Date:         Fri, 5 May 2017 17:48:06 +0000
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Problem with using gas shocks--or any other alternative--on Westy
              rear seat
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

A few days ago, while discussing the various arrangements for replacing the
now-rusty stove lid props on our Westies, the subject of Alastair's gas
spring replacement solution came up. Those of use who had ordered the same
Banggood gas springs that he did found that we received a quantity of four
shocks instead of the one spring we expected and were thinking of where the
extras could be used. I mentioned that I would like to have a gas-assisted
rear seat bottom to keep it raised without using the camper's original
metal prop.

I realized today that isn't going to work, at least without enough trouble
to make it not worth the trouble. The problem is that in deploying the bed,
it has to be moved forward more than a foot from its "seat" configuration
to extend the bed toward the front of the car. This would require ripping
out one end or the other of the gas spring.

One possibility would be to install the gas spring to lift the metal prop
itself, so that the bed just rested on it and could be moved independently,
but then you would have to deal with the thing popping up whenever you
lifted the bed and who knows what other problems.

Jim