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Tom Powell
Samba Member
Joined: December 01, 2005
Posts: 4855
Location: Kaneohe
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 Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 3:17 pm Post subject: Gas strut for rear seat |
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I have the jackbombay gas struts for my Vanagon poptop. My back has healed and is well again and I can tuck the tent in before pulling the top closed. What about a gas strut for rear seat? Sometimes the seat has a few things on it and it is difficult to lift. I'm always aware that the OG support might get get knocked aside and my fingers smashed.
I should be able to figure out the proper size strut and mounting dimensions myself. But if jackbombay offered a kit I would buy it.
I would also like to have gas struts for the poptop on my '69 camper.
Aloha
tp |
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jackbombay
Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2007
Posts: 2723
Location: Eastern Idaho
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| Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: Gas strut for rear seat |
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| Tom Powell wrote: |
| But if jackbombay offered a kit I would buy it. |
Would be a pretty easy kit to put together, I'll look into it!
| Tom Powell wrote: |
| I would also like to have gas struts for the poptop on my '69 camper. |
The roof is hinged at the front of the van? I'd love to have one in my driveway for a half hour to take some measurements :-/ I'll be in San diego for thanksgiving for a week if somebody has one that I could run a tape measure on!
_________________
Gas struts to pop your top easily!
Pop Top strut kits now available for late Bay window Westies 
Samba ad here.
DIY artificial rain gutters (ARGs) |
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Tom Powell
Samba Member
Joined: December 01, 2005
Posts: 4855
Location: Kaneohe
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| Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 6:10 pm Post subject: Re: Gas strut for rear seat |
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| jackbombay wrote: |
| Tom Powell wrote: |
| But if jackbombay offered a kit I would buy it. |
Would be a pretty easy kit to put together, I'll look into it!
| Tom Powell wrote: |
| I would also like to have gas struts for the poptop on my '69 camper. |
The roof is hinged at the front of the van? I'd love to have one in my driveway for a half hour to take some measurements :-/ I'll be in San diego for thanksgiving for a week if somebody has one that I could run a tape measure on! |
Check with Gary (Aeromech) in La Jolla. He has a tintop, but works on a lot of other campers, both new and late bays. He'll know of other poptops in the San Diego area. I have a '69 camper in LA with the hinge at the front., but I won't be there until the end of January.
Aloha
tp |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10367
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 6:47 pm Post subject: Re: Gas strut for rear seat |
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I really like the idea of a gas strut on the rear seat. It's overkill but I'd almost be tempted to install two struts (provides a small fail safe?). They might even make use of that dead space where stuff always gets lost. Or just make it harder to retrieve said stuff! 
For those (aka Me) who've replaced the rear foam with thicker foam, doing so obviously puts more pressure on the OEM brace that holds the seat bottom up. Gas struts would help in that case (or I could just make a different brace or modify existing brace)
If I had a gas strut installed I'd still likely use the stock brace along with it.
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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Tom Powell
Samba Member
Joined: December 01, 2005
Posts: 4855
Location: Kaneohe
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| Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 7:14 pm Post subject: Re: Gas strut for rear seat |
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On my first Vanagon I made a latch for my rear seat with the intent of eventually adding a locking mechanism.
I have two Vanagons now after an engine fire with the first. One has an OG latch and the other doesn't. Wouldn't it be nice if you just unlatched the seat and it opened by itself?
Aloha
tp |
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jimf909 
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7462
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2016 3:27 pm Post subject: Re: Gas strut for rear seat |
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| jackbombay wrote: |
| Tom Powell wrote: |
| But if jackbombay offered a kit I would buy it. |
Would be a pretty easy kit to put together, I'll look into it! |
I'd be a customer!
In fact, how about a strut for the seat and a strut for the stove lid package?
Now that my van is getting a high-top, it needs some different Jack Bombay love.
_________________
- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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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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atomatom
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2012
Posts: 1867
Location: in an 84 Westy or Bowen Island, BC
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| Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2016 11:35 pm Post subject: Re: Gas strut for rear seat |
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i know the eurovan had them, but i'd like a strut for my kitchen lid
_________________
84 Vanagon Westy, 1.9L, California raised but defected to Canada. |
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drumbum68
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2010
Posts: 566
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| Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2016 10:44 am Post subject: Re: Gas strut for rear seat |
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| How would a gas strut work on rear seat if folding to bed. |
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Tom Powell
Samba Member
Joined: December 01, 2005
Posts: 4855
Location: Kaneohe
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| Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2016 10:51 am Post subject: Re: Gas strut for rear seat |
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| drumbum68 wrote: |
| How would a gas strut work on rear seat if folding to bed. |
Unfasten the strut.
Aloha
tp |
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