Galley Hatch Supports

[Tommy2tone_1999]

I saw these on VinTech's site. They seem like a great alternative to gas struts. Trying to stay away from gas struts. They seem to always go out on cars and SUV's I've owned. Any thoughts or experience with these?

[ksmack01]

Ive saw these on something in the past and they seemed to work great. Never thought of them for my galley door....

[KCStudly]

Some of the tanker trucks that we get at work use those on the locker door for the pump box (side swinging door). They seem to work good in that application.

The only thing I can see on a galley hatch is that I don't think they will do anything to assist with lifting the hatch (at least not much to speak of), so they would only be good for light weight hatches that can be lifted by hand. At least that is the impression that I get from my minimal exposure to them.

[bigblockbarry]

I have these on my hatch and they work great. They have a cable on the inside to keep them from expanding and pop right into place when you open up.

[working on it]

I was taking photos of my generator set-up for another thread, and also took some of my hatch prop rod mounts:

• flagpole mount used to hold rods, tighten thumbscrew to hold in windy conditions
• bottom mount, same principle

I think I paid $7 apiece (x4) at Home Depot. I store the rods using Simpson joist hangers also from HD. Not as pretty as the springs, but very stable and secure.

[Diemjoe]

I am just at a point where I am considering hatch supports. On the springs, It would seem that they would have to be "unlocked" one at time before the hatch can be lowered. Is that a little cumbersome?

Thanks

[halfdome, Danny]

A lady teardrop friend a few years ago said to us that she always gets up after her husband because of the weight of the hatch with only prop sticks.
We installed the 151# gas struts on each side of their lid and now she's a happy camper.

I saw some similar springs on a manufactured teardrop and they didn't appear to assist with lifting the weight, I wasn't impressed with them and wonder how they will react in a good gust of wind.

As far as struts are concerned, if you leave the lid open for a period of time in the garage and then close it for awhile, then repeat, they will last a long time.
Make sure you install gas struts with the thick end down.
Danny

[noseoil]

Danny, here's an article which seems to contradict what you just said. No right or wrong here, just another opinion about longevity & use. The seals stay "wet" if the strut has the fat end (wet end) down most of the time, so the oil inside can keep the seals with lube on them. Perhaps we're saying the same thing here & I'm just confused as usual?

http://www.liftsupportsdepot.com/blog/2 ... t-down#top

[Tomterrific]

I have a light weight hatch. I thought about using garage door springs in the manner depicted, but I did not. I found a leg from a pop-up canopy in a trash can. I cut it to length, drilled a hole in the top for a bolt to the hatch, and screwed the foot to the trailer floor with the stake hole in the foot. Super easy and the wind does not lift. Problem is finding another damaged canopy in a dumpster. I'll keep looking. :-)

T

[rowerwet]

I make mine out of tubing and casters, of course my hatch is foam and weighs little,

gallery/album.php?album_id=4203

[Tomterrific]

I admire the clever way you used a caster without the wheel. This is a good idea I may use with a canopy leg. A canopy leg has that spring button which is so convenient.

The longer I'm on this site, the more clever ideas I keep getting.

T

[halfdome, Danny]

Noseoil, we're saying the same thing as thick end and fat end are the same.
Check out my gas struts in my signature photo to confirm what I'm saying.
Danny

[JohnSw]

In my research on gas springs I found that the recommended mounting orientation was that the rod should be pointed down meaning that the fat end should be up.

This is so the small amount of oil in the cylinder can pool on the rod seals. This allows the oil to dampen the piston motion as the gas spring reaches full extension.

[dales133]

On vechiles and tool boxes ive seen them mounted either way and they still seem to work

[halfdome, Danny]

Even though I've accepted the consensus that the thick end should go down I've mounted them both ways with no difference in performance or longevity.
All the SUV's I've owned the thick end has been up...maybe they know something we don't know.
In my opinion, using them occasionally while in storage will make them last longer.
Danny