Gas struts

Has anybody fitted longer gas struts to the lift up seat bases to make it easier to access, had to unclip them yesterday whilst working near the electrics

Hi Chris

Not longer struts as such but a way of temporarily getting more access when you need it. Also, if you remove the backrest cushion, the bed will tip more easily.
The pic below shows what I mean, I was in the process of modifying the OS bed base to get rid of the near useless drawer to fit the bottle/can rack, under which is the folding chairs, to its right is space for at least 6 x 2 ltr bottles, and fwd of it a crate for 4 more! Just enough left for the water carrier (folding) and funnel............

Anyway, here's the pic. The ends of the struts are ball joints secured by a spring clip, if this is just eased, not removed the ball joint will part easily.....

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Thanks Ian, I knew about the clip on the end as we have gas struts on our otterman bed , where is not a drawer in my XL, I like the idea of the sectional box you have made ,gives me something to have a think about

Just a thought Chris.

Will longer struts be too long in the closed position??

They won't go onto the existing ball joints, so can you move one of them to accommodate the extra closed length? 

Gromit wrote:Just a thought Chris.

Will longer struts be too long in the closed position??

They won't go onto the existing ball joints, so can you move one of them to accommodate the extra closed length? 

I agree Gromit

The geometry involved would be difficult then source the correct struts, hence my post above!

I've fitted struts from scratch, and the best suggestion I can offer is to measure (or otherwise obtain) the closed length, then ensure the ball joints can be spaced an inch or two more than that when the bed box is in the closed position.

Then buy one strut and try it before ordering the other three - just in case. 

Cheers all ,it wasn’t as bad today loading stuff under the seats ,just very cramped yesterday doing some electrical connections