Galley lid struts

[Gage]

I guess that since there's 2 differant directions you can put struts on, then there's going to be 50% of the people that say this way and then 50% of the people that say that way huh. That's why us new guys are always confused, but then I've been like that most of my life. So you guys are making me feel right at home.
Hopefully with all this info I'll get the struts on right.
Thank you all.
Steve

Yep, there are two ways as Mark has pointed out. Even though I prefer to do it the way I'm doing it, the way Mark pointed out is probably just as good. The key is have your hatch finished for full strength of the hatch. Then open it up to the height you want, then install your shocks.

Something to think about. A car hatch is only open for maybe 15, 20 or 30 minutes at a time and when closed the cylinder is up. Where as a galley hatch is open for hours at a time. And yes over time all shocks will leak. The question is: How long do you want them to last before leaking? Also, they aren’t going to leak a gallon of fluid in the galley.

One thing about asking a question here on the board. You'll get several answers. You then must decide which is good and which is bad. Which make sense and which doesn't. How many just throw out a lot of BS and don't explain why?

[planovet]

Gage is right. Sometimes there is a right way and a wrong way but most times there are usually multiple ways to do the same thing and you just have to pick the one that's best for you. He likes his way and I like mine. Doesn't mean one is better than the other because they both worked for us.

I (like most) agonized over the placement of my struts. What convinced me was looking at they way Infinity installed the struts in my FX35. I figured if it worked for my TV then it should work for my tear. It did but that doesn't mean it's the "best" way. If it is working for them then I'm not going to tell anyone that they did it "wrong". But if it isn't working for them, then I will share my experiences in hopes that it might help.

One thing that's great about this forum, you can get multiple ideas and pick the one that's best your your unique situation.

[SteveA]

Yep That's what I like about this forum, you ask a question and chances are pretty good that you will get multiple answers, and then like you both said, you pick the answer that works best for you.
I just like the idea that you get multiple answers.

I'm kind of new to the forum thing so this might be what you all call a threadkiller, but hey, I'm the one that started this thread so maybe I can get away with it....once.??
I got a question for Gage, if'n he comes back.
In the one pic you have here, you can see your hatch latch.
What I was planning on doing was to put a handle and latch on the bottom of each corner on the galley lid with the latch going into the floor. But I was wondering about your set up for your hatch latch, just one handle in the middle operating a latch at each end going into the walls.
Now I know I've seen this set-up before on this forum someplace, so I know other people have done the same thing, so if anybody wants to chime in with their thoughts, I'm all ears.
What I was wondering is where can you get the set-up and can you get it for any width tear? Also are there differant ways to mount it? Like drilling through the ribs or running it behind the ribs or???
I see that Gage's is a rod, and I think I saw somebody doing the same thing with cables.
I'm still at a point that I can change my mind and go with that idea, but I don't have a lot of clearance behind the lid, about 3/8" between the ribs and the lower galley framework, meaning cooler, batteries, waterjug, etc.
Any ideas???
Thank you all
Steve

[john]

With these hatch strut threads running I thought I would post mine,as I finally got around to building my hatch strut and posted it in the build forum.

More info here...
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=29603&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=60

[Jerry Bleeg]

SteveA, you might look for Vintek on Ebay. He has a 3 point latch that I used here. Very sturdy and well built.
I am still in the process of finishing up my hatch with the galley gas struts, but I think this latch is going to work well. Len also recommended it. It's a little hard to fit the center latch. Takes some fabrication of the floor to fit the latch lever, but once you get it to fit, it is very secure. The addition of the rods locked into the side will only make it more secure. I added the eyebolts from my hardware store.

I will be glad to get the inner skin on and hide the ugliness of all this.




This latch should fit up to a 6 foot wide tear.
Jerry

[SteveA]

Thanks for the info Jerry, that looks like a real good set up.
After I posted the question on the hatch latch my mind started working, that does happen every now and then, and I got to thinking that the canopy on my pick-up has the same exact set-up. So I went to the place I got it from and they set me up with a latch and rods. It sure don't look as good and sturdy as yours though.
After I got it home and put in the hole and mounted the latch, and was about ready to run the rods to the ends, it dawned on me that to get the door to latch you have to hold the door in place and get both sides lined up. I kind of like the idea of latches that you can just close into place like your front door to your house. So I'm putting one of those on both the bottom corners and leaving the handle in the middle to use to grab to open and close the door with. Since it's a 5' door it makes it a lot better to be able to grab it in the middle.
So sometime when my mind starts working I never know if it's for the better or worse. It's always a crapshoot.

[Jerry Bleeg]

Latches in the corners like your front door? Do you mean slam latches? I think Grant sells that kind. They are just like the ones used for the Tear Doors except no interior handle.
One thing I forgot to mention in my pervious post is the space this latch takes up. It will basically take 1 inch off my interior galley floor, which kind of bums me. I just figured out that my cooler won't quite fit my galley. So now I gotta find a different cooler or mount mine lengthwise, which I really did not want to do. Was hoping it would fit on a long pull out shelf. Oh well, I am figuring this out at I go along.
BTW, I got my struts and hardware in from McMasters and mounted them on Monday. I did Marks way of mounting the struts using longer and stiffer struts. I did the 125# struts and they were not quite enough to hold the hatch all the way open, so I ordered some 150# and they should be in tomorrow. But it was so sweat to pop the latch and have that beast just go up by itself and not have the do the prop thing.

[SteveA]

Hello Jerry.
Yep I'mean the slam latches, and I did get them from Grant.
In the end here I am going with them in both the bottom corners alright.
As far as your cooler problem. I also have my cooler on a slide out but I have mine turned so the length is sitting across the width of the gally and I did have to cut some of the shaft of the handle off to make it fit.
Yeh after I got the door all done it seems a little sluggish at wanting to open up so I might have to go a little stronger strut. I did check and I can get a 130# strut the same lenth. I'll try these for awhile and see if they work a little better in time.

[GeoDrop]

One thing I forgot to mention in my pervious post is the space this latch takes up. It will basically take 1 inch off my interior galley floor, which kind of bums me. I just figured out that my cooler won't quite fit my galley. So now I gotta find a different cooler or mount mine lengthwise, which I really did not want to do. Was hoping it would fit on a long pull out shelf. Oh well, I am figuring this out at I go along.

I'm installing the latch on the inside of the hatch so I don't loose that space. Not sure if you can do the same or not.

[GeoDrop]

SteveA, you might look for Vintek on Ebay. He has a 3 point latch that I used here. Very sturdy and well built.
I am still in the process of finishing up my hatch with the galley gas struts, but I think this latch is going to work well. Len also recommended it. It's a little hard to fit the center latch. Takes some fabrication of the floor to fit the latch lever, but once you get it to fit, it is very secure. The addition of the rods locked into the side will only make it more secure. I added the eyebolts from my hardware store.

I will be glad to get the inner skin on and hide the ugliness of all this.

This latch should fit up to a 6 foot wide tear.
Jerry

Jerry,

I was just re-reading this post when it dawned on me that I was completely missing something on this galley latch we are using. You pointed it out but I glazed over it. What I missed was those big dog ear things on the center latch mechanism are meant to swing down into the floor and provide a 3rd point of latching.

Unfortunately, my latch is already installed so I can't make use of that middle latch. Man do I feel dumb!

[byrdz1]

I just got in the galley props that Vintek sells. I don't know how well they will do yet, but it seems pretty straight forward. They are springs. When you close the galley hatch they bend. When the hatch is up they are straight. Not a lot of geometry because they fit where they fit. There are some instructions that come with, and it seems pretty straight forward, but I am scared witless to drill into the side of my rig. The hatch, no problem, the sides...... wish me luck....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RV-Teard ... 3cb98800a9

[Kharn]

I wonder how hard it would be to close the hatch with two of Vintek's springs and only one person. I guess you could tie a string to each one so you could pull them at the same time while using the other hand to prevent the hatch from slamming closed.

[byrdz1]

LT (Luxury Tent) was in the shop for DC and a new fit-in-the-garage tounge anyway, so I had the guys install the springs. They are very easy to take down, I bend one, hold that side, swing my not informidable hips the other direction and push the other one with the arm not holding the hatch. Down she goes. it is a little harder to latch the hatch, I have to use those hips again to get the latch to engage, but all is well and it fits. Pictures tomorrow, it is raining here, and I managed to hit my new garage door (in yesterday) with my new trailer (never been in said garage). I have to drink now.....

[byrdz1]

actually you push them... I think, maybe that is something else I did wrong today....

[Maureenm]

Hope you're coming to Fall Brigade so we can ogle the LT. I promise margaritas and waffle dogs, not necessarily together.


Maureen