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Andymon
Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 399
Location: Medford, OR
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 Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 7:01 pm Post subject: Rear hatch struts |
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Are there stronger rear hatch struts than the ones GoWesty sells? The ones on our van...the numbers are worn off but i do know they were from GW.
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"Blanch" '85 Westy
"Too many freaks and not enough circuses". |
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dabaron
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2018
Posts: 2708
Location: Philly, mang
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vanis13
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 4371
Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 7:39 pm Post subject: Re: Rear hatch struts |
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https://www.liftsupportsdepot.com/search/search-results/?query=vanagon
here are some options
notice the newton lift strength (250-133 in this list)
OEM are about 60-80 newtons each and some used different ones on each side (there is a GW article IIRC on that)
with this vendor you can custom pick newtons, just pick the length. I've gotten up to 300 newtons when I had a BUNCH of stuff on the back.
From this vendor its also possible to get them with interchangeable ends...why you say,,,,, because with balls on both ends they are a direct swap for the Jack Bombay struts so you can custom the lift force there as well depending on what you have on the roof....use them on the hatch or the roof
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83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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Timwhy
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 4090
Location: Maine
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jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 8159
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 7:22 am Post subject: Re: Rear hatch struts |
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McMaster-Carr part numbers are in this thread:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=687800
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- Jim
| Butcher wrote: |
| This is the main fault with DIY'ers, they get together on these forums and pat themselves on their backs spreading bad information. |
Guilty as charged.
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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Chootrain470
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2023
Posts: 149
Location: Simi Valley, CA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 8:53 am Post subject: Re: Rear hatch struts |
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| I have had the GoWesty ones for 3 years and have zero complaints. They are actually almost too strong. I struggle to close the hatch with one arm. |
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vanagonjr
Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010
Posts: 3620
Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 9:02 am Post subject: Re: Rear hatch struts |
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| Chootrain470 wrote: |
| I have had the GoWesty ones for 3 years and have zero complaints. They are actually almost too strong. I struggle to close the hatch with one arm. |
I have the Bus Depot HD ones, and I feel the same. I measured the force once and it was pretty high. I mentioned it to Bus Depot and told me I was the only one to complain/mention such.
_________________
John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
LiMBO (late model bus club) www.limbobus.org
LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 |
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DeLvxe
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2019
Posts: 138
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 9:43 am Post subject: Re: Rear hatch struts |
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| Andymon wrote: |
| Are there stronger rear hatch struts than the ones GoWesty sells? The ones on our van...the numbers are worn off but i do know they were from GW. |
I have a set of the heavy duty ones I could sell you. I bought them to use with a rear rack to hold extra water and gear but decided to defer that setup. If you don’t have a load on the back, they are too strong to use. Let me know.
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1991 manual camper with EJ25 |
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jlrftype7
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018
Posts: 4514
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 6:20 pm Post subject: Re: Rear hatch struts |
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We have the mid level struts from Bus Depot- definitely 5 years on them now . They aren’t too strong, we don’t have any load on the rear tail gate , but I didn’t want any weakening of the gas lifting ability during cold Winter temps. So we went one over stock.
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'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10209
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: Rear hatch struts |
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Ages ago I got my hatch struts from O'Reilly's. They work fine and have a lifetime guarantee. I've replaced them once about 8 years ago, a simple no hassle exchange.
Fortunately they have it in their system since receipts seem to be printed in disappearing ink.
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vanis13
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 4371
Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 8:54 pm Post subject: Re: Rear hatch struts |
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| Ahwahnee wrote: |
Ages ago I got my hatch struts from O'Reilly's. They work fine and have a lifetime guarantee. I've replaced them once about 8 years ago, a simple no hassle exchange.
Fortunately they have it in their system since receipts seem to be printed in disappearing ink.
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heat printers/paper :-/
pic or scan of receipt always helpful, especially if you can access on phone
when Checker got taken over by Oriley's, copies of receipts were VERY helpful on the continued lifetime warranty
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83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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