Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

After working through several variations on the props ranging from a stick (still kinda like that idea by the way) through automotive hood springs, I setteled on hinging a prop for each side from the interior of the hatch to the side wall of the galley. I fabricated a couple of mounting plates for the sides where a ball pin on the hatch prop locks in place. While opening the hatch you just swing down the props, place the pin into the hole in the plate and push, the pin snaps into place and supports the hatch. To lower the hatch, just pull the ring on each pin to disengage it and swing the props back up to the hatch

Of course, it is probably a good idea to hold the hatch in place while you are doing this if you don't want to dent your head.

Pictures are from the test fitting of the props and plates.




ccdell

Hi

Very much the way I'm thinging of going. I've looked at gas struts, trunk/hood springs, etc. but getting the right ones for the weight of the hatch complicates things (I've seen post where people have tried 3 sets of struts before finding the right ones) so I think the simplicity of a prop is all I need.

IanJ

Good thing!!! Mine are similar and I use a pin kinda like that.. have not had ANY problem in windy conditions and it secures it too in case it gets accidentally hit , etc.

K. I. S. S. is a good thing!

Julie

very nice, and a bit simpler than what I had been thinking of... think I'll use your idea. Thanks for posting it.

Simpler is better.
There is a post somewhere on making your own "gasless" struts...I liked that idea.
I used two pieces of electrical conduit....the sections are: a 1/2" tube that slides into a 3/4" tube.
There is a cotter key that keeps them locked in place when it's open. That's not very automatic...but it certainly keeps the hatch from falling down! Even on a windy day.
I used some sheetmetal deck supports to make the pivots that mounted on the hatch and side of the galley.
It works well and is very solid.

So far, the struts have been working out well (just in the garage during building). I think the only thing I would change are the pins that I used. I used to have access to pins that the ball would not retract unless you pressed a button and I would have liked to used them here. But, that being said, I have already managed to hit one of the props quite hard and the pin held in place. So, maybe I am trying to over building... again.

MrBuzz, I had planned on using the "gasless struts", but my pre-planning (or lack thereof) dictated a change of plans. My wall is a sandwich construction and I was afraid of not having the structural support where I needed it.

The good thing about keeping a running log of your build (with pictures) is having an ready reference of where things are located after the skin(s) are on.

I was thinking of finding some struts off a mini van tail gate. I figure those are pretty heavy so they might work? what do you think?

ccdell wrote:So far, the struts have been working out well (just in the garage during building). I think the only thing I would change are the pins that I used. I used to have access to pins that the ball would not retract unless you pressed a button and I would have liked to used them here. But, that being said, I have already managed to hit one of the props quite hard and the pin held in place. So, maybe I am trying to over building... again.

MrBuzz, I had planned on using the "gasless struts", but my pre-planning (or lack thereof) dictated a change of plans. My wall is a sandwich construction and I was afraid of not having the structural support where I needed it.

The good thing about keeping a running log of your build (with pictures) is having an ready reference of where things are located after the skin(s) are on.

I know that there are a number of people using them on the forum. A quick search with the terms "gas strut" will find a number of threads on the topic. My planning for the struts came a bit to late in the build process for me to use them though