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Topic: cabinet gas strut alternative? (Read 2359 times) previous topic - next topic

cabinet gas strut alternative?

I've read most of the archived cabinet gas/spring strut postings the past few days till frankly I'm tired of it all. However, we're in need of a bunch of the darn things.  So before we order 20 of them I thought it worth the effort to see if anyone on the forum has found or heard of a suitable alternative which would last longer than the struts? (other than a piece of wood!)  There just seems to be a better way to accomplish this function...possibly w/ a locking hinge or an extenable drawer bracket?
Any ideas?
Bill & Jan Velting
1998 U320 36'    2014 Xtreme facelift
build #5339  MC#17207
current toad: 2014 Cadillac SRX

Re: cabinet gas strut alternative?

Reply #1 –
On sailboats they use a spring to hold up deck hatches.  To drop the hatch, you "fail" the spring column, and it folds to allow the hatch to drop.

Not sure they are any less expensive than new struts.  Try West Marine:
WEST MARINE Hatch Arms at West Marine
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: cabinet gas strut alternative?

Reply #2 –
Those aren't any cheaper than the struts from FOT.  We got ours on sale for under $10.  My buddy has the ones shown in the picture that are spring operated.  They were on his when he bought it and we don't know where to get them.

Rich
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: cabinet gas strut alternative?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Dave and Dolly Cobb –
On sailboats they use a spring to hold up deck hatches.  To drop the hatch, you "fail" the spring column, and it folds to allow the hatch to drop.

Not sure they are any less expensive than new struts.  Try West Marine:
WEST MARINE Hatch Arms at West Marine
I worked on a yacht that had one of those springs for the engine room hatch.  I learned to hate it after it would collapse on your hand.  Just the slightest tap of it and the spring bends out allowing the door to fall.  Now maybe the cabinet doors are light enough to not matter.  On the yacht we replace the spring with a gas strut.

Here are some other alternatives but I think the gas struts are the nicest for the user: McMaster-Carr
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: cabinet gas strut alternative?

Reply #5 –
I bought some last year from Encore and while I don't remember the price, it sure didn't get me too worked up so it couldn't have been too much.  They were running some sort of "sale" back then and I bought some spares.
1996 U295 36' WTBI

Re: cabinet gas strut alternative?

Reply #6 –
I agree with John, as I to have experience (mostly bad) with the spring type openers on boats.

They are sensitive to springing shut at the slightest touch and when you want to close them, you have to manually "break"/bend it/them.

I would recommend sticking with the struts.

Brett
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: cabinet gas strut alternative?

Reply #7 –
I just purchased a batch of gas struts from Foretravel this morning.  They are currently on sale for $9.95 with an additional 10% off for Motorcade members.

Ken Bowman
2002 U295 3620

Re: cabinet gas strut alternative?

Reply #8 –
Quote from: bill & jan velting –
I've read most of the archived cabinet gas/spring strut postings the past few days till frankly I'm tired of it all. However, we're in need of a bunch of the darn things.  So before we order 20 of them I thought it worth the effort to see if anyone on the forum has found or heard of a suitable alternative which would last longer than the struts? (other than a piece of wood!)  There just seems to be a better way to accomplish this function...possibly w/ a locking hinge or an extenable drawer bracket?
Any ideas?
Bill,
I believe you are thinking of something like this.
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=425&rrt=1



Looks like it might work in the opposite direction than shown as would be required for the overhead doors.

Good luck,
Rick