut ends from McMaster-Carr because the plastic ends that NAPA had kept breaking, McMaster-Carr has metal ones.

elmo wrote:When you go to shut it and you hear wood cracking back off a little...when opening and it takes you off your feet and throws you against the wall you may need some lighter ones, but please video tape first before you change them.

You know it can't be good when I quote myself....

I got a email picture from Mary's neighbor just now of her opening the galley for the first time with the new gas struts installed.










Are you ready???

That's funny elmo

Mary K wrote:ummm....

Okay, boys. It just seems like a lot of force to me but I will install them tonight and let ya know.

Thanks

Mk

The weight of the door itself is just one part of the load. As Podunkfla said, where the struts are placed effects performance, too. So does the angle of installation.

Thinks about a see-saw. One small person on one end can lift a larger person on the other, if you move the pivot point toward the larger person.

Now, imagine how that principle would apply on your door. A long strut attached directly at the very ends of the door and the opening would need less force than a smaller one near the hinge. if the opening end of the strut is closer to the hinge than the door end, that will ad more stress, as well.

Does this make sense? Do I need to send you some of the drugs I am on?

CD

OK... If ya really want to know how to figure out the gas strut thingies...
Here's a good formula:

I don't think Mary landed well!!!! We haven't had a sighting today!

elmo wrote:

Too funny.....I almost shot tea outta my nose when I saw that. I have to remember to not drink anything when on this forum.


But seriously, Mary...where did you order your struts, and can we see pics of how you installed them? I'm sure I'm probably gonna go with the primative stick prop option, but I'm curious anyways.

Elmo you are soooo FUNNY!!

But, Looks arn't everything ya know?

Ahem.. Well my building partner was a no show last night (Papasan) so I only managed to install running lights. BUT, I kinda understand about the ....er... whatever y'all were trying to splain to me. So Thanks again.

Miss Swiss, I got them from Austin Hardware. http://www.austinhardware.com/ But the shocks they have listed are not the ones they have in stock any more. Ya have to call them to order. They were $25 each.

I will let y'all know how it goes with the install.

Mk