Tailgate Gas Struts (uprated 1270N version )

[ChrisMcC]

I have a 2017 T6 Beach and realised mine was fitted with 1200N struts.
When I bought the vehicle last year the chairs were there but no bike rack. After I fitted a bike rack the tailgate of course struggled to lift so after some searching on here I realised that I should probably have 1270N struts.
Just received and installed my new 1270N struts and must say I’m remarkably unimpressed, and I still have to lift the tailgate manually. It’s fractionally better but certainly nothing to get excited about.
70N only equals about 7kg, wouldn’t surprise me if the bike rack alone weighs over 7kg.
Do these gas struts need any settling in time and will improve after some use or should it be instant?
+13° outside as a side note.
Just wondering if I should go up higher than 1270N to get the desired effect?

 

[vmaxkiddy]

I have a 2017 T6 Beach and realised mine was fitted with 1200N struts.
When I bought the vehicle last year the chairs were there but no bike rack. After I fitted a bike rack the tailgate of course struggled to lift so after some searching on here I realised that I should probably have 1270N struts.
Just received and installed my new 1270N struts and must say I’m remarkably unimpressed, and I still have to lift the tailgate manually. It’s fractionally better but certainly nothing to get excited about.
70N only equals about 7kg, wouldn’t surprise me if the bike rack alone weighs over 7kg.
Do these gas struts need any settling in time and will improve after some use or should it be instant?
+13° outside as a side note.
Just wondering if I should go up higher than 1270N to get the desired effect?

A lot depends on the ambient temperature. When cold the tailgate will need assistance for the last few inches of travel; in warmer weather it will raise fully without help, can rise very quickly sometimes, and can be difficult to lower.
A quick forum search provides a few results.

Search results for query: Tailgate strut

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[ChrisMcC]

A lot depends on the ambient temperature. When cold the tailgate will need assistance for the last few inches of travel; in warmer weather it will raise fully without help, can rise very quickly sometimes, and can be difficult to lower.
A quick forum search provides a few results.

Search results for query: Tailgate strut

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Yes, I've read about the impact ambient temperature can have. I was just expecting a little more effect from the 1270N.
Opening the tailgate with the existing 1200N then 5 minutes later opening it again with the 1270N after installation in the same ambient temperature had little to no improved in lift. Was a little underwhelmed i would say.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Should hold the boot open with rack & 1/2 lightweight bikes. Sounds like the new struts are faulty, would exchange for a new set,

 

[Kimbo]

I have a 2017 T6 Beach and realised mine was fitted with 1200N struts.
When I bought the vehicle last year the chairs were there but no bike rack. After I fitted a bike rack the tailgate of course struggled to lift so after some searching on here I realised that I should probably have 1270N struts.
Just received and installed my new 1270N struts and must say I’m remarkably unimpressed, and I still have to lift the tailgate manually. It’s fractionally better but certainly nothing to get excited about.
70N only equals about 7kg, wouldn’t surprise me if the bike rack alone weighs over 7kg.
Do these gas struts need any settling in time and will improve after some use or should it be instant?
+13° outside as a side note.
Just wondering if I should go up higher than 1270N to get the desired effect?

Where did you buy them from?, are they oem?. I fitted vw units recently and my tailgate easily resists my wife’s attempts to close it.Not that easy for me either.

 

[ChrisMcC]

Where did you buy them from?, are they oem?. I fitted vw units recently and my tailgate easily resists my wife’s attempts to close it.Not that easy for me either.

I live in Norway so ordered them through a website called Autodoc
They are by a company called 'Febi Bilstein' and claim to be an OEM-manufacturer.
alternative manufacturers on the same site include,
Ridex, Stabilus, JP Group, Maxgear, Triscan, Swag.
Any of these alternatives ring a bell?
Who makes the VW ones for them?

 

[Kimbo]

I live in Norway so ordered them through a website called Autodoc
They are by a company called 'Febi Bilstein' and claim to be an OEM-manufacturer.
alternative manufacturers on the same site include,
Ridex, Stabilus, JP Group, Maxgear, Triscan, Swag.
Any of these alternatives ring a bell?
Who makes the VW ones for them?

No idea, I just bought direct from VW as it gave me a good fallback if they didn’t work as expected

 

[Andy C Berks.]

No idea, I just bought direct from VW as it gave me a good fallback if they didn’t work as expected

This is what the writing on the OEM fitted ones looks like. These hold the tailgate open fine for me with chairs and the standard 4-bike rack installed.

 

[Kimbo]

Even I struggle a little to close these up on a warm day

 

[ChrisMcC]

This is what the writing on the OEM fitted ones looks like. These hold the tailgate open fine for me with chairs and the standard 4-bike rack installed.
View attachment 136279

This is what the writing on the OEM fitted ones looks like. These hold the tailgate open fine for me with chairs and the standard 4-bike rack installed.
View attachment 136279

Yes, this is the same number as i have ordered / installed
7E7 827 550 E
My old ones at 1200N had 'B' at the end but the new 1270N has 'E' like this photo.

 

[Andy C Berks.]

Yes, this is the same number as i have ordered / installed
7E7 827 550 E
My old ones at 1200N had 'B' at the end but the new 1270N has 'E' like this photo.

My tailgate doesn’t spring open on its own, I still have to help lift it to some extent but it never feels heavy. As others have said, in cold weather the last few cm require a bit of a push.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

The VW units lock out in the up position after being pushed the last little bit, all the other after market ones don't. SGS confirmed to me that they do not do ones rated at 1270Nm with the lock out function, and even their "adjustable" ones are not as good.
Pushing the last bit enables the lock function.