Trident T5 rear door struts

The rear door will not remain in the 'up' position and keeps dropping down. There is a Fiamma bike rack for 2 bikes fitted to the door, is it just that the rack is too heavy and overcomes the struts and can I  purchase upgraded struts and fit them.
If I can get new struts any suggestion on the specification and from where?
Your thoughts please!

If you are not using the bike rack I would remove it until needed, the empty bike rack on our trooper sometime holds then starts to drop,   with the Fiamma Ultra box on it wont stop up.
I use an extending washing line prop to keep ours up with the Bike rack on the Tailgate.

alf

Thanks for your thoughts, I have a length of 2~1" but don't want to carry it around! We need the rack all the time as we're mountain bikers ( of a certain age....) and ride bridleways etc . That's one of the reasons for owning the Trident!
I would prefer stronger struts to cure the issue...

If you find any let me know.
I think stronger struts to handle the load may make the tailgate more difficult to open.

Alf

Yes, I'm certain you can get higher rated struts. I ~think~ you can buy them from VW, as fitted to the California models which have a rack fitted from the factory - but I've no doubt they are a lot cheaper from one of the other VW-compatible parts suppliers!

Thanks, I'll check with one of the local motor factors and see what they suggest.

I doubt that a general motor factors will have a clue. You need to either go to a VW main dealer - and that will be expensive and probably difficult as they will want a registration number or VIN for the vehicle that the part was originally designed for, or you need to go to one of the many companies that specialise in aftermarket parts for VW T5's (which will generally have started life as specialist suppliers for the earlier Transporter models).

Try here ....http://www.sgs-engineering.com/gsc2555-volkswagen-transporter-tailgate-strut

I've e mailed sis with the details and await a reply, thank you for the link.

I've ordered a pair  earlier tonight.   Hoopman  thanks for the link

Alf

Their T5 bonnet gas struts are also pretty useful if you regularly do service work on your own van...

-mojo- wrote:Their T5 bonnet gas struts are also pretty useful if you regularly do service work on your own van...

Mojo   My T5 has no bonnet struts just a bonnet stay. please explain did you fit as a extra ??????

Alf

Alf - yes, it's literally just a bolt-in replacement - the fixing holes are there, so you just remove the stay, screw in the other ball joint (mine already had one in place from the factory!) and clip the gas strut in.

-mojo- wrote:Alf - yes, it's literally just a bolt-in replacement - the fixing holes are there, so you just remove the stay, screw in the other ball joint (mine already had one in place from the factory!) and clip the gas strut in.

Mojo I have just been and looked there is a fitting on the bonnet and I can seen a threaded hole for the one on the engine bay, I will ring and add to my order for the tailgate gas struts in the morning,  The bonnet on T5 is a very heavy one and getting older it will make a huge difference.

Thanks for that tip Mojo, ...... send your star card for a 5 plus stamp.


Alf

New updated struts ordered from SGS Engineering (Robert). Approx £65 for 2 struts including vat and postage.
Thanks again for the advice and direction!

My Uprated struts came today, heavy rain all day so will have to wait until it stops tomorrow now I would think. I have ordered the bonnet strut from else SGS wanted a photo and about 6 diffw measurements.

Alf

The new struts are fitted and yes they do work.
However take care have the Tailgate supported on a tall step ladder and use a jack and wood prop to lift tailgate for fixing new struts. Am now awaiting the bonnet strut from a different supplier.

Again thanks to Hoopman for his suggestion

Alf

 Pleased you've got it sorted

Fitted the new struts from SGS to the rear door today. T5 Trident,
Take care if you're going to do it, the support I put in place to hold the door up whilst I removed the old struts broke, the door came down and man, it's a heavy piece of kit, particularly with a double bike rack fitted!
Luckily I wasn't injured and managed to catch it in time....
Use a strong support or preferably a second person to hold the door in its top position, I had to stand on a chair whilst my wife popped the lower sockets of the struts in place, I was then able to release the door weight carefully ( it stayed up so the struts were perfect) and put in the securing clips on the bottom ball and socket joints - the top ones just push on, socket over ball.
The door works perfectly now and I'll get to trust it in time!

Chocky1948 wrote: and man, it's a heavy piece of kit, particularly with a double bike rack fitted!

...why leave it on, it's only a five minute job to put it on or off - mine just goes on when it's needed.

Incidentally, I've put a stainless steel bumper protector on, it's easy to mark the bumper when bikes are in close proximity. £33 from ebay, smooth or patterned, looks good too.

Re the bike rack, we use it all the time, mountain biking in S Devon, Dartmoor etc.....
Thanks for the info re the rear bumper protector on E Bay, I'll have a look at them.