Uprated Tailgate Struts

[Pauly]

Standard struts are 900N part numbers ends in B
Caravelle are 985N (lined/trimmed tailgate) part number ends in C
Bike rack upgrade 1200N part number ends in D
California struts are also 1200N but totally different from van/kombi ones and only fit California’s

 

[Spaghetti]

Yes - 985n !

It was these chaps.

Lewis Reed | Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Lewis Reed | Over 20 years' experience in the wheelchair accessible vehicle market. Excellent customer service & knowledge | Front Page

www.lewisreedgroup.co.uk

I paid about £30 delivered.

 

[Rg_]

Standard struts are 900N part numbers ends in B
Caravelle are 985N (lined/trimmed tailgate) part number ends in C
Bike rack upgrade 1200N part number ends in D
California struts are also 1200N but totally different from van/kombi ones and only fit California’s

Thanks, that's made it clear.

 

[Martin Gibson]

I also bought a pair of 985N ones from Lewis Reed after the van was lined out and the originals were not up to the job,worked fine

 

[cgtmiles]

I’ve just fitted 1200N struts to the tailgate after installing a bike rack. They are aftermarket ones purchased from vanstyle and they are really noisy and really juddery. Does anyone know if they get better with time or if these are duds or whether this is just because they are cheap aftermarket jobbies? I paid £35 for them and I think the genuine ones are over £100

 

[Spaghetti]

I’ve just fitted 1200N struts to the tailgate after installing a bike rack. They are aftermarket ones purchased from vanstyle and they are really noisy and really juddery. Does anyone know if they get better with time or if these are duds or whether this is just because they are cheap aftermarket jobbies? I paid £35 for them and I think the genuine ones are over £100

I had Vanstyle ones included in the pack that I bought, and they were not juddery or noisy but I found them too strong for the boot lid with the bike rack on. I had to swing off the strap to shut the boot.

I ended up buying some genuine VW 985N which were strong enough. They were from an eBay seller that converted vans for disabled people.

 

[cgtmiles]

I’m thinking I will contact vanstyle. They are tough also but expected that anyway.

My originals were 900N, do the 985N make a significant difference?

 

[Spaghetti]

It made enough difference to mine. I’ve got no sound deadening in there though. You could use the tailgate easily with and without the bike rack. I’d have no chance of shutting it with the 1200’s and no bike rack!

 

[cgtmiles]

I should have done a video coz they are comically/embarrassingly loud at the moment!
The originals were just about holding up but you have to push the tailgate open to go full height and it really slams when closing if you’re not careful

No answer from vanstyle so emailed them, let’s see what they say

Buy cheap buy twice

 

[cgtmiles]

just noticed this in the destructions too, says “conversion absolutely essential” for the 985N too, so they are not sitting on the fence on that call!

 

[Broadside]

I’ve got the VW bike carrier and my van has the 1200N VW struts. With the carrier fitted it is just about right, with the carrier off it is very difficult to close the tailgate down.

 

[Peclaran]

I got my Caravelle with the 1200 and the bike rack. They look after market. Today the wife had it and When she opened it with no bikes on and closed it back one of the struts popped out and broke the clips on the rear lights. I think I will look into getting genuine ones.

 

[cgtmiles]

I got aftermarket ones from eBay (but I think either vanstyle or travelinlite) and the first set made an awful noise when opening and closing so they sent another set FOC. It’s difficult to close even with the rack on

 

[cgtmiles]

Just seen my earlier response Vanstyle then

 

[Spaghetti]

I got aftermarket ones from eBay (but I think either vanstyle or travelinlite) and the first set made an awful noise when opening and closing so they sent another set FOC. It’s difficult to close even with the rack on

I found the aftermarket 1200’s too strong, even with the rack on. I had to do chin ups to close the boot!

 

[cgtmiles]

I found the aftermarket 1200’s too strong, even with the rack on. I had to do chin ups to close the boot!

I need the exercise though

 

[Doulsy]

i bought genuine1200's vw ones, they are fine for closing tailgate, no tarzan antics required

 

[andys]

I have genuine 1200nm struts. I have a Fiamma bike rack on the back and store levelling ramps and grips strips to the inside, which is also sound deadened and insulated. The struts do hold the tailgate open, just, in summer but do sag a bit in winter. Obviously no chance of even opening it with a bike on, let alone supporting it open.

 

[Mccoatup]

I had the same issue with the added sound-deadening material in the boot making the tailgate droop. I got a set of slightly uprated struts from SGS. You can have any force you like in 1N increments apparently , so I went for 960N which does the job. They said if that wasn't enough they could uprate them for me for free (but not downrate them) so I was happy to try the 960N rating first. (I only wanted to increase the rating minimally as both my shoulders are knackered).

 

[andys]

Yes I tried 985 struts first but they weren't up to the job with the bike rack on so went for OEM 1200s