Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:44:05 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Where to buy Limbo Hatch Stick?
In-Reply-To: <776099.89616.qm@web51501.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I do a pretty good description, but posting pics is a pain 'cause Jerry
Vanagon doesn't allow them
. My hatch stick, which I use mainly for when I have bicycles on my rear
hatch-mounted rack, it is made from oak that I had around my shop. 3/4" x
3/4" with the corners rounded off. The end corners are rounded also, using
a 1/8" round over bit in a router. I drilled into one end with a 1/4"
Forstner bit and inserted a short piece of hardwood dowel, leaving about
3/4" of the dowel sticking out, Glue the dowel in. My stick worked out at
50" long, long enough to open the hatch to almost full max with the dowel
end inserted into one of two 1/4" holes that I drilled into my rear hatch.
The lower end of your stick should be able to slide into the angle at the
body opening where the hatch weather strip fits (also where the latch
striker is located) when the hatch is closed. Mine is cut just long enough
to keep slight pressure against the hatch up (open) when it is in position,
with that dowel as 'insurance'. Should a gust of wind or a clumsy person
move the hatch...the stick won't fall out because the upper end is
'captured' by the dowel in the little hole. The holes are drilled into the
hatch at either side, at the angle were the window glass and the interior
panel meet. There is a convenient 'web' of metal there with nothing behind
it.
So to 'use' the Stick...which I keep along my van's right side against the
body in the crack between the bed pad and the interior panel...I open the
hatch with one hand and with the hatch fully open I insert the dowel into
either side, into the hole in the hatch, with lower end of the Stick angled
towards the center of the opening...the hatch latch striker area...Then I
swing the bottom of the Stick outward, away from the center of the van,
fitting (then sliding) the lower end into the groove in the body where the
hatch weather strip fits so that as the Stick nears perpendicular it
'wedges' itself into place, with the dowel to keep the upper end from
slipping out in the event of a bumping, wind gust, etc.
What I mainly use to keep the hatch up (the struts are 'iffy' with the
weight of my Yakima bike rack and it's attachments mounted on the hatch)
are a some pieces of PVC conduit fitted over the two struts. I think they
are 1", the thicker white PVC. Cut those to just fit over the rod that
comes out of the hydraulic cylinder when the strut is extended. You can
open your hatch and reach over with one hand to 'engage' your PVC
"over-strut support" with the other while gently supplying upward force.
Let the hatch settle onto the PVC pipe as it sits against one end of that
cylinder (gravity will put it into place for you) and it takes over from the
cylinder to hold the hatch open. I use the PVC support when I have no bikes
on there and the day is calm. If I have a couple of bikes and wheels on
there, the Stick seems to be a more dependable idea....Opening the hatch
when 'loaded' with bikes is somewhat strenuous and it would hurt if it
accidentally slammed onto your back somehow..
Hope that helps
Don Hanson
I also made my own 'extender' to allow the hatch to lock but with about 3"
of airspace at the bottom, if that is what you are talking about.
On Thu, Jul 15, 2010 at 5:21 AM, Anthony Egeln <regnsuzanne@yahoo.com>wrote:
> I'd be thrilled to find a place where there is a picture and good
> description posted.
> Many times volks have posted a description of their hatch stick, but I'm a
> visual person and would get it better if I could see one.
> Thanks, Anthony'89 Syncro GL (Hidalgo)
>
> --- On Thu, 7/15/10, Scott Chapman <scott@MISCHKO.COM> wrote:
>
> From: Scott Chapman <scott@MISCHKO.COM>
> Subject: Where to buy Limbo Hatch Stick?
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Thursday, July 15, 2010, 7:56 AM
>
> I saw one at a campout and can't find them on the Net. Anyone know where
> they are?
>
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