Moving Gas struts

[Bernie Andersen]

Wondering if anyone has done this or do you have an opinion.

I need more headroom. Our 3811MS cargo bay door on the utilities side can open 5”/6” more before touching the slide. I would like to have that extra space underneath that lid.

Can I move the current hinge mounts attached to the frame of the RV further up till I have the extra opening and re-anchor?

Or buy new longer gas struts?

 

[Texan-MOC]

Are your struts already at there limit. If not then you could probably move the hinge mounts. I would remove one of the struts and see how much more extension it has before doing anything else.

 

[JeffB-FRF]

Wondering if anyone has done this or do you have an opinion.

Not sure if you can do either. may want to call Keystone support. Tehy may be able to help.

Asking folks on this site if they have an opinion, well that leaves it a wide open field!!

 

[bobbecky]

The only problem I can see is, if the struts fully close back together before the door closes all the way, you won't be able to close the door. You might have to crawl inside the pass through and see where they are with the door closed.

 

[dlscott]

I had the same problem when we first received our 380th a year ago. Then we had to have that door replaced because the too-strong struts caused it to come apart. When we got it back, they had mounted the struts even lower. So I remounted them and put them as high as I could with out hitting the slide. Worked like a charm. Closes cleanly and gave me a little more room to get at the auto leveler pad easily.

p.s. That door can get by with 2, 30 lbs. struts, it doesn't need the 60's that were on it.

 

[beeje]

I did exactly what you want to do. First make sure the struts are not fully retracted when the door is closed. Crawl through from the other door to check. If they are not you can simply unscrew and reinstall upwards to gain more head room. Be carefull!!!. I only moved mine up like 3/8" to gain 6 more inches of head room

 

[Bernie Andersen]

I appreciate all the input. I will tackle this task when it stops raining and the weather clears. We can do that here in the Great Pacific Northwest, Anacortes, WA.

Thanks

 

[Bernie Andersen]

Mission accomplished! I moved the lower brackets yesterday and with good success.

After removing the screws and propping up the cargo door, which was heavier then I thought it would be so have something ready, I opened it to where I wanted it, all the way against the slide. Found that the brackets aligned with 2 of the previous holes, easy peasy. Installed 2 screws on each side, ran a test run and what was against the slide with support and the slack in the structs, it now opens within an 1" of the slide instead of 8". And beeje, you where right, they did not move far to gain that access I was looking for.

Thanks
BA

 

[Ram Montana High Country]

too bad that door can't swing forward, but alas - the slide is in the way